IELTS Writing Task 1:
The diagram shows the changes to Station Street in 1960 and now.
ielts writing task 1
Report:
The diagram illustrates the layout of Station Street in 1960 compared with the present day.
Overall, a supermarket has now replaced a number of small shops which were on the side of the street facing the railway station in 1960. While a grocery store was next to the railway station in 1960, this space is now occupied by a hotel.
A row of 7 shops faced the railway station in 1960, selling meat, bread, toys, books and rental DVDs, together with a pharmacy and a fish and chips shop. A supermarket with adjacent parking has now taken the place of these shops, and a cafe has replaced the fish and chips shop.
On the other side of the street, however, there have been fewer changes. The railway station is now slightly larger, because the public telephones located at the side of the station in 1960 have been removed. In 1960, there was a grocery store next to the public telephones, but a hotel now occupies this site. Finally, the dry cleaners on the other side of the railway station is still in the same location.
185 words
IELTS Writing task 2:
School should not force children to learn a foreign language. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Essay Outline
Introduction: refer to the task statement. My opinion: completely agree’
Paragraph 2: reason (1), essential to break down communication barriers at school age, when it is easier to learn a foreign language. They will need this later in life for work or leisure (a simple example – asking directions when travelling overseas).
Paragraph 3: reason (2), learning a foreign language gives an opportunity to form friendships with students of different nationalities. Examples: student exchange visits, social networking sites.
Conclusion: learning a foreign language should be compulsory in schools.
Sample Essay:
It is true that in some schools learning a foreign language is compulsory. While some students may find this difficult, I completely agree with the view that this should be a discipline which all children must study.
Firstly, language breaks down communication barriers. International travel is now part of the lives of many people around the world, so it is often essential to interact with other people when travelling for work or leisure. For example, a simple thing such as asking directions will probably require a basic knowledge of the language of the country. School provides an ideal opportunity, because children find it easier than adults to acquire a new language. Therefore, the years spent at school should include the requirement to have a good grasp of a second, or even third, language.
Secondly, communication includes forming friendships. At school, taking up a language should mean a chance to arrange exchange visits between students of different nationalities or to establish chat rooms between language students using social networking sites. Using the latest leading-edge technology, students will be forced into real-life situations in which they have to rely on their linguistic ability to speak and listen to a student overseas who speaks a different language. This provides an incentive to overcome language barriers and to speak more fluently. While the school curriculum already has to cover a lot of ground, time must be allocated to studying a foreign language.
In conclusion, the school years offer a unique chance to learn another language, and so foreign languages must be a required part of the school curriculum.
264 words
Vocabulary from language:
to break down communication barriers: to remove obstacles/ hurdle to communication with other people
Example: When travelling to other countries, learning a little of the local language will help to break down communication barriers and make the trip more enjoyable.
to interact with other people
Meaning: to communicate with or react to
Example: Language is crucial/important/vital/because it is one of the main ways to communicate and interact with other people around us. It keeps us in contact with other people.
to acquire a new language
Meaning: to be able to communicate in a new language as a result of your own efforts
Example: It takes many years of study to acquire a new language, therefore students have to be very motivated to learn.
a second language
Meaning: a language that a person can speak, but which is not the first language which they learned naturally as a child
Example: In the modern world of business, for many people it is important to speak
English as a second language.
to take up a language
Meaning: to learn or start to study a language
Example: For those people who intend to study or live overseas, it is usually essential to take up the language spoken in the host country.
linguistic ability
Meaning: the ability to master other languages
Example: People with linguistic ability seem to have a natural talent, whereas most students struggle for many years to achieve fluency in a language.
language barriers
Meaning: difficulties for people communicating because they speak different languages.
Example: If there were a global language, the absence of language barriers would promote international trade, and also create new possibilities for cooperation between countries in other areas, such as science and the arts.
to speak fluently
Meaning: to speak easily and well
Example: Interaction with other English speakers on Skype is a very effective way to learn to speak more fluently.
Vocabulary from education:
to have a good grasp of something: to understand a problem completely and deeply
Example: Children who learn a foreign language in primary school are able to have a good grasp of the new language quickly.
to cover a lot of ground: to deal with much information and many facts.
Example: The history lecture covered a lot of ground today.
Vocabulary from communication and personality:
social networking sites: a website on which you communicate with people who share your interests
Example: Young people squander too much time on social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter.
Vocabulary from technology:
leading-edge technology: the most advanced position in technology
Example: Manufacturers of electronic devices advertise their products as having the latest cutting-edge technology.
Other IELTS vocabulary:
compulsory [adjective]: that must be done because of a law or rule
Example: In the UK, the law states that all drivers must use a seat belt – it is compulsory.
allocate [verb]: to give something officially to someone or something for a specific purpose
Example: I think that more money should be allocated to health services rather than on buying military equipment
