This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of the process of making cement and then concrete from a past IELTS Cambridge book.
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IELTS Essay: Cement and Concrete Production Process
The process details the steps to make cement and then how cement is used as an ingredient in concrete manufacturing. Overall, the process requires initial mixing and chemical transformation of the raw materials clay and limestone, followed by bagging of the finished cement, before it is then combined with other materials to form concrete.
Initially, limestone and clay are collected and crushed together into a fine powder before being placed in a cylindrical mixer. The mixture is then connected to a rotating heater which transforms the powder and it is then ground a second time and sealed in bags as cement.
In order to form concrete, cement is next combined with water, sand, and gravel in a concrete mixer. The proportions for each ingredient are 15% cement, 10% water, 25% sand and finally 50% gravel (which is small stones).
Analysis
1. The process details the steps to make cement and then how cement is used as an ingredient in concrete manufacturing. 2. Overall, the process requires initial mixing and chemical transformation of the raw materials clay and limestone, followed by bagging of the finished cement, before it is then combined with other materials to form concrete.
Paraphrase what the process shows.
Write a clear overview summarising the major groups. Read here about overviews for processes.
1. Initially, limestone and clay are collected and crushed together into a fine powder before being placed in a cylindrical mixer. 2. The mixture is then connected to a rotating heater which transforms the powder and it is then ground a second time and sealed in bags as cement.
Begin writing about the details of the process.
This one is tricky to get up to the word count (no longer required on IELTS) so try to make it a little wordy.
1. In order to form concrete, cement is next combined with water, sand, and gravel in a concrete mixer. 2. The proportions for each ingredient are 15% cement, 10% water, 25% sand and finally 50% gravel (which is small stones).
Write about the rest of the process – include everything!
Try to paraphrase some of the words from process as well.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?Take some notes on a piece of paper to aid your memory:
The process details the steps to make cement and then how cement is used as an ingredient in concrete manufacturing. Overall, the process requires initial mixing and chemical transformation of the raw materials clay and limestone, followed bybagging of the finished cement, before it is then combined with other materials to form concrete.
Initially, limestone and clay are collected and crushed together into a fine powder before being placed in a cylindrical mixer. The mixture is then connected to a rotating heater which transforms the powder and it is then ground a second time and sealed in bags as cement.
In order to form concrete, cement is next combined with water, sand, and gravel in a concrete mixer. The proportions for each ingredient are 15% cement, 10% water, 25% sand and finally 50% gravel (which is small stones).
Answers
Try to write down or think of an antonym/opposite word for further practice:
details shows
steps stages
cement a material for construction
ingredient part of
concrete manufacturing the making of concrete
overall in general
requires needs
initial first
mixing combining
chemical transformation changing to a new substance
raw materials basic substances
followed by after that
bagging put into bags
before preceding
combined put together
form make
initially at first
crushed together broken apart and combined
fine powder light dust
placed put into
cylindrical mixer device for mixing shaped like a cylinder
The process d_________s the s_____s to make c______t and then how cement is used as an i___________t in c__________________g. O_________l, the process r_______s i_______l m_______g and c_______________________n of the r____________________s clay and limestone, f_____________yb____________g of the finished cement, b_________e it is then c____________d with other materials to f_____m concrete.
I___________y, limestone and clay are collected and c________________r into a f______________r before being p________d in a c___________________r. The m________e is then c______________d to a r________________r which transforms the powder and it is then g_________d a s_______________e and s__________d in bags as c__________t.
I_____________o form concrete, cement is n____t combined with water, sand, and gravel in a c___________r. The p_______________s for each ingredient are 15% cement, 10% water, 25% sand and finally 50% gravel (which is small s________s).
Listening Practice
Listen to the related topic below and practice with these activities:
This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of moving to a new place from the real IELTS general training exam.
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Dave
IELTS Essay: Moving
Some people are happy to stay in the same area for their whole life, while others prefer living in many different places.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Some individuals frequently move to new places to live and others would rather remain in one general area. In my opinion, there can be value in moving, however, it is on the whole more advantageous to integrate with a single community.
The benefits gained from moving relate to lifestyle. A person who lives in the same town their entire life is likely to have a similar circle of friends, take part in hobbies with limited variation, and not come in contact with diverse points of view. However, the person who moves to another part of their country or travels abroad for an extended period, will broaden their horizons. For instance, a worker from the United States who spends a year living in an Asian nation is likely to learn basic competency in a new language, develop an appreciation for an authentic cuisine, and form meaningful bonds with locals.
