This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of cyclists from the real exam.

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Dave

IELTS Essay: Cyclists

Some experts say for road safety cyclists should pass a test before being allowed on public roads.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

There have been recent calls for mandatory tests for cyclists before they are permitted on public motorways. In my opinion, though this proposal must be managed properly it is advisable.

Detractors argue this reform is essentially a complex method of fixing a problem that does not exist. Riding a bike is a fairly simple skill that most people learn as children. It is unclear at what age such a test and license should be logistically required. The extra paperwork and bureaucracy would make it a negative for both cyclists and those charged with enforcing this law. If passed, there is also the strong likelihood that it would be tokenistic. Cyclists might be able to pass a basic written test and demonstrate the ability to ride a bike but that would not ensure they will actually be safe riders.

However, in my opinion, there exists a need since most cyclists are not particularly cognizant of the hierarchy of vehicles. In most cities, cyclists are considered a menace or an annoyance and increase the odds of accidents. Many cyclists feel they are essentially the same as cars and weave into traffic where cars and motorbikes traveling at faster speeds rightly belong. If there was better education and a law that required cyclists to learn unwritten rules of etiquette, this would greatly enhance road conditions for motorists and pedestrians. For instance, in certain European nations, cyclists must apply for licenses and this has created a culture where bicycles fit into the flow of traffic more seamlessly.

In conclusion, although there are significant practical hurdles, I believe requiring cyclists to apply for licenses addresses a key public road issue. Governments should therefore enact this or a similar regulation.

Analysis

1. There have been recent calls for mandatory tests for cyclists before they are permitted on public motorways. 2. In my opinion, though this proposal must be managed properly it is advisable.

  1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
  2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. Detractors argue this reform is essentially a complex method of fixing a problem that does not exist. 2. Riding a bike is a fairly simple skill that most people learn as children. 3. It is unclear at what age such a test and license should be logistically required. 4. The extra paperwork and bureaucracy would make it a negative for both cyclists and those charged with enforcing this law. 5. If passed, there is also the strong likelihood that it would be tokenistic. 6. Cyclists might be able to pass a basic written test and demonstrate the ability to ride a bike but that would not ensure they will actually be safe riders.

  1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
  2. Explain your main idea.
  3. Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
  4. Keep developing it fully.
  5. Finish development.
  6. Make sure you have dealt with all points in the topic.

1. However, in my opinion, there exists a need since most cyclists are not particularly cognizant of the hierarchy of vehicles. 2. In most cities, cyclists are considered a menace or an annoyance and increase the odds of accidents. 3. Many cyclists feel they are essentially the same as cars and weave into traffic where cars and motorbikes traveling at faster speeds rightly belong. 4. If there was better education and a law that required cyclists to learn unwritten rules of etiquette, this would greatly enhance road conditions for motorists and pedestrians. 5. For instance, in certain European nations, cyclists must apply for licenses and this has created a culture where bicycles fit into the flow of traffic more seamlessly.

  1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
  2. Explain your new main idea.
  3. Include specific details and examples.
  4. Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
  5. Develop the example fully.

1. In conclusion, although there are significant practical hurdles, I believe requiring cyclists to apply for licenses addresses a key public road issue. 2. Governments should therefore enact this or a similar regulation.

  1. Summarise your main ideas.
  2. 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.

There have been recent calls for mandatory tests for cyclists before they are permitted on public motorways. In my opinion, though this proposal must be managed properly it is advisable.

Detractors argue this reform is essentially a complex method of fixing a problem that does not exist. Riding a bike is a fairly simple skill that most people learn as children. It is unclear at what age such a test and license should be logistically required. The extra paperwork and bureaucracy would make it a negative for both cyclists and those charged with enforcing this law. If passed, there is also the strong likelihood that it would be tokenistic. Cyclists might be able to pass a basic written test and demonstrate the ability to ride a bike but that would not ensure they will actually be safe riders.

However, in my opinion, there exists a need since most cyclists are not particularly cognizant of the hierarchy of vehicles. In most cities, cyclists are considered a menace or an annoyance and increase the odds of accidents. Many cyclists feel they are essentially the same as cars and weave into traffic where cars and motorbikes traveling at faster speeds rightly belong. If there was better education and a law that required cyclists to learn unwritten rules of etiquette, this would greatly enhance road conditions for motorists and pedestrians. For instance, in certain European nations, cyclists must apply for licenses and this has created a culture where bicycles fit into the flow of traffic more seamlessly.

