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Các viết tham khảo IELTS Writing Task (band 8.0+) Band 8.0 While some people consider global warming to be the most pressing environmental problem which we have at the moment, others believe that deforestation has a more devastating impact on our world Discuss both sides and give your opinion Environmental degradation has been an alarming issue throughout the world and most debate now circles around whether global warming or deforestation causes the most serious damage In my opinion, although loss of forest is undeniably affecting our lives to some extent, global warming should be paid more attention due to its widespread outcomes Some environmentalists argue that deforestation has been the most affecting factor on the world’s population and living things Forest clearance leads to the loss of the system that performs valuable but under-appreciated services like ensuring the regular flow of clean water and protecting the community from flood and drought Those natural disasters can wreak havoc on crops and people’s livelihood and sometimes put their lives in danger In Vietnam, reports have shown there are thousands of people who are missing or die from annually severe floods Long lasting effects from the ongoing destruction of -wilderness will inevitably result in other unforeseen catastrophes as forest is considered to be the lungs of the earth However, deforestation brings about disastrous consequences predominantly in those areas without forest cover On the contrary, increasing temperature takes its toll on global existence that no individual or country can ignore Health risks through rising air temperatures and extended heatwaves including respiratory mortality and heart attacks will lower the average life expectancy of human being Another remarkable detriment to our planet is the loss of biodiversity due to limited adaptability and adaptability speed of flora and fauna Extreme weather events as a result of high temperature lead to habitat destruction; this may push less adaptable animals to the verge of extinction Scientists predict that by 2050, if no stringent regulations on this issue is enforced, massive species will die out In conclusion, global warming should be deemed a more life-threatening phenomenon and prioritized over deforestation However, any forward-looking countries should address both issues simultaneously in order to reap benefits later Note Bài chữa Environmental degradation has been an alarming issue throughout the world and most debate now circles around whether global warming or deforestation causes the most serious damage In my opinion, although loss of forest is undeniably affecting our lives to some extent, global warming should be paid more attention due to its widespread outcomes Some environmentalists argue that deforestation has been the most affecting factor on the world’s population and living things Forest clearance leads to the loss of the system that performs valuable but under-appreciated services like ensuring the regular flow of clean water and protecting the community from flood and drought Those natural disasters can wreak havoc on crops and people’s livelihood and sometimes put their lives in danger In Vietnam, reports have shown there are thousands of people who are missing or die from annually severe floods [have shown that people have been missing or die annually from severe floods] Long lasting effects from the ongoing destruction of wilderness will inevitably result in other unforeseen catastrophes as forest is considered to be the lungs of the earth However, deforestation brings about disastrous consequences predominantly in those areas without forest cover [khơng rõ vai trị câu lập luận] On the contrary, [Việc trái đất nóng lên hay rừng GIỐNG NHAU tác động tiêu cực, nên em dùng On the contrary không hợp lý Đoạn thảo luận vấn đề riêng, em không thiết phải có từ nối đây.] increasing temperature takes its toll on global existence that no individual or country can ignore Health risks through rising air temperatures and extended heatwaves including respiratory mortality and heart attacks will lower the average life expectancy of human being [human beings] Another remarkable detriment to our planet is the loss of biodiversity due to limited adaptability and adaptability speed of flora and fauna Extreme weather events as a result of high temperature lead to habitat destruction; this may push less adaptable animals to the verge of extinction Scientists predict that by 2050, if no stringent regulations on this issue is enforced, massive species will die out [cái facts, em bỏ Task thiên nhiều lập luận] In conclusion, global warming should be deemed a more life-threatening phenomenon and prioritized over deforestation However, any forward-looking countries should address both issues simultaneously in order to reap benefits later (Bài viết chữa thầy Vũ Hải Đăng) Sport is becoming a business More and more companies are getting involved in sporting events Do you think that it is a positive or negative development? It is true that corporates have the tendency to play a role in different aspects of competitive sports nowadays While I understand that this bilateral relation may cause some negative impacts, I would argue that it is a step long sought by sports advocates to help sporting events take off The unfavorable side of this movement can be attributed to two main factors, match-fixing and the use of illegal substance Many companies which are funding sporting events, are simultaneously sponsoring one or mutliple teams of their own Hence, many people are apprehensive about the idea that the result of a tournament could be predetermined by how much money big companies are pouring in to buy their teams’ victories Furthermore, substantial monetary benefits may entice athletes into using performanceenhancing drugs in sports tournaments This can have detrimental effects on sporting events, as it jeopardizes the health of its users, while ruining sportsmanship and the outputs of all the matches that it is involved in On the flip side, funding from corporates can facilitate sports development in many ways Firstly, it helps sporting organizations have the money needed to organize holistically better events This money can be used for many activities, namely the production and marketing of the campaign, to serve the purpose of meeting the public’s expectations by bringing out a fully operational and aesthetically pleasing tournament Secondly, sportsmen, atleast those who play popular ones, are able to secure themselves a stable or even lucrative income As a result, devoted athletes can rid themselves of financial worries and be extra focused on their games to give more eye-pleasing performances for the followers of the sport In conclusion, while the connection between sporting events and commercial companies can have several bad effects, I am convinced that the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks Note Bài chữa It is true that corporates have the tendency to play a role [have a tendency to get involved | have a tendency to play an influencing role] in different aspects of competitive sports nowadays While I understand that this bilateral relation may cause some negative impacts, I would argue that it is a step long sought by sports advocates to help sporting events take off The unfavorable side [unfavourable effect] of this movement can be attributed to two main factors, matchfixing and the use of illegal substance Many companies which are funding sporting events, are simultaneously sponsoring one