This is a model response to a Writing Task 2 topic from High Scorer’s Choice IELTS Practice Tests book series (reprinted with permission). This answer is likely to score IELTS Band 9.
Set 1 Academic book, Practice Test 2
Writing Task 2
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Some people today believe that the world’s increase in population is unsustainable and will eventually lead to a global crisis. Other people believe that world population increase is necessary and beneficial as it creates the growth of the world’s economy and society.
Discuss both these views and give your opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.
You should write at least 250 words.
Answer
The population of the world is ever growing. Some people believe that this increase has created an unsustainable situation and that it will lead to a global crisis. Other people believe that only through an increasing population can the world’s economy and society develop.
This population increase is not constant around the world; population is undergoing significant growth especially in less developed countries, and the continent of Africa is predicted to undergo the highest increase. Many people living in these less developed countries frequently face shortages, such as water, food, heating, cooking fuel and medicines, and people have to live in substandard living conditions by western standards. With more inhabitants, these difficulties will become exacerbated and helping these countries might also create strain on the resources and economies of other countries.
On the other hand, many countries are unable to reach their economic potential due to a lack of skilled work forces. For these countries a growing population can mean a stronger economy and, due to that, a better standard of living. Growing populations can also lead to growing demand for goods, allowing economies to expand. The problem is, however, that countries that are in need of labour forces and increasing demand are already the more developed countries and they meet some of these needs by immigration and exporting goods.
In conclusion, it is my belief that while certain areas of the world are in need of larger work forces to develop their economies, the continuously increasing population could potentially lead to crisis within countries that already struggle to provide for their inhabitants.
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should we include our point of view in this kind of writing I mean discussion or argumentative essay? Thanks
Hi Lynda, in the task prompt it says “Discuss both views and state your opinion”, so yes, you should include your opinion.
So, we can partially agree with this statement? or discuss the demerits of it
As long as you discuss both statements, you can agree partially or fully with any of them. Discussing both is important because the task prompt requires that.
Why don’t we have our opinion in the introduction in this essay?
The introduction paragraphs isn’t the only place for your opinion, you can state it in the conclusion paragraph just as well.
I could easily understand the discussion of both views, but I could not identify the author’s opinion. What is the author’s opinion?
This is it: “while certain areas of the world are in need of larger work forces to develop their economies, the continuously increasing population could potentially lead to crisis within countries that already struggle to provide for their inhabitants.”
I got many useful information. wish you all the best
Do we have to state our opinion in third body paragraph?
For both views type questions,we have to write positive about both the views or we can write negative as well?
Hi Meenakshi, if you’re asking about whether or not the writer has to give their opinion in this type of essay, then yes, they have to, because the task statement requires it. As for where to write your opinion, it can be in the introduction, or in the conclusion paragraph, or both.
If you read the task prompt, it says ‘discuss both views’ and that is why you need to write about each view in order to get a high score. Choosing to write about only one view will drop your Task Response score, which makes up 25% of your final writing task 2 score.
In the third paragraph, there is a confusing part “..they meet some of these needs by immigration and exporting goods”. I assume the immigration could be a solution to the shortage of labor forces, but shouldn’t importing goods to tackle the increase demand? I don’t see the logic here…
The developed countries have a problem with lack of demand for goods, therefore they need to either grow their population (so that there are more customers for their goods) or export the excess of the goods.
I find it difficult to construct an essay on a topic,pls I need a guideline,
secondly,how do I know if the words are up to a required figure?for instance,250 or 300 words.
Lastly,I need help on how to answer questions of any topic given thanks.
How do I know I have met the required number of words?
Again,with response to writing task 1, is it acceptable if I describe the graph or chart into details ,thus accounting for every point before making comparisons?
Hi Georgina, if you are taking IELTS on computer, the number of words you typed will be displayed at the bottom of the screen. If you’re taking IELTS on paper, count the words in one line and multiply by number of lines you’ve written (you don’t have time to count every words, but this is a good approximation). It is best to make comparisons WHILE reporting the data, instead of reporting the data first and then making comparisons.