Nonetheless, by remaining in one place, an individual can best impact their community. A person who moves from community to community will not be able to form as many deep connections and much of their energy will be spent moving and acclimating to a new region. In contrast, a person who lives in the same town or city their whole life will have a wide circle of friends and not need to spend time learning how to get around, speak a new language, or meet new friends. The time and energy saved can then be directed towards a number of pursuits that benefit their neighborhood. For instance, they might decide to invest time in renovating their house or organizing local litter collection campaigns, without having to sacrifice much time for friends, family, and work.
In conclusion, despite the broadening advantages of moving often, there is more value in having a substantial effect on one’s local area. Travel and moving often disguise an inability to focus on one’s own life and surroundings.
Analysis
1. Some individuals frequently move to new places to live and others would rather remain in one general area. 2. In my opinion, there can be value in moving, however, it is on the whole more advantageous to integrate with a single community.
Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. The benefits gained from moving relate to lifestyle. 2. A person who lives in the same town their entire life is likely to have a similar circle of friends, take part in hobbies with limited variation, and not come in contact with diverse points of view. 3. However, the person who moves to another part of their country or travels abroad for an extended period, will broaden their horizons. 4. For instance, a worker from the United States who spends a year living in an Asian nation is likely to learn basic competency in a new language, develop an appreciation for an authentic cuisine, and form meaningful bonds with locals.
Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
Explain your main idea.
Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
Keep developing it fully.
1. Nonetheless, by remaining in one place, an individual can best impact their community. 2. A person who moves from community to community will not be able to form as many deep connections and much of their energy will be spent moving and acclimating to a new region. 3. In contrast, a person who lives in the same town or city their whole life will have a wide circle of friends and not need to spend time learning how to get around, speak a new language, or meet new friends. 4. The time and energy saved can then be directed towards a number of pursuits that benefit their neighborhood. 5. For instance, they might decide to invest time in renovating their house or organizing local litter collection campaigns, without having to sacrifice much time for friends, family, and work.
Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
Explain your new main idea.
Include specific details and examples.
Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
Develop the example fully.
1. In conclusion, despite the broadening advantages of moving often, there is more value in having a substantial effect on one’s local area. 2. Travel and moving often disguise an inability to focus on one’s own life and surroundings.
Summarise your main ideas.
Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.
Some individuals frequently move to new places to live and others would rather remain in one general area. In my opinion, there can be value in moving, however, it is on the whole more advantageous to integrate with a single community.
The benefits gained from moving relate tolifestyle. A person who lives in the same town their entire life is likely to have a similar circle of friends, take part in hobbies with limited variation, and not come in contact withdiverse points of view. However, the person who moves to another part of their country or travels abroad for an extended period, will broaden their horizons. For instance, a worker from the United States who spends a year living in an Asian nation is likely to learn basic competency in a new language, develop an appreciation for an authentic cuisine, and form meaningful bonds with locals.
Nonetheless, by remaining in one place, an individual can best impact their community. A person who moves from community to community will not be able to form as many deep connections and much of their energy will be spent moving and acclimating to a new region. In contrast, a person who lives in the same town or city their whole life will have a wide circle of friends and not need to spend time learning how to get around, speak a new language, or meet new friends. The time and energy saved can then be directed towards a number of pursuits that benefit their neighborhood. For instance, they might decideto invest time in renovating their house or organizing local litter collection campaigns, without having to sacrifice much time for friends, family, and work.
In conclusion, despite the broadening advantages of moving often, there is more value in having a substantial effect on one’s local area. Travel and moving often disguise an inability to focus on one’s own life and surroundings.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
frequently move to new places to live often change houses/apartment to go to a new place
would rather remain prefer to stay
general area overall vicinity, near
value importance
on the whole overall
advantageous beneficial
integrate become one with
community people around you
benefits gained from advantages you get from
relate tolifestyle have to do with how you live
entire life whole lifespan
similar circle of friends same network
hobbies pastimes
limited variation not much difference
come in contact withdiverse points of view meet different people and ideas
however but
travels abroad for an extended period goes to another country for a long time
broaden their horizons learn more about other places and people
spends a year living lives 1 year somewhere else
basic competency decent at it
develop an appreciation for an authentic cuisine likes the local food
form meaningful bonds with locals gets to know people who live there
nonetheless regardless
best impact greatest effect
from community to community in each place
deep connections strong relationships
acclimating getting used to
wide circle of friends many different friends
directed towards pointed at
pursuits activities
neighborhood community around you
decideto invest time choose to put time into
renovating fixing up
organizing local litter collection campaigns picking up trash
sacrifice give up
broadening advantages benefits related to learning
I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:
Some individuals f________________________________e and others w______________________n in one g_____________a. In my opinion, there can be v______e in moving, however, it is o_____________e more a________________s to i_____________e with a single c_____________y.
