balanced opinion essay sample

Balancing your opinion in an IELTS essay.

Showing the other side of the argument in an opinion essay..

Updated: March 2023

In an opinion essay you should give 2 reasons for your opinion in the thesis statement then back them up with with an explanation in the main body paragraphs. I usually advise my students to choose one side, either agree or disagree, and stick with that.

You do not actually get a higher band score for a balanced approach, so it is safer to choose one side and stick with that view throughout the essay . Remember that your opinion must be in the introduction, main body paragraphs and the conclusion.

However, something that will showcase your language ability is to show the other side of the argument or give a concession to help balance the essay. This gives the essay good coherence cohesion and a wider range of grammar. This should be done carefully though, because you still have to maintain your own opinion and not contradict yourself.

When giving an opinion you can use these phrases:

I think that… This essay argues that… I hold the view that… In my opinion… In my view… I believe that… I firmly agree/disagree… I completely agree/disagree…

Phrases that can be used to balance an opinion

Example sentences

These are sentences I have taken from various IELTS essays.

1. I believe that obesity is caused by the over-consumption of fast food, although the issue of hereditary factors should also be taken into account. 2. In my opinion , serious crimes ought to be punished with long prison sentences. H ow ever , considering the other side of the argument, this might not be effective in bringing down the crime rate so other measures need to be taken. 3. I think that children need homework to test their abilities so they can attain high grades. On the other hand , there needs to be a balance of free time so that they can play and explore with friends. 4. In my view , working from home is better than working in an office. However, others might say it is easy to lose motivation when working from home. This is because it is easy to become distracted by watching TV or using Facebook.

Conjunctions such as ‘ Although’ and ‘ However’ are useful when you want to show contrast.

Key points :

When you present the other side of the argument it is important to make your own opinion very clear in the body paragraphs and conclusion.
If the question asks for your opinion you must give it directly. A discussion essay has a different structure but discussion essays ask for an opinion. Read the instruction words carefully first.
Practice using these phrases in your writing and adapt them to your own style. Do not just memorise them and plant them in the essay because the examiner will see that and you can lose marks.

Example task question

‘Some people think that violent sports such as martial arts or boxing should be banned from international competitions. To what extent do you agree or disagree?.’

Let’s look at the 2 types of introduction that can be used here. One is a straightforward opinion, the other balances the opinion with the other side of the argument.

1. Some people would argue that violent sports such as boxing or combat sports ought to be prohibited from global sporting competitions. I disagree with this view because these sports can teach competitors discipline and strength of character. 2. Some would argue that violent sports such as boxing or combat sports ought to be prohibited from global sporting competitions. I disagree with this view because these sports can teach competitors discipline and strength of character; h owever, we must take into account the psychological effects on children if they watch these sports on TV.

The blue sentence is my thesis statement that contains my opinion and a reason . The purple sentence is t he other side of the argument
In example number 2 I added the contrast device ‘however.’ and then I wrote ‘…we must take into account… ‘, in this case, I am showing the other view, but I will still have to reinforce my opinion again in the body and conclusion.
It is important to keep the introduction concise. In example 2 above the introduction is 52 words which is long enough.
You can also use this technique in the body paragraphs instead of the introduction if you feel that the introduction becomes too long. Remember though that you must restate your opinion and be careful not to contradict yourself.

This is how I would reinforce my opinion in the conclusion.

To conclude, a lthough it is partly true that aggressive sports have a negative psychological impact on youngsters watching them on TV, I firmly believe that these sports should not be banned from international sporting events, because boxers and fighters learn strict discipline and inner strength.

I used the conjunction ‘ although’ and then the phrase ‘ it is partly true …’ then in the blue sentence I state my opinion using ‘ I firmly believe that..’ This method shows balance and I am clearly asserting my opinion again with some detail.

Note: The conclusion is 44 words here, make sure your conclusion is shorter than the introduction. There is no need for too much detail in this stage.

Lets Practice.

Below are some sentences taken from IELTS essays. Fill in the gaps with the best phrase from the box below.

1. I think that the government should not control what we see on the internet. Although __________, such as dangerous websites with harmful content, there ought to be regulations put in place.

2. In my opinion, there are many benefits to running your own business, __________ , there are risks involved and working in a company tends to be more stable employment.

3. I believe that capital punishment is not an effective way to deal with serious high profile crimes and other more humane punishment must be used, whereas ________________ capital punishment does indeed act as a major deterrent. For instance, in countries which have the death penalty, there is evidence of a much lower crime rate for very serious offences.

4. I think that the government needs to invest more in public transport, but _______________ , some feel that investing in healthcare is more important as our health is a much greater priority.

5. In some cases , criminal activity should be dealt with by longer prison terms. However , ___________ , this is not the best solution and other alternatives need to be explored, such as community service for petty crimes.

6. I agree that getting a University degree can help secure a good job; however , practical real-life work experience should also be ______________.

Click on the orange button below to see my answers, note that some answers may vary. If you have questions put a comment in the comments section at the end of this post.

You have to develop your own style so that these phrases can be used naturally, just do not memorise them and put them in your essay randomly.

1. I think that the government should not control what we see on the internet. Although in some cases, such as dangerous websites with harmful content, there ought to be regulations put in place.

2. In my opinion, there are many benefits to running your own business, on the other hand , there are risks involved and working in a company tends to be more stable employment.

3. I believe that capital punishment is not an effective way to deal with serious high profile crimes and other more humane punishment must be used, whereas others might say that capital punishment does indeed act as a major deterrent. For instance, in countries which have the death penalty, there is evidence of a much lower crime rate for very serious offences.

4. I think that the government needs to invest more in public transport, but considering the other side , some feel that investing in healthcare is more important as our health is a much greater priority.

5. In some cases , criminal activity should be dealt with by longer prison terms. However , in my view , this is not the best solution and other alternatives need to be explored, such as community service for petty crimes.

6. I agree that getting a University degree can help secure a good job; however , practical real-life work experience should also be taken into account.

Leave a comment below if you have any questions..

IELTS Writing Balanced Opinion Essay

Published by awalls86 on november 3, 2021 november 3, 2021.

Join my IELTS telegram channel

In a balanced opinion essay, you are given two opposing propositions. You should discuss each of them and give your opinion.

As with other IELTS writing tasks, you will likely do better with this kind of essay if you have a clear structure in mind for writing this essay. The following is one way to write this type of essay, but it is effective.

Step 1: Understand the Issue

With any IELTS writing question, it is important to understand what the question is asking before you begin writing.

A balanced opinion task will give you two propositions, so you first need to identify what these are. Then think about the following questions:

Why is this an important issue?
What’s your opinion about it?
What would someone who disagrees with you say?
Why are they wrong?

As an example, let’s take the following question:

Some people believe that the Olympic games should take place in the same city each time. Other people argue it should continue to move country every 4 years.

If you’re as sporty as me, you might wonder why anyone would care about where the Olympics take place. Well this is an important issue because the Olympics are a very expensive event that can also provide considerable financial benefits to the host city or region.

You might agree that the Olympics should stay in one place (maybe Greece) since this would surely cut the cost of the games considerably. The infrastructure would only need to be built once and then maintained or upgraded as necessary.

However, moving the games every 4 years allows more countries to benefit from the rewards of hosting. Given that rich countries already have a lot of the world’s wealth, this gives a chance to a less well-off country to benefit.

Step 2: Write the Introduction

With a balanced opinion essay, we can still use our three statements for the introduction:

global statement;
thesis statement;
outline statement.

Remember that in our global statement we say why this is an important issue. For example:

Every 4 years, the Olympic games cost their host nation billions of dollars to organise. Many people question whether that money is well invested, or whether it would be more cost-efficient to have the Olympics in one regular location.

In the thesis statement, you give your opinion:

In my opinion, choosing one location for the Olympics makes more financial sense…

Finally, your outline statement tells the examiner what they will read about in the next paragraph. You can simply continue the thesis statement with “because” or “as”.

…as this would dramatically cut the building and other costs involved.

Step 3: Write the Body

Once again, you will want two body paragraphs here. The first will deal with the side that you have agreed with.

The First Argument

Your first body paragraph should begin with a statement of your argument. This is your topic statement. For example:

Holding the Olympics in the same place would be far cheaper than constantly moving them.

Then use explanation and examples to support your answer:

The biggest costs involved are undoubtedly construction of the Olympic venues and infrastructure. Every Olympics, new stadia and facilities are built. By having the Olympics in one place, buildings only need to be built once and then maintained or upgraded. These savings are likely to result in more profit being made during the Olympics, some of which can be used to support development in poorer nations.

The Second Argument

The second body paragraph of your balanced opinion essay should consider the alternative side. We can start with a linking statement. This will typically include a linking word or phrase that shows contrast e.g. “on the other hand”, “however” or “despite.”

On the other hand, there are benefits to the Olympic games moving.

In the next sentence your should give your topic statement:

If the games move, the benefits of hosting them is shared among more of the world.

Once more you need to develop and support your argument:

Not only does the host gain prestige and a chance to show off their country to the world, but they also experience a boom in their economy from ticket sales and tourism.

In a balanced opinion essay, you can make the side you agree with stronger by overcoming this point. For example:

However, while this is true in theory, the countries that most desparately need these benefits are unlikely to be able to afford the initial outlay for the games. For this reason, wealthy countries tend to be chosen to host the games.

Step 4: Write the Conclusion

The final paragraph is your conclusion. Remember to:

rephrase your arguments
rephrase your opinion

Choosing one country to act as permanent host of the games would greatly reduce the expense involved with the Olympics. This is unlikely to be agreed upon by all countries, especially the wealthier nations who typically benefit from hosting. However, if the permanent host is obligated to share the profits with the least developed nations, this provides a much fairer model.

Practice Questions

Click here for all IELTS writing task 2 practice questions and sample answers.

Duolingo Interactive Listening

Duolingo Interactive Listening Join my Duolingo telegram channel Click here The Duolingo English Test now also includes an interactive listening task which tests your ability to listen to and understand a conversation that might typically Read more…

Duolingo Interactive Reading

Duolingo Interactive Reading Join my Duolingo telegram channel Click here The Duolingo English Test now also includes an interactive reading task which tests your ability to read and understand a text in several ways. There Read more…

the chart below shows the average monthly expenses of a UK student in 2020 and 2022

IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 #6

IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 #6 Join my IELTS telegram channel Click here Tip: The key to dealing with tables is to look for data you can group together. In the table below, which items have Read more…

Ebooks & Courses
Practice Tests

How to Plan & Write IELTS Opinion Essays

IELTS opinion essays, also known as ‘agree or disagree’ essays, come up frequently in the writing exam. In this lesson, I’m going to show you how to plan and write them step-by-step.

Here’s what we’ll be covering:

3 Common mistakes
Essay structure
How to plan
How to write an introduction
How to write main body paragraphs
How to write a conclusion

Click the links to see lessons on each of these Task 2 essay writing topics.

Once you understand the process, practice on past questions. Take your time at first and gradually speed up until you can plan and write an essay of at least 250 words in the 40 minutes allowed in the exam.

The Question

The first part of the question for an IELTS opinion essay will be a statement. You will then be asked to give your own opinion about the statement. Here is some typical wording that might be used:

What is your opinion?
Do you agree or disagree?
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Want to watch and listen to this lesson?

Click on this video.

Here's a question from a past test paper.

A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.

Do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

I’ll be using this question to guide you through the process of planning and writing an IELTS opinion essay.

3 Common Mistakes

These three errors are common in IELTS opinion essays.

Not stating an opinion.
Giving arguments for both views.
Not supporting your opinion with clear reasons.

The most common mistake that students make is not giving an opinion. The question will clearly state that you must choose one side of the argument. If you fail to do this, you will get a low score for task achievement.

It doesn’t matter which side of the argument you take or even, that you agree with it. Choose the one you can develop the best argument for.

Make sure that you don’t change your opinion part way through the essay, and don’t give reasons for the opposing view.

Essay Structure

Now let’s look at a simple structure you can use to write opinion essays. It’s not the only possible structure but it’s the one I recommend because it’s easy to learn and will enable you to quickly plan and write a high-level essay.

1) Introduction

Paraphrase the question
Give your opinion
State two supporting reasons

2) Main body paragraph 1

Topic sentence – outline 1st reason for supporting this view
Explanation – explain this idea
Example – give an example or expand the idea

3) Main body paragraph 2

Topic sentence – outline 2nd reason for supporting this view
Example – give an example or expand the idea

4) Conclusion

Summarise opinion and key reasons

This structure will give us a well-balanced essay with 4 paragraphs.

We now need some ideas to add into the structure and we’ll have everything we need for our essay.

How To Plan IELTS Opinion Essays

# 1 decide on your opinion.

The question I've chosen to work on is quite straightforward and easy to understand so we don’t need to spend time analysing it. The first task, then, is to decide on our opinion.

Here’s the question again:

A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.

Do you agree or disagree?

For this essay, I’m going to disagree with the statement and argue that job satisfaction is more important than a big salary.

# 2 Generate ideas

The second task is to generate some ideas to write about.

Since I‘m going to argue that job satisfaction is more important than a large salary, I need ideas to support this view.

There are several different ways to think up ideas. I cover them fully on the IELTS Essay Planning page.

With this particular question, I immediately thought of a couple of examples of situations where job satisfaction did prove to be more important than a high salary, so I’m going to use the ‘example method’ of generating ideas.

Once you’ve thought of an example or two, ideas to include in your essay should come to you easily.

You might want to try this yourself before reading on for my ideas.

Here are my examples and some ideas they generated.

Both the examples are partly true but I've adapted them to better fit the essay. It's fine to do this as the examiner won't check your facts.

Uncle Barry – boasted about high salary but hated his job. Nervous breakdown – lost job & can’t work.
Me – gave up teaching. Now enjoy my work and am much more relaxed and happy even though I earn much less money.
High-salary jobs are generally more stressful
Stress leads to ill health, both mental and physical
40 hours a week at work – a third of the day
Money doesn’t bring happiness
Better quality of life
Sense of fulfilment
Less stressed – healthier and happier

I’ve got more ideas here than I need so I’m going to pick two to develop in the essay – one for each of the main body paragraphs.

Idea 1 – High-salary jobs are generally more stressful and can lead to ill health.

Idea 2 – Job satisfaction gives a sense of fulfilment.

We’re almost ready to start writing our IELTS opinion essay but first, we have one other small task to do.

# 3 Vocabulary

In an IELTS essay, it’s important to be able to say the same things in different ways, either by paraphrasing and/or using synonyms. During the planning stage, quickly jot down a few synonyms of key words you could use to save you having to stop and think of the right language while you’re writing.

For example:

satisfaction – fulfilment, achievement, sense of accomplishment, content, sense of well-being

salary – income, wages, pay, earnings

important – significant, valued, has more meaning

job – work, employment, position

With that done, we can focus on the first paragraph of the essay – the introduction.

How To Write an Introduction

A good introduction has a simple 3 part structure:

1) Paraphrased question

2) Thesis statement

3) outline statement.

An introduction should:

Have 2-3 sentences
Be 40-60 words long
Take 5 minutes to write

1) Paraphrase the question

Start your introduction by paraphrasing the question.

Question: A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.

Do you agree or disagree?

Paraphrased question:

It is argued that earning lots of money has more significance to people than being content in their work.

Note that I’ve used some of the synonyms I listed, although it’s fine to repeat one or two words if you need to. Above all, your language must sound natural.

In IELTS opinion essays, the thesis statement is where you state your opinion. For example,

Thesis statement:

This essay totally disagrees with that statement.

That’s all you need to say.

If you decided to agree with the statement, you would write:

'This essay completely agrees with that statement.'

Finally in the introduction, you must outline the two main points (ideas 1 and 2 above) that you’ll cover in the rest of the essay. Do it in one sentence, or you can add them onto the end of the thesis statement if appropriate.

Outl ine statement:

I believe that people are increasingly concerned about the risk of stress-related ill-health frequently experienced by people in highly paid positions and they care more about feeling fulfilled at work.

So, let’s bring the three elements of our introduction together.

Introduction

This introduction achieves three important functions:

It shows the examiner that you understand the question.
It acts as a guide to the examiner as to what your essay is about.
It also helps to keep you focused and on track as you write.

The two ideas in your introduction will become your two main body paragraphs.

Main body paragraph 1 – concerns about the risk of stress-related ill-health

Main body paragraph 2 – a sense of fulfilment at work

How To Write Main Body Paragraphs

The structure of a good main body paragraph has 3 parts:

Topic sentence
Explanation

If you can’t think of an example, you can add further supporting ideas but we already have our two examples so that’s not an issue here.

A common problem when writing main body paragraphs for IELTS opinion essays is having too many ideas. Again, we have already chosen the two ideas we are going to develop, so we are all set to start writing.

You can see how important the planning stage is and how it makes the actual writing of the essay far quicker and easier.

Main Body Paragraph 1

The topic sentence summarises the main idea of the paragraph. That’s all it needs to do so it doesn’t have to be complicated.

