This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay from the real exam/test related to the topic of artistic talent.
Art is a really common topic on IELTS so be sure to study the vocabulary below in case it comes up on your exam!
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Dave
IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Artistic Talent (Real Past IELTS Exam/Test)
Some think that quality art can be made by anyone while others think that it requires special talent and ability.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Real IELTS Exam/Test
Some believe that art ought to be left to talented professionals while others believe anyone can make worthwhile pieces. In my opinion, talent is a complex concept but its lack of clarity does not make it any less crucial.
Talent, particularly in a subjective field such as art, is indefinable. It is impossible to determine the interplay between talent and genetic predisposition, upbringing, personal qualities like perseverance, motivation, luck, and practice. Research into sports has shown the importance of genetics but that is largely because of the athletic requirements. Good hand eye coordination, superior spatial sense, and linguistic prowess may give one a talent advantage in the arts but many technically skilled artists produce lifeless, unoriginal art. There are simply too many unknowns as to what informs talent and how this translates to subjective works to make a definitive appraisal of its value.
However, let us make no mistake: talent is important for all human endeavours and art is no exception. The term itself may be hazy but there is no doubt in practice that certain individuals can create stirring masterpieces and others cannot, regardless of how much hard work they put in. A good example of this would be in music. Some bands and artists toil away for years without making much of an impression while others, like the Beatles and Mozart, were successful from a very young age. John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s lyrical gifts and understanding of melody were present for them in their early 20s and few other individuals, professional or amateur, in their entire lifetime have had the talent to reach their heights.
In conclusion, though it is difficult to define, good art requires talent. There is therapeutic value for amateurs but great art with universal appeal is the prerogative of the gifted.
Analysis
1. Some believe that art ought to be left to talented professionals while others believe anyone can make worthwhile pieces. 2. In my opinion, talent is a complex concept but its lack of clarity does not make it any less crucial.
- Paraphrase the overall topic for the whole essay.
- Write your opinion clearly.
1. Talent, particularly in a subjective field such as art, is indefinable. 2. It is impossible to determine the interplay between talent and genetic predisposition, upbringing, personal qualities like perseverance, motivation, luck, and practice. 3. Research into sports has shown the importance of genetics but that is largely because of the athletic requirements. 4. Good hand eye coordination, superior spatial sense, and linguistic prowess may give one a talent advantage in the arts but many technically skilled artists produce lifeless, unoriginal art. 5. There are simply too many unknowns as to what informs talent and how this translates to subjective works to make a definitive appraisal of its value.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Begin to develop it with specific ideas.
- Continue development of the same main idea.
- Add as much specific detail as you can.
- Finish with a strong statement.
1. However, let us make no mistake: talent is important for all human endeavours and art is no exception. 2. The term itself may be hazy but there is no doubt in practice that certain individuals can create stirring masterpieces and others cannot, regardless of how much hard work they put in. 3. A good example of this would be in music. 4. Some bands and artists toil away for years without making much of an impression while others, like the Beatles and Mozart, were successful from a very young age. 5. John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s lyrical gifts and understanding of melody were present for them in their early 20s and few other individuals, professional or amateur, in their entire lifetime have had the talent to reach their heights.
- Write another topic sentence with another clear main idea.
- Support or explain your main idea.
- Give an example.
- Develop your example.
- Continue to full develop that example.
1. In conclusion, though it is difficult to define, good art requires talent. 2. There is therapeutic value for amateurs but great art with universal appeal is the prerogative of the gifted.
- Repeat your opinion.
- Add in a final detail/thought.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
Some believe that art ought to be left to talented professionals while others believe anyone can make worthwhile pieces. In my opinion, talent is a complex concept but its lack of clarity does not make it any less crucial.
Talent, particularly in a subjective field such as art, is indefinable. It is impossible to determine the interplay between talent and genetic predisposition, upbringing, personal qualities like perseverance, motivation, luck, and practice. Research into sports has shown the importance of genetics but that is largely because of the athletic requirements. Good hand eye coordination, superior spatial sense, and linguistic prowess may give one a talent advantage in the arts but many technically skilled artists produce lifeless, unoriginal art. There are simply too many unknowns as to what informs talent and how this translates to subjective works to make a definitive appraisal of its value.
However, let us make no mistake: talent is important for all human endeavours and art is no exception. The term itself may be hazy but there is no doubt in practice that certain individuals can create stirring masterpieces and others cannot, regardless of how much hard work they put in. A good example of this would be in music. Some bands and artists toil away for years without making much of an impression while others, like the Beatles and Mozart, were successful from a very young age. John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s lyrical gifts and understanding of melody were present for them in their early 20s and few other individuals, professional or amateur, in their entire lifetime have had the talent to reach their heights.
In conclusion, though it is difficult to define, good art requires talent. There is therapeutic value for amateurs but great art with universal appeal is the prerogative of the gifted.
