IELTS Essay Types 

1. Some people think that the teenage years are the happiest times of most people’s lives. Others think that adult life brings more happiness in spite of greater responsibilities. 

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

2. Nowadays, people travel a lot more than in the past. Some people think that tourists should follow the cultural and religious traditions of the country they are visiting. Others argue that it is not required for the tourist to do so. 

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

3. The free movement of goods across national borders has long been a controversial issue. Some people argue that it is necessary for economic growth, while others claim that it damages local industries.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

4. Some people think that governments should spend money on railways. Others believe that there should be more investment into new roads.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

5. Some people like to spend their leisure time with their colleagues. Others think it is better to keep their private life separate from their work life. 

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

6. Some people believe the purpose of education should be helping the individual to become useful for society, while others believe it should help individuals to achieve their ambitions. 

Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

7. It is commonly believed that nowadays main factors that affect a child's development are media, pop culture and friends. A different point of view is that family plays the most significant role.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

8. In many countries, the legal driving age is 18 years old. Some people believe it is the right age to learn how to drive a car, whereas others say that the minimum age should be 25. 

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

9. Some people believe the aim of university education is to help graduates get better jobs. Others believe there are much wider benefits of university education for both individuals and society.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

10. Some people seek a lot of advice from family and friends when choosing their career. Others feel it is better to choose a career more independently. 

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

11. Some people believe that all children should learn a foreign language from the time they start school, while others believe it is better to wait until a child is at secondary school. 

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

12. Obtaining a university degree is believed by some to be the best way to guarantee future success in one's career. On the other hand, some people reckon that learning a trade and getting experience is a better guarantee of steady work and income. 

Discuss both sides and give your own opinion. 

13. In the present era, children are found to have fewer responsibilities than it used to be in the past time. Some people consider it as positive development, however, some other people believe it to be a negative trend. 

Discuss both the views and give your own opinion.

14. Some people feel that global warming should be dealt with by governments. Others feel that it is the responsibility of individuals in society to solve the problem. 

Discuss both views and give your own opinion. 

15. Some people think it is better to educate boys and girls in separate schools. However, others believe that boys and girls benefit more from attending the same school. 

Discuss both views and give your own opinion. 

1. Some people prefer to buy local products while others prefer international products. 

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

2. Governments should spend money on railways rather than roads.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

3. Smoking not only harms the smoker, but also those who are nearby. Therefore, smoking should be banned in public places.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

4. Prevention is better than cure. Out of a country’s health budget, a large proportion should be diverted from treatment to spending on health education and preventative measures. 

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

5. Some people believe that there are many reasons that can motivate a person to keep working for the same company whereas others say that money is the main reason. 

Do you agree or disagree? 

6. The best way to understand other cultures is to work for a multinational organisation.

To what extent do you agree or disagree? 

7. The fast food industry has negative effects on our health, the environment and family eating habits. 

Do you agree or disagree? 

8. Languages are dying out all the time. The result of this is a world with fewer languages. This is a good thing for people everywhere.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

9. Some people consider price as the most important thing to think about when buying products (such as cellphones) or services (medical treatments). 

Do you agree or disagree? 

10. Some people prefer to buy local products while others product international products. 

To what extent do you agree or disagree? 

11. In today’s job market it is far more important to have practical skills than theoretical knowledge. In the future, job applications may not need any formal qualifications.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?  

12. Some people say that E-books and modern technology will totally replace traditional newspaper and magazines.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

13. Some people believe that the best way to travel within a city is by car. Others believe it is best to travel by bicycle. To what extent do you agree or disagree ?

14. Big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.

Do you agree or disagree?

15. The government's investment in arts, music and theatre is a waste of money. Governments should invest these funds in public services instead.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

1. Traffic and accommodation problems are increasing and government should encourage businesses to move from cities to rural areas. 

Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? 

2. It is now possible for scientists and tourists to travel to remote natural environment, such as the South Pole. 

Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages? 

3. With modern transportation, workers and students are increasingly mobile, and have more and more opportunities to study and work abroad. 