It plays an important role in ensuring that your ideas flow logically from one to another. It does this by acting as a signpost for what is to come next, that is, what the paragraph will be about.

If you maintain a clear development of ideas throughout your essay, you will get high marks for task achievement and cohesion and coherence.

We’ll now take the idea for our first main body paragraph and create our topic sentence.

Main idea 1 – concerns about the risk of stress-related ill-health

Topic sentence:

Employees earning a large income are generally under significant mental and emotional pressure to perform well and achieve targets.

Next, we must write an explanation sentence . This explains to the examiner what we mean. It expands on our first idea.

Explanation sentence:

This causes many individuals to suffer high levels of stress which can result in both mental and physical health problems.

Finally, we add an example to support our main point. I thought of this in the planning stage so I have it ready to use.

If you can’t think of a real example, it’s fine to make one up, as long as it’s believable. The examiner isn’t going to check your facts.

Example sentence:

This happened to my uncle. He used to boast about his huge salary but the boss kept increasing his sales targets and in the end, the stress became too great and he had a nervous breakdown. Now he regrets being driven by the money.

That’s the 3 parts of our first main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.

We now follow the same process for our second main body paragraph.

Main Body Paragraph 2

Main idea 2 – Job satisfaction gives a sense of fulfilment.

First, we write the topic sentence to summarise the main idea.

Topic sentence:

Having a job that they enjoy doing, and in which they feel valued, is a major concern for most of the modern workforce.

Now for the explanation sentence to explain this idea.

Explanation sentence:

A significant number of people are giving up well-paid positions to do jobs which pay less but that they find more enjoyable and less stressful.

Finally, an example to support our main point. As before, I thought of this in the planning stage so just need to form it into a couple of sentences.

I am an example of this myself. A year ago I left the teaching profession because the workload had become too great and I am now a gardener. I feel really fulfilled in this work and I am much more relaxed and happy even though I earn far less money.

That’s the 3 parts of our second main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.

Now we need a conclusion and our IELTS opinion essay is done.

How To Write a Conclusion

Conclusions to IELTS opinion essays should do two things:

Summarise the main points
State your opinion

This can generally be done in a single sentence.

If you are below the minimum 250 words after you’ve written your conclusion, you can add an additional prediction or recommendation statement.

Our essay currently has 233 words so we’re on target and don’t need this extra sentence but you can learn more about how to write a prediction or recommendation statement for IELTS opinion essays on the Task 2 Conclusions page.

The conclusion is the easiest sentence in the essay to write but one of the most important.

A good conclusion will:

Neatly end the essay
Link all your ideas together
Sum up your argument or opinion
Answer the question

If you achieve this, you’ll improve your score for both task achievement and cohesion and coherence which together make up 50% of the overall marks. Without a conclusion, you’ll score below band 6 for task achievement.

You can start almost any final paragraph of an IELTS opinion essay with the words:

In conclusion

To conclude

Now all you need to do is briefly summarise the main ideas into one sentence.

Here’s a top tip . Go back and read the introduction to the essay because this is also a summary of the essay. It outlines what you are going to write about.

To create a great conclusion, you simply have to paraphrase the introduction. Let’s give it a go.

Introduction:

Here is the same information formed into a conclusion:

That’s it. We’ve completed our essay. Here it is with the 4 paragraphs put together.

Question:

A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.

Do you agree or disagree?

Finished IELTS opinion essay.

Go through this lesson as many times as you need to in order to fully understand it and put in lots of practice writing IELTS opinion essays from past exam questions. Practice is the only way to improve your skills.

5 More Model IELTS Opinion Essays

This pack contains another step-by-step lesson and model essay. P lus 4 additional opinion essay questions with model answers.

Carefully created to help you achieve 7+ in your Writing test.

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

Click on the HTML link code below.
Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

Like this page?

More help with ielts opinion essays & other task 2 essays.

IELTS Writing Task 2 – T he format, the 5 question types, the 5 step essay writing strategy & sample questions. All the key information you need to know.

The 5 Types of Task 2 Essay – How to recognise the 5 different types of Task 2 essays. 15 sample questions to study and a simple planning structure for each essay type.

Understanding Task 2 Questions – How to quickly and easily analyse and understand IELTS Writing Task 2 questions.

How To Plan a Task 2 Essay – Discover why essay planning is essential & learn a simple 4 step strategy, the 4 part essay structure & 4 methods of generating ideas.

How To Write a Task 2 Introduction – Find out why a good introduction is essential. Learn how to write one using a simple 3 part strategy & discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

How To Write Task 2 Main Body Paragraphs – Learn the simple 3 part structure for writing great main body paragraphs and also, 3 common mistakes to avoid.

How To Write Task 2 Conclusions – Learn the easy way to write the perfect conclusion for a Task 2 essay. Also discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

Task 2 Marking Criteria – Find out how to meet the marking criteria in Task 2. See examples of good and poor answers & learn some common mistakes to avoid.

The 5 Task 2 Essay Types:

Step-by-step instructions on how to plan & write high-level essays. Model answers & common mistakes to avoid.

Opinion Essays

Discussion Essays

Problem Solution Essays

Advantages & Disadvantages Essays

Double Question Essays

Other Related Pages

IELTS Writing Test – Understand the format & marking criteria, know what skills are assessed & learn the difference between the Academic & General writing tests.

IELTS Writing
Opinion Essays
Back To Top

* New * Grammar For IELTS Ebooks

$9.99 each Full Set Just $ 23.97

Find Out More >>

IELTS Courses

Full details...

IELTS Writing Ebook

Discount Offer

$7 each Full Set Just $ 21

Find out more >>

Testimonials

“I am very excited to have found such fabulous and detailed content. I commend your good work.” Jose M.

“Thanks for the amazing videos. These are ‘to the point’, short videos, beautifully explained with practical examples." Adari J.

"Hi Jacky, I bought a listening book from you this morning. You know what? I’m 100% satisfied. It’s super helpful. If I’d had the chance to read this book 7 years ago, my job would be very different now." Loi H.

"Hi Jacky, I recently got my IELTS results and I was pleased to discover that I got an 8.5 score. I'm firmly convinced your website and your videos played a strategic role in my preparation. I was able to improve my writing skills thanks to the effective method you provide. I also only relied on your tips regarding the reading section and I was able to get a 9! Thank you very much." Giano

“After listening to your videos, I knew I had to ditch every other IELTS tutor I'd been listening to. Your explanations are clear and easy to understand. Anyways, I took the test a few weeks ago and my result came back: Speaking 7, listening 9, Reading 8.5 and Writing 7 with an average band score of 8. Thanks, IELTS Jacky." Laide Z.

Contact

About Me

Site Map

Disclaimer

IELTS changes lives.

Let's work together so it changes yours too.

IELTS is a registered trademark of the University of Cambridge, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia. This site and its owners are not affiliated, approved or endorsed by the University of Cambridge ESOL, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia.

IELTS Preparation with Liz: Free IELTS Tips and Lessons, 2024

Test Information FAQ
Band Scores
IELTS Candidate Success Tips
Computer IELTS: Pros & Cons
How to Prepare
Useful Links & Resources
Recommended Books
Writing Task 1
Writing Task 2
Speaking Part 1 Topics
Speaking Part 2 Topics
Speaking Part 3 Topics
100 Essay Questions
On The Day Tips
Top Results
Advanced IELTS

IELTS Opinion Essay: Choosing one side or partially agreeing?

In an IELTS opinion essay, you can either agree, disagree or take a balanced approach which means to partially agree. However, you need to learn more so that you fulfil the requirements of the higher band scores.

See the answers to the 4 questions below. Also see useful links for writing task 2 below. All tips are for GT and Academic students.

1. Is it better to choose one side?

It won’t alter your score if you choose to support one side or partially agree. As long as you give a clear opinion, the examiner will be happy.

If you don’t understand a partial agreement essay, then choose one side. It’s easier to choose one side for most students and you can still get band score 9 by choosing one side.

Sometimes it might be hard to find enough ideas to support one side. In this case, go for a partial agreement. BUT if you need training to learn how to do this correctly.

2. Will you get a higher score if you partially agree?

No. It’s doesn’t matter what your opinion is – one side or partial. The only thing the examiner wants is a relevant opinion which is fully explained.

3. Can you write a discussion essay instead?

NO. Let me repeat that – NO !!! An opinion essay is only about your opinion. It is not about what other people think. You can’t change the type of essay you have been given. Look at the instructions below:

You must explain both sides of what other people think and also give your opinion
You must present your opinion and nothing else. Your opinion must cover all aspects of the essay question.

4. Can you use “I” or “my” in an opinion essay?

Yes. Of course. You MUST use “i” or “my” – it’s the only way to give your own personal opinion. Look at the language below:

it is believed / it is considered / it seems – This language does not express your own individual opinion. It is perfect for discussion essays but it can’t be used for your own views.
I think / I agree / I disagree / In my opinion – This is how you clearly express your view. The examiner wants to see this language when you give your opinion.

Useful Links for IELTS Writing Task 2

Click below to open useful links for IELTS writing task 2:

When to give your opinion

How to write an introduction

Using “I” or “my”: Free Video

Using quotes and idioms

All Writing Task 2 Tips & Model Essays

Get my free lessons by email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Email Address

Would this essay work on the opinion essay:

Q.) Public celebrations (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?

Ans: The public display of culture through celebrations has been a matter of debate for years as most people argue for its necessity as it contributes to a huge loss in the nation’s capital. In the meantime, certain groups of people often express their dissatisfaction to the government cutting funds to such events, debating in support of large public celebrations, with the argument that those public celebrations are the sole identity of the nation. Both the arguments are much compelling as there doesn’t exist a harsh dark and light in the situations, but it lies in the gray area in actuality.

Public celebrations including festivals, jatras(cultural rallys popular in Nepal), national days, ets are unique to a culture,group or a place, and are the markers for their identity. So, cutting funds to those celebrations for sparing some bucks for the government might risk these unique heritages to go to extinction as we move throughout the years. Moreover, it may risk the extinction of an entire culture which for a country with a diverse heritage like Nepal, based predominantly on cultural tourism might be a much bigger problem in the future. The government cutting corners in some public celebrations while not in others, might also come off as discriminatory to the people of different cultures having their faith attached to those events.

On the other hand, in the time of an economic crisis like the one we are currently in, the government spending their funds off lavish displays and events could be debated as an unwise decision. People can debate how those funds can be utilized in works of social reforms and development rather than a lavish display. Furthermore, as the government has its own limitations for the sources of revenue, spending it off for events which might bring profit to the nation through tourism rather than on solid projects and developments works that are guaranteed to bring back the investment would be a better decision if taking things logically.

Taking all those things in consideration, it is fairly a matter dependent upon the situation and the economic state of the nation. If I were the one to decide, considering the current situation of the government, I would probably choose to mobilize the funds to development projects rather than extravagant public displays.

“Parents should encourage children to spend less time on studying and more on doing physical activities. To what extent do you agree or disagree?”

For this kind of question, can I say I think studying and physical activities are equally important?

Similarly, “Some people think the government should not spend on international aid because there are disadvantaged people in their country, such as the unemployed and homeless. To what extent do you agree or disagree?”

Can I say I think solving issues in their country and spending money on international aid are both important?

Do I have to say which one is more important than the other one?

When you have an opinion essay with two issues, you must address them both. But you don’t want to sit on the fence. You need to think more deeply about your opinion. You will usually find that you feel more strongly about one side than the other. Or you might find that you agree with A in a certain situation and B in another situation. Looking at the first question. Are you really trying to say that study and physical activities should have equal time spend on each? At the moment, school children study for about 7 hours a day and have one hour homework. They do physical activities for no more than about 1 hour a day. So, are you saying that schools should completely alter their curriculum and have 50% study and 50% physical activity? Really? I doubt you think this. Do you really want children playing games outside for four hours a day and only studying for four days? This is a common example of not analysing your thoughts enough. IELTS writing is about thinking more deeply and presenting a well thought out point of view. Think very carefully about how you express your opinion and explain it. For example, you could say studying should take priority but at the same time physical activity should be increased in schools and made available as extra curricular activities. Also note, the essay question is not about which is more important, it is about how much time should be spent on each. Pay very close attention to the wording in the question so that you address the issue directly. Hopefully, now you can apply these principles to the second question.

It was the what extend do you agree question.. Instead of writing “I partially agree” I wrote “as per my view.. And stated both points about my partial agreement with the statement but I didn’t write I partially agree.. Will this make me suffer a huge loss..? Please reply Thank you

There are no specific words that must be used in IELTS. If you agree with the statement, you don’t need to write “I agree” specifically. If you partially agree, you don’t need to use those particular words. IELTS is about meaning and clarity, not rules about using one or two words.

Hi Liz, I have an opinion essay of my own to write and I am quite confused as to what approach I should take with the topic. “Traditions can be found all over the world, some of them ancient and some of them recent. They often serve to bring communities together, but can also be the subject of heated debate and controversy. To what extent do you believe traditions can be harmful?” If I choose partially agree, how should my essay be structured? Should I write about how traditions could be harmful in one paragraph, and list out how it might not be the case in other situations in another paragraph? Wouldn’t that seem more like a for and against essay instead? Thanks a lot!

Where did you get this essay question? Did you get it from an Official IELTS website or an Official IELTS test book, if so which one?

Hi liz, I am confused on how to write an essay being agree partially. Essay- Today, the life expectancy of people is much higher than before. Some people think that older people should continue to be involved in the workforce.

I hope for your reply 🙏

In that essay question there is only one issue – do you think older people should continue to be involved in the workforce? If you partially agree, it means you do not fully agree. In other words, there might be one or two reasons why you do not fully agree with it. You therefore have to state what those reasons are and in what cases you do actually agree.

In this case (To what extent do you…), If I take one side and explain it further, isn’t it similar to an Agree or Disagree essay? (Here I am assuming that in an Agree or Disagree essay we have to take one position.)

There is no difference at all between “to what extent..” and “do you agree/disagree”. They are the same instructions paraphrased.

Thank you Liz.

For this essay – paying all workers the same salary in a company promotes harmony and respect amongst colleagues. To what extent do you agree or disagree. Can I write an essay like this: I strongly disagree with the above statement and in this essay will discuss the reasons as to why first of fall its impractical to pay the same salary and then will elucidate the reasons as to why paying all the employees the same salary will in fact result in a less harmonious work environment.

Thanks a lot for your help!

Sounds like you have been learning phrases to put in your essay. Do NOT use learned phrases “this will essay discuss the reasons…” / “then elucidate the reasons as to why…” The examiner is not stupid. The examiner knows these are not your own language. Each sentence must be uniquely created by yourself. Why don’t you just write normally: “I strongly disagree with the above statement because it is impractical to pay the same salary and cause friction in the work environment.”. Be clear. Be direct. Safe the details for the body paragraphs.

Hi Liz! Thank you so much for your reply. English is kind of my first language and I am used to using those phrases. Should I tone down my English for IELTS? Thanks again for your great help!

If English is your first language, you should write naturally. This is not an academic essay, it is a formal essay. You don’t use academic phrases. You write naturally and avoid informal tones or language. The title “academic ielts” is given because the test is often taken for entry onto educational courses. The essay itself is only formal in nature.

Thank you! This is really helpful.

I myself am an IELTS trainer (for the past year after being in the BPO sector for 20 years) and am a fan of yours and your IELTS tips, lessons, and videos that you have generously posted for free have been immensely helpful to me and my students. In continuation to the above hot discussion on opinion essays, I would like your say on the below situation.

One of my students had written an essay on the below question.

“Modern technology products such as smartphones and wearables are very addictive and should be banned. To what extent do you agree or degree with this view?”

He took an one-sided view (like many students would prefer to do or were taught to do) that “I completely disagree with the statement.” and wrote about the necessity of smartphones, advantages of the industry generating employment to many and revenue to government in the form of taxes, etc. (He did not mention about the addictive part whether he agrees it is addictive or not). I felt the task is not met like you rightly pointed out in one of the comments above(do you concur).

However, I feel there are two parts in the statement a) smart phones are addictive and b) it should be banned.

So shouldn’t we address both parts, that is, whether I agree if they are addictive and if so whether banning it is the solution for the same.

In that case there cannot be an answer which says I completely disagree with the statement unless you mean to say they are not addictive and hence need not be banned.

Are the below options correct: OPTION I: I partially agree with the statement a) it is addictive however disagree with b) should be banned, probably use can be restricted or limited.

OPTION II: One-sided, I agree they are addictive and hence need to be banned.

OPTION III: One-sided, I disagree, they are not addictive and hence need not be(should not be) banned.

Are there any other variations possible. Thanks for taking your valuable time to read/respond to this lengthy post, which in my humble opinion will be of great help to all other millions of IELTS aspirants worldwide who visit your web page.

You have hit the nail on the head. Your understanding of the question is correct. Your understanding of a one-sided view when there are two issues to address is correct. The only other option you haven’t tackled is a specific view point: I agree they are addictive, however I think banning them is not the right solution – a better solution would be X. It is a great way to fully address and expand the topic given. I hope that helps.

