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*This post is updated weekly to reflect new questions from the test!
I have painstakenly collected from various official and unofficial sources, the recent topics and questions from IELTS writing exam starting in 2019 and continuing into 2020.
If you want to read my sample answers from the real IELTS exam you can find them all here:
IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answers
IELTS Writing Task 1 Sample Answers
IELTS Speaking Model Answers and Tips
You can also find the latest IELTS Speaking Questions here and some of the newest IELTS Writing Task 1 Tasks here.
Enjoy and best of luck on your test!
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March 2020
Some people believe that smartphones are destroying social interaction today.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Reported on IELTS March 29th
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?
Reported on IETLS March 19th
Some believe that history has little to teach us about today while others think that the study of the past helps us to understand the present.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Reported on IELTS March 17th
More and more students at university today are not choosing to study science.
Why is this happening?
What are the effects of this?
Reported on IELTS March 15th
Many people believe that music is just a form of entertainment, whilst others believe that music has a much larger impact on society today.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Reported on IELTS March 12th
Some people argue that job satisfaction is more important than job security, while others believe that they cannot always expect job satisfaction and a permanent job is more important.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Reported on IELTS March 7th
Watching TV shows and movies about crime is becoming more and more popular.
Why is this?
What effect does that have on society?
Reported on IELTS March 4th
Some believe technology has made our lives too complex and the solution is to lead a simpler life without technology.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Reported on IELTS March 3rd
February 2020
In the future it will become more difficult to live on Earth so more money should be spent researching how to like on other planets such as Mars.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Reported on IELTS February 28th
Some think that ambition is a good quality.
Is it important to be ambitious?
Is it a positive or negative characteristic?
Reported on IELTS February 26th
Online shopping is become more common these days.
What effect could this have on the environment and the types of jobs required?
Reported on IELTS February 24th
Some think that governments should support retired people financially while others believe they should take care of themselves.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Reported on IELTS February 23rd
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.
Reported on IELTS February 21st
Some think that governments should tax unhealthy foods to encourage people to eat healthier.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Reported on IELTS February 20th
Nowadays more tasks at home and work are being performed by robots.
Is this a negative or positive development?
Reported on IELTS February 18th
As well as making money, businesses also have a responsibilty towards society.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Reported on IELTS February 16th
The use of social media is replacing face-to-face interaction among many people in society.
Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
Reported on IELTS February 10th
Some believe that tourism does more to create tension between between countries rather than helping individuals better understand other cultures.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Reported on IELTS February 9th
Too much money is wasted on repairing old buildings that should be used to knock them down and build new ones.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Reported on IELTS February 7th
Plagiarism in academics has become a pressing problem in many countries today.
What are the causes of this problem?
What are some possible solutions?
Reported IELTS Exam on February 5th
Nowadays, entertainers get paid more than politicians.
What are the reasons for this?
Is this a negative or positive development?
Reported IELTS Exam on February 3rd
More and more people today are drinking sugar-based drinks.
What are the reasons for this?
What are the solutions?
Reported IELTS Exam on February 3rd
Many believe that the best way to ensure a happier society is to reduce the difference in income earnings between the rich and poor.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Reported IELTS Exam on February 1st
January 2020
In some countries, criminal trials are shown on television for the public.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
Reported IELTS Exam on January 30th
Many believe that individuals can do little to improve the environment. Only governments and large companies can make a real difference.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sign up here to get my exclusive PDF for this difficult question.
Reported IELTS Exam on January 28th
Today single-use products are still very common.
What are the problems associated with this?
What are some possible solutions?
Reported IELTS Exam on January 27th
People today generally have better lives than people in the past did.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Reported IELTS Exam on January 25th
Interviews have always been the most common way to choose among job candidates. Some people now think that there are better ways of finding the right person for a job.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Reported IELTS Exam on January 24th
Many people feel that students should learn from online materials while others feel that it is better to use printed materials.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Reported IELTS Exam on January 23rd
In order to be successful at a sport, some think you must be physically strong while others believe mental strength is more important.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Reported IELTS Exam on January 22nd
People today increasingly use credit cards to make monthly purchases.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
Reported IELTS Exam on January 21st
Scientific research should be primarily funded by governments instead of commercial companies.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Reported IELTS Exam on January 20th
Nowadays it is not only large studios that are able to make films. Digital filmmaking now enables anyone to make films.
Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
Reported IELTS Exam on January 18th
Many people have suggested that young adults should undertake a period of unpaid work helping people in their local community.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?
Reported IELTS Exam on January 17th
People today spend less and less time interacting with other people in their neighborhood and this has a negative impact on communities.
What are the possible causes and solutions to this problem?