The b__________________m moving r____________________e. A person who lives in the same town their e_____________e is likely to have a s___________________s, take part in h____________s with l________________n, and not c_____________________hd____________________________w. H______________r, the person who moves to another part of their country or t__________________________________d, will b_________________s. For instance, a worker from the United States who s____________________g in an Asian nation is likely to learn b_____________________y in a new language, d___________________________________________e, and f___________________________________s.
N_________________s, by remaining in one place, an individual can b________________t their community. A person who moves f___________________________y will not be able to form as many d___________________s and much of their energy will be spent moving and a__________________g to a new region. In contrast, a person who lives in the same town or city their whole life will have a w______________________s and not need to spend time learning how to get around, speak a new language, or meet new friends. The time and energy saved can then be d______________________s a number of p___________s that benefit their n________________d. For instance, they might d________________________e in r_____________g their house or o_______________________________s, without having to s_______________e much time for friends, family, and work.
In conclusion, despite the b_____________________s of moving often, there is more value in having a s___________________t on one’s local area. Travel and moving often d___________e an i____________y to focus on one’s own life and s________________s.
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic by watching videos from The New York Times YouTube channel below and practice with these activities:
This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay related to media and pictures that is only available on my Patreon based on a real question from the exam.
Here is the questions itself:
News stories on TV and in newspapers are very often accompanied by pictures.
Some people say that these pictures are more effective than words.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sign up for that Ebook as well as lots of other ones and the opportunity to chat with me personally!
Many believe that it is important to protect all wild animals, while others think that it is important to protect some, not all of them.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Some have suggested that protection of wild animals should be selective. In my opinion, humanity has responsibility for all wild animals, though it is occasionally justified to divert resources towards more valuable species.
Those in favor of safeguarding certain wild animals argue the circumstantial factors. These factors can range from the threat the specific animals face to the value of the animal itself. For instance, tigers are an endangered wild animal and require intensive conservation efforts compared with animals such as rats and pigeons, which have adapted skillfully to urban environments. Most would admit that there is little logic in providing equal support to species in different circumstances. A more extreme critic could add that some animals are more deserving of preservation. The tiger, to continue the previous example, is greatly valued for its elegance. Other animals, such as bees, are valuable not for their beauty but their usefulness to humanity.
However, all animals should be protected as humanity has been the catalyst for their endangerment. Before the rapid industrialization and surging populations of the last several hundred years, humans and animals lived on relatively equal terms and shared the Earth. Since human development has outpaced nature and now threatens the habitats of countless species, it is a duty for mankind to enact safeguards for all animals. Without such forward-looking protections, there is likely to be a “domino effect” as species die out and impair fragile ecosystems globally. Therefore even if an animal is not on the verge of extinction, it might be important to maintain their population levels so as to not start a cycle of irreversible harms.
In conclusion, humans should endeavor to protect as many animals as possible although there are exceptional cases where some species may be prioritized. Governments and individuals should collaborate to ensure wild animals are not unduly threatened by human progress.
Analysis
1. Some have suggested that protection of wild animals should be selective. 2. In my opinion, humanity has responsibility for all wild animals, though it is occasionally justified to divert resources towards more valuable species.
Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Those in favor of safeguarding certain wild animals argue the circumstantial factors. 2. These factors can range from the threat the specific animals face to the value of the animal itself. 3. For instance, tigers are an endangered wild animal and require intensive conservation efforts compared with animals such as rats and pigeons, which have adapted skillfully to urban environments. 4. Most would admit that there is little logic in providing equal support to species in different circumstances. 5. A more extreme critic could add that some animals are more deserving of preservation. 6. The tiger, to continue the previous example, is greatly valued for its elegance. 7. Other animals, such as bees, are valuable not for their beauty but their usefulness to humanity.
Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
Explain your main idea.
Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
Keep developing it fully.
Add more deatil.
Include some long and complex sentences.
Finish the paragraph strong.
1. However, all animals should be protected as humanity has been the catalyst for their endangerment. 2. Before the rapid industrialization and surging populations of the last several hundred years, humans and animals lived on relatively equal terms and shared the Earth. 3. Since human development has outpaced nature and now threatens the habitats of countless species, it is a duty for mankind to enact safeguards for all animals. 4. Without such forward-looking protections, there is likely to be a “domino effect” as species die out and impair fragile ecosystems globally. 5. Therefore even if an animal is not on the verge of extinction, it might be important to maintain their population levels so as to not start a cycle of irreversible harms.
Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
Explain your new main idea.
Include specific details and examples.
Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
Develop the example fully.
1. In conclusion, humans should endeavor to protect as many animals as possible although there are exceptional cases where some species may be prioritized. 2. Governments and individuals should collaborate to ensure wild animals are not unduly threatened by human progress.
Summarise your main ideas.
Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.
Some have suggested that protection of wild animals should be selective. In my opinion, humanity has responsibility for all wild animals, though it is occasionally justified to divert resources towards more valuable species.
Those in favor of safeguarding certain wild animals argue the circumstantial factors. These factors can range from the threat the specific animals face to the value of the animal itself. For instance, tigers are an endangered wild animal and require intensive conservationefforts compared with animals such as rats and pigeons, which have adapted skillfully to urban environments. Most would admit that there is little logic in providing equal support to species in different circumstances. A more extreme critic could add that some animals are more deserving of preservation. The tiger, to continue the previous example, is greatly valued for its elegance. Other animals, such as bees, are valuable not for their beauty but their usefulness to humanity.
However, all animals should be protected as humanity has been the catalyst for their endangerment. Before the rapid industrialization and surging populations of the last several hundred years, humans and animals lived on relatively equal terms and shared the Earth. Since human development has outpaced nature and now threatens the habitats of countless species, it is a duty for mankind to enact safeguards for all animals. Without such forward-looking protections, there is likely to be a “domino effect” as species die out and impair fragile ecosystems globally. Therefore even if an animal is not on the verge of extinction, it might be important to maintain their population levels so as to not start a cycle of irreversible harms.
In conclusion, humans should endeavor to protect as many animals as possible although there are exceptional cases where some species may be prioritized. Governments and individuals should collaborate to ensure wild animals are not unduly threatened by human progress.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
suggested advised
protection keeping safe
selective chosen
humanity mankind
responsibility duty
occasionally justified sometimes supported
divert resources towards sent in another direction at
valuable species important kind of animal
those in favor of people who support
safeguarding keeping safe
certain definite
argue point out
circumstantial factors contextual elements
range from include
threat risk
For instance for example
endangered near extinction
require intensive conservationefforts need lots of help
compared with relative to
adapted skillfully changed masterfully
urban environments cities
Most would admit that many would concede
little logic not much reason
providing equal support giving the same amount of help
different circumstances changing situations
extreme critic people strongly against
deserving should get
preservation staying alive and protected
previous example instance mentioned before
greatly valued considered important
usefulness utility
catalyst spark, cause
endangerment putting in danger
rapid industrialization becoming more and more developed
I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:
Some have s____________d that p______________n of wild animals should be s_______________e. In my opinion, h_______________y has r__________________y for all wild animals, though it is o______________________d to d______________________s more v___________________s.
T________________________________________________n wild animals a_______e the c___________________________s. These factors can r_____________m the t_________t the specific animals face to the value of the animal itself. F______________e, tigers are an e______________d wild animal and r_________________________________s c_____________________h animals such as rats and pigeons, which have a_____________________y to u____________________s. M_____________________t there is l_________________c in p_______________________t to species in d___________________________s. A more e__________________c could add that some animals are more d______________g of p_______________n. The tiger, to continue the p___________________e, is g__________________d for its elegance. Other animals, such as bees, are valuable not for their beauty but their u______________s to humanity.
However, all animals should be protected as humanity has been the c_________t for their e________________t. Before the r_______________________________n and s______________________s of the l________________________________s, humans and animals l______________________________s and s_______d the Earth. Since human development has o___________d nature and now threatens the h_________s of c__________s species, it is a d____y for mankind to e______________s for all animals. Without such f_______________________s, there is likely to be a “d_______________t” as species die out and i___________________________y. Therefore even if an animal is n____________________________n, it might be important to m__________n their p___________________s so as to not start a c________e of i__________________s.
In conclusion, humans should e______________r to protect as many animals as possible although there are e_______________s where some species may be p________________d. Governments and individuals should c________________e to e________e wild animals are not u__________y threatened by h________________s.
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic by watching videos from The New York Times YouTube channel below and practice with these activities:
Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:
It is a natural process for animal species to become extinct (e.g. dinosaurs, dodos, etc.). There is no reason why people should try to prevent this from happening.
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