Thank you Liz for your clarification. I’m doubly happy. God bless you for your wonderful work and big/kind heart.

Hello Liz! I am really worried about opinion essays! I ordered the advanced lesson but it says ‘not supported’. I don’t know what to do. Please help me .My exam is on saturday.

Please email me with more details about your problem: [email protected] . Do this immediately. Thanks

Hii Liz what can we write to give a partial view ?

Hi liz, Does it affects my TR score if I only discuss about “Benefits of planting tress” and do not talk about “building houses” in the following essay:- My thesis statement is: I completely agree that planting trees is more significant to solve many problems confronted by urban dewellers than constructing infrastructure.

Some people think that planting trees in open spaces in cities and towns is more important than building houses. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It would negatively affect your score. Your opinion is “I believe planting trees is more important than housing”. You must explain why planting trees is important and why housing is not so important. Answer fully!

Hi Liz! How can I improve doing T/F/NG reading questions?

See this tips on this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-reading-lessons-information-and-tips/

Hi Liz, I just recently took my IELTS exam last Saturday.I may say thay I am blessed with my writing task 1 and 2 topics. In writing task 1, I need to write a letter from a complaints that turns a commendation for the staff. Writing task 2, is need to give my opinion from the suggestion that suggestion that all ages of students to join in same class. I hope this will help. Now, I’l pray that all my exam ,reading and listening will have a good results. God is good I know! 🙂 from Mhae

Thanks for sharing and good luck with your results 🙂

I pray for best,thank you for helping us to our review.God bless Us!

That test I had it on the 26th! I said that I believe that children should learn both of them. I don’t know why they gave me only 6…I’m struggling with the writing and I don’t know where I’m doing so many mistakes…I sit this exam for 4th times and I am quite desperate because I don’t know what I should change…I watched your videos, I worked a few books…and nothing….only 6. Thank you!

If u agree you cannot explain about world history. Throughout your essay should be about local history and supporting sentences. Watch her advanced ielts videos. She is explaining more in detail.

Your opinion must answer the all issues. If you agree, then your opinion is that local history should be taught and world history should not be taught. That is your full opinion.

If you agree – then you need to explain why you think money shouldn’t be spent protecting wildlife and also what other problems should be solved with the money.

Hello Liz, How can I buy all three advanced writing videos together? As each purchase cost can extra fee for international transaction, buying together would be beneficial, if that is possible.

I’m sorry but I haven’t put them in a package yet.

Dear LIZ I get more motivated when I read your texts. Although my handwriting is not much more qualified, but I’m preparing for IELTS test.Actually, I live in Finland as an asylum seeker, considerd to my teacher’s opinion I am not ready to take ILETS test yet. Would you please share me some links for improving my writing and listening? Thank you so much

I would be happy if I could submit, but because I live here illegally without any Bank account. That’s made me crazy.

Check your email – I just sent you a present 🙂

You’re not only the best teacher ever, you’re the model of human being. Thanks for inspiring me!

Hi Liz, Can i use words such as ‘what is more ‘OR ‘ to be more clear’ to explain my points between paragraphs? Thanks in advance

See my list of linking words: https://ieltsliz.com/linking-words-for-writing/ . Then see my main writing task 2 page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

Hi mam, 7 years back I took ielts exam & I got 6.5 overall . Later I stopped thinking of exam as it finds difficult for me to reach the required score.But after watching all your lessons I am planning to take exam again .Really impressed by all ur videos . Thanks you so much .

My exam is tomorrow I have one question please help me

In any questions like agree or disagree, advantages or disadvantages, to what extent do you agree or disagree??? In such OR questions…can we partially agree or disagree?? Can we fully go for disagree or agree??

Can we write for example in body paragraph(if we agree) writing 4 positive points and in next paragraph 3 points showing its negative side and in conclusion going with agree one

please reply

Hi my best ielts teacher,kindly tell me if it is correct to write your opinion as ,”This essay agrees with the statement or should i always write, “In my opinion.Thanks in advance

If you want to give YOUR opinion, you need to use “I”. The words “this essay …” does not express your opinion.

In the partially agree,is it possible to write 2 body paragraphs on agree and 3rd one on disagree. I am little confuse about it.

Thanks in advance

For the Partial Agreement/Disagreement Essay (Balanced View) is it possible to still write 4 Paragraphs with such essay or it must be 5 paragraphs?

You can have either four or five paragraphs in writing task 2. It depends on your main points.

Speak Your Mind Cancel reply

Notify me of new posts by email.

Advanced IELTS Lessons & E-books

Recent Lessons

Ielts liz personal update 2024, ielts model essay -two questions essay type, ielts bar chart of age groups 2024, ielts topic: urban planning, ielts listening transcripts: when and how to use them, 2024 ielts speaking part 1 topics.

Click Below to Learn:

IELTS Test Information

Copyright Notice

Privacy Policy & Disclaimer

Click here: Privacy Policy
Click here: Disclaimer

Return to top of page

Skip to primary navigation
Skip to main content
Skip to primary sidebar
Skip to footer

IELTS Advantage

IELTS Preparation Courses

IELTS Essay – Balanced Approach

How to write a balanced IELTS essay:

Start by assessing the positives and then the negatives.
Summarise both in your conclusion.
Keep your writing clear, concise and simple.
Read this sample essay for an example.

However, it is normally better to ‘choose a side’, as this leads to a clear opinion.

Lots of you have been asking me to write an essay with a balanced approach, or in other words when you agree with both sides. I normally advise my students to pick one side or the other, as this leads to a very clear opinion, but here is a sample that takes a more balanced view.

Some people think that a sense of competition in children should be encouraged. Others believe that children who are taught to co-operate rather than compete become more useful adults.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

It is often argued that children should be motivated to be more competitive, while others feel that cooperation is a more important value to instill in youngsters. This essay will discuss both these views, before coming to the conclusion that they are equally valid.

It is important that young people are pushed to be the best they can possibly be, in whatever pursuit they take part in. This drive to win boosts their work ethic and teaches them that hard work and discipline are the keys to success. For example, it was shown in a recent study by Queen’s University that students who won something in sports before they reached the age of 14, were 42% more likely to go on to third-level education than those who did not. Despite this, the development of a child requires not only a will to win, but also lessons on the value of teamwork.

Working as part of a team strengthens our empathy, selflessness and make us more responsible toward others. If one were to want to win at the expense of those around us, it is likely that we would alienate our peers and become detached from any team we operate in. For example, Michael Jordan was often criticised by his coaches for being too competitive in practice and overly critical of his team mates and he had to change for the sake of his team.

In conclusion, our young ones should be taught to try their best to achieve their goals, but this should also be balanced with the importance of working with others. Both are equally important and will result in a more balanced young adult.

About Christopher Pell

My name is Christopher Pell and I'm the Managing Director of IELTS Advantage.

I started IELTS Advantage as a simple blog to help 16 students in my class. Several years later, I am very humbled that my VIP Course has been able to help thousands of people around the world to score a Band 7+ in their IELTS tests.

If you need my help with your IELTS preparation, you can send me an email using the contact us page.

A Beginner’s Guide to IELTS
Common Grammar Mistakes [for IELTS Writing Candidates]

Writing Correction Service

Free IELTS Resources
Practice Speaking Test

Select Page

Opinion Essays [IELTS Writing Task 2]

Posted by David S. Wills | Nov 14, 2022 | IELTS Tips , Writing | 1

In the past, I have explained how to answer each type of IELTS writing task 2 question and today we are going to look at a set of question types called “opinion essays.”

What do I mean by this? Well, generally we divide IELTS essays into 5 categories:

Agree or Disagree
Advantages and Disadvantages
Problem (or Cause) and Solution
Discuss both views
Two-part Question

Sometimes, people call the first one “opinion essays” but I don’t like that term because actually other question types also call for your opinion. Therefore, I think of “opinion essay” as a term that covers several question types.

Let’s look at this topic in more detail.

types of opinion essays for ielts task 2

What is an Opinion Essay?

To put it as simply as possible, an opinion essay is an essay that gives an opinion. In the context of IELTS, that means giving your opinion about a stated topic.

I mentioned above that there are several question types that could require you to give an opinion. These are most common:

Agree or disagree
Advantages and disadvantages
Two-part questions

This is why it’s important to read a question carefully rather than just scan for keywords and then begin writing.

Of these, the agree/disagree and discuss both views question types are always going to require an opinion, but for the others you need to read more carefully. A two-part question, for example, might ask your opinion as the second question, but it won’t always do this.

Note that most advantage and disadvantage questions do not require your opinion but some do. If they ask you whether or not the advantages of something outweigh the disadvantages, then clearly you are required to give an opinion.

How to Write an Opinion Essay

As with all IELTS writing task 2 essays, you need to do several things:

Read the question carefully in order to analyse it
Think of a reasonable answer
Create a coherent structure
Put your ideas forth clearly and consistently
Use appropriate language

That’s about as simply as I can put it for you, but let’s explore further.

First of all, any time you are given an IELTS task, you need to read it carefully and analyse it so that you truly understand the question. Some are quite straightforward but others are very difficult. ( Here’s a video about what I think is the most difficult question.)

One of the problems with opinion essays is that you won’t necessarily be asked to “give your opinion.” You will have to use common sense in order to determine whether your opinion is required. Some words that could indicate an opinion are:

Do you agree or disagree?

To what extent do you agree?
Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
What do you think…?

Remember: If you are asked for an opinion, then give one. If you aren’t, then don’t. Failure to interpret the question properly would lead to a poor score.

You then need to think of a response and write about it using intelligent ideas. As you are giving an opinion, you need to justify your viewpoint. One big mistake here is failing to be consistent. For example, some people do not put their opinion into their introductions. This would mean that your score for Task Response would be quite low. Really, you ought to include your opinion in the outline sentence , then explain it in the body paragraphs, and finally reiterate it in the conclusion .

Although it’s possible to produce a good structure in different ways, an excellent IELTS essay will probably look like this:

For more general information about writing a great IELTS task 2 essay, see this article .

How to Start an Opinion Essay

A good essay should begin with a good introduction. There are various ways to achieve this, but in IELTS writing task 2 that means introducing the topic and stating your opinion clearly. I’ve written at length about how to write a good introduction here .

Think of your introduction as having two key components:

Introduce the topic
Give your opinion

You can do that in two or three sentences. It isn’t hugely important. However, you must achieve both of those things.

When you introduce the topic, you basically aim to convey the main idea to your reader. A lot of people just paraphrase the question but this isn’t always a good idea. In fact, paraphrasing more often than not leads to big problems in language and logic.

Still, you want to convey the idea in the question and that does mean taking an idea and putting it into your own words. For example:

All cars that burn fossil fuels should be banned and electric cars should replace them. Do you agree or disagree?

In my introduction to this opinion essay, I would write:

During the twentieth century, people around the world began using vehicles powered by fossil fuels, and in this new millennium that trend has continued, with a vast uptick in the number of privately owned cars. However, it has become apparent that this phenomenon is causing major environmental damage and needs to be stopped. This essay will argue that humans ought to switch to electric cars.

This is a little complex, but what you can see is that I have used two sentences to introduce and explain the main idea and then one sentence to put forth my opinion.

Beware: Your introduction should not be too long. This is an example of a band 9 essay. It uses complex language and structures to convey intelligent ideas. If your introduction is longer than your body paragraphs, it is not a good sign.

Opinion Essay Structure

When writing an opinion essay, you should keep the structure simple and use it to convey your ideas as logically as possible. There are different ways to do this effectively, but I generally recommend a four-paragraph essay structure. (You can read about 4 vs 5 paragraphs here .)

It is hard to generalise because your structure will ultimately be dictated by your opinion and that is something personal. However, you should use your essay to state your opinion in the most effective way. For example, if you strongly agree with something, you might create the following structure:

This is a basic structure but can be used very easily. Of course, if you totally disagree, you can replace “agree” with “disagree” and use the same structure.

It is also possible (but not required) to write a balanced essay that neither wholly agrees nor disagrees with an idea. In such cases, you would need to modify your structure a little. For example:

As long as you make this clear, there should be no problem and you would stand to get a good score for Coherence and Cohesion . One big mistake that occurs here is that people start by saying they have a balanced opinion, then they mostly explain one side of the issue, leaving the reader a bit confused. If you want to give balance, then make sure your body paragraphs are fairly even.

Using the above question (about electric cars), I would create the following essay structure:

You can read my answer in the next sentence:

Opinion Essay Example

Sample question.

All cars that burn fossil fuels should be banned and electric cars should replace them.

Sample Answer

The damage done by traditional style cars is obvious. One only needs to look at a big city like Beijing or Los Angeles to see the vast smog clouds lingering over highways to recognize that these vehicles are emitting unpleasant chemicals from their exhausts. Scientific studies over the past few decades have confirmed that these chemicals cause significant damage to our health and our environment, as they turn into acid rain or are inhaled into our lungs, where they cause certain types of cancer. This is in addition to the fact that fossil fuels are a finite resource, and that their extraction from the earth is often incredibly destructive.

On the other hand, electricity can be generated in any number of ways, many of which are relatively harmless. It is possible to generate electricity from the wind or sun, thereby gathering energy without damaging the earth or causing harm to human beings. As an infinite source of energy that can be gathered and used without harm, it is obvious that electricity is the power that should drive cars in the future.

In conclusion, traditionally powered vehicles are destroying our world and need to be phased out in favour of electric vehicles. Electricity can be generated harmlessly and endlessly and is therefore superior to fossil fuel.

When it comes to writing opinion essays, you need to make sure you understand the question, then formulate an appropriate response. You should devise an intelligent structure that allows you to convey your ideas clearly and consistently throughout the whole essay. Make sure that your ideas are realistic and try to avoid being overly complex as this could create further problems.

It is worth reading articles about common IELTS topics in order to prepare for this sort of essay. These can teach you both vocabulary and ideas. They can also help with coherence. For example, you could Google “electric cars” and find an article there. The recent one was published in the New York Times.

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

Describe a Plant or Flower [IELTS Speaking]

June 9, 2020

IELTS Help on Facebook

June 21, 2019

Improve your IELTS Speaking Score Immediately

August 4, 2017

The BIG List of IELTS Speaking Questions [by topic]

June 16, 2018

is not ought to informal

Download my IELTS Books

An opinion essay

Learn how to write an opinion essay.

Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and tips and do the exercises.

Preparation

MultipleSelection_MjMwNTM=

Information will soon be so easy to find on the internet that people will not need to remember anything. Do you agree?

Nowadays all the information we could ever need is available online and some people say that means the end of having to learn anything.

It is true that these days everything you want to know is a few clicks away as long as you have internet access. However, not everyone has working internet all the time, for example in certain buildings or remote locations, so we do need to be able to remember information. Moreover, it takes time to look up everything you need to know online, whereas remembering something is immediate. The human memory is a much more efficient system.

Another problem is the quality of the information online. How do we know if it is accurate or reliable? We need to think about other facts we know and remember how to compare information from different websites. Knowing (and remembering) how to find certain information will be more important than knowing the information itself.

Finally, the internet is a good tool but it is not a useful replacement for our brains. If we did not remember anything, we would all spend even more time on our phones and computers than we already do, which is not good for society.

In conclusion, the internet offers us many things but it is still important to use our knowledge and memories. We need our memories to function without the internet and we also need to know how to use the internet properly.

Read the question carefully. Respond to all ideas in it or all parts of it.
Plan your ideas first and then choose the best ones.
Introduce your essay by restating the question in your own words.
Show understanding of both sides of the argument.
Use linking words to connect your ideas.
Draw your conclusion from the main ideas in your essay. Don't introduce new ideas at the end.

What do you think about the question? Would it be better or worse if we never learned anything and just used the internet instead?

Language level

It would be worse. If we only look for information on the internet, for everythingg and every time when we have a question about something we will become ''rusty robots''.

In other words, our minds, without exercising the creativity and memory of our brains, will be almost completly out of purpose. What's more, we will be lazy and with a slow capacity of thinking properly.

It is evidently known that in recent days, the exchange of information is progressive over the network of various channels which we call it as Internet. Experts have made some definite predictions about the availability of data and information on the above mode of communication in near future. This particular development is totally agreeable. With respect to the technological advancements pertaining to the above, the human life shall be prepared to be compatible with the communication platforms on the network of servers. The key strengths will mainly focus on speed of communication, less errors and information accuracy. This aspect of technological development will eventually replace the traditional modes of information storage. This requires no effort in preservation of information on physical devices as all the core information will be stored in virtual servers. On the other hand, the above paradigm shift in terms of data centralization will certainly replace human brains. This attempt will not trigger any living beings to memorize information physically. It is quite obvious that our brains are limited and restricted with space constraints. Hence, this technology of information storage will drastically replace these drawbacks. Overall, this phenomenal trend of networking has provided a seamless mode of gathering, interpreting and storing information. At the same time, the consequences will be tremendous and noticeable as it will lead to an era where in people across the globe can surf and search their expected piece of data with-in no time. Practically, they don’t have to bother about any challenges related to failure of storage elements. Finally, this pattern of information storage is promisingly going to be accepted.