In conclusion, although there are significant practical hurdles, I believe requiring cyclists to apply for licenses addresses a key public road issue. Governments should therefore enact this or a similar regulation.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

recent calls people have been asking for now

mandatory tests required exams

cyclists people who ride bicycles

permitted allowed

public motorways roads and streets

proposal idea

managed properly dealt with well

advisable good idea

detractors argue people against this claim

reform change

essentially basically

complex method complicated way

fixing making better

exist be in the real world

fairly simple skill basic ability

unclear fuzzy

license permit

logistically pragmatically

extra paperwork more forms

bureaucracy government agencies processing papers, red tape

negative not positive

charged with enforcing must make sure the law is upheld

strong likelihood good chance

tokenistic not really effective

pass a basic written test get good enough marks on an exam

demonstrate show

ensure make sure of

safe riders good cyclists

exists is present

particularly cognizant definitely aware of

hierarchy of vehicles order of importance of cars, bikes, etc.

considered thought about

menace problem

annoyance something that annoys you

increase the odds of accidents there is a better chance of people being hurt

essentially basically

weave combine

traffic cars on the road

traveling at faster speeds going more quickly

rightly belong definitely should be there

unwritten rules of etiquette how to drive well and behave

greatly enhance road conditions make it better to drive

motorists people who drive

pedestrians people walking around

apply put in an application

culture how people behave together

fit into the flow of traffic more seamlessly blend better with other vehicles

significant practical hurdles big problems to overcome to make it work

addresses deals with

key public road issue crucial problem for driving

therefore enact thus put into place

regulation law

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

ˈriːsnt kɔːlz 
ˈmændətəri tɛsts 
ˈsaɪklɪsts 
pəˈmɪtɪd 
ˈpʌblɪk ˈməʊtəˌweɪz 
prəˈpəʊzəl 
ˈmænɪʤd ˈprɒpəli 
ədˈvaɪzəbl
dɪˈtræktəz ˈɑːgjuː 
ˌriːˈfɔːm 
ɪˈsɛnʃəli 
ˈkɒmplɛks ˈmɛθəd 
ˈfɪksɪŋ 
ɪgˈzɪst
ˈfeəli ˈsɪmpl skɪl 
ʌnˈklɪə 
ˈlaɪsəns 
ləʊˈʤɪstɪkəli 
ˈɛkstrə ˈpeɪpəˌwɜːk 
bjʊəˈrɒkrəsi 
ˈnɛgətɪv 
ʧɑːʤd wɪð ɪnˈfɔːsɪŋ 
strɒŋ ˈlaɪklɪhʊd 
ˈtəʊkənɪstɪk
pɑːs ə ˈbeɪsɪk ˈrɪtn tɛst 
ˈdɛmənstreɪt 
ɪnˈʃʊə 
seɪf ˈraɪdəz
ɪgˈzɪsts 
pəˈtɪkjʊləli ˈkɒgnɪzənt 
ˈhaɪərɑːki ɒv ˈviːɪklz
kənˈsɪdəd 
ˈmɛnəs 
əˈnɔɪəns 
ˈɪnkriːs ði ɒdz ɒv ˈæksɪdənts
ɪˈsɛnʃəli 
wiːv 
ˈtræfɪk 
ˈtrævlɪŋ æt ˈfɑːstə spiːdz 
ˈraɪtli bɪˈlɒŋ
ʌnˈrɪtn ruːlz ɒv ˈɛtɪkɛt 
ˈgreɪtli ɪnˈhɑːns rəʊd kənˈdɪʃənz 
ˈməʊtərɪsts 
pɪˈdɛstrɪənz
əˈplaɪ 
ˈkʌlʧə 
fɪt ˈɪntuː ðə fləʊ ɒv ˈtræfɪk mɔː ˈsiːmlɪsli
sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt ˈpræktɪkəl ˈhɜːdlz
əˈdrɛsɪz 
kiː ˈpʌblɪk rəʊd ˈɪʃuː
ˈðeəfɔːr ɪˈnækt 
ˌrɛgjʊˈleɪʃən

Vocabulary Practice

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:

There have been r_____________s for m___________________s for c_________s before they are p_____________d on p_______________s. In my opinion, though this p_____________l must be m___________________y it is a________e.

D___________________e this r______m is e_____________y a c________________d of f_________g a problem that does not e______t. Riding a bike is a f___________________l that most people learn as children. It is u________r at what age such a test and l________e should be l____________y required. The e____________________k and b______________y would make it a n_______e for both cyclists and those c_________________________g this law. If passed, there is also the s_________________________d that it would be t_____________c. Cyclists might be able to p__________________________t and d_________________e the ability to ride a bike but that would not e________e they will actually be s___________s.

However, in my opinion, there e______s a need since most cyclists are not p_______________________t of the h_____________________s. In most cities, cyclists are c___________d a m_________e or an a____________e and i____________________________________s. Many cyclists feel they are e____________y the same as cars and w_______e into t________c where cars and motorbikes t____________________________s r_______________g. If there was better education and a law that required cyclists to learn u_____________________e, this would g__________________________s for m__________s and p___________s. For instance, in certain European nations, cyclists must a______y for licenses and this has created a c_________e where bicycles f________________________________________y.

In conclusion, although there are s_________________________s, I believe requiring cyclists to apply for licenses a________s a k_____________________e. Governments should t__________________t this or a similar r______________n.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.wired.com/story/most-bike-friendly-cities-2019-copenhagenize-design-index/

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Cycling

  1. Do you own a bicycle?
  2. When was the last time you went cycling?
  3. Is cycling dangerous in your country?
  4. Would you ever take a long cycling trip?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:

Some people say that the bicycles are a good, modern means of transportation. Other say riding a bicycle has clear disadvantages.

Discuss both view points and give your own opinion.

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