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This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay from the real exam on the topic of outdoor activities.
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IELTS Essay: Outdoor Activities
Some think that it is more important for children to engage in outdoor activities instead of playing videogames.
To what extent to you agree or disagree?
Many believe that children today play too many videogames and should instead spend more time outdoors. In my opinion, though the former diversion is more educational than in years past, the full scope of the latter makes it preferable.
Advocates of gaming point out their recent evolution. This goes beyond more realistic graphics and includes the topics and types of games now available. Many games today are essentially a cinematic experience, with fully realised characters and themes that rival other great works of art. In this way, games are as educational as more respected art forms such as novels and films. Moreover, not all games are passive. There are more and more games every year that require creative and logical thinking, such as puzzles and text based mysteries. The developers of the newest apps available for phones now take advantage of improving hardware to push forward the medium and engage the mind.
Nonetheless, the games mentioned above are the exceptions and the benefits of outdoor play are greater in general. The most obvious advantage is the effect on heath. The world is facing an obesity epidemic that is at least partly driven by more sedentary lifestyles centered around consumer electronics and gaming. Going outside is a natural antidote and can instill in children good habits that will promote a healthy life later. Additionally, outdoor activities offer the opportunity for children to engage in a social activity. Most games are, to varying degrees, an individual experience but playing with others outside will foster teamwork and improved interpersonal skills.
In conclusion, games can be worthwhile but they rarely have more value than going outside. It is therefore important that parents strive to limit children’s screen time.
Analysis
1. Many believe that children today play too many videogames and should instead spend more time outdoors. 2. In my opinion, though the former diversion is more educational than in years past, the full scope of the latter makes it preferable.
- Paraphrase the essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Advocates of gaming point out their recent evolution. 2. This goes beyond more realistic graphics and includes the topics and types of games now available. 3. Many games today are essentially a cinematic experience, with fully realised characters and themes that rival other great works of art. 4. In this way, games are as educational as more respected art forms such as novels and films. 5. Moreover, not all games are passive. 6. There are more and more games every year that require creative and logical thinking, such as puzzles and text based mysteries. 7. The developers of the newest apps available for phones now take advantage of improving hardware to push forward the medium and engage the mind.
- Write a clear topic sentence with your main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop the idea.
- Finish developing it.
- Transition to a related idea.
- Develop that idea.
- Conclude with the furthest result/development.
1. Nonetheless, the games mentioned above are the exceptions and the benefits of outdoor play are greater in general. 2. The most obvious advantage is the effect on heath. 3. The world is facing an obesity epidemic that is at least partly driven by more sedentary lifestyles centered around consumer electronics and gaming. 4. Going outside is a natural antidote and can instill in children good habits that will promote a healthy life later. 5. Additionally, outdoor activities offer the opportunity for children to engage in a social activity. 6. Most games are, to varying degrees, an individual experience but playing with others outside will foster teamwork and improved interpersonal skills.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Use specific examples.
- Develop them fully.
- Add in a related idea.
- Develop it.
1. In conclusion, games can be worthwhile but they rarely have more value than going outside. 2. It is therefore important that parents strive to limit children’s screen time.
- Summarise your ideas and repeat your opinion.
- Add a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
Many believe that children today play too many videogames and should instead spend more time outdoors. In my opinion, though the former diversion is more educational than in years past, the full scope of the latter makes it preferable.
Advocates of gaming point out their recent evolution. This goes beyond more realistic graphics and includes the topics and types of games now available. Many games today are essentially a cinematic experience, with fully realised characters and themes that rival other great works of art. In this way, games are as educational as more respected art forms such as novels and films. Moreover, not all games are passive. There are more and more games every year that require creative and logical thinking, such as puzzles and text based mysteries. The developers of the newest apps available for phones now take advantage of improving hardware to push forward the medium and engage the mind.
Nonetheless, the games mentioned above are the exceptions and the benefits of outdoor play are greater in general. The most obvious advantage is the effect on heath. The world is facing an obesity epidemic that is at least partly driven by more sedentary lifestyles centered around consumer electronics and gaming. Going outside is a natural antidote and can instill in children good habits that will promote a healthy life later. Additionally, outdoor activities offer the opportunity for children to engage in a social activity. Most games are, to varying degrees, an individual experience but playing with others outside will foster teamwork and improved interpersonal skills.
In conclusion, games can be worthwhile but they rarely have more value than going outside. It is therefore important that parents strive to limit children’s screen time.
Answers
instead rather than
though despite
former diversion one mentioned before distraction
educational help you learn
in years past in the past
full scope entire range
the latter one mentioned last
preferable better
advocates supporters
point out argue
evolution changes
goes beyond passes
realistic graphics better images
now available out now
essentially fundamentally
cinematic experience like a movie
fully realised characters realistic characters
themes what the game wants to say/express
rival compare well with
in this way like this
educational helps you learn
more respected art forms highly revered arts
moreover also
passive not active
more and more increasing
creative expressive
logical thinking rational thinking
puzzles problems to solve
text based mysteries games based on writing
developers people who make games
take advantage exploit
improving hardware better phones, computers, etc.
push forward drive innovation
medium type of device
engage the mind must think about
nonetheless regardless
mentioned above written about before
exceptions outside the norm
greater in general larger overall
most obvious advantage clearest benefit
world is facing Earth is grappling with
obesity epidemic people getting fatter
at least partly driven by up to a point somewhat the source of
sedentary lifestyles not active
centered around have to do with
consumer electronics phones, computers, etc.
natural antidote clear remedy
instill teach
good habits good actions
promote a healthy life later be healthy throughout life
additionally also
offer the opportunity for allow for
engage in have to do with
social activity talking with others
to varying degrees to different extents
individual experience done alone
foster teamwork encourage working together
improved interpersonal skills better communication with others
worthwhile useful
rarely not often
therefore thus
strive try for
limit keep contained
screen time using phones, tablets, computers, etc.