I think the use of the internet is not only in conflict with learning, but It has made the speed of learning faster and more comfortable.

On the one hand, With the advent of the internet and access to data whenever we want, we were able to free our minds from memorizing a lot of unnecessary data. It caused that instead of spending our time to remember the formulas and data, we use our time for a deeper understanding of the concepts. Concentration on understanding was a big step in order to make us more clear about how to apply scientific concepts practically, and It made the evolutionary process of turning scientific concepts into experimental tests go faster. Going through this evolutionary process quickly, in turn, caused, firstly, the faster growth of modern technologies and, secondly, the creation of many new data, concepts, and sciences. And now the data volume is so much that not only you can never remember or learn them, but you have to choose the best one that works for you. Somehow, the internet has changed how to learn. It has focused on analyzing the options and choosing the best one to learn Instead of memorizing a bunch of content.

On the other hand, Theoretically speaking, One of the laws In the world is that everything can be useful or harmful in turn. This law also applies to the internet. In fact, how to use the internet determines whether it is useful or harmful. Like many other tools that have been invented such as smartphones, smartwatches, electric cars, and so on we have spent time learning how to use them. In order to get the best out of the internet and don't waste our time, we must take the time to learn how to search. The searching skill is the most important one that helps us find better results.

In conclusion, Given the two analyzed reasons above, I agree with the idea that easy access to Information makes people get rid of memorizing lots of data. But this has nothing to do with the quality or quantity of learning.

I think it depends on the type of information. Some information are easier to remember, and hence it's more efficient to have them in memory instead of looking for them online. However, some complex information is offered online, and it will be impractical if we tried to remember it. Additionally, I believe that learning is not just about acquiring knowledge. It's about learning how to think with this knowledge available and solve problems efficiently. That's why the internet is considered a valuable tool to promote learning, not to replace it.

Nowadays we are witnesses how far technology has developed in a short time. A huge of information is backing up on internet and if you have access of surfing you can find any information that you are looking for. However, there are some relevant aspects that should be taking into account when we are talking about using always internet instead of learning. In this sense, the purpose of this essay will be to explain why it is not a good idea. Firstly, as you know, most of the information on internet is fake. For that reason, it is impossible the learning process can be replaced by internet use. If you are looking for reliable information you have to learn how it works. In other words you need of learning even if you want to use internet all the time because you have to discern what of all information is useful for you purpose. For example, if you are a student and want to write an essay about a specific topic you likely have to search for the best information if you want to get a job position or scholarship. Secondly, there is a high demand for professionals who have specific skills in the field that they are pretending to be involved. That’s why learning always is a must for satisfying the requirements of companies and institutions. For instance, in the education field, the main aim is the learning and knowledge which are essential on a daily life to be an expert in your field of action and these skills can’t be acquired through internet surfing. To sum up learning and knowledge are fundamentals in a current world that is demanding professionals highly qualified even in our daily live and the internet is far away of satisfying the required skills that you get every day through the practice, research and networking.

I think it become worse and dangerous for our society, we need to control it making rules. Without internet, many skills and knowledge could´nt be used.

I believe that, The internet become even more dangerous for young people who barely discovered the world around them, If they count on it for seeking information without parental supervision, it would be a disaster!

In nowadays,there are many ways to reach information.The Internet is just one of them but maybe most promising one.The Internet helps us to find information easily and efficently.

However there are some negative sides of Internet.For instance realibilty of information.There are no real control on Internet.I reckon there will not be soon.This reduces the trust in internet.This is why People will always need another source to be make sure and need to remember information.

It is also necesseray for objectivity. You can not just have one source and expect true and impartial information. It is against nature of science.This is not how science works.People must have and process the information.In this way we expand our knowledge.When we make brainstorm we always end up with another information. If we don’t have and process the information how Science works?

I suppose in the future People will never trust completely to Internet. They will always need another source and they will need to interrogate source of information.In conclusion Internet is by far most promising invention People have ever invented.However Internet is not beyond our brain and imagination.We will always need to posses and process the information.

It is about my hometown: My hometown is a beautiful, attractive and cool. N'beika is one of the most famous places in Mauritania where attractive views and economic capacities are in. It is located in Tagant which is in middle of the map. Therefore, It is one the biggest cities in the country. As there are interesting geographical features such as: high Mountains, nice valleys, light hills and wonderful pools. Historically, N'beika played an important role in culture, trade exchange and fighting colonialist. Also it has saved historical landmarks, for example: manuscripts, books and cities which the most important is Gasr Albarka. In the north, there have tourist views and in the East big mountains with lovely valleys like Matmata where there are some Alligators in and other attractive animals. As well as from the south and the west there are some fields, forests and farms. Moreover, people are interested in agriculture, trade, development and education. Furthermore, there are many schools and Mahidras and three colleges providing well-deserved education to students. What's more, mall shops is offering demands and created jobs for unemployment. There are different favourite for people , some of them are crazy about football as youth, and some people like doing agriculture and development. Moreover, there are entrepreneurs doing a small business like selling clothes, pitch, barbershop... etc. In conclusion, N'beika is a gift of Allah that has given to people to spend nice moments in order to feel happy and to invest for everything we want due to gain lots of money .

I believe it is amazing updated technology which has helped us a lot in our lives. In todays era everyone has access to internet over the globe. you can easily find all the information on internet that is required to you. Even though learn many new skills which aren't even taught you from the help of internet. it is good help for book writer like us where we can be part of book writing communities or book writing resources to enhance our skills and provides more guidance to others.

Online courses

Group and one-to-one classes with expert teachers.

Learn English in your own time, at your own pace.

One-to-one sessions focused on a personal plan.

Get the score you need with private and group classes.

Welcome Guest!

IELTS Listening
IELTS Reading
IELTS Writing
IELTS Writing Task 1
IELTS Writing Task 2
IELTS Speaking
IELTS Speaking Part 1
IELTS Speaking Part 2
IELTS Speaking Part 3
IELTS Practice Tests
IELTS Listening Practice Tests
IELTS Reading Practice Tests
IELTS Writing Practice Tests
IELTS Speaking Practice Tests
All Courses
IELTS Online Classes
OET Online Classes
PTE Online Classes
CELPIP Online Classes
Free Live Classes
Australia PR
Germany Job Seeker Visa
Austria Job Seeker Visa
Sweden Job Seeker Visa
Study Abroad
Student Testimonials
Our Trainers
IELTS Webinar
Immigration Webinar

IELTS Opinion Essay – Topics, Structure and Sample Answers

10 min read

Updated On Feb 22, 2024

Share on Whatsapp

Share on Email

Share on Linkedin

IELTS Opinion Essay – Topics, Structure and Sample Answers

Limited-Time Offer : Access a FREE 10-Day IELTS Study Plan!

IELTS opinion essays mainly focus on agreeing or disagreeing with a particular fact or information. It presents two opposite views and you have to develop your argument supporting one view (strictly one!) You get 40 minutes to complete this task. You have to write at least 250 words on the topic given.

Given below are some examples of IELTS Writing Task 2 opinion essays along with their structure. So, let’s understand how to frame the IELTS opinion essay from the sample answers given in the blog!

What is the IELTS Opinion Essay Format?

If you’re gearing up to tackle the Opinion Essay in IELTS Writing Task 2, know that it’s all about writing your opinion on a specific topic with supporting examples. To make sure your essay ticks off all the criteria of a band 8+ essay, organizing it in the right way is key!

Let’s now look at a proper format to learn the structuring of an IELTS opinion essay.

Introduction:

Keep it short, usually around 2-3 sentences.
Introduce the topic and clearly state your opinion.
Provide a brief overview of the main points you will discuss in the body paragraphs.

Body Paragraphs (Usually 2 paragraphs):

Each paragraph should focus on a single main idea that supports your opinion.
Start with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea.
Provide evidence, examples, and reasoning to support your main idea.
Aim for coherence and cohesion within each paragraph by using appropriate transition words.
Make sure to use appropriate vocabulary and grammar while explaining an idea in the body paragraphs.

Conclusion:

Summarize the main points discussed in the body paragraphs.
Restate your opinion, emphasizing its importance or relevance.
Avoid introducing new ideas in the conclusion.

IELTS Opinion Essay Sample Answers

Given below is an example of an IELTS Writing task 2 opinion essay. Let’s understand how to frame the essay from the ideas we have.

Sample Question 1

In the future, nobody will buy printed newspapers or books because they will be able to read everything they want online without paying. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Given below is a brief outline of what to write in the essay after identifying the essay type.

Opinion Essay

Introduction

Paraphrase the topic of the essay using synonyms for the words used in the topic statement. Clearly state the view on the topic.

Body Paragraph 1

Technological improvements have increased the level of ease and convenience to a point where people can access news and information at the click of a button. This has led to print media becoming outdated.

Body Paragraph 2

The development of news websites and sites that freely distribute information and print media in a digital form has led to a trend of availing such services and content without paying.

Summarize the essay and re-state the opinion on the topic.

Struggling to Crack the IELTS opinion essays? Our 8+ band trainers have got you! Sign up for a FREE demo now!

Sample Answer

Presently, newspapers, books, journals, magazines, etc. are still actively used by a section of the global population. However, with the arrival of news sites and the availability of books, magazines and other forms of media online, totally free of cost, many believe that such forms of media are on their way to becoming outdated. I agree with this statement, and will explain it further with relevant examples in the essay.

It is a well-known fact that in this day and age if an individual wants to read a book or just go over the news of the day, the first step that they take is to search the internet. Devices such as smartphones and tablets have improved the time efficiency of searching for information online to such an extent that a person can access their preferred form of media in the comfort of their homes in a matter of minutes. Consequently, people have started to abandon their preference for print media due to the presence of much more convenient alternatives.

Additionally, the various forms of print media enjoyed by people can often be availed free of charge on several websites. For instance, most news organizations publish their daily news on their official website, which can be accessed by anyone. Also, some numerous sites and databases provide popular books, journals and magazines in a digital form to the public for a nominal subscription fee or sometimes even for free, leading to a majority of readers of such forms of media shifting away from buying hard copies.

Nevertheless, there is still a sizable chunk of the population that enjoys the conventional forms of print media. That being said, with the cost-effective nature of making such information and content available online, organizations will soon completely shift to internet-based services.

In conclusion, I would like to say that people always prefer the more comfortable alternative that is available. Therefore, it can be safely said that in the coming years, there will be a complete shift from traditional print media to online media services and products.

Sample Question 2

Some people say that international sporting events contribute greatly to peace and stability in the world. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Paraphrase the topic sentence using synonyms.

Mention the view on the topic.

Body Paragraphs

International sports tournaments are events where teams and the general public of various countries come together and collectively participate in the event.

Sports events, especially cricket and football help distract the minds of the citizens from the ongoing difficulties in their country and enjoy these events.

Summarize the essay and state the final view.

Sample Answer

Sports has always been a magnificent platform for the finest talents of a country to showcase their skills and represent their nation. At the same time, sports is also one of the few occasions where every citizen of the country unites in support of their favourite teams. It is considered by many that sports are a great approach to maintain stability among countries. This essay will elaborate on the given topic and justify why sports can successfully bring and preserve global peace.

One of the greatest characteristics of any popular sporting event is that supporters of every team involved in the tournament almost always attend the matches that are organized in their cities. Some veteran fans even travel to different parts of the country to witness a match between their favourite teams. These events also unite the populace of a nation as every patriotic individual prays for the success of their national team. For instance, the entire nation wishes for the victory of their national team in the Olympic Games as winning an Olympic Medal is one of the most prestigious honours that can be bestowed upon a country.

It is a well-known fact that the people of a country collectively face several challenges on a day-to-day basis. These issues can be caused by numerous factors and are the typical difficulties that ordinary citizens have to overcome. Sports help people enjoy a few moments of excitement and take a break from the monotony of everyday life.

That being said, sometimes the passion of overenthusiastic sports fans ends up leading to harmful and conflicting situations among communities. Nevertheless, the overall impact of sports on our lives is undoubtedly positive.

Finally, sports are one of the aspects of human life that bind a whole community together. This is enough evidence to understand that sports help maintain peace and stability in a nation.

Ready to grab the latest IELTS writing task 2 question papers of 2024?

Sample Question 3

Our personalities are predetermined as a result of our genes before we are born and there is nothing that can be done to change our character traits. To what extent do you agree?

Paraphrase the topic and mention the view.

Genetics are only a part of the entire list of factors that affect a person’s personality.

One of the most important influences on an individual’s personality is their childhood and upbringing.

Summarize the essay and mention the final view in brief.

Even between small periods of time, there are subtle variabilities in our disposition. Such alterations are quite natural and are a part of a human being’s existence. However, it is often assumed that our personality is entirely dependent on genetics. The following paragraphs will explore the different aspects of personality and justify why genetics are not the only factor influencing our personality.

An individual has countless experiences in their life from childhood to adulthood and finally until death. Every one of these experiences has an impact on a person’s mind, no matter how giant or small. The kind of people present in a person’s immediate surroundings also has a huge influence on their nature and characteristics. Thus, it can be safely surmised that a person’s genes are not the only contributing factor when it comes to personality.

One of the most significant influences on our personality is our childhood experiences and the teachings of our parents. Children are always known to follow in the footsteps of their parents. Thus, if the parents of a child are successful in teaching their children the right values and morals, they are bound to grow into responsible and decent individuals.

It is true that the personality traits of an individual are determined by the features of their parents. Nevertheless, these traits can be altered over the course of many years and different experiences.

In conclusion, genetics affect our personalities in a trivial manner as compared to all the other aspects of our temperament. That being said, our life experiences and learnings are the consequential factors in developing our character.

The Latest IELTS Opinion Essay Topics of 2024

A few IELTS opinion essay topics are listed down below, which you can practice. These opinion essay questions may appear in the actual examination.

In the future, it seems more difficult to live on Earth. Some people think more money should be spent on researching another planet to live on, such as Mars. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Many people say that the only way to guarantee a good job is to complete a course in university education. Others claim that it is better to start work after school and gain experience in the world of work. How far do you agree or disagree with the above views?

Although more and more people read the news on the internet, newspapers will remain the most important source of news for the majority of people. Do you agree or disagree?
Students in schools and universities learn more from their teachers than through other means such as the Internet, libraries, and TV. To what extent you agree or disagree?
Nowadays university education is very expensive. Some people say that universities should reduce their fees, especially for the less fortunate students or for those coming from rural areas. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Some people think that governments must insist on preserving the traditional appearance of old buildings undergoing renovation or redevelopment. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement?
Some people believe that international trade and communication with other countries is a positive trend, while others think it is harmful to nations and they might lose their identities. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give your own opinion and relevant examples.
Many people believe that schools should teach children to become good citizens and workers rather than independent individuals. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give your own opinion and relevant examples.

People should follow the customs and traditions when they start to live in a new country. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is impossible to help all people in the world, so governments should only focus on people in their own countries. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Prevention is better than cure. Do you agree or disagree that out of the country’s health budget, a large proportion should be diverted from treatment to spending on health education and preventive measures?

Top 3 Common Mistakes of IELTS Opinion Essays

In IELTS opinion essays, it’s easy to make some common mistakes that can lower your band score. Getting aware of them is the key to not committing them knowingly or unknowingly while you prepare!

The top 3 common mistakes to avoid are:

Not giving a clear opinion.
Presenting arguments for both sides of the issue.
Failing to support your opinion with well-defined reasons and examples.

Tips to Answer IELTS Opinion Essay Questions

In the IELTS opinion essays, you need to write your opinion about a topic and back it up with proof and examples. If you use a clear structure and good writing methods, you can improve your chances of doing well!

Spend 5 minutes on a mind map before writing.
Stick to one viewpoint throughout the essay.
Use a single main idea to support the topic in each of the two body paragraphs.
Express your opinion throughout the essay, not just in the conclusion.
Keep the introduction short, a maximum of 50 words.
Ensure each body paragraph explains a main idea within 100 words.
The conclusion should be shorter than the introduction.
Write a complete essay following the given structure.
Aim for a word count of 280 words or less.

Here are the 10 Examples for the Opinion Essay Topics IELTS:

Also check:

Tips to write introduction in IELTS Writing Task 2
Tips to write great writing essay
IELTS Sample essays
How to get band 8 in IELTS Writing Task 2
IELTS Writing recent actual test
IELTS 2024 Study Plan for 1 month (30 Days) / 15 Days / 7 Days

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the structure for writing the introduction for an opinion essay?

Is it mandatory to state my opinion in the introduction? Can I skip it and introduce my opinion in the body paragraphs?

What are the words that I can use to state my opinion?

Can I underline the important sentences, to attract examiner’s attention?

Is it mandatory to write the essay in first person?

Practice IELTS Writing Task 2 based on Essay types

Start Preparing for IELTS: Get Your 10-Day Study Plan Today!

