IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer: Museum Visitors & Entrance Fees (Real IELTS Test)

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer: Museum Entrance Fees (Real IELTS Test)

Many museums charge for admission while others are free.

Do you think the advantages of charging people for admission to museums outweigh the disadvantages?
Real Past IELTS Tests

Many are of the belief that museums should be free to the public because of their enormous potential to educate while others feel charging money helps ensure the quality of the art therein. I concede the benefits of the latter argument but would still side with those who advocate free admissions.

The main reason that many are in support of charging money is that it sustains both the maintenance and quality of exhibitions. A good example of this would be the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. MoMA is generally regarded as one of the finest museums in the world and is famous not only for its well-maintained facade but also the ever-rotating artworks on display. They charge a nominal entrance fee in the neighbourhood of $20 a ticket and invest that money wisely to ensure a memorable experience for all museum-goers.

Despite the advantages for a private museum such as MoMA, I think making all museums free would encourage more people to appreciate art. A contrasting example with MoMA would be a museum just a few blocks away: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The MET has educated and uplifted millions of citizens regardless of their socioeconomic status. The wealthy who can afford museum admission are likely to already have a deep appreciation of the arts as well as the leisure time to enjoy their practice. People, and children especially, from poorer backgrounds have fewer opportunities and free museums is the best way to support appreciation of the arts en masse.

In conclusion, the benefits of free museum admissions, particularly for lower income families, outweigh the benefits of charging. The bigger issue is how governments and other organisations can budget free or relatively inexpensive museums.

Analysis

1. Many are of the belief that museums should be free to the public because of their enormous potential to educate while others feel charging money helps ensure the quality of the art therein. 2. I concede the benefits of the latter argument but would still side with those who advocate free admissions.

Paraphrase the main topic for your first sentence.
State your opinion clearly in the second sentence.

1. The main reason that many are in support of charging money is that it sustains both the maintenance and quality of exhibitions. 2. A good example of this would be the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. 3. MoMA is generally regarded as one of the finest museums in the world and is famous not only for its well-maintained facade but also the ever-rotating artworks on display. 4. They charge a nominal entrance fee in the neighbourhood of $20 a ticket and invest that money wisely to ensure a memorable experience for all museum-goers.

The first sentence of each paragraph should be a topic sentence with your main idea. My main idea here is that charing money is good for maintanence and the quality of exhibitions.
Begin developing a specific example.
Keep developing that same example – don’t switch to another example or main idea.
Finish developing the example and conclude your main idea.

1. Despite the advantages for a private museum such as MoMA, I think making all museums free would encourage more people to appreciate art. 2. A contrasting example with MoMA would be a museum just a few blocks away: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 3. The MET has educated and uplifted millions of citizens regardless of their socioeconomic status. 4. The wealthy who can afford museum admission are likely to already have a deep appreciation of the arts as well as the leisure time to enjoy their practice. 5. People, and children especially, from poorer backgrounds have fewer opportunities and free museums is the best way to support appreciation of the arts en masse.

Another topic sentence – keep these simple and put the main idea at the end of the sentence to make your writing clear.
Begin another specific example.
Develop it.
Keep developing the example. Be as specific and detailed as possible.
Conclude the example and paragraph.

1. In conclusion, the benefits of free museum admissions, particularly for lower income families, outweigh the benefits of charging. 2. The bigger issue is how governments and other organisations can budget free or relatively inexpensive museums.

Repeat your opinion.
Add in an extra detail or final thought for full points for task achievement.

Vocabulary

Try to figure out what the words in bold mean:

Many are of the belief that museums should be free to the public because of their enormous potential to educate while others feel charging money helps ensure the quality of the art therein. I concede the benefits of the latter argument but would still side with those who advocate free admissions.

The main reason that many are in support of charging money is that it sustains both the maintenance and quality of exhibitions. A good example of this would be the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. MoMA is generally regarded as one of the finest museums in the world and is famous not only for its well-maintained facade but also the ever-rotating artworks on display. They charge a nominal entrance fee in the neighbourhood of $20 a ticket and invest that money wisely to ensure a memorable experience for all museum-goers.

Despite the advantages for a private museum such as MoMA, I think making all museums free would encourage more people to appreciate art. A contrasting example with MoMA would be a museum just a few blocks away: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The MET has educated and uplifted millions of citizens regardless of their socioeconomic status. The wealthy who can afford museum admission are likely to already have a deep appreciation of the arts as well as the leisure time to enjoy their practice. People, and children especially, from poorer backgrounds have fewer opportunities and free museums is the best way to support appreciation of the arts en masse.

