This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of female leaders from the real IELTS exam.
It’s a very interesting question – one of the most interesting I’ve ever seen on IELTS!
You should be very careful to not come off as sexist in your response…
Read mine below and check out my exclusive Patreon essays to improve more!
Dave
Before reading, listen to the audio file to improve your listening as well:
IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Female Leaders (Real Past IELTS Exam/Test)
This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer on the topic of female leaders from the real IELTS exam.
It is one of the most interesting questions I’ve ever seen on IELTS and I really enjoyed writing about it!
I recommend writing about it yourself either before or after you’ve read my answer.
Be sure to check out my online courses here and my online corrections as well.
Dave
Listen to the audio before reading, for some extra listening practice:
IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Female Leaders (Real Past IELTS Exam/Test)
Throughout history, male leaders have led us into violence and conflict. If a society is governed by female leaders it will be more peaceful.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Real Past IELTS Exam/Test
Many are of the opinion the male inclination towards violence is the root of many international conflicts and societies ruled by women might be more peaceful. In my opinion, this is likely true.
The reason that some oppose this seemingly sexist viewpoint is based on past examples of female leaders. The sample size is much smaller but leaders like Margaret Thatcher, Cleopatra, Hilary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, Queen Elisabeth I, Joan d’Arc and countless others have started, maintained, and escalated violent conflicts. There are very few examples of peaceful female leaders and those that exist can be matched proportionally with male leaders. The claim that women are more peaceful is not supported by historical evidence. A major caveat is that these are the exceptions and women rulers have held power in a world otherwise dominated by male hierarchy. It is impossible to know how peaceful the world would be if women held the majority of powerful positions.
Furthermore, men are naturally predisposed towards aggression. This stems from both biology and society. Men produce more testosterone than women and this has been shown to increase aggressive tendencies and violent behaviour. Men can curb this instinct but it has the potential to undermine their better nature at any moment. There are also societal forces at work that play on men’s pride. From a young age, boys are raised to be tough, to not back down, to not compromise and to idealise violent heroes. The majority of male role models are violent, ranging from historic figures to action stars and even videogame characters. It is hard to disentangle the roles of nature and nurture clearly but the end product of their combination is clear for both males and females.
In conclusion, males are more violent and women would likely be more peaceful given the opportunity to rule widely. The question of the desirability of ending all conflicts and its global impact is another matter.
Analysis
1. Many are of the opinion the male inclination towards violence is the root of many international conflicts and societies ruled by women might be more peaceful. 2. In my opinion, this is likely true.
- Simply paraphrase the overall topic.
- Write your opinion. You can include your topic sentences if you like.
1. The reason that some oppose this seemingly sexist viewpoint is based on past examples of female leaders. 2. The sample size is much smaller but leaders like Margaret Thatcher, Cleopatra, Hilary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, Queen Elisabeth I, Joan d’Arc and countless others have started, maintained, and escalated violent conflicts. 3. There are very few examples of peaceful female leaders and those that exist can be matched proportionally with male leaders. 4. The claim that women are more peaceful is not supported by historical evidence. 5. A major caveat is that these are the exceptions and women rulers have held power in a world otherwise dominated by male hierarchy. 6. It is impossible to know how peaceful the world would be if women held the majority of powerful positions.
- Write a clear topic sentence with your main idea at the end.
- Begin to support it with specific female leaders.
- Draw conclusions based on those leaders.
- Conclude that argument.
- Because I agree with the other side, I start to undermine this argument.
- I finish undermining the opposing view here.
1. Furthermore, men are naturally predisposed towards aggression. 2. This stems from both biology and society. 3. Men produce more testosterone than women and this has been shown to increase aggressive tendencies and violent behaviour. 4. Men can curb this instinct but it has the potential to undermine their better nature at any moment. 5. There are also societal forces at work that play on men’s pride. 6. From a young age, boys are raised to be tough, to not back down, to not compromise and to idealise violent heroes. 7. The majority of male role models are violent, ranging from historic figures to action stars and even videogame characters. 8. It is hard to disentangle the roles of nature and nurture clearly but the end product of their combination is clear for both males and females.
- Write another clear topic sentence with a main idea for the other viewpoint.
- Begin developing it with specific ideas/details/examples.
- Continue developing it.
- Conclude how nature influences males.
- Here I switch to the societal factors.
- And develop those factors specifically.
- I continue developing this.
- I summarise how both might make men worse leaders compared to women.