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this development.  

4. A lot of places in the world rely on tourism as a main source of income. Unfortunately, tourism can also be a source of problems if it is not managed correctly.

Describe the advantages and disadvantages of tourism in the modern world. 

5.  Nowadays, many people drive to work or school instead of walking, cycling or using public transport. 

Does this trend have more advantages or more disadvantages? 

6. People now have the freedom to work and live anywhere in the world due to the development of communication technology and transportation.

Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

7.  Small businesses are disappearing and being replaced by large multinational companies.

Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

8. Many university students live with their families, while others live away from home because their universities are in different places.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of both situations?

9. Nowadays the differences between countries are becoming less evident because people follow the same media.

Do the advantage of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?

10. Young people are often influenced by their peers. 

Do the advantages of peer pressure outweigh the disadvantages?  

11. Some experts believe that it is better for children to begin learning a foreign language at primary schools rather than secondary school.

Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

12. Nowadays, more and more people decide to have children later in their life. What are the reasons? 

Do the advantages of this outweigh disadvantages? 

13. Technology is being used more and more in education.

 Discuss advantages and disadvantages.

14. Some people believe that using a bicycle as your main form of transport has a lot of advantages whereas others think it has many disadvantages. Discuss both views and give your opinion. 

15. Many products that we buy are made in other countries. 

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this and give your own opinion.

16. Nowadays, more people would rather purchase food than cook at home. 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?  

1. Many people today are worried about young children using video games. 

What problems might these games cause, for children and society as a whole? How could these problems be reduced? 

2. Today more people are overweight than ever before.

What in your opinion are the primary causes of this?

What are the main effects of this epidemic?

3.  Nowadays more and more children are being brought up in single parent families. 

What are the causes of this? What effects can be seen as a result of this? 

4. People nowadays sleep less than they used to in the past. 

What do you think is the reason behind this? What are the effects on individuals and people around them? 

5. The percentage of overweight children in western society has increased by almost 20% in the last ten years.

Discuss the causes and effects of this disturbing trend.

6. Doctors recommend that older people should exercise regularly. However many of them do not exercise enough.

 What are the causes of this? What can be done to encourage them to exercise? 

7. More and more children are becoming obese. 

What are the causes of this and what are the effects? 

8. Many children who are home-schooled are not prepared for university at the same rate of children in government funded schools. 

What do you think are the causes of this? What effects will this have on society? 

9. Global warming is one of the most serious issues that the world is facing today.

What are the causes of global warming and what measures can governments and individuals take to tackle the issue?

10. In many countries, the tradition of having family meals together is disappearing. 

Why is this happening?

What will the effects of this be on the family and society?

11. Levels of youth crime are increasing rapidly in most cities around the world. 

 What are the reasons for this, and suggest some solutions? 

12. Cities are becoming overcrowded.

What are the causes of this situation, and what can be done to improve this situation? 

13. Nowadays people around the world are choosing to self-medicate rather than seeing a doctor and using conventional medicine. 

What are the causes of this change and what effects can be seen as a result? 

14. Many criminals commit further crimes as soon as they are released from prison. 

What do you think are the causes of this? What effects will this have on society?

15. Some people say that if old people spend time and get along with others and exercise everyday they will become fit. However, nowadays old people are usually alone and do not talk to others which make them unhappy and unfit. 

What are the causes and solutions? 

16. Nowadays we have become a throwaway society with where it is common to throw away devices and gadgets instead of repairing them. 

Why is this happening and what are the effects of this? 

17. It is observed that in many countries not enough students are choosing to study science as a subject. 

What are  the causes? And what will be the effects on society? 

18. Obesity in children is a serious problem in a number of countries.

What are the causes of obesity in children?

Discuss the possible alarming effects of this problem in the future.

19. One of the most pressing problems facing the world today is overpopulation.

 What policies do you think governments should adopt to address the causes and effects of this problem? 

20. People spend less time at home than they used to. 

What are the reasons for this change and what are the effects on society and individuals?