Reported IELTS Exam on January 15th
Because most information about culture and history can be found on the internet today, musems are not necessary.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Reported IELTS Exam on January 14th
Many feel that happiness is mainly an individual responsibilty while others feel that there are important external factors.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Reported IELTS Exam on January 10th
Some believe that spoken communication is always more powerful than written communication.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Reported IELTS Exam on January 10th
Some people think that paying taxes is their only responsibility towards society while others feel that everyone should do more.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Reported IELTS Exam on January 7th
Some people believe that education is the key to tackling hunger worldwide while others feel that the answer is in food aid.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Reported IELTS Exam on January 3rd
December 2019
Some people think that countries should limit the amount of food that they import and mainly eat products from their own country.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people believe that having access to the internet is necessary to live a full life today.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Most agree that we should be training children to recycle waste to preserve the Earth’s natural resources. However, some believe that it is parents who should teach their children to recycle waste while others feels schools are more responsible.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Students should be primarily taught academic subjects so that they can pass exams, and practical skills such as cooking should not be taught.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Despite clear warnings from climate scientists, few people are changing their habits.
Why is this the case?
What can be done to encourage people to protect the environment?
Many people think that interviews are not the best way to assess the suitability of a candidate for a position.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some believe that children should start school after the age of 7 while others think that school should begin from a very young age.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Many feel that technology today is increasing the divide between the wealthy and the poor.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people think that the news media has become much more influential in people’s lives today and it is a negative development.
Do you agree or disagree?
Many pschologists recommend that the best way to relieve stress is to do nothing at all for a period of time during the day.
Do you agree or disagree?
People today often use the internet to learn about the culture of other countries. This means that it is not that important to travel to those countries.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
The most common solution for criminal behaviour is prison but many believe education is a better method.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
November 2019
Many museums charge for admission while others are free.
Do you think the advantages of charging people for admission to museums outweigh the disadvantages?
Reported November 30th
People have historically attempted to achieve a perfect society. However, it is difficult to decide what an ideal society would be like.
What would be the most important element of a perfect society?
What can normal people do to make society more perfect?
Read my full sample answer for this question here.
People today often use the internet to learn about the culture of other countries. This means that it is not that important to travel to other countries.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Read my full sample answer for this question here.
At many companies today, applicants are often rejected due to old age.
Do you think this is a positive or a negative development?
Many pschologists recommend that the best way to relieve stress is to do nothing at all for a period of time during the day.
Do you agree or disagree?
Many believe that success in life mainly depends on hard work and determination while others believe that factors like money and personal appearance are important.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
October 2019
Many people believe that lecture halls have been replaced by online learning.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many people think that museums will be replaced by technology as most information can be found free online. Others believe that musueums are still important.
Will museums no longer be needed in the future?
Is this a positive development?
Read my museums sample answer here.
September 2019
Some people believe that universities shold only accept students with the highest marks while others believe that some students with low marks should have an opportunity.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Some people think women should play an equal role in the police and military while others think women are less suitable for these roles.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Rapid population growth in cities has brought with it many problems.
What are these problems?
How can the quality of life of city residents be maintained?
Many scientists believe that seeking out life by sending messages into space is a good idea while others feel that it is dangerous.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
August 2019
Some people think that it is better to include more public parks and sports facilities in new towns rather than shopping malls.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Studies have shown that most criminals have low levels of educations. Because of this many believe that the best way to reduce crime is to educate prisoners so they can get a job after being released.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Governements should spend less money on restoring old buildings and more money for new housing and roads development.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
In certain countries, unemployment is so high that some have suggested children should stop their education after primary school to learn skills necessary to join the workforce.
Do you agree or disagree?
In many parts of the world, people look up their family history. Some people think that researching previous generations is a good idea but others think that it is better to be focused on the present and future generations.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Experts claim that if older people do more exercise they will be healthier and happier. However, many elderly people suffer from a lack of fitness.
What are the causes of this and what are some possible solutions?
These days many people throw away damaged items rather than repairing them.
Why has this change occurred?
What are the effects of this change in attitude?
Some people think that living in a country is essential to learn that country’s language and culture.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
July 2019
Much of the food people eat gets transported from farms thousands of miles away. Some believe it would be better for the environment and economy if people only ate food from local farmers.
Would the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
The qualities and skills that people require to be successful in today’s world cannot be learned at university or at other academic institutions.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
These days, more and more business meetings and business training are taking place online.
Do the advantages of this change outweigh the disadvantages?
Some believe that because everyone needs a place to live, governments should provide houses for those who are too poor to afford their own.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people think that sports are needed for society while others think they are just a simple form of recreation.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Many believe that young people should spend more of their free time with their family instead of other entertainment.