In conclusion, the benefits of free museum admissions, particularly for lower income families, outweigh the benefits of charging. The bigger issue is how governments and other organisations can budget free or relatively inexpensive museums.

Answers

free to the public costs nothing

enormous potential lots of possibility

ensure the quality make sure it is good

therein in there

concede admit

latter last idea mentioned

side with agree with

advocate am behind

sustains supports

maintenance up keep

exhibitions art displays

MoMA Museum of Modern Art in New York City

generally regarded mostly thought of

finest museums best museums

well-maintained facade nice exterior

ever-rotating artworks on display new works of art all the time

nominal entrance fee small cost to get in

in the neighbourhood of around

invest put money into

wisely smartly

memorable experience unforgettable

museum-goers visitors to museums

private museum museum not owned by the government

appreciate art think highly of and understand art

contrasting example instance that shows the opposite

blocks streets

uplifted increase/make happier

regardless of nonetheless

socioeconomic status amount of money they have

deep appreciation of the arts love art

poorer backgrounds people with less money

en masse altogether

lower income families poor families

bigger issue most pressing matter

budget amount of money they have to spend

relatively inexpensive fairly cheap

Pronunciation

friː tuː ðə ˈpʌblɪk
ɪˈnɔːməs pəʊˈtɛnʃəl
ɪnˈʃʊə ðə ˈkwɒlɪti
ðeərˈɪn
kənˈsiːd
ˈlætə
saɪd wɪð
ˈædvəkɪt
səsˈteɪnz
ˈmeɪntənəns
ˌɛksɪˈbɪʃənz
ˈməmʌ
ˈʤɛnərəli rɪˈgɑːdɪd
ˈfaɪnɪst mju(ː)ˈzɪəmz
wɛl-meɪnˈteɪnd fəˈsɑːd
ˈɛvə-rəʊˈteɪtɪŋ ˈɑːtˌwɜːks ɒn dɪsˈpleɪ
ˈnɒmɪnl ˈɛntrəns fiː
ɪn ðə ˈneɪbəhʊd ɒv
ɪnˈvɛst
ˈwaɪzli
ˈmɛmərəbl ɪksˈpɪərɪəns
mju(ː)ˈzɪəm-ˈgəʊəz
ˈpraɪvɪt mju(ː)ˈzɪəm
əˈpriːʃɪeɪt ɑːt
kənˈtrɑːstɪŋ ɪgˈzɑːmpl
blɒks
ʌpˈlɪftɪd
rɪˈgɑːdlɪs ɒv
ˌsəʊsɪəʊˌɛkəˈnɒmɪk ˈsteɪtəs
diːp əˌpriːʃɪˈeɪʃ(ə)n ɒv ði ɑːts
ˈpʊərə ˈbækgraʊndz
ɛn mæs
ˈləʊər ˈɪnkʌm ˈfæmɪliz
ˈbɪgər ˈɪʃuː
ˈbʌʤɪt
ˈrɛlətɪvli ˌɪnɪksˈpɛnsɪv

Vocabulary Practice

Many are of the belief that museums should be ______________ because of their ______________ to educate while others feel charging money helps ______________ of the art ______________. I ______________ the benefits of the ______________ argument but would still ______________ those who ______________ free admissions.

The main reason that many are in support of charging money is that it ______________ both the ______________ and quality of ______________. A good example of this would be the Museum of Modern Art (______________ ) in New York City. MoMA is ______________ as one of the ______________ in the world and is famous not only for its ______________ but also the ______________. They charge a ______________ ______________ $20 a ticket and ______________ that money ______________ to ensure a ______________ for all ______________.

Despite the advantages for a ______________ such as MoMA, I think making all museums free would encourage more people to ______________. A ______________ with MoMA would be a museum just a few ______________ away: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The MET has educated and ______________ millions of citizens ______________ their ______________. The wealthy who can afford museum admission are likely to already have a ______________ as well as the leisure time to enjoy their practice. People, and children especially, from ______________ have fewer opportunities and free museums is the best way to support appreciation of the arts ______________ .

In conclusion, the benefits of free museum admissions, particularly for ______________, outweigh the benefits of charging. The ______________ is how governments and other organisations can ______________ free or ______________ museums.