Nehasri Ravishenbagam

Nehasri Ravishenbagam, a Senior Content Marketing Specialist and a Certified IELTS Trainer of 3 years, crafts her writings in an engaging way with proper SEO practices. She specializes in creating a variety of content for IELTS, CELPIP, TOEFL, and certain immigration-related topics. As a student of literature, she enjoys freelancing for websites and magazines to balance her profession in marketing and her passion for creativity!

Explore other Opinion Essays

City Planners New Designs Include Setting Up Commercial Places in Different Areas – IELTS Writing Task 2

Janice Thompson

Nowadays More People are Choosing to Socialize Online Rather than Face to Face- IELTS Writing Task 2

Whitney Houston

Post your Comments

Purnima Koli

Posted on Oct 5, 2021

In fast-paced global economy, it is imperative to have both knowledge and skill. Ability to learn on the job paves way for more hands-on training than discussing case studies at university. Doing a course can be time taking and can surely burn a hole in our parents’ pockets, the middle class knows it better. Getting straight to business of things, meaning starting to work soon after school is beneficial in many ways.

Working in office gives us professional perspective about how business processes are streamlines, turning creative ideas into tangible projects and most importantly getting paid for the amazing work I put out. I feel it’s great to have my ideas being incorporated as solutions to processual issues. Personal growth due to long years of work experience makes us future-ready for the big dream job. Alternatively, some also start their own business after getting gaining a good reputation for their work.

In my personal experience my university education looks good on my CV but has not been financially rewarding for I still have to even out my return on investment. I regret joining an elite institution where I felt out of place as I came from a humble upbringing. However, I learnt a lot about living away from home, managing finances, making new friends, living independently, honed my communication skills.

All in all, I feel it is better to join workforce early on than to do a full-fledged university course. This saves time, money and energy from studying on campus which can be channelized to working with a small business which has ample scope to learn on the job. Later, one can switch to bigger companies with the achieved industry experience after a few years of rigorous hands-on training and development.

In the future, it seems more difficult to live on Earth. Some people think more money should be spent on researching another planet to live, such as Mars. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

The available land for household, industrial and recreational usage is shrinking. We see large scale infrastructure development in India. But for all these activities we need more land on earth itself, not on some other worldly planet, Mars. I would have to disagree that Mars has answers to all our earthly problems. I think it’s more about gaps in planning, policy making and the way we conduct our lives on a day-to-day basis. If we base our routine on sustainable habits, we are already solving more problems than we create. The problems are created on earth so they need solutions on earth itself, I believe.

The problems like polluted resources such as air, water, land, soil have ample ways to be fixed as we read in scientific journals and other informational sources. The popular ‘3 Rs’ such as Recycle, Reuse and Reduce need to be inculcated for us to have clean air, water, soil, land. We need community development along with economic development so the civil society, environment and the development process can go hand-in-hand. Overcrowding in urban areas due to migration for work, education or marriage can be solved by having proper laws. On the other hand, achieving conservation targets for endangered flora and fauna is a vital step towards holistic saving the ecosystem.

Consequently, I strongly believe that having ideas about Mars being an inhabitable place in the future is surely fantastic idea. But It’s a childish way to think of a better world somewhere else than fixing problems at hand. Let’s face it, our survival instincts have made us exploit resources faster than the nature can replenish them. And we see the negative outcomes like sea-level rising, frequent coastal flooding, drastic weather changes, global warming. As a global community of conscious individuals, we need our planet more than it needs us.

Posted on Sep 11, 2021

In a new country one faces multiple challenges to overcome the culture shock. Different people may adopt the new ways of life at different pace. But I do agree that willing to accept and change with the circumstances can ease the burden.

As we know that change is inevitable, we need to get accustomed to the new culture. There’s no harm in getting the best of both worlds, from your country of origin to this new land of surprises. Festivals, celebrations, new people, new places, new things tend to broaden our perspective on life. We come out much stronger by dealing with the new possibilities. Initially, the surrounding might be tough to make sense of, but with time it should get better.

The decision of moving to a new country is yours so you’d be the person who needs to adapt to get the best possible advantage. Human psychology is common but mannerisms might be different. So, one can learn that through social observation, trial and error and asking questions.

To belong at a place, we must take the initiative to learn the traditions and customs of the new country. To feel welcomed, one must socialize with like minded individuals, take part in group activities at workplace or educational institute or even neighborhood social clubs. Try to get out there, find your niche, excel at what you do, travel and get to know people. It’s easy if you are willing.

Otherwise, you’ll end up losing new experiences which enliven our senses. To live more each day, we need to blend with the culture. Traditions tells us stories of the past which we could relate with stories back at our homeland as well. This way it’s going to be much easier to make bonds, live a cheerful life.

Posted on Sep 15, 2021

Okay. Thanks for your reply. The 4 paragraph structure goes for all other types of (Task 2) essays too?

Posted on Sep 13, 2021

Overall band: 6

Follow the 4 paragraph structure so that it is easy for the examiner to mark you for coherence. . For opinion essays, it is better to write one line after your opinionated paragraphs. Just one line that you are aware of the other side.

Recent Articles

Many People Complain that They Have Difficulties Getting Enough Sleep – IELTS Writing Task 2

Raajdeep Saha

Ultimate Guide to IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essays

Kasturika Samanta

Crime Novels and TV Crime Dramas are Becoming Popular – IELTS Writing Task 2

Our Offices

Gurgaon city scape, gurgaon bptp.

Step 1 of 3

Great going .

Get a free session from trainer

Have you taken test before?

Please select any option

Get free eBook to excel in test

Please enter Email ID

Get support from an Band 9 trainer

Please enter phone number

Already Registered?

Select a date

Please select a date

Select a time (IST Time Zone)

Please select a time

Mark Your Calendar: Free Session with Expert on

Which exam are you preparing?

Great Going!

IELTS Writing Task 2: A ‘balanced opinion’ essay

Apr 8, 2024 | 11 Comments

What is the difference between a ‘balanced opinion’ essay and a ‘discussion’ essay? If you’re not sure, this lesson should help.

Writing Task 2: Can you see the problem?

Apr 1, 2024 | 12 Comments

Many students make the mistake of writing their ‘agree or disagree’ essays in this way. Can you see what’s wrong?

IELTS Writing Task 2: Improving a student’s coherence

Mar 25, 2024 | 10 Comments

Compare the two paragraphs. What simple changes did I make to improve coherence?

IELTS Writing Task 2: A ‘strongly disagree’ essay

Mar 18, 2024 | 4 Comments

Here’s a good example of a “completely disagree” essay at band 9 level.

Advice: More ideas for the side you agree with?

Mar 17, 2024 | 2 Comments

In “discussion + opinion” essays, should we include more ideas for the side of the discussion that we agree with?

IELTS Writing Task 2: Idea development problems

Mar 11, 2024 | 9 Comments

Many IELTS candidates write paragraphs that are too general or superficial, and the main idea doesn’t seem to go anywhere.

IELTS Writing Task 2: The BIG mistake

Mar 4, 2024 | 0 Comments

What is the biggest overall mistake that examiners see in candidates’ writing task 2 essays? It could be this one.

IELTS Writing Task 2: Ignore the word ‘academic’

Feb 26, 2024 | 2 Comments

IELTS essays are not the same as university ‘academic’ writing assignments, and you don’t need to use ‘academic’ words.

IELTS Writing Task 2: ‘Old people’s health’ essay

Feb 19, 2024 | 2 Comments

You can now read my model answer for the ‘old people’s health’ task. Have a look at the useful vocabulary list too.

Writing Task 2: Proper examples

Feb 12, 2024 | 7 Comments

A proper example should not explain, it should illustrate.

Writing Task 2: ‘Old people’s health’ paragraph

Feb 5, 2024 | 22 Comments

Can you finish my paragraph about the benefits of sport for older people?

Writing Task 2: ‘Old people’s health’ brainstorm

Jan 29, 2024 | 19 Comments

In this lesson we will apply yesterday’s brainstorming advice to the “old people’s health” writing task.

Writing Task 2: ‘Old people’s health’ essay skeleton

Jan 22, 2024 | 25 Comments

Do you know what I mean when I use the term ‘essay skeleton’? See if you can finish the example in this lesson.

Writing Task 2: ‘Old people’s health’ topic

Jan 15, 2024 | 29 Comments

Let’s start writing an essay about a new topic. First, see if you can finish my introduction.

IELTS Writing Task 2: Paragraph analysis

Jan 8, 2024 | 13 Comments

In this lesson we will analyse a main body paragraph in terms of its length, coherence, cohesion and the writing method used.

IELTS Writing Task 2: ‘Choices’ essay

Jan 1, 2024 | 14 Comments

Some people believe that nowadays we have too many choices. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Writing Task 2: Structure is not the secret!

Dec 18, 2023 | 2 Comments

IELTS students often get this wrong…

IELTS Writing Task 2: Focus on ‘real content’

Dec 11, 2023 | 2 Comments

Whenever people ask me for one good tip for writing task 2, I tell them to focus on ‘real content’ rather than grammar, linking or structure.

IELTS Writing Task 2: ‘New products’ essay

Dec 4, 2023 | 12 Comments

Read my band 9 essay about the advertising of new products, and see if you can list the ‘less common’ vocabulary that it contains.

Writing Task 2: ‘New products’ paragraph

Nov 27, 2023 | 11 Comments

Read my band 9 paragraph and complete the quick vocabulary exercise below it.

Writing Task 2: ‘Advertising products’ conclusion

Nov 20, 2023 | 12 Comments

Can you write a conclusion to finish my ‘essay skeleton’?

Writing Task 2: ‘Advertising products’ topic

Nov 13, 2023 | 16 Comments

In this lesson we’ll write the introduction for a new essay task, which comes from Cambridge IELTS book 16.

Academic Writing Task 2: How to use the 40 minutes

Nov 6, 2023 | 8 Comments

You have 40 minutes for task 2, so try organising your time in the following way.

IELTS Writing Task 2: Balanced opinion essay (cultural differences)

Oct 23, 2023 | 8 Comments

Should we adapt to the cultures of other countries that we visit? Here’s my band 9 answer and a quick homework task.

Writing Task 2: Accepting cultural differences

Oct 16, 2023 | 16 Comments

Read and complete my paragraph about accepting cultural differences.

Writing Task 2: Two-idea paragraph

Oct 9, 2023 | 18 Comments

Can you finish my paragraph with a personal example?

Writing Task 2: Balanced opinion ‘skeleton’

Oct 2, 2023 | 22 Comments

Let’s write a balanced opinion essay skeleton for the task about tourists and cultural differences.

Writing Task 2: Agree or disagree, balanced opinion

Sep 25, 2023 | 22 Comments

Let’s start work on a new essay topic, and try to present a viewpoint that is in the middle between ‘agree’ and ‘disagree’.

IELTS Writing Task 2: ‘Professionals’ vocabulary exercise

Sep 18, 2023 | 6 Comments

Here’s a quick exercise that highlights some of the good vocabulary that I used in last week’s ‘professionals’ essay.

IELTS Writing Task 2: Discussion essay (professionals)

Sep 11, 2023 | 12 Comments

Here’s my band 9 essay on the topic of whether professionals should be allowed to work abroad. There’s also a quick homework task.

This website uses cookies.

Join us at My IELTS Classroom today for our video courses, marking service, 1-2-1 lessons and so much more…

A hand holds a pair of scales to signify the importance of adding balance in an IELTS agree/disagree essay

How can I add balance to my IELTS agree/disagree essay?

When you open your exam paper and see the instruction Discuss both views and give your own opinion, it’s obvious that you HAVE TO give equal space to both opinions in your essay to fully address all parts of the task.

But, what happens when the instruction asks you To what extent do you agree or disagree ? Is it still important to discuss both “sides” of an argument, or are you free to have a “strong” position? And, if you do consider the other position, how and where can you do this in your essay so that your position remains clear? I mean, how can you show “balance” when arguing your own opinion?

Well, these are the complex questions I am going to be answering in today’s blog! (And don’t stop reading until you get to the end, because the good stuff is near the bottom!)

Can I have a strong position in an IELTS agree/disagree essay?

I’m going to get straight to the point and say

🤩🤩🤩 YES! 🤩🤩🤩

A strong position is when you either 100% agree with the statement, or 100% disagree. And it is absolutely fine to do this. The question To what extent do you agree or disagree literally means how much do you agree or disagree. S o you can definitely respond by saying that you totally agree or totally disagree .

In fact, for most IELTS test-takers, having a STRONG position is absolutely the BEST thing to do. Why? well, because it will guarantee that you have a CLEAR position. And what do clear positions mean?

👉 A 7.0 for Task Response! 👈

If you have ever spent time in a university EAP classroom, then To what extent questions should remind you of Argumentative Essays – the essays where you present your opinion in the introduction, and then spend the rest of the essay defending it. And, the most common (but not the only) way to answer these questions is with a structure that looks like this:

Introduction: Introduce topic of essay + state opinion

BP1: Reason / Argument 1 for opinion

BP1: Reason / Argument 2 for option

Conclusion: Summarise arguments and restate opinion

Now, I am totally against giving students templates for essays, or sentences that can be used in any piece of writing – these never lead to high scores. But that’s not what this is! The method of presenting a strong argument in the introduction of an essay and defending it in the body has been accepted in universities around the world for decades. To say that there are no “types” of essays is clearly wrong – any good Academic Writing book is based on essays types, which each have their own expected style.

Ironically, learning this style is the first and easiest step in essay writing. What is much harder is learning how to write good topic sentences, or how to build logical arguments using complex sentences, or how to make sure your essay has unity and coherence. Thats why all of the time and energy wasted by IELTS test-takers on organisation is so sad for me. This time would be much better spent on LEARNING LANGUAGE SKILLS!

Anyway, back to giving balance. Maybe some of you are thinking right now

Shelly if we follow the plan above, we won’t consider any arguments for the other side in our essay? You are recommending that we give only ONE view of the argument. Is that enough for a 7.0?

Well, my response to that question, would be

Where in the band descriptors does it say that you need to consider arguments for the other view for a 7.0? 👈

Where in the band descriptors does it say that a strong position will be penalised? 👈

In IELTS, there should be only ONE motivation for including something in your writing, and that’s if the band descriptors require you to do so. So, have a look at the Official IELTS Band Descriptors for Task Response, and tell me what stops me getting a 7.0 if I use strong position approach? Where does it say that I can’t 100% agree or disagree? 👀

The answer is nowhere! There is NOTHING in the band descriptors that says the candidate has to consider alternate opinions or positions OR has to provide balance . All the band descriptors ask you to do is

address all parts of the task – the task asks to what extent you agree or disagree, and I clearly state that I 100% agree or disagree and give reasons why
present a clear position – I 100% agree or 100% disagree! THAT IS THE CLEAREST POSSIBLE POSITION!
expand and support that position with relevant, well-extended arguments – I think that this is the part of the essay people should focus on more! Having clear well-extended arguments that include a nice range of complex sentences!

Want to know how the examiner will apply the band descriptors when marking your IELTS essay?

Th en download a copy of our FREE e-book, which explains how each of the four marking criteria is applied and includes the most common errors made by test-takers. Just click here for your copy.

Does this mean there is never a need to add balance in an IELTS Agree/Disagree essay ?

So, we now know that it is definitely possible to achieve a 7.0 for Task Response using a strong position approach. However, in My IELTS Classroom , I try not to limit my students scores in any way. And, this means that even though a 7.0 for Task Response is good, I would like all of my students to have the chance of achieving an 8.0 or even a 9.0. And, if we look carefully at the 7.0 band descriptor again, it contains this phrase:

there may be a tendency to over-generalise

This means that an over-general essay can achieve a 7.0, but no higher. Now, in my first blog I gave some great techniques for avoiding over-generalising in sentences, but now I think that our WHOLE ESSAY could be considered over-general if we don’t consider ANY arguments for the other side.

And so to avoid being over-general, I do always teach my students to add some balance to their IELTS agree/disagree essays. Not much, but enough for the examiner to see that they did consider the alternative view. And to stay consistent with our strong position, I suggest my students add balance using two simple methods: The Straw Man Technique or Adding Acknowledgement .

Let’s look at each of these, in turn, to see how they work and how you can easily add them to your IELTS agree/disagree essays.

The Straw Man Technique

OK, let’s imagine that we are answering this IELTS question:

University education should be free for all students. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

And, you decide that you are going to take a strong approach by 100% agreeing, so you sit down and write an introduction and first body paragraph like this:

In many countries today, obtaining a degree is becoming increasingly expensive. However, I strongly believe that all students should have free access to tertiary as it would benefit both individuals and society as a whole.

Firstly, a free higher education system ensures that all individuals have equal access to opportunities. If students have to pay tuition fees, those who come from low-income families will either be forced to take out massive loans to attend university, or not attend at all. As a result, there will be no opportunity for young people from poor families to climb the social ladder as jobs that require a degree are much more highly paid than those that don’t.

So far, so good. Your opinion is clearly stated in the introduction (100% agree), and in your first body paragraph you have given and clearly explained your first reason for having this view. Great 👍 You are on track for a 7.0.