Do you agree or disagree?
The media tends to focus on problems rather than positive developments. Some people think that this is harmful to individuals and society.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many employers are looking for people with good social skills as well as good qualifications.
Are social skills as important as qualifications?
How could this be a problem?
June 2019
Many developing countries are expanding their tourist industries.
Why is this?
Is this a positive development?
These days many parents pressure their children to be successful.
What are the reasons for this?
Is this a positive or negative development?
Some educators think international exchange programs would benefit teenagers in High School.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
Earlier developments in technology brought more benefits to changethe lives of ordinary people than recent ones do now.
Do you agree or disagree?
More and more people today are buying and driving cars which has a positive impact for the economy but can hurt the environment.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
Machines and robots are increasingly replacing workers in a number of industries.
Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
People from poor rural areas often have difficulty getting into good universities. Therefore, universities should make it easier for these people to be accepted.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many famous sports players advertise sports products.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
Many are of the opinion that schools should stop using books in favour of videos, films, and computers.
To what extent do you agree?
In many countries, visitors to art galleries has been declining steadily.
What are the reasons for this?
What could be done to improve this development?
Universities should develop methods to support students who come from rural and disadvantageous backgrounds.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people think that libraries are a waste of money and resourcse and computers can largely replace them.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
For people in many countries consumer goods have become an essential part of their lives.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
In many countries men and women both work full-time jobs and it is logical that they should share household tasks equally.
Do you agree or disagree?
May 2019
As internation travel is becoming cheaper, more and more countries are allowing in more tourists.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
In many countries, people believe secondary schools should aim to provide a general education of a range of subjects. In other countries, students focus on subjects that will be useful for future careers.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Many believe that there should be few restrictions on the office buildings and homes that people can build in cities while others think the designs should be limited.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Some people think that it is important to let children act independently and make their own decisions from an early age.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this?
The amount of advertising that is around us all the time now has a negative impact on people’s quality of life.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
People are now living in a “throwaway society” where things are used for a short period of time and then thrown away.
What are the causes of this and what problems does it cause?
Shopping is now one of the most popular forms of leisure activities in many countries for young adults.
Why is this?
Do you think this is a positive or a negative development?
These days many kids spend a lot of their time playing computer games instead of doing sports.
What is the cause of this?
Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
Many people think that television is the best place to get your news while others believe there are better platforms.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some think that one of the best ways to solve environmental problems is to increase the cost of fuel for cars and other vehicles.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people think that the best way of combatting environmental problems is increasing the cost of fuel for cars and similar vehicles.
Do you agree or disagree?
Many think that studying in a group is better than self-study. Others think that it is better to study by yourself.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Many shops today stay open later than in the past and this has an effect on shoppers and the community.
Is this a positive or negative development?
April 2019
Some people think that inviduals should be responsible for planning for their retirement while others feel that it is the responsibility of governments to help them.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Many museums and historical sites are not visited by local people.
What are the causes of this and what can be done about it?
Many say manufactures and supermarkets are responsible for reducing the amount of packaging of products they sell and others say it is the consumers responsibility to stop buying products with too much packaging.
Discuss both views.
In many countries, people can buy a wider range of household goods, such as microwaves, ovens and rice cookers than ever before.
Is this a positive or negative change?
Many people claim that parents should place restrictions on the hours children spend watching TV and playing videogames and encourage them to spend more time reading books .
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many people feel that all teenagers should have to do unpaid work during their free time to help the local community and for the benefit of society as a whole.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many countries are struggling with increases in crime rates and some think that having more police on the streets is the best way to reduce these increasing levels of crime.
Do you agree or disagree?
Some people think parents should supervise their children’s activities , while others believe children should be free to do what they want in their free time.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Today, many people do not realise the importance of the natural world.
Why is this?
How can people be encouraged to learn more about how important the natural world is?
Some people believe that in order to reduce the amount of time people spend commuting , parks and gardens close to city centres should be replaced by apartment buildings. Others disagree with this idea.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Some people believe that it is the responsibilty of individuals to take care of the environment while others think this is the responsibility of the government.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Government funding should be used to support sports and the arts in school rather than professional sports and arts for the general public.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
More and more people are becoming seriously overweight. Some people have suggested that governments should increase the cost of unhealthy foods.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
March 2019
In the future there will be more older people than younger people in most countries.
Is this a positive or negative development?
Some people believe that family has the greatest influence on childrens’ development while others think that other areas such as television and friends have greater influence.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Scientists have been warning for many years about environmental protection and how important it is to limit our personal energy consumption.
What are the causes of overconsumption of electricity?
