Original practice prompts for both Writing tasks. Draft your answer right here — the word counter tracks you against the real minimum, live.
Task 1 (Academic)
The line graph below shows the percentage of households with internet
access in four countries between 2000 and 2020. Summarise the information by
selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
Country ACountry BCountry CCountry D
Households with internet access, 2000-2020
Year
Country A
Country B
Country C
Country D
2000
10%
5%
20%
2%
2005
35%
18%
45%
10%
2010
60%
38%
68%
25%
2015
78%
60%
82%
45%
2020
90%
80%
92%
68%
Tips
Open with a one-sentence overview of the overall trend before any numbers.
Group countries by similar patterns rather than describing each one in isolation.
Use a range of comparison language (while, whereas, in contrast, similarly).
Do not give opinions or explanations for the data — Task 1 is descriptive only.
0 words (need 150 more)Suggested time: 20 min
Task 2 (Academic & General)
Some people believe that unpaid community service should be a compulsory
part of high school education. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Write at
least 250 words.
Tips
Take a clear position in the introduction and keep it consistent throughout.
Develop two or three main ideas with specific examples, not generic statements.
Address the counter-argument briefly even if your essay firmly agrees or disagrees.
Leave time to proofread for article/preposition errors, the most common Band 6-7 ceiling.
0 words (need 250 more)Suggested time: 40 min
Task 1 (Academic)
The bar chart below shows the main modes of transport used by commuters
in a mid-sized city in 1990, 2005 and 2020. Summarise the information by
selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where
relevant. Write at least 150 words.
199020052020
Main commuting mode by year
Category
1990
2005
2020
Private car
45%
52%
38%
Public transit
30%
28%
35%
Cycling
10%
8%
18%
Walking
15%
12%
9%
Tips
Identify the single biggest shift across the three years before writing any sentence.
Group the data into two or three themes (e.g. decline vs. growth modes) rather than listing all bars in order.
Use precise data-comparison language (overtook, fell behind, remained broadly stable) instead of vague words like "a lot".
Keep the overview separate from the detail paragraphs — examiners look for both.
0 words (need 150 more)Suggested time: 20 min
Task 2 (Academic & General)
Some people think governments should spend more money on building and
maintaining public transportation, while others believe the money is better
spent expanding roads for private vehicles. Discuss both views and give your
own opinion. Write at least 250 words.
Tips
A "discuss both views" question needs genuine coverage of both sides, not a one-sided essay with your opinion bolted on.
Give your own opinion clearly, either in the introduction or the conclusion, and keep it consistent.
Use one body paragraph per view, each with its own specific supporting example.
Avoid simply restating the question as your thesis — add a clear, specific angle.
0 words (need 250 more)Suggested time: 40 min
Task 2 (Academic & General)
Some people believe that social media has had a mostly negative effect on
individual wellbeing and society as a whole, while others believe its benefits
outweigh its drawbacks. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. Write
at least 250 words.
Tips
Pick specific effects (e.g. comparison/anxiety vs. staying connected with distant family) rather than vague claims like "it affects people a lot".
Keep the two body paragraphs balanced in length and detail — a lopsided "discuss both views" essay reads as one-sided even with a token sentence for the other side.
State your own opinion distinctly from your summary of each side, so the examiner can clearly identify it.
Avoid absolute claims ("social media always/never...") — band 7+ answers tend to qualify claims appropriately.
0 words (need 250 more)Suggested time: 40 min
Task 2 (Academic & General)
Some people believe that automation and artificial intelligence will
eliminate more jobs than they create, while others believe new kinds of jobs
will replace the ones that disappear. Discuss both views and give your own
opinion. Write at least 250 words.
Tips
Use concrete examples of job types on each side (e.g. routine data-entry roles vs. new roles maintaining or training AI systems) rather than speaking only in the abstract.
A "discuss both views" essay still needs your own clear opinion — don’t let the two body paragraphs stand in for a conclusion.
Avoid predicting a precise outcome ("90% of jobs will disappear") you cannot support — band 7+ answers hedge appropriately.
Keep each body paragraph to one main idea with one developed example, not several underdeveloped ones.
0 words (need 250 more)Suggested time: 40 min
Task 2 (Academic & General)
Some people believe governments should spend public money on parks and
green spaces in cities, while others believe this money would be better spent
on other public services such as healthcare or public transport. Discuss both
views and give your own opinion. Write at least 250 words.
Tips
Give the strongest real argument for each side (e.g. public health and property-value benefits of parks vs. the more immediate, measurable impact of healthcare or transport spending) rather than a weak version of the side you disagree with.
A government-spending question invites a trade-off framing — acknowledge that budgets are limited, not infinite, which makes your reasoning more convincing.
Your own opinion can be a genuine middle position (e.g. "both matter, but at different budget scales") as long as you state it clearly and support it — IELTS does not require picking an extreme side.
Avoid vague claims like "parks are important for everyone" — name a specific, concrete mechanism (e.g. reduced stress-related healthcare costs) instead.
0 words (need 250 more)Suggested time: 40 min
What examiners are roughly looking for (summary, not official wording)