Pronunciation
ɪnˈstɛd
ðəʊ
ˈfɔːmə daɪˈvɜːʃən
ˌɛdju(ː)ˈkeɪʃənl
ɪn jɪəz pɑːst
fʊl skəʊp
ðə ˈlætə
ˈprɛfərəbl
ˈædvəkɪts
pɔɪnt aʊt
ˌiːvəˈluːʃən
gəʊz bɪˈjɒnd
rɪəˈlɪstɪk ˈgræfɪks
naʊ əˈveɪləbl
ɪˈsɛnʃəli
sɪnəˈmætɪk ɪksˈpɪərɪəns
ˈfʊli ˈrɪəlaɪzd ˈkærɪktəz
θiːmz
ˈraɪvəl
ɪn ðɪs weɪ
ˌɛdju(ː)ˈkeɪʃənl
mɔː rɪsˈpɛktɪd ɑːt fɔːmz
mɔːˈrəʊvə
ˈpæsɪv
mɔːr ænd mɔː
kri(ː)ˈeɪtɪv
ˈlɒʤɪkəl ˈθɪŋkɪŋ
ˈpʌzlz
tɛkst beɪst ˈmɪstəriz
dɪˈvɛləpəz
teɪk ədˈvɑːntɪʤ
ɪmˈpruːvɪŋ ˈhɑːdweə
pʊʃ ˈfɔːwəd
ˈmiːdiəm
ɪnˈgeɪʤ ðə maɪnd
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
ˈmɛnʃənd əˈbʌv
ɪkˈsɛpʃənz
ˈgreɪtər ɪn ˈʤɛnərəl
məʊst ˈɒbvɪəs ədˈvɑːntɪʤ
wɜːld ɪz ˈfeɪsɪŋ
əʊˈbiːsɪti ˌɛpɪˈdɛmɪk
æt liːst ˈpɑːtli ˈdrɪvn baɪ
ˈsɛdntəri ˈlaɪfˌstaɪlz
ˈsɛntəd əˈraʊnd
kənˈsjuːmər ɪlɛkˈtrɒnɪks
ˈnæʧrəl ˈæntɪdəʊt
ɪnˈstɪl
gʊd ˈhæbɪts
prəˈməʊt ə ˈhɛlθi laɪf ˈleɪtə
əˈdɪʃənli
ˈɒfə ði ˌɒpəˈtjuːnɪti fɔː
ɪnˈgeɪʤ ɪn
ˈsəʊʃəl ækˈtɪvɪti
tuː ˈveəriɪŋ dɪˈgriːz,
ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəl ɪksˈpɪərɪəns
ˈfɒstə ˈtiːmwɜːk
ɪmˈpruːvd ˌɪntəˈpɜːsən(ə)l skɪlz
ˈwɜːθˈwaɪl
ˈreəli
ˈðeəfɔː
straɪv
ˈlɪmɪt
skriːn taɪm
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
Many believe that children today play too many videogames and should i________d spend more time outdoors. In my opinion, t__________h the f_______________n is more e____________l than i_____________t, the f___________e of t______________r makes it p_____________e.
A___________s of gaming p_________t their recent e___________n. This g________________d more r_________________s and includes the topics and types of games n__________________e. Many games today are e________________y a c______________________e, with f______________________s and t__________s that r______l other great works of art. I______________y, games are as e___________________l as m___________________s such as novels and films. M___________r, not all games are p____________e. There are m________________e games every year that require c___________e and l__________________g, such as p____________s and t_______________________s. The d______________s of the newest apps available for phones now t______________________e of i_____________________e to p_________________d the m____________m and e____________________d.
N______________s, the games m__________________e are the e_______________s and the benefits of outdoor play are g____________________l. The m______________________________e is the effect on heath. The w_________________g an o__________________c that is a________________________y more s_____________________s c___________________d c______________________s and gaming. Going outside is a n___________________e and can i__________l in children g_______________s that will p_____________________________r. A______________y, outdoor activities o________________________r children to e__________n a s_______________y. Most games are, t____________________s, an i____________________e but playing with others outside will f______________________k and i___________________________s.
In conclusion, games can be w_______________e but they r_________y have more value than going outside. It is t______________e important that parents s_________e to l_______t children’s s________________e.
Listening Practice
Listen below and use the activities in here to practice:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and practice with these ideas:
https://www.wired.com/2009/08/simpleoutdoorplay/
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Sport
- What sport do you like?
- Do you prefer team or individual sports?
- Who is your favourite sports star?
- What is the most popular sport in your country?
Writing Practice
Write about this related topic and check with my sample answer:
Many feel that going to the gym is the best way to stay fit. Others think there are more effective methods.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
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