But, you don’t want a 7.0, you want an 8.0, so you want to add balance to your paragraph. How are you going to do this? Remember, we don’t want to destroy the clarity of our opinion, but we do want to show the examiner that you considered the other view.

Well, the easiest way is to simply show the examiner a WEAK argument for the other side, and then immediately destroy it with an argument for YOUR position. This is the what we call the Straw Man Technique . This technique is wonderful because it does two things at the same time:

When you present the weak argument for the other view you show the examiner that you considered the other position and, hence, your essay has balance
When you destroy the argument, you show the examiner that your position is the most reasonable and, hence, your conclusions are well-drawn

A Straw Man sentence is usually always a CONTRAST sentence. First, we present the other view , and then we destroy it with our opposite view

While some argue that social media has led to people becoming more isolated , I would say that in fact it has actually helped strengthen the bonds between people.
Although it could be argued that people wear similar clothes because they like to copy each othe r, I think that the truth is actually much simpler: there is only a limited range of fashion choices available in mainstream shops.
Some argue that school uniforms remove the opportunity for children to show their uniqueness through fashion . However, I would counter this by saying that when children are dressed in the same clothes, it actually allows them to show their individuality in other more meaningful ways.

Can you see what we are doing here? We are giving an argument for the other view, and then immediately saying why we think it is wrong. This technique is so simple and yet so powerful!

But, where should you put this weak argument for the other side? Well, to make your paragraphs as logical as possible, the best place to put it is directly after the topic sentence. Remember, To What Extent essays are about OUR position, so we don’t want to start a paragraph talking about somebody else’s view! Let me show you by adding a sentence using the Straw Man Technique to our first body paragraph:

Firstly, a free higher education system ensures that all individuals have equal access to opportunities. Although some argue that it is not the government’s responsibility to educate students over the age of 18, I believe that it should do everything in its power to eradicate social inequality . If students have to pay tuition fees, those who come from low-income families are either forced to take out massive loans to attend university, or not attend at all. As a result, there will be no opportunity for young people from poor families to climb the social ladder, as jobs that require a degree are much more highly paid than those that don’t.

💥 💥 💥 💥 BOOM 💥💥💥💥

And, that’s it. Now my paragraph has balance. All I had to do was add a contrast clause that first presented the opposite view, and then showed why I disagreed with it. And, by adding this one simple contrast sentence, I have now shown the examiner that I considered the other position 💁‍♂️. And so, ta-da, my essay is no longer over-general and the door to an 8.0 for Task Response opens again! 🚪

Now, some of you might be thinking: Wow, that’s great! But, if it’s good to add one weak argument for the other view, wouldn’t it be even better to discuss ALL of the possible ideas for the other side? I mean, if adding one short clause is a good way to offer balance, wouldn’t having a whole paragraph that discusses the opposite view be even better? Well, to those people my response would be

WHY do you want to add more arguments for the other view?

How does adding a paragraph of arguments for the other side help YOU to show YOUR OPINION?!⚡

Remember, that is what the question asked us: To what extent YOU agree or disagree! It didn’t ask you to consider what other people think, only what YOU think. I mean, nobody asked you what “other people” think, so why are you going to waste time discussing it in your essay? In the Straw Man technique, we only present an argument for the “other side” to make OUR opinion stronger – the focus is still very much on what WE think. I mean, essentially there is NO OTHER SIDE in these essays! There is only YOU and YOUR OPINION!

Imagine how you would feel if you asked a friend if they liked the last Star Wars film and they answered you like this:

Well, some people said that it has one of the best plots of the series. It is also argued that the effects are better than the other films. Advocates of this film also believe that ….. 💥 👊 💥 👊

You would think your friend had gone crazy! I mean, why are they talking about “some people” when you asked them for THEIR opinion!!! You don’t care what other people think!!! This is how I feel when I start reading a To What Extent and in the first paragraph there is nothing but arguments for the other view! I think why are they telling me this? I want to know THEIR opinion, not other people’s!!! For me, a paragraph like this does NOTHING to help you show your position.

In fact, even if you added your own comments or arguments against the “other side” in a paragraph like this, the focus of the paragraph would still be “other people” and not YOU.

Plus, there is a great danger that you are going to make the same arguments again in the next paragraph, when you finally get to express your own opinion (which is what you should be doing in a To What Extent essay!). The whole thing can become a mess very quickly. And rather than having a nice essay that argues strongly for one position and shows progression, you now have a muddled one.

Even worse, I worry that many examiners will look at an agree/disagree essay that starts in this way and think “Mmm, here is a student who uses the same fixed plan for every essay – introduction, ideas for the other side, ideas for my side, conclusion.” And this will almost certainly result in a low score ….. 😰

So, for these reasons I would strongly recommend you don’t devote an entire paragraph to arguments for the alternative view:

It takes the focus away from YOU and YOUR opinion
It can lead you to make repetitious arguments
Unless you can argue skilfully, it looks like you have mistaken the question for a Discuss Both Sides essay (and even worse, learned only one essay “plan”)

Acknowledging or Conceding to the Other Side

OK, so in the Straw Man Technique, we present an argument for the other side that we DISAGREE with. But, what happens if you think that there actually are some good arguments for the other view?

Well, then we can simply show the examiner that we recognise and accept that there is a good argument against our position . Yes! It is absolutely acceptable to do this and still have a strong position! Let me show you to do this by adding some acknowledgement to the 2nd body paragraph of my education essay:

There are also benefits to society as a whole when education is free. Although I concede that the cost of providing free access to higher education would be extremely high , the money that governments would receive back in future taxes would more than outweigh this initial expense. It is obvious that the more educated a society is, the more productive and advanced it will be. Gaining a degree gives people the knowledge and skills to perform higher-level employment roles, especially in technical fields like science and engineering.

Can you see how this is different to the Straw Man Technique? This time I’m not saying the alternative view is wrong –

👉 I am ACKNOWLEDGING or ACCEPTING or CONCEDING that it is CORRECT, but that it doesn’t change my strong opinion 👈

Acknowledging arguments is a very powerful tool for avoiding over-generalising. In fact, acknowledging that the other view has good arguments can be the start of writing an essay that DOESN’T HAVE have a strong position. You see, if you felt that there was such a good argument for the other side that you want to discuss in more detail in the essay, you could devote a whole paragraph to it.

But, if you do this, you have to change your opinion slightly and transition between paragraphs smoothly, and employ many other high-level writing skills that most students aspiring for a 7.0 simply don’t have!!

That’s why I only teach balanced opinion essays to my most skilled students. And even then, I tell them not to use it in the exam unless they have to!

I am not going to even try to describe how to write an essay that partly agrees or disagrees here. I have a whole 40 minute lesson devoted to this in my video course, and for some students it does give them the chance to really achieve the Band 8 and 9 scores. But, as a teacher who has helped thousands of students get through the IELTS exam, my advice is and always will be

Don’t make your essay more complicated than it needs to be!

Ok, there was a lot in this lesson, so let’s just do a short review of the main points that you need to take away:

IELTS Agree / Disagree Essay Summary:

If you need a 7.0, have a strong position and argue for it – it’s simple, easy and it works.
If you want a 7.5 or higher, then add some balance to your strong position by using the strawman technique or acknowledging the other view. You can do this in one of your paragraphs, or both.
Don’t have a whole paragraph devoted to the “other view” – the only opinion the matters is a To What Extent essay is YOURS
You can write an essay in which you partially agree or disagree, but I would only attempt this is you have guidance from a good teacher and understand how to show this view correctly throughout your essay.

Well, I hope that I managed to make my points clear today – this is a very complicated topic! In fact, there are more than 2 hours of lessons in my online course that teach how to give clear opinions and add balance – it’s hard to condense that into one blog post! If you still have questions, then please use the comment box below. I am always happy to help 👇👇

And, if you liked this post, then please head over to My IELTS Classroom – real lessons with a real teacher in a real classroom that bring real results! 🚀

Posts navigation

All Posts ,
Writing ,
Speaking ,
Listening ,
Reading ,
Grammar ,
General Advice ,

My IELTS Classroom's illustrious leader, Shelly, looking happy and excited. She is holding the number eight in one hand and giving a thumbs up with the other.

Real experts, real lessons, real success!

If you like my blog, you'll love our IELTS Writing packages

45 hours of video lessons with a genuine IELTS expert that prepare you for ANY IELTS question
Integrated grammar and writing skills lessons to help you reach 7.0+
Hundreds of downloadable practice activities and model answers

Try our free video lessons today!

Free IELTS Advice?

Subscribe to our mailing list to receive regular tips, tricks and special offers!

Essay – examples & model answers | B2 First (FCE)

FCE Essay Examples: Topic (Environment)

Example exam task:, example answer (grade: 3), example answer:.

I think that my country has problems with pollution to the environment like all other countries. This problem is normal for Russia. We have big problems with transport because there are too much cars in our country. And because of that we have problems with atmospeer, air in my city and in all Russia is really dirty and sometimes I can’t make a sigh because it smells around me and of course around that cars on the road. I’ve heard about tradition of one country. They don’t go anywhere by car one day a month or a year, they just use bycicle or their feet. I think it could be very good if we had a tradition like that.

So, what about the rivers and the seas? Yeah, there are some really good and clean rivers and seas where you can go, but there are not many of them. Once I saw the river OB in my city, it was about two years ago but I stil remember that in some places it was not blue, it was green or purple I didn’t really understand because it had different colours.

I don’t know what should we do. Maybe we should just open our eyes and look what we did. But Russian people don’t care about the world around them many people care only about themselves an that’s all.

So, the best idea is look around and try to do something good for our planet and for us and our children.

FCE, CAE, CPE

Practice, write & improve, examiners comments & grade:, example answer (grade: 3-4).

To begin with pollution and damage to the environment is the most serious and difficult problem for countries of all over the world. Scientists of different countries predict a global ecocatastrophe if people won’t change their attitude to our planet.

First of all a huge damage to the environment brings a transport. People can’t imagine their living without cars, buses, trains, ships and planes. But it’s an open secret that one of disadvantage of these accustomed things is harmful exhaust. Needless to say that use of environment friendly engines helps us to save atmosphere from pollution.

In addition to this our rivers and seas are in not less danger situation. It’s a fact of common knowledge that numerous factories and plants pour off their waste to ponds. Obviously that cleaning manufacturing water helps to avoid extinction of ocean residents.

Apart from this I’m inclined to believe that every person can and must contribute to solving this important problem. Doing a little steps for protection our environment every day we will be able to save our Earth. And it’s a task of each of us.

Model Answer (Grade: 5)

DEVELOPMENT VS ENVIRONMENT

If we surf the web looking for pollution and environmental catastrophes, we will find out that every country in the world suffers them. This is a natural consequence of the struggle between development and environment.

If a country decided to live isolated from the rest of the world, living on what it can naturally grow and produce, it surely wouldn’t be highly polluted. But we all want exotic food and technological items from all over the world, so we have to pay the price.

Investing on electrical transport would benefit the environment a lot. Even more if this electricity came from a natural source of energy like wind, rivers and solar boards. It’s difficult to achieve this because petrol companies will fight against these actions.

We also have to take care of our rivers and seas. We all have heard about factories throwing highly toxic substances to rivers, without minimizing their poisoning effects. A really strict law should be applied to fine these factories and make them change their policy.

But what about ourselves? We also can do a lot! If, when possible, we bought larger packs of food, we would be producing less rubbish. And this is only an example!

FCE Essay Examples: Topic (Fashion)

In today’s world, the fashion industry has a strong importance in people’s lives. The fashion industry say to the society what to wear and creates new types of clothes all the time.

Some people claim that the fashion industry has a bad effect on people’s lives, they say that the fashion industry creates clothes that the society has to wear. Furthermore, the clothes’ price is extremely high and people, who can’t afford it, should not be in the society.

In the other hand, the fashion industry guide the people to be in a good appearance, because, nowadays, the appearance of the person is more important than the person itself.

In my opinion, the fashion industry doesn’t has a bad influence on people’s lives. It’s something which was created to help people what to wear.

Example Answer (Grade: 4)

Fashion industry is very a discussed subject nowadays: they create and design new clothes everyday in order to satisfy some people needs.

There are many people who claim that the fashion industry is important and good for society. According to them, this industry design beautiful clothes and thanks to that every person can wear shirts, trousers or any acessory which is on today’s fashion.

On the other hand, the fashion industry in some people opinion, controls the market of clothes and because of that they can’t wear what they want to. In addition, the industry can increase the price of clothes, forcing people who don’t want to be “oldfashioned” to buy and pay a large amount of money to keep “beautiful”.

In my opinion, we can’t let the fashion industry decide what we must or musn’t wear. We shouldn’t judge people for its appearance,because that is not important. We must wear whatever we like, want and feel confortable with.

The society we live today is characterised by technology in constant development, fast speed processes, information travelling and getting to people at a blink of an eye and a complex web of social networking. In this context, the fashion industry is becoming increasingly important and having a more and more paramount role in our lives.

On one hand, the fashion industry is undeniably a source of profit and income. It hires millions of people all over the world and generates millions of dollars every year. Furthermore, such profitable business is also believed to be able to spread and make known the culture of a people, encouraging and enhancing a better understanding of each other.

Nevertheless, for those who are neither impressed nor motivated by numbers and figures, the fashion industry is seen as one which segregates people, isolating those who not fit their laws and commands. It is stated that people place too much importance on appearance and the material, world, sadly true, and the fashion industry just spurs on such situation. Moreover, not only are the costs of fashion item unrealistically high, it is thought to be a money better spent on more pressing issues, such as poverty and hunger.

I do believe that the fashion industry, as it is today, has a harmful effect, because it values a minority of people in detriment to the majority. However, it has such a wide reach that, it put into a good use, it can save lives.

FCE Essay Examples: Topic (Languages)

“There are more reasons to learn a foreign language than to pass a test”

Everything around us revolves around language(s), it is the most important thing in our lives. Society would just not function without it. They are It is our future and I would personaly love to learn as many as I possibly can.

Not everything in life is done because it is necessary. Learning a new language can be a lot of fun. Many people only do it as a hoby, or their knowledge is something that brings them pride and pleasure.

Secondly, we have people who do it simply to challenge themselves. Truly I believe that having a great outcome that stems from your hard work and dedication to learn something new is a wonderful way to challenge prove your ability to yourself and others. Then there is travelling. It is very important to be able to understand and have a conversation with someone abroad, unless you would like to get lost or worse.

To conclude, I think that learning a new language is an amazing thing no matter why you do it. It is always better to do things out of enjoyment, but even if you do it for a test, that knowledge will always be useful.

Learning a a foreign languages is very important nowadays. English, in particular, is essential because it allows is spoken all over the world. That’s the reason why we start studying it from the age of six years old. Going abroad and being able to speak to native people is very satisfying and that’s why I want to improve my knowledge about foreign languages.

I decided to take this exam to know how high my level of English is, but also because I need this certification to go abroad next summer. I really want to come back to Cornwall, an amazing region in the South-West of England. I’ve been there twice with my family, but now I want to go alone. Only being there to England I can really improve my English comprehension and speaking skills.

Fortunately I can will have some English lessons which taught in English at university and I can’t wait for it because it will be an interesting challenge for me. Studying foreign languages is essential to live and to travel. It isn’t simple and I surely have to challenge myself everyday, but the result is so satisfying that we I can’t do without it.

FCE Essay Example: Topic (History)

A very common topic that is being discussed nowadays is wether schools should teach subjects that some may consider useless later in life. A clear example is history, since it is quite difficult to learn and does not help us in day-to-day activities.

However, many people do not realize the importance of it or that it affects our lives today. For example, our political system would not be this way if it weren’t for the Ancient Greeks, numerous politicians and wars who helped shape democracy and our constitution. Yet it is still thought that it’s useless.

In addition, it is very important that we never forget about our past since we must know where we were standing years ago. Moreover, there are some things, such as World War II, that we have to remember to prevent them from happening again. We should also know where we we were standing a century ago: our origins, our identity. The more you learn about your ethnicity, the better.

All in all, I think that it is extremely important to learn about one’s own country’s history. Anyone who gets the chance to do this should not waste it, since they are very fortunate to have this opportunity

Would you pass B2 First (FCE)?

👋 Nhắn cho DOL để tìm hiểu chi tiết về các khóa học IELTS nhé!

Opinion Essay Sample: Cách làm dạng Opinion trong IELTS Writing Task 2

Nếu hỏi ai trên đời này chân thành quan tâm ý kiến của chúng ta nhất, đó chính là opinion essay IELTS . Vì nếu quan điểm của chúng ta đủ hay (tất nhiên dựa trên 4 tiêu chí IELTS writing), nó sẵn sàng cho ta mức điểm đổi đời. Còn nếu không, nó vẫn kiên nhẫn tiếp tục nghe chúng ta trình bày, miễn là ta trả 4 triệu rưỡi. Thế nên, để tiết kiệm tiền và tránh phải nói đi nói lại với nó, để DOL giúp bạn nha.