1. In conclusion, males are more violent and women would likely be more peaceful given the opportunity to rule widely. 2. The question of the desirability of ending all conflicts and its global impact is another matter.
- Repeat your opinion.
- Add an extra detail/final thought for full marks from the examiner.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
Many are of the opinion the male inclination towards violence is the root of many international conflicts and societies ruled by women might be more peaceful. In my opinion, this is likely true.
The reason that some oppose this seemingly sexist viewpoint is based on past examples of female leaders. The sample size is much smaller but leaders like Margaret Thatcher, Cleopatra, Hilary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, Queen Elisabeth I, Joan d’Arc and countless others have started, maintained, and escalated violent conflicts. There are very few examples of peaceful female leaders and those that exist can be matched proportionally with male leaders. The claim that women are more peaceful is not supported by historical evidence. A major caveat is that these are the exceptions and women rulers have held power in a world otherwise dominated by male hierarchy. It is impossible to know how peaceful the world would be if women held the majority of powerful positions.
Furthermore, men are naturally predisposed towards aggression. This stems from both biology and society. Men produce more testosterone than women and this has been shown to increase aggressive tendencies and violent behaviour. Men can curb this instinct but it has the potential to undermine their better nature at any moment. There are also societal forces at work that play on men’s pride. From a young age, boys are raised to be tough, to not back down, to not compromise and to idealise violent heroes. The majority of male role models are violent, ranging from historic figures to action stars and even videogame characters. It is hard to disentangle the roles of nature and nurture clearly but the end product of their combination is clear for both males and females.
In conclusion, males are more violent and women would likely be more peaceful given the opportunity to rule widely. The question of the desirability of ending all conflicts and its global impact is another matter.
Answers
are of the opinion believe
male inclination towards violence men’s tendency to hurt others
root source
international conflicts fights between countries, wars
likely true probably the case
seemingly sexist viewpoint apparently demeaning men or women
sample size example group
countless others many more
maintained continued
escalated violent conflicts increased the scale of wars
matched proportionally mirrored with the same number of
claim argue
not supported no evidence for
historical evidence unsupported by the past
major caveat factor undermining this view
exceptions outside the norm
held power were in charge
otherwise dominated by male hierarchy besides that controlled by men
powerful positions in charge
naturally predisposed genetic inclinations
aggression violent behaviour
stems from comes from/is caused by
testosterone the hormone that makes males aggressive
increase aggressive tendencies make more violent
curb this instinct slow down this tendency
potential possible
undermine their better nature at any moment work against their reasoning powers
play on interfere with
pride arrogance
not back down stand up to
compromise work together on a deal
idealise look up to
ranging from including
disentangle separate from
nature and nurture genetics and upbringing
end product final result
rule widely have power everywhere
desirability something that we want
Pronunciation
ɑːr ɒv ði əˈpɪnjən
meɪl ˌɪnklɪˈneɪʃən təˈwɔːdz ˈvaɪələns
ruːt
ˌɪntə(ː)ˈnæʃənl ˈkɒnflɪkts
ˈlaɪkli truː
ˈsiːmɪŋli ˈsɛksɪst ˈvjuːpɔɪnt
ˈsɑːmpl saɪz
ˈkaʊntlɪs ˈʌðəz
meɪnˈteɪnd
ˈɛskəleɪtɪd ˈvaɪələnt ˈkɒnflɪkts
mæʧt prəˈpɔːʃənli
kleɪm
nɒt səˈpɔːtɪd
hɪsˈtɒrɪkəl ˈɛvɪdəns
ˈmeɪʤə ˈkeɪvɪæt
ɪkˈsɛpʃənz
hɛld ˈpaʊə
ˈʌðəwaɪz ˈdɒmɪneɪtɪd baɪ meɪl ˈhaɪərɑːki
ˈpaʊəfʊl pəˈzɪʃənz
ˈnæʧrəli ˌpriːdɪsˈpəʊzd
əˈgrɛʃ(ə)n
stɛmz frɒm
tɛˈstɒstəˌrəʊn
ˈɪnkriːs əˈgrɛsɪv ˈtɛndənsiz
kɜːb ðɪs ˈɪnstɪŋkt
pəʊˈtɛnʃəl
ˌʌndəˈmaɪn ðeə ˈbɛtə ˈneɪʧər æt ˈɛni ˈməʊmənt
pleɪ ɒn
praɪd
nɒt bæk daʊn
ˈkɒmprəmaɪz
aɪˈdɪəlaɪz
ˈreɪnʤɪŋ frɒm
ˌdɪsɪnˈtæŋgl
ˈneɪʧər ænd ˈnɜːʧə
ɛnd ˈprɒdʌkt
ruːl ˈwaɪdli
dɪˌzaɪərəˈbɪlɪti
Listen and repeat:
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
Many a_________________n the m_________________________________e is the r______t of many i__________________________s and societies ruled by women might be more peaceful. In my opinion, this is l______________e.