How can people be encouraged to use less energy?
Many countries spend a lot of money on improved transport for urban areas while neglecting rural transport.
What are the problems associated with this?
What are some possible solutions?
Some people believe that teenagers should focus on all school subjects while others think that they should concentrate on the subjects where they do the best or find the most interesting.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
The workplace is changing rapidly and many people can no longer rely on having one job their entire life.
Describe the possible causes of this and suggest how this problem can be dealt with.
Some believe that older people make better leaders than young people in companies and organisations.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people believe that the increasing number of vehicles is one of the biggest problem facing cities, while others believe that cities have bigger challenges.
Discuss both views and state your opinion.
Some people think that men are naturally more competitive than women.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
These days, mobile phones and the internet are very important to the ways in which people relate to one another socially.
Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
Scientists believe that in order to protect the environment, people must use less energy in their daily lives. However, most people have not changed the way they live.
Why do you think many people have not taken individual action?
What could be done to encourage them to take action?
Films and computer games which contain violence are very popular. Some people believe they have a negative effect on society and so should be banned. Other people, however, say they are just harmless and help people to relax.
Discuss both these points of view and give your own opinion.
Some people think that higher institutions should concentration more on academic subjects such as history and the physical sciences, while others think that they should concentrate more on practical subjects such as car mechanics and cookery, and so on.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion
February 2019
Around the world, the rich are becoming richer and poor are becoming poorer.
What is the cause of this?
What solutions are there to tackle it?
Economic growth is the best way of ending global poverty but it can also have a negative effect on the environment.
Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.
Many people want to look younger than their real age.
What are the causes of this?
Is this a positive or negative development?
Some think that testing new medicines on animals is necessary while others believe it is not right.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some peole prefer to buy international products rather than local ones.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?
Films and games can be viewed and played at any time on mobile devices.
Do the advantages of such a development outweigh the disadvantages?
Some people think that the quality of a product drives its sales and advertising is an unnecessary form of entertainment.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many young people are leaving the countryside to live in cities leaving behind an elderly population.
What are the problems associated with this?
What can be done about it?
Some people think that the government is wasting money by funding the arts and this money could be better spent elsewhere.
To what extent do you agree with this view?
Advances in computer technology allow young adults to work from home and children to study at home.
Do you think this is a positive or negative change?
People today get less sleep than in the past.
What is the cause of this?
What are the possible effects of this development?
Some people think that a good diet and exercise are not necessary to live a long and healthy life.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people think that high-end technology can prevent and cut down the crime rate.
Do you agree or disagree?
Some people think that family is the most powerful influence on a child’s development while others feel that other factors such as television and friends play a greater role today.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
The main reason that people work hard is to make money.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Over consumption of sugar is unhealthy. Some people think that governments should take the responsibility to control sugar intake while other thing it is the responsibility of individuals.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
January 2019
An increasing number of people are buying what they need online.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this development?
People live longer today than in the past so they should stay in the workforce longer.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Money ought to be spent on new public buildings such as museums or town halls rather than renovating existing ones.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
All people in a company should be treated equally and provided with the same amount of vacation in a year.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many people say that a person’s success is a result of the way they have been brought up by their parents.
Do you agree or disagree?
Some parents claim that advertisements are misleading for children while others allege that they provide useful information.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Public celeberations (such as national days, festivals etc) are held in most countries. These are often quite expensive and some people say that governments should spend money on more useful things.
Do you agree or disagree?
Some people say that young people should be encouraged to leave home when they become adults while others claim it would be better to remain with their family.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Some people think that a high salary is the most important facrtor when choosing a company to work for, while others think that a good working atmosphere is more important.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Parents should take courses in parenting in order to improve the lives of their children.
To what extent do you agree?
More and more people prefer to buy readymade food from restaurants or convenience stores instead of cooking for themselves.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?
Some people think that the best way to get the news is through newspapers while others think it is through online media.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Employers should focus on personal qualities instead of qualifications and experience when choosing someone for a job.
To what extent do you agree?
Comment below any questions that you had on the test or any writing that you want some feedback on!
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915.7K - 915.7KShares
I faced the ielts speaking exam today(1/2/2020)part 1 was okay.but in the second part we discussed about sport.i dint hear a one quection correctly.so i said a opposite idea about the quection 2times.and the third time when examiner asked the same quection i answered correctly.i am still in the exam centre waiting to do ielts speaking.is this cause to reduce my marks alot.i am frustrated about it
Thanks for reporting about your exam! There is no task achievement score for speaking so it will not have much of an impact. If you often answer the wrong question then it will hurt your fluency score but I wouldn’t worry about answering slightly off topic once or twice. How did the rest of your test go?