1. Giới thiệu dạng bài Opinion essay IELTS

Cách nhận biết opinion essay IELTS:

Đề nhắc tới một vấn đề, một ý kiến tích cực hoặc tiêu cực.

Đề hỏi bạn những câu khơi gợi thể hiện quan điểm:

To what extend do you agree or disagree?

What is your opinion on this?

Do you agree or disagree?

Most large companies nowadays operate multi-nationally. To what extent multinational companies have responsibility toward local communities in which they operate?

It is sometimes said that countries should produce all the food for their populations to eat and import as little as possible.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Lưu ý: Bạn cần phải đề cập tới mọi khía cạnh trong đề, không chỉ nói về quan điểm cá nhân, mà còn phải đưa ra ideas bổ trợ cho các ý trong đề. Với dạng đề này, bạn có 2 cách trả lời chính:

Thuận hoàn toàn 1 quan điểm - One-sided essay: Dùng khi bạn có quan điểm rõ ràng, lập luận chặt chẽ và đa dạng cho 1 hướng.

Cân bằng ý - Balanced essay: Dùng khi bạn có suy nghĩ trung lập về chủ đề đặt ra. Tất nhiên, bạn vẫn được mong đợi là nghiêng nhiều hơn về phía nào.

2. Những lỗi thường gặp ở dạng bài Opinion essay

Sau đây, DOL sẽ lưu ý trước cho bạn những lỗi thường gặp nhất trong writing task 2 nói chung và opinion essay IELTS nói riêng.

Lạc đề : Nghe không dễ sai, nhưng rất dễ. Một phần vì tư duy viết văn theo kiểu ẩn dụ, link sang các sự kiện na ná nghe liên quan nhưng không hề. Một phần vì không hiểu rõ phạm vi đề.

Sai thì sử dụng: Hầu hết các đề opinion đều nói về 1 fact, 1 quan điểm nào đó ở hiện tại. Nên thí sinh có xu hướng sử dụng present simple. Tuy nhiên phải đề ý bối cảnh để không nhầm giữa quá khứ, hiện tại, tương lai nha.

Sử dụng văn nói: Bài thi writing IELTS là 1 formal essay, vì thế không được sử dụng idioms hay các cấu trúc văn nói.

Lỗi Opinion essay

Không đưa ra quan điểm gì/Không trình bày rõ ràng : Úp úp mở mở như crush. Lỗi này rất dễ mắc phải vì thí sinh hay “ngỡ” là mình đã đưa ra quan điểm rõ ràng. Điểm Task Achievement của bạn sẽ bay ngay khi sai lỗi này.

Đưa ra quan điểm cả 2 chiều cho bài viết one-sided: Khi chọn theo hướng thuận 1 hướng (strongly agree/disagree) mà còn support hướng còn lại thì không khác gì tự bắn vào chân. Điều này sẽ làm quan điểm của bạn bị yếu thế, dẫn đến kết luận bấp bênh. Vì thế khi làm dạng này và quyết định làm theo hướng one-sided, hãy chọn quan điểm nào bạn có nhiều ý để phát triển, dù bạn có không thật sự đồng ý với nó nha. Mục đích chính của bài cũng chỉ là để kiểm tra ngôn ngữ thôi.

Quên giải thích hoặc/và ví dụ bổ trợ: Tưởng tượng bạn đang dự 1 hội thảo về môi trường. Diễn giả đứng lên phát biểu:” Tôi nghĩ cần đổ thêm cát nhân tạo xuống biển.” Xong ngồi xuống. Cảm giác người nghe cũng hụt hẫng y như các giám khảo IELTS, vì không rõ làm vậy để làm gì, có lợi ích gì, có ví dụ gì cho lợi ích của việc đó hay không.

Các đoạn văn thể hiện ý nhượng bộ thường được tìm thấy trong các câu trả lời band điểm cao vì chúng yêu cầu kiểm soát tốt ngôn ngữ phức tạp (chúng ta có thể thấy điều đó ở đây với câu Mặc dù…, tôi nghĩ rằng… ). Bạn có muốn đưa vào một đoạn văn nhượng bộ hay không là tùy thuộc vào bạn, nhưng hãy đảm bảo rằng bạn thực hành cách viết này trước khi thử trong bài kiểm tra thực tế. https://ieltstutors.org/ieltstutors-tips-blog/ielts-writing-task-2-types-of-tasks-opinions

3. Cách làm bài dạng Opinion essay

Sau khi xác định muốn trình bày quan điểm theo dạng nào (One-sided hay Balanced), việc tiếp theo cần làm là xác định cần phân tích những khía cạnh nào trong bài. Cụ thể:

Template - One-sided essay

Paraphrase the topic: It is a common belief that S + V

Thesis: I completely agree (disagree) with this view for several reasons

Body 1: Supporting idea 1

Topic sentence 1: The first argument given to support my opinion is that S + V.

Explanation | Cause-Effect

Body 2: Supporting idea 1

Topic sentence 2: Another rationale behind my belief is that S + V.

Paraphrase the Answer: In conclusion, I strongly believe that S + V partly because [idea1] and partly because [idea2]..

Template - Balanced essay

Thesis: While I think (agree | disagree) that S + V, I still believe that + S + V.

Body 1 - Opinion 1

Topic sentence 1: It is true that S + V

Idea 1: To begin with, S + V.

Explanation | Cause-Effect | Example

Another reason worth mentioning is that S + V.

Body 2 - Opinion 2 (Favored)

Topic sentence 2: Nevertheless, I would argue that S + V because of several reasons.

Chief among these is that S + V

The second reason is that S + V

Paraphrase the Answer: In conclusion, although I agree (disagree) S+ V, I am of the opinion that S+ V.

4. Cách viết đoạn Introduction

Trong phần 5,6, và 7, DOL sẽ hướng dẫn bạn cách vị cụ thể đoạn mở bài, thân bài, và kết bài của đề sau:

Với đề này, DOL sẽ chọn viết one-sided vì cá nhân người viết thấy hướng này có nhiều ý để nói. Tất nhiên, mỗi người một quan điểm, bạn có thể chọn viết balanced essay bình thường nha.

Introduction

Ví dụ: It is suggested that each country should be autonomous in terms of food production, importing as little as possible . This essay strongly disagrees with this suggestion for several reasons.

5. Cách viết đoạn Body

The first argument given to support my opinion is that it can bring about detrimental effects on the global trade balance. This is because several countries nowadays are under some certain trade agreements which require participating countries to maintain a balance between imports and exports. If a country were to impose a limit on the quantity of imported goods and abandon such agreements, this would lead to conflicts with other nations. A prime example of this would be North Korea where the policy of self-sufficiency has been adopted for years; however, it has become the most isolated country and has suffered from prolonged drought due to a lack of the manpower, the facilities and the money needed to produce food on their own.

Body 2: Supporting idea 2

Another rationale behind my belief is that the idea of countries being self-sufficient may be impossible for those facing geographical inconveniences and unfavourable climatic conditions. Regarding the former, due to a lack of land resources, countries such as Singapore may allocate a large portion of their land for touristic and industrial purposes rather than for agriculture, meaning that these countries cannot rely on their own agricultural sector. Other countries may face crop failure because of extreme weather conditions, ranging from arid environments in Africa to the sheer coldness in some Nordic countries, which might make imports an important contribution to the national diet.

6. Cách viết đoạn Conclusion

Conclusion

In conclusion, I disagree that one country should be self-provided with all the food and limits its imports to a minimum for reasons related to international trade imbalance and unavoidable factors.

Tất nhiên, bạn phải lưu ý rằng dàn ý đề nghị trong bài chỉ là cái sườn để viết, không nhất thiết 100% viết theo nhé. Nhưng chỉ viết khác nếu có cấu trúc hay bằng hoặc hơn.

📌 Tìm hiểu thêm các dạng bài có liên quan với nhau:

IELTS General Writing task 2 sample answers

Task 2 IELTS Writing Agree or Disagree

Argumentative essay for IELTS

Cause and Effect essay IELTS sample

Discussion essay in IELTS

📖 DOL xin gửi bạn một vài chủ đề tham khảo khác:

IELTS Writing task 2 Gap year

7. Bài mẫu dạng bài Opinion essay IELTS

Some people say that we do not need printed newspapers anymore. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Dạng : Balanced essay

Technology advancement has resulted in a profusion of digital platforms. As a result, the vast majority of people believe that daily newspapers are no longer necessary. As a consequence, in my opinion, an up-to-date broadcast is now available on electronic devices. In the following paragraphs, I will clarify my position. There are numerous reasons to support this notion.

Nowadays, getting news on the internet provides a number of advantages. For starters, internet papers keep readers up to date faster than traditional periodicals. For example, we can acquire global updates instantaneously on the internet, but it would take publications a few days to investigate and publish the data officially. Second, the internet allows users to access free material and the most up-to-date information without having to purchase physical newspapers from stores, allowing them to save money and time.

On the other hand, I believe that physical diaries are still indispensable for a variety of reasons. The first is that they are one of the most reliable sources of information. Because anybody may create and upload articles on the internet, they may include untrustworthy material that has not been adequately vetted before release. Furthermore, online journals frequently have a detrimental impact on people's health. For example, if we spend many hours each day reading online news on our mobile phone or computer, this might have a negative influence, particularly on our eyes.

In conclusion, while individuals are increasingly using alternative media to acquire worldwide information, this does not indicate that there is no longer a vital demand for physical press.

DOL hy vọng là bài viết trên đã giúp bạn biết nhiều hơn về dạng opinion essay IELTS để có thể áp dụng tự học hiệu quả.

Nếu có bất kỳ thắc mắc gì về IELTS Speaking hay các kỹ năng, đừng ngần ngại mà liên hệ DOL qua các kênh sau bạn nhé: website , Facebook .

Chúc bạn thành công.

Giải đáp các câu hỏi thường gặp

Cách nhận diện dạng bài Opinion Essay IELTS?

Thông thường, đề bài Opinion Essay IELTS sẽ nêu ra 1 vấn đề và yêu cầu thí sinh thể hiện quan điểm cá nhân của họ là đồng ý (Agree) hay không đồng ý (Disagree), hoặc trung lập (vừa đồng ý vừa không đồng ý - Partial agree and disagree).

Dấu hiệu nhận diện đề bài Opinion Essay IELTS là những câu hỏi sau:

What is your opinion? (Tuy nhiên, câu hỏi này rất dễ nhầm với dạng bài discussion essay, vì thế thí sinh có thể phân biệt bằng cách quan sát xem đề bài có yêu cầu thêm “discuss both views” hay không, nếu không có thì đó chính là đề bài Opinion Essay IELTS)

Một số đề bài ôn luyện dạng Opinion Essay IELTS

It is natural process of animal species to become extinct (e.g. dinosaurs, dodos, etc.). There is no reason why people should stop this from happening. Do you agree or disagree?

Families who send their children to private schools should not be required to pay taxes that support the state education system. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

We cannot help everyone in the world that needs help, so we should only be concerned with our own communities and countries. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Some people think that all teenagers should be required to do unpaid work in their free time to help the local community. They believe this would benefit both the individual teenager and society as a whole. Do you agree or disagree?

Foreign visitors should pay more than local visitors for cultural and historical attractions. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Universities should accept equal numbers of male and female students in every subject. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

When choosing a job, the salary is the most important consideration. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Some people who have been in prison become good citizens later, and it is often argued that these are the best people to talk to teenagers about the dangers of committing a crime. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Một số cấu trúc câu thường dùng trong bài viết dạng Opinion Essay IELTS

Phần mở bài: It is a common belief that S + V Many people hold the view that S + V

Phần trả lời đồng ý hay không đồng ý: While I think S + V, I agree/disagree with the view that + S + V. From my perspective/ In my opinion, I completely agree/ disagree with this view for several reasons.

Phần thân bài: + Cấu trúc giới thiệu luận điểm: On the one hand, it is true/reasonable that S + V to a certain extent + Cấu trúc giải thích luận điểm: First/To begin with, S + V ⇒ This leads to/Therefore + S + V ⇒ In addition, S + V

Phần kết bài: In conclusion, while I support the view that S+ V, I disagree that S+ V.

Gợi ý từ vựng thường dùng trong dạng bài Opinion Essay IELTS

Từ vựng introducing points: Firstly, let us take a look at…/ To start with,… First of all, it is worth considering… Secondly,...Thirdly,… Furthermore,.../In addition,…/What is more,…/On top of that,… Another point worth noting is…/ Another factor to consider is… Lastly,…/Finally,…./ Last but not least…

Từ vựng presenting ideas và giving examples: When it comes to + noun/gerund … In terms of noun/gerund … With respect to noun/gerund… Not only….but also….. According to experts,…. Research has found that… There are those who argue that… For instance …. / For example…../such as

Từ vựng expressing result & reason: As a result, …./As a result of… Consequently, …./ Therefore,… On account of …/ Due to… One reason behind this is…

Bài viết khác

Đề thi ielts writing 2024 chính thức tại idp & bc và bộ đề ielts writing forecast mới nhất.

Hiểu rõ xu hướng đề thi IELTS Writing ngày càng trở nên khó khăn hơn, việc tham khảo các bài thi trước đây là vô cùng quan trọng đối với những người học IELTS. Để hỗ trợ bạn có tài liệu đa dạng và mới nhất, DOL đã tổng hợp đề thi IELTS Writing 2024 từ hai trung tâm uy tín là IDP và British Council (BC), cung cấp bài mẫu được cập nhật nhanh chóng và chính xác. Điều này giúp bạn luyện thi IELTS nắm bắt được xu hướng và mức độ khó của các đề thi. Danh sách này sẽ được cập nhật thường xuyên với những đề thi mới nhất, vậy nên hãy tiếp tục theo dõi để không bỏ lỡ bất kỳ thông tin nào!

Bộ đề thi IELTS Writing 2023 thực tế tổng hợp đầy đủ kèm bài mẫu

Chuẩn bị cho kỳ thi IELTS, đặc biệt là phần thi Writing, luôn là nỗi lo của nhiều bạn học. Để tự tin chinh phục phần thi này, bạn cần nắm rõ cấu trúc đề thi, các dạng câu hỏi thường gặp và có sự luyện tập thường xuyên. Hiểu được nhu cầu đó, DOL đã tổng hợp và biên soạn bộ đề thi IELTS Writing 2023 chính thức tại IDP & BC kèm bài mẫu. Bộ đề này sẽ giúp bạn hiểu rõ cấu trúc đề thi và các dạng câu hỏi thường gặp, luyện tập trả lời các câu hỏi theo hướng dẫn của giám khảo và tăng khả năng phản xạ và tự tin trong phòng thi. Hãy cùng DOL tìm hiểu chi tiết bộ đề IELTS Writing 2023!

Tổng quan về IELTS Writing Test (Task 1 và 2)

IELTS Writing là một trong những kỹ năng khó ăn điểm nhất của kỳ thi IELTS, đặc biệt là đối với thí sinh Việt Nam. Điều này thể hiện qua điểm thi Writing trung bình của người Việt Nam khá thấp, chỉ đạt khoảng 5.5 - 6.0. Bài thi này đánh giá khả năng diễn đạt bằng tiếng Anh của thí sinh thông qua hai nhiệm vụ chính là Writing Task 1 và Task 2. DOL sẽ cung cấp cho bạn thông tin tổng quan về IELTS Writing, bao gồm. • Cấu trúc bài thi IELTS Writing: gồm Task 1 và Task 2 • Cách tính điểm bài thi IELTS Writing: dựa trên 4 tiêu chí Task Achievement/Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy • Bài mẫu IELTS Writing

Bộ sách Tổng hợp Bài mẫu IELTS Writing & Speaking Sample 2023

DOL IELTS Đình Lực dành tặng miễn phí bộ sách TỔNG HỢP BÀI MẪU IELTS WRITING & SPEAKING SAMPLE 2023. Tải về ngay ở dưới đây các bạn nhé!

Bộ sách IELTS Writing Sample Quý III/2023

DOL IELTS Đình Lực dành tặng miễn phí bộ sách IELTS WRITING SAMPLE QUÝ III/2023. Tải về ngay ở dưới đây các bạn nhé!

Đăng ký test đầu vào IELTS miễn phí và nhận tư vấn

Nhắn tin DOL qua Facebook

Click để nhắn tin với DOL qua fanpage chính

Gọi điện liên hệ

Liên hệ DOL qua hotline miễn phí: 1800 96 96 39

DOL có 15+ cơ sở tại TP.HCM, Hà Nội và Đà Nẵng

Click để xem địa chỉ chi tiết

Skip to main content
Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

NPR defends its journalism after senior editor says it has lost the public's trust

David Folkenflik

NPR is defending its journalism and integrity after a senior editor wrote an essay accusing it of losing the public's trust. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

NPR is defending its journalism and integrity after a senior editor wrote an essay accusing it of losing the public's trust.

NPR's top news executive defended its journalism and its commitment to reflecting a diverse array of views on Tuesday after a senior NPR editor wrote a broad critique of how the network has covered some of the most important stories of the age.

