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Writing Practice for IELTS Task 2 Essay and Sample Answer

Writing Practice for IELTS Task 2 Icon.

Writing Practice for IELTS

Overview

The IELTS writing test consists of two tasks: task 1 and Task 2. You have one hour to complete both tasks.

Below is an example of a Task 2 essay question from an IELTS Academic writing test.

Academic Task 2 essay questions cover different types of essays: opinion, discussion, advantages and disadvantages, problem and solution, agress or disagree, and double question essays.

Your response in the IELTS writing test is scored using 4 official IELTS marking criteria: Task Achievement, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Coherence and Cohesion.

The Academic test writing section differs from the IELTS General test. There are still two writing tasks but Task 1 is to summarize or describe data or some type of visual information such as a chart, graph, table, stages of a process, flow diagram, map, or similar.

Tip You should use authentic IELTS practice tests and model answers to become familiar with different Task 1 and Task 2 questions.

IELTS Writing Task 2

Write about the following topic:

Some people think it is worthwhile for countries to spend large amounts of money to host an international sports event such as the Olympics or the World Cup. Others believe that this is a waste of money and that the money could be better spent elsewhere. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Write at least 250 words.



IELTS Essay | Hosting the Olympics or the World Cup

While there is no doubt regarding the amount of prestige and attention a country can gain by being the host of events such as the World Cup or the Olympics, studies have shown that it is not always the case that the levels of investment required for such undertakings actually provide a net positive result for the host country in the long term.

Over the years, various countries have become the high profile host country for the events mentioned previously. In some cases, the country clearly benefits in terms of improved infrastructure and greater tourism, thus clearly benefiting the local economy as well as those who visit for the event. London provides a good example of this, in that many of the sites and resources used during the Olympics have been repurposed and made economically viable or converted into commercial spaces which add to the local environment. London has always been one of the top tourism destinations, and hosting the Olympics has only added to its prestige as a premier destination.

On the other hand, there are countries which have benefited little in terms of boosting their long term economy on the back of hosting such events. South Africa and Brazil are examples of how despite the prestige and hype associated with hosting the World Cup, the aftermath leaves people wondering if the massive investment was actually worth it, as many of the stadiums now lie empty and unused, while at the same time sections of the population and infrastructure still desperately need attention, but the money has been spent.

While all countries should be able to bid for hosting such events, clearly there are those countries which are in a better economic position to finance such projects without neglecting other areas of need, and those which will continue to benefit long after the event has been held, and forgotten about. Meanwhile, other countries appear to manage the hosting aspect but fail to capitalize fully on the long-term benefits and opportunities presented by such events. Therefore, it can be said that each case must be judged on its individual merits as to whether or not a country should spend the vast amounts of money required to host such world class sports events.

Tip Try rewriting sample answers in your own words. You need to know how to paraphrase phrases in IELTS writing Task 2 questions. So this is a good skill to develop to get a better band score.

How would you answer this IELTS writing question about hosting the Olympics and World Cup?

  • Has your country hosetd either of these events?
  • What did people think about it were they in favor or not?
  • How could countries benefit more from hosting such events?


Tip Do not panic if you run out of paper when writing your response to Task 2 on test day. The examiner or invigilator can give you an extra answer sheet - don't forget to write your name on BOTH!

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