Write an essay, get a band estimate

One random question from the bank — the closest thing to exam day.

Some people believe that university education should be free for all students. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

• Take a clear position in the introduction and keep it consistent.
• Body 1: access and equality — free tuition lets poorer students study.
• Body 2: the funding problem — who pays, and what happens to quality?

Many students now choose to study abroad rather than in their own country. Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?

• Plan two short lists first: advantages vs disadvantages.
• Use one concrete example (a country or a field of study) to support a point.
• End with a clear overall judgement — outweigh or not.

Some people think that students should be allowed to use mobile phones in the classroom, while others believe phones should be banned in schools. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

• Discuss-both-views: one body paragraph per side, then your opinion.
• Allow view: phones are learning tools — dictionaries, research, quizzes.
• Ban view: distraction and cheating; end with a balanced personal stance.

Some people think that social media has replaced face-to-face communication. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

• Decide your position: replaced, partly replaced, or not replaced at all.
• Contrast online contact with in-person contact using everyday examples.
• Useful range: 'maintain relationships', 'in-person interaction', 'at the tap of a screen'.

As technology advances, many traditional jobs are disappearing. Is this a positive or negative development?

• Consider both sides, then state which side you find stronger.
• Mention that automation also creates new kinds of jobs.
• A range of linking words helps: 'on balance', 'in the long run', 'as a result'.

Many people now rely on artificial intelligence tools for writing and research. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

• Advantages: speed, help for non-native speakers, a starting point for ideas.
• Disadvantages: over-reliance, errors presented as fact, weakened skills.
• Close with an explicit outweigh / does-not-outweigh verdict.

Some people believe that governments should spend more money on public transport systems, while others think that improving roads for private vehicles is more important. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

• This is a discuss-both-views question: give each view its own paragraph.
• Public transport view: less congestion and pollution per passenger.
• Roads view: flexibility and rural access — then state your own opinion clearly.

Individuals can do nothing to improve the environment; only governments and large companies can make a difference. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

• The statement is absolute ('can do nothing') — a partly-disagree position is easy to defend.
• Body 1: why large-scale change needs governments and companies.
• Body 2: what individuals collectively achieve — consumption, voting, waste.

Some people think that the best way to protect the environment is to make petrol and diesel cars more expensive through higher taxes. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

• Agree side: higher prices push drivers towards cleaner transport.
• Disagree side: taxes punish poorer and rural drivers who have no alternative.
• A middle position works well: tax, but invest the revenue in alternatives.

Some people believe that healthcare should be free for everyone, while others think people should pay for their own medical treatment. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

• Give both views a fair paragraph each before your opinion.
• Free care argument: basic right, early treatment saves money later.
• Paying argument: funding pressure and personal responsibility — then your view.

In many countries, people are now living longer than ever before. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

• Advantages: experience, family support, longer working lives.
• Disadvantages: pensions, healthcare costs, pressure on the young.
• Finish with an explicit outweigh / does-not-outweigh verdict.

Some people believe that governments should ban the advertising of unhealthy food to children. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

• Agree side: children cannot judge marketing; obesity is a public-health cost.
• Disagree side: parents, not the state, should control children's diets.
• Useful range: 'target vulnerable audiences', 'childhood obesity', 'parental responsibility'.

Some people prefer to work for a large company, while others prefer small businesses. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

• Large company: stability, training, career ladder.
• Small business: variety, responsibility, closer teams.
• Your opinion can depend on career stage — say so if that is your view.

Some people think that a four-day working week would benefit both employees and employers. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

• Employee side: rest, health, motivation.
• Employer side: productivity evidence vs coverage and cost problems.
• A conditional position (works in some industries) scores well if argued clearly.

In many workplaces, employees are expected to be available outside normal working hours because of smartphones and email. Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?

• Advantages: flexibility, urgent problems solved quickly, remote teamwork.
• Disadvantages: stress, no real rest, blurred work-life boundary.
• End with a clear verdict and, if you like, a condition (e.g. limits by law).

Some people believe that prison is the best way to punish criminals, while others think education and job training are more effective. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

• Separate serious/violent crime from minor offences in your argument.
• Prison view: deterrence and public safety.
• Rehabilitation view: reoffending rates fall when offenders gain skills.

In many countries, the level of crime committed by teenagers is increasing. What are the causes of this trend and what solutions can be suggested?

• This is a causes + solutions question — one paragraph for each.
• Causes: poverty, peer pressure, lack of youth facilities, online influence.
• Solutions should match the causes you named.