"An open-minded spirit no longer exists within NPR, and now, predictably, we don't have an audience that reflects America," writes Uri Berliner.

A strategic emphasis on diversity and inclusion on the basis of race, ethnicity and sexual orientation, promoted by NPR's former CEO, John Lansing, has fed "the absence of viewpoint diversity," Berliner writes.

NPR's chief news executive, Edith Chapin, wrote in a memo to staff Tuesday afternoon that she and the news leadership team strongly reject Berliner's assessment.

"We're proud to stand behind the exceptional work that our desks and shows do to cover a wide range of challenging stories," she wrote. "We believe that inclusion — among our staff, with our sourcing, and in our overall coverage — is critical to telling the nuanced stories of this country and our world."

NPR names tech executive Katherine Maher to lead in turbulent era

She added, "None of our work is above scrutiny or critique. We must have vigorous discussions in the newsroom about how we serve the public as a whole."

A spokesperson for NPR said Chapin, who also serves as the network's chief content officer, would have no further comment.

Praised by NPR's critics

Berliner is a senior editor on NPR's Business Desk. (Disclosure: I, too, am part of the Business Desk, and Berliner has edited many of my past stories. He did not see any version of this article or participate in its preparation before it was posted publicly.)

Berliner's essay , titled "I've Been at NPR for 25 years. Here's How We Lost America's Trust," was published by The Free Press, a website that has welcomed journalists who have concluded that mainstream news outlets have become reflexively liberal.

Berliner writes that as a Subaru-driving, Sarah Lawrence College graduate who "was raised by a lesbian peace activist mother ," he fits the mold of a loyal NPR fan.

Yet Berliner says NPR's news coverage has fallen short on some of the most controversial stories of recent years, from the question of whether former President Donald Trump colluded with Russia in the 2016 election, to the origins of the virus that causes COVID-19, to the significance and provenance of emails leaked from a laptop owned by Hunter Biden weeks before the 2020 election. In addition, he blasted NPR's coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

On each of these stories, Berliner asserts, NPR has suffered from groupthink due to too little diversity of viewpoints in the newsroom.

The essay ricocheted Tuesday around conservative media , with some labeling Berliner a whistleblower . Others picked it up on social media, including Elon Musk, who has lambasted NPR for leaving his social media site, X. (Musk emailed another NPR reporter a link to Berliner's article with a gibe that the reporter was a "quisling" — a World War II reference to someone who collaborates with the enemy.)

When asked for further comment late Tuesday, Berliner declined, saying the essay spoke for itself.

The arguments he raises — and counters — have percolated across U.S. newsrooms in recent years. The #MeToo sexual harassment scandals of 2016 and 2017 forced newsrooms to listen to and heed more junior colleagues. The social justice movement prompted by the killing of George Floyd in 2020 inspired a reckoning in many places. Newsroom leaders often appeared to stand on shaky ground.

Leaders at many newsrooms, including top editors at The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times , lost their jobs. Legendary Washington Post Executive Editor Martin Baron wrote in his memoir that he feared his bonds with the staff were "frayed beyond repair," especially over the degree of self-expression his journalists expected to exert on social media, before he decided to step down in early 2021.

Since then, Baron and others — including leaders of some of these newsrooms — have suggested that the pendulum has swung too far.

Author Interviews

Legendary editor marty baron describes his 'collision of power' with trump and bezos.

New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger warned last year against journalists embracing a stance of what he calls "one-side-ism": "where journalists are demonstrating that they're on the side of the righteous."

"I really think that that can create blind spots and echo chambers," he said.

Internal arguments at The Times over the strength of its reporting on accusations that Hamas engaged in sexual assaults as part of a strategy for its Oct. 7 attack on Israel erupted publicly . The paper conducted an investigation to determine the source of a leak over a planned episode of the paper's podcast The Daily on the subject, which months later has not been released. The newsroom guild accused the paper of "targeted interrogation" of journalists of Middle Eastern descent.

Heated pushback in NPR's newsroom

Given Berliner's account of private conversations, several NPR journalists question whether they can now trust him with unguarded assessments about stories in real time. Others express frustration that he had not sought out comment in advance of publication. Berliner acknowledged to me that for this story, he did not seek NPR's approval to publish the piece, nor did he give the network advance notice.

Some of Berliner's NPR colleagues are responding heatedly. Fernando Alfonso, a senior supervising editor for digital news, wrote that he wholeheartedly rejected Berliner's critique of the coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict, for which NPR's journalists, like their peers, periodically put themselves at risk.

Alfonso also took issue with Berliner's concern over the focus on diversity at NPR.

"As a person of color who has often worked in newsrooms with little to no people who look like me, the efforts NPR has made to diversify its workforce and its sources are unique and appropriate given the news industry's long-standing lack of diversity," Alfonso says. "These efforts should be celebrated and not denigrated as Uri has done."

After this story was first published, Berliner contested Alfonso's characterization, saying his criticism of NPR is about the lack of diversity of viewpoints, not its diversity itself.

"I never criticized NPR's priority of achieving a more diverse workforce in terms of race, ethnicity and sexual orientation. I have not 'denigrated' NPR's newsroom diversity goals," Berliner said. "That's wrong."

Questions of diversity

Under former CEO John Lansing, NPR made increasing diversity, both of its staff and its audience, its "North Star" mission. Berliner says in the essay that NPR failed to consider broader diversity of viewpoint, noting, "In D.C., where NPR is headquartered and many of us live, I found 87 registered Democrats working in editorial positions and zero Republicans."

Berliner cited audience estimates that suggested a concurrent falloff in listening by Republicans. (The number of people listening to NPR broadcasts and terrestrial radio broadly has declined since the start of the pandemic.)

Former NPR vice president for news and ombudsman Jeffrey Dvorkin tweeted , "I know Uri. He's not wrong."

Others questioned Berliner's logic. "This probably gets causality somewhat backward," tweeted Semafor Washington editor Jordan Weissmann . "I'd guess that a lot of NPR listeners who voted for [Mitt] Romney have changed how they identify politically."

Similarly, Nieman Lab founder Joshua Benton suggested the rise of Trump alienated many NPR-appreciating Republicans from the GOP.

In recent years, NPR has greatly enhanced the percentage of people of color in its workforce and its executive ranks. Four out of 10 staffers are people of color; nearly half of NPR's leadership team identifies as Black, Asian or Latino.

"The philosophy is: Do you want to serve all of America and make sure it sounds like all of America, or not?" Lansing, who stepped down last month, says in response to Berliner's piece. "I'd welcome the argument against that."

"On radio, we were really lagging in our representation of an audience that makes us look like what America looks like today," Lansing says. The U.S. looks and sounds a lot different than it did in 1971, when NPR's first show was broadcast, Lansing says.

A network spokesperson says new NPR CEO Katherine Maher supports Chapin and her response to Berliner's critique.

The spokesperson says that Maher "believes that it's a healthy thing for a public service newsroom to engage in rigorous consideration of the needs of our audiences, including where we serve our mission well and where we can serve it better."

Disclosure: This story was reported and written by NPR Media Correspondent David Folkenflik and edited by Deputy Business Editor Emily Kopp and Managing Editor Gerry Holmes. Under NPR's protocol for reporting on itself, no NPR corporate official or news executive reviewed this story before it was posted publicly.

IMAGES

How to Write an Opinion Essay A2/B1
Opinion Essay A2 B2 Sample
Writing ; Opinion essays structure Diagram
Opinion Writing
How to Write an Opinion Essay Like an Expert
009 Writing An Opinion Essay Creative Tasks How To Write ~ Thatsnotus

VIDEO

IELTS Writing Task 2: Opinion essay (6)
Write an Essay on Balanced Diet in Urdu اردو مضمون متوازن غذا
essay on balanced diet in english/santulit aahaar par nibandh
Opinion Essay/IELTS Writing Task 2/ IELTS Academic/ Essay Structure/ Essay Templates
1. Introduction to Balanced Arguments (Pro and Con essays)
Solutions Advanced SB

COMMENTS

Giving a balanced opinion in IELTS opinion essays.
In an opinion essay you should give 2 reasons for your opinion in the thesis statement then back them up with with an explanation in the main body paragraphs. I usually advise my students to choose one side, either agree or disagree, and stick with that. You do not actually get a higher band score for a balanced approach, so it is safer to ...
IELTS Writing Balanced Opinion Essay
Step 2: Write the Introduction. With a balanced opinion essay, we can still use our three statements for the introduction: outline statement. Remember that in our global statement we say why this is an important issue. For example: Every 4 years, the Olympic games cost their host nation billions of dollars to organise.
IELTS Opinion Essays
Learn how to write IELTS Opinion Essays. Step-by-step instructions on planning & writing a high-level opinion essay. ... This structure will give us a well-balanced essay with 4 paragraphs. ... IELTS Writing Task 2 - T he format, the 5 question types, the 5 step essay writing strategy & sample questions. All the key information you need to know.
IELTS Writing Task 2: balanced opinion
IELTS Writing Task 2: balanced opinion. In this lesson I suggested writing a balanced opinion (partly agree) essay for the question below. In the last century, the first man to walk on the moon said it was "a giant leap for mankind". However, some people think it has made little difference to our daily lives.
PDF Writing Task 2 Developing arguments
3. Organising a balanced argument 4. Writing the essay Aims • to help students understand how to prepare for writing. • to help students identify and write balanced arguments. Learning outcomes • Students will have understood how to develop an argument through preparing to write by analysing the question, and the generation of ideas.
IELTS Opinion Essay: Choosing one side or partially agreeing?
In an IELTS opinion essay, you can either agree, disagree or take a balanced approach which means to partially agree. However, you need to learn more so that you fulfil the requirements of the higher band scores. See the answers to the 4 questions below. Also see useful links for writing task 2 below. All tips are for GT and Academic students. 1.
IELTS Essay
How to write a balanced IELTS essay: Start by assessing the positives and then the negatives. Summarise both in your conclusion. Keep your writing clear, concise and simple. Read this sample essay for an example. However, it is normally better to 'choose a side', as this leads to a clear opinion. Lots of you have […]
Opinion Essays [IELTS Writing Task 2]
How to Write an Opinion Essay. As with all IELTS writing task 2 essays, you need to do several things: Read the question carefully in order to analyse it. Think of a reasonable answer. Create a coherent structure. Put your ideas forth clearly and consistently. Use appropriate language.
An opinion essay
You can either agree, partially agree or disagree with the statement, explaining and justifying your opinion. The structure should be: Introduction. The first reason why you agree/disagree. The second reason why you agree/disagree. The third reason why you agree/disagree (if you have one) Conclusion.
IELTS Writing Task 2: balanced opinion
Hi Marguerite, If you look a t lots of questions, you will see that there are really only 3 types: 1. Problem and solution. 2. Discussion (both sides of an argument) 3. Argument/opinion (YOUR view about something) If you look through my lessons and essays, you will see examples and advice for all 3 types.
How to Write an Opinion Essay in 6 Steps
Paragraph 1: Introduction. Capture your reader's attention with a good hook. Present the prompt and state your opinion. Some tips for a good opinion essay hook: Use a surprising statistic. Profess an unpopular opinion. Ask a rhetorical question. Share an anecdote.
An opinion essay
Read the question carefully. Respond to all ideas in it or all parts of it. Plan your ideas first and then choose the best ones. Introduce your essay by restating the question in your own words. Show understanding of both sides of the argument. Use linking words to connect your ideas. Draw your conclusion from the main ideas in your essay.
IELTS Writing Task 2: Balanced opinion essay (cultural differences
Should we adapt to the cultures of other countries that we visit? Here's my band 9 answer and a quick homework task.
IELTS Opinion Essay
Let's now look at a proper format to learn the structuring of an IELTS opinion essay. Essay. Opinion Essay. Introduction. Paraphrase the question. State your opinion. Write a thesis statement, outlining what you will explain in the following paragraphs. Body paragraph 1. State the central idea of your first main point.
Writing Task 2: Agree or disagree, balanced opinion
Let's start work on a new essay topic, and try to present a viewpoint that is in the middle between 'agree' and 'disagree'. Home; Index. Advice; Reading; Listening; Speaking; Writing Task 1 (Ac) Writing Task 1 (Gen) Writing Task 2; Grammar; Vocabulary; Teacher Training; Ebooks; Videos .
IELTS Writing Task 2: full essay
Today I'm attaching the full essay (click here) that we've been working on for the last 2 weeks. Here are some points to notice: There is a clear 4-paragraph structure, and the essay is easy to read because the ideas are developed in a logical way. The introduction is short, but it covers everything that the question asks you about. The main paragraphs make up around 70% of the essay. These ...
IELTS Writing Task 2 Archives
Writing Task 2: Proper examples. Feb 12, 2024 | 7 Comments. A proper example should not explain, it should illustrate. Writing Task 2: 'Old people's health' paragraph. ... Let's write a balanced opinion essay skeleton for the task about tourists and cultural differences. Writing Task 2: Agree or disagree, balanced opinion.
How can I add balance to my IELTS agree/disagree essay?
IELTS Agree / Disagree Essay Summary: If you need a 7.0, have a strong position and argue for it - it's simple, easy and it works. If you want a 7.5 or higher, then add some balance to your strong position by using the strawman technique or acknowledging the other view. You can do this in one of your paragraphs, or both.
Essay
FCE Essays - Sample/model answers and examiner comments. An essay is always written for the teacher. It should answer the question given by addressing both content points and providinga new content point of the writer's own. The essay should be well organised, with an introduction and an appropriate conclusion,and should be written in an appropriate register and tone
IELTS Writing Task 2: 'agree or disagree' essay samples
Here are links to four of my essays, each of which demonstrates one of the four "systems" that I recommended in last week's lesson. 1. Click here to see a strong answer with two supporting ideas. 2. Click here to see a strong answer in which I refute the opposite view. 3. Click here to see a balanced answer. 4. Click here to see an "almost balanced" answer, favouring one side. Remember: All ...
Opinion Essay IELTS
Opinion Essay Sample: Cách làm dạng Opinion trong IELTS Writing Task 2 . ... Tất nhiên, mỗi người một quan điểm, bạn có thể chọn viết balanced essay bình thường nha. Introduction. Paraphrase the topic: It is a common belief that S + V. Thesis: I completely agree (disagree) with this view for several reasons ...
IELTS Writing Task 2: balanced answer
IELTS Writing Task 2: balanced answer. If you want to write a balanced answer for an "agree or disagree" question, it's important to get the introduction right. Let's use last week's question as an example: Nowadays celebrities are more famous for their glamour and wealth than for their achievements, and this sets a bad example to young people.
NPR responds after editor says it has 'lost America's trust' : NPR
Berliner says in the essay that NPR failed to consider broader diversity of viewpoint, noting, "In D.C., where NPR is headquartered and many of us live, I found 87 registered Democrats working in ...

Balancing your opinion in an IELTS essay.

When giving an opinion you can use these phrases:

Phrases that can be used to balance an opinion

Example sentences

Example task question

Lets Practice.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

IELTS Writing Balanced Opinion Essay

Step 1: Understand the Issue

Step 2: Write the Introduction

Step 3: Write the Body

The First Argument

The Second Argument

Step 4: Write the Conclusion

Practice Questions

Related Posts

Duolingo Interactive Listening

Duolingo Interactive Reading

IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 #6

How to Plan & Write IELTS Opinion Essays

The Question

3 Common Mistakes

Essay Structure

How To Plan IELTS Opinion Essays

# 2 Generate ideas

# 3 Vocabulary

How To Write an Introduction

2) Thesis statement

1) Paraphrase the question

How To Write Main Body Paragraphs

Main Body Paragraph 1

Main Body Paragraph 2

How To Write a Conclusion

5 More Model IELTS Opinion Essays

Like this page?

Other Related Pages

* New * Grammar For IELTS Ebooks

IELTS Courses

IELTS Writing Ebook

Discount Offer

IELTS Opinion Essay: Choosing one side or partially agreeing?

1. Is it better to choose one side?

2. Will you get a higher score if you partially agree?

3. Can you write a discussion essay instead?

4. Can you use “I” or “my” in an opinion essay?

Useful Links for IELTS Writing Task 2

Get my free lessons by email

Speak Your Mind Cancel reply

Advanced IELTS Lessons & E-books

Recent Lessons

Click Below to Learn:

Copyright Notice

Privacy Policy & Disclaimer

IELTS Essay – Balanced Approach

About Christopher Pell

Writing Correction Service

Opinion Essays [IELTS Writing Task 2]

What is an Opinion Essay?

How to Write an Opinion Essay

How to Start an Opinion Essay

Opinion Essay Structure

Opinion Essay Example

Sample Answer

About The Author

David S. Wills

Related Posts

Describe a Plant or Flower [IELTS Speaking]

IELTS Help on Facebook

Improve your IELTS Speaking Score Immediately

The BIG List of IELTS Speaking Questions [by topic]

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Download my IELTS Books

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

An opinion essay

Preparation

Language level

Online courses

IELTS Opinion Essay – Topics, Structure and Sample Answers

What is the IELTS Opinion Essay Format?