Answers
left to talented professionals only for real artists
worthwhile pieces important works
complex concept complicated idea
lack of clarity unclear
crucial essential
subjective field open to interpretation jobs
indefinable can’t be clearly summarised
determine decide on
interplay relationship between
genetic predisposition what you were born with
upbringing how you are raised
personal qualities characteristics
perseverance working through obstacles
motivation desire, determination
athletic requirements physical prerequisites
hand eye coordination how fast your hands and eyes work together
superior spatial sense kinaesthetic sense
linguistic prowess language ability
talent advantage more ability
technically skilled artists ability of artists
lifeless flat, boring
unoriginal not creative, stale
unknowns can’t be known
informs leads to, makes up
translates becomes
subjective open to interpretation
definitive appraisal clear judgment
value worth
let us make no mistake there is no doubt
human endeavours what mankind attempts
no exception conforms to the rule
term word
hazy unclear
no doubt in practice can’t be questioned in reality
stirring masterpieces beautiful works of art
put in contribute
toil away work at
without making much of an impression leaving little mark
lyrical gifts ability to write song lyrics
melody tune of the music
present part of them
amateur not professional
lifetime whole life
reach their heights become the best
define put your finger on
therapeutic value important for mental health
universal appeal everyone appreciates
prerogative of the gifted only for the talented
Pronunciation
Listen and repeat:
lɛft tuː ˈtæləntɪd prəˈfɛʃənlz
ˈwɜːθˈwaɪl ˈpiːsɪz
ˈkɒmplɛks ˈkɒnsɛpt
læk ɒv ˈklærɪti
ˈkruːʃəl
səbˈʤɛktɪv fiːld
ˌɪndɪˈfaɪnəbl
dɪˈtɜːmɪn
ˈɪntə(ː)pleɪ
ʤɪˈnɛtɪk ˌpriːdɪspəˈzɪʃən
ˈʌpˌbrɪŋɪŋ
ˈpɜːsnl ˈkwɒlɪtiz
ˌpɜːsɪˈvɪərəns
ˌməʊtɪˈveɪʃən
æθˈlɛtɪk rɪˈkwaɪəmənts
hænd aɪ kəʊˌɔːdɪˈneɪʃən
sju(ː)ˈpɪərɪə ˈspeɪʃəl sɛns
lɪŋˈgwɪstɪk ˈpraʊɪs
ˈtælənt ədˈvɑːntɪʤ
ˈtɛknɪkəli skɪld ˈɑːtɪsts
ˈlaɪflɪs
ˌʌnəˈrɪʤənl
ʌnˈnəʊnz
ɪnˈfɔːmz
trænsˈleɪts
səbˈʤɛktɪv
dɪˈfɪnɪtɪv əˈpreɪzəl
ˈvæljuː
lɛt ʌs meɪk nəʊ mɪsˈteɪk
ˈhjuːmən ɪnˈdɛvəz
nəʊ ɪkˈsɛpʃən
tɜːm
ˈheɪzi
nəʊ daʊt ɪn ˈpræktɪs
ˈstɜːrɪŋ ˈmɑːstəpiːsɪz
pʊt ɪn
tɔɪl əˈweɪ
wɪˈðaʊt ˈmeɪkɪŋ mʌʧ ɒv ən ɪmˈprɛʃən
ˈlɪrɪkəl gɪfts
ˈmɛlədi
ˈprɛznt
ˈæmətə(ː)
ˈlaɪftaɪm
riːʧ ðeə haɪts
dɪˈfaɪn
ˌθɛrəˈpjuːtɪk ˈvæljuː
ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsəl əˈpiːl
prɪˈrɒgətɪv ɒv ðə ˈgɪftɪd
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
Some believe that art ought to be l______________________________s while others believe anyone can make w_________________s. In my opinion, talent is a c__________________t but its l______________y does not make it any less c_________l.
Talent, particularly in a s__________________d such as art, is i______________e. It is impossible to d____________e the i____________y between talent and g___________________________n, u_______________g, p________________s like p____________________e, m____________n, luck, and practice. Research into sports has shown the importance of genetics but that is largely because of the a_________________s. Good h____________________________n, s____________________________e, and l______________________s may give one a t__________________________e in the arts but many t_________________________s produce l____________s, u_______________l art. There are simply too many u_______________s as to what i____________s talent and how this t______________s to s_____________e works to make a d__________________l of its v______e.
However, l_____________________e: talent is important for all h___________________s and art is n___________________n. The t_____m itself may be hazy but there is n____________________e that certain individuals can create s__________________s and others cannot, regardless of how much hard work they p________n. A good example of this would be in music. Some bands and artists t____________y for years w_________________________________n while others, like the Beatles and Mozart, were successful from a very young age. John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s l____________s and understanding of m__________y were p_____________t for them in their early 20s and few other individuals, professional or a____________r, in their entire l_____________e have had the talent to r________________s.
In conclusion, though it is difficult to d_________e, good art requires talent. There is t____________________e for amateurs but great art with u___________________l is the p_________________________d.
Listen and check:
Listening Practice
Listen to Ronaldo’s opinion below:
Reading Practice
Become more cultured here:
https://artsandculture.google.com/
Speaking Practice
Answer with the following related speaking topics from the real exam:
Architecture
- Are there a lot of buildings where you live?
- What kind of architecture do you like the most?
- Where would you live, if you could live in any home in the world?
- Is architecture an important part of a city’s identity?
Writing Practice
Write about the following topic and then check with my sample answer:
Many people believe that film is a less important art than other forms such as literature and painting.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Real IELTS Exam/Test
great
Thank you!
In the introduction you wrote that less talented doesnt mean less crucial (“talent is a complex concept but its lack of clarity does not make it any less crucial”), but then in conclusion you express the idea that great art is prerogative (but great art with universal appeal is the prerogative of the gifted). Thus, there is no clear position, is it allowed to write this way?
Thanks for the question, Ana.
In the opinion I say that talent is crucial (it’s lack of clarity doesn’t make it less crucial) and then in the conclusion I repeat my claim that great art requires talent.
The opinion is the same in the intro and conclusion.
Does that make it clearer, Ana?