The reason that some oppose this s__________________________t is based on past examples of female leaders. The s_____________e is much smaller but leaders like Margaret Thatcher, Cleopatra, Hilary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, Queen Elisabeth I, Joan d’Arc and c___________________s have started, m_____________d, and e_________________________s. There are very few examples of peaceful female leaders and those that exist can be m__________________________________y with male leaders. The c________m that women are more peaceful is n___________________d by h____________________e. A m________________t is that these are the e________________s and women rulers have h______________r in a world o________________________________________________y. It is impossible to know how peaceful the world would be if women held the majority of p_________________________s.
Furthermore, men are n__________________________d towards a______________n. This s______________m both biology and society. Men produce more t_______________e than women and this has been shown to i______________________________s and violent behaviour. Men can c_________________________t but it has the p________________l to u____________________________________________t. There are also societal forces at work that p________n men’s p________e. From a young age, boys are raised to be tough, to n_______________n, to not c_______________e and to i______________e violent heroes. The majority of male role models are violent, r__________________m historic figures to action stars and even videogame characters. It is hard to d_____________e the roles of n___________________________e clearly but the e__________________t of their combination is clear for both males and females.
In conclusion, males are more violent and women would likely be more peaceful given the opportunity to r_____________y. The question of the d_________________y of ending all conflicts and its global impact is another matter.
Listen and check:
Listening Practice
There’s a great playlist from TedEd on this topic, starting with Cleopatra:
Reading Practice
Read the article below for more examples you can use in your writing or speaking:
https://www.historyextra.com/100-women/100-women-results/
Speaking Practice
Answer the questions below from the real IELTS speaking test:
Celebrities
- Do you know any celebrities?
- Which celebrity do you know the most about?
- Are there are any celebrities you would like to meet?
- Who is the most famous person in your country?
Writing Practice
Answer the related writing topic and then check with my sample answer essay below:
Some believe that people are naturally born as leaders while others feel that leadership skills can develop.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Real Past IELTS Exam/Test
It is believed by some that if there were only female leaders, society would be a peaceful place. I, however, do not completely agree with it. In my opinion, there should be equality for both genders to maintain harmony on the planet.
To begin with, it would be sex discrimination if only women were allowed to be heads. Men may feel that they are not given a chance to serve their country, which is ethically and morally wrong. This system may prove to be counterproductive since men could revolt and start a revolution to fight for their rights. Furthermore, despite the fact that, historically, some men were infamous for their leadership principles (for example, Hitler), there are many who have shown exceptional work for the improvement of mankind. For instance, Gandhi was well-known for this approach to non-violence.
Finally, women may not virtually understand the psychology of men, and similarly, men may not understand that of women. Besides, women seem to be better critical thinkers, problem-solvers, and wise decision-makers, but they are emotionally weak due to their motherly instincts. Men, on the other hand, are stronger emotion-wise. Therefore, we need men as well as women in politics for the robust progression of a nation.
Having said that, some people think that peace will prevail if female demohraphics are the kingpins of the world. They point out that women take into account the facts of problematic circumstances and arrive at conclusions that seem to be beneficial for all. In other words, they appear to make decisions that cause less destruction to humanity. However, they are forgetting that women can be belligerent at times in order to derive benefits in favor of their country. For example, Queen Elizabeth was famous for her effective control and power over multiple colonies of the British Empire. Yet, she has caused severe damage to many nations in which she ruled.
To conclude, although some people feel that world would be harmonious if ruling is been done by women leaders, I think that it is only equitable to each genders to have the opportunity to lead the government because our community needs the excellence of both to effectively run and progress.
Great Rosy, though it is way too long for an IELTS essay – how long did it take to write it?
Also a lot of the vocabulary is a little off. Nice examples!
Keep working hard!
It took me 45 minutes to write this. Thank you for pointers. I will work on them.
Can I use the words kingpins or linchpins to describe a person?
Hi, Rosy, you’re welcome.
Those words are a little informal – better to use them in speaking.
Noted with thanks!