Some people think that the main reason people commit crime is poverty. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

• Agree side: desperation, lack of opportunity, inequality breed crime.
• Disagree side: many poor people never offend; greed and other motives exist.
• A partly-agree position with clear examples is easiest to sustain.

In some cultures, children are often told that they can achieve anything if they try hard enough. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this message?

• Advantages: confidence, ambition, resilience.
• Disadvantages: unrealistic expectations, blaming oneself for structural barriers.
• You do not need an opinion paragraph here — advantages and disadvantages only.

Many people believe that the gap between rich and poor is widening. What problems does this cause and what measures can be taken to reduce it?

• Problems: unequal access to education and healthcare, social tension.
• Measures: progressive taxation, free public services, minimum wage policy.
• Keep each problem paired with a realistic measure.

In many countries, more people are choosing to live alone today than in the past. Is this a positive or negative development?

• Positive: independence, privacy, career and city opportunities.
• Negative: loneliness, higher living costs, weaker family support.
• State your overall judgement clearly in the introduction and conclusion.

Some people think that news media has too much influence on people's opinions. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

• Consider traditional news and social-media feeds separately.
• Influence argument: agenda-setting and emotional headlines.
• Counterpoint: audiences can compare sources and think critically.

Celebrities often earn far more money than other professionals such as doctors and teachers. Is this justified? Give reasons for your answer.

• Define 'justified' — market value vs social value is the key contrast.
• Celebrity side: they generate large revenue and careers are short.
• Public-service side: essential work is not rewarded by the market.

Some people believe that watching television has a negative effect on children's behaviour. Others disagree. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

• Negative view: violence, passivity, less time for study and play.
• Other view: educational programmes and family viewing can be positive.
• Your opinion can separate content types and amounts of viewing.

The chart below shows the percentage of households in a particular country which had three types of household appliance in 1990, 2005 and 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Chart: Households owning selected appliances (% of households)

• Paraphrase the question in your introduction — do not copy it word for word.
• Your overview is essential: name the overall trend (all three rose) and the extremes.
• Group data logically: refrigerators + washing machines together, dishwashers separately.

The graph below shows the consumption of fish and some different kinds of meat in a European country between 1979 and 2004. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Chart: Meat and fish consumption, 1979–2004 (grams per person per week)

• Overview first: beef and lamb fell, chicken rose, fish stayed lowest.
• Note the crossover points — where chicken overtakes beef is a key feature.
• Use past tense throughout; the data ends in 2004.

The table below shows the percentage of first-year students at a university who rated four services as 'excellent' in 2015, 2020 and 2025. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Chart: Students rating university services as 'excellent' (% of first-year students)

• Do not describe every cell — select the highest, lowest and biggest changes.
• Group by service (trends over time) rather than reading row by row mechanically.
• Sports facilities is the exception: it dipped in 2020 — worth singling out.

The pie charts below show the online shopping sales for a retail sector in New Zealand in 2003 and 2013. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Chart: Online shopping sales in New Zealand (% of total sales)

• Two charts = comparison task: your overview should state what grew and what shrank.
• Travel stayed the largest category but lost share; film/music almost doubled.
• Use fractions and proportions language: 'just over a third', 'roughly a fifth'.

The diagram below shows how instant noodles are manufactured. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Chart: How instant noodles are manufactured

• Process diagrams need the passive voice: 'the flour is stored', 'the sheets are rolled'.
• Overview: state the number of stages and that it is a linear, man-made process.
• Sequence with linking words: 'first', 'next', 'following this', 'finally'.

The chart below shows the production and consumption of electricity in five countries in 2014. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Chart: Electricity production and consumption, 2014 (billion kWh)

• Overview: China leads both lists by a huge margin; all five produce more than they consume.
• Compare pairs: the USA produces about four times as much as Russia.
• Watch the units — billions of kWh — and use them accurately.

The graph below shows the number of new houses built in three UK cities between 2000 and 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Chart: New houses built per year (houses per year)

• Overview: Derby built the most overall; Leicester grew fastest from the lowest base.
• Nottingham is the interesting case — almost flat, with a small dip in 2010.
• Support the overview with a figure from the start and end years for each city.

The chart below shows how a university spent its total budget in 2022. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Chart: University budget spending, 2022 (% of total budget)

• One chart, one year: organise by size — largest areas first, then group the small ones.
• Overview: teaching salaries dominate at over two-fifths of the budget.
• Compare related areas: research (15%) received less than facilities (18%).

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