or mutliple teams of their own Hence, many people are apprehensive about the idea that the result of a tournament could be predetermined by how much money big companies are pouring in to buy their teams’ victories Furthermore, substantial monetary benefits may entice athletes into using performance-enhancing drugs in sports tournaments This can have detrimental effects on sporting events, as it jeopardizes the health of its users, while ruining sportsmanship and the outputs of all the matches that it is involved in [bỏ “in”] On the flip side, funding from corporates can facilitate sports development in many ways Firstly, it helps sporting organizations have the money needed to organize holistically better events This money can be used for many activities, namely the production and marketing of the campaign, to serve the purpose of meeting the public’s expectations by bringing out a fully operational [well organised] and aesthetically pleasing tournament Secondly, sportsmen, atleast [nên thay “especially”] those who play popular ones, are able to secure themselves a stable or even lucrative income As a result, devoted athletes can rid themselves of financial worries and be extra focused on their games to give more eye-pleasing performances for the followers of the sport [sports fans] In conclusion, while the connection between sporting events and commercial companies can have several bad effects, I am convinced that the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks Is is more important for school children to learn about local history than world history To what extent you agree or disagree? Write at least 250 words Sample answer (260 words) Many people think that it is more important for school children to study their own local history than world history I only agree in part with this opinion for the following reasons It is true that school children should learn more about the history of their countries and localities than about the history of the whole world Stories about past events which directly relate to the place where they live or the language they speak and the people they are grown up with are without a doubt dearer to their heart than those which happen elsewhere For this reason, school children can find it easier to understand the lessons However, it is hard to learn local history in isolation because it is part of a bigger picture Take Vietnam as an example, teaching history lessons about Vietnam without mentioning the influence of China (as its closest neighboring country) is almost impossible As a matter of fact, the development of the local language, the rise and fall of dynasties and the growth of social sentiments against China are all linked to past interactions between the two countries Other examples include global events such as the two World Wars which cast impacts on countries worldwide and can hardly be left out of history lessons in schools To conclude, although many people have reasons to believe that local history is more important to school children, itis my belief that children can also learn about historical events on a grander scale so long as the lessons are interesting enough to keep them interested Note Doing an enjoyable activity with a child can develop better skills and more creativity than reading To what extent you agree? Use reasons and specific examples to explain your answer Essay answer (1) Parents throughout the world place spend time reading with their offspring to prepare them for school where their literacy skills are further developed; however, recent research suggests that focusing on reading at an early age can be detrimental, and participating in fun activities would be far more beneficial I am a strong advocate of this approach, and the benefits of it will be covered in this essay A fundamental reason for this is that there is no biological age for reading, and pushing infants to acquire this skill before they are ready could have repercussions For example, in the UK, many boys are reluctant readers, possibly because of being forced to read, and this turned them off reading By focusing on other activities and developing other skills such as creativity and imagination, when they are ready to read, they usually acquire this skill rapidly In addition, the importance of encouraging creativity and developing a child’s imagination must be acknowledged Through play, youngsters develop social and cognitive skills, for example, they are more likely to learn vocabulary through context rather than learning it from a book Furthermore, play allows youngsters to mature emotionally, and gain self-confidence There is no scientific research which suggests reading at a young age is essential for a child’s development, moreover, evidence suggests the reverse is true In Finland, early years’ education focuses on playing Reading is only encouraged if a child shows and interest in developing this skill This self-directed approach certainly does not result in Finnish school leavers falling behind their foreign counterparts In fact, Finland was ranked the sixth best in the world in terms of reading Despite being a supporter of this non-reading approach, I strongly recommend incorporating bedtime stories into a child’s daily routine However, reading as a regular daytime activity should be swapped for something which allows the child to develop other skills Note Essay sample answer (2) The global phenomenon of urbanisation from the beginning of industrialisation to the present day has brought opportunity and prosperity, albeit at a cost in the quality of life With an increasing city population, the complexity of the challenges also increases, the causes and solutions for this are outlined below The causes for the decrease in the quality of life are paradoxically the prosperity endowed on such metropolitan centres Their growth is largely due to the increase of opportunities on offer, which in turn increases their attractiveness, essentially they are trapped in a positive self-reinforcing cycle However, this eventually leads to a decrease in the quality of life as the city can experience overcrowding, exorbitant property prices, and increased vulnerability to terrorist attacks For example, the density of London makes it a more efficient place to attack, when compared to a smaller city such as Bradford Therefore, due to continuous growth and prosperity, urban citizens, especially the less well off, often experience a lower standard of living Considering the solutions, greater investment in public transport would ease traffic congestion, as would bike lanes In theory this would reduce air pollution, and possibly improve the wellbeing of the population if they did adopt a more active lifestyle and cycle to work To counter violent terrorist attacks, cities could embark on CCTV installations, so as to closely monitor for threats For example, it is said, the CCTV in London has foiled many potential attacks, and therefore greatly increased the security of its citizens To conclude, a wealthy city attracts a large population inflow, which then causes pressure on existing infrastructure and security Various solutions exist to mitigate such drawbacks, nevertheless an indefinite solution has yet to be found Note Social media marketing can influence what consumers buy Do you agree or disagree? To what extent you agree? Essay sample answer (3) Since the introduction of social media applications in the early 2000’s the world has become a much smaller place Social media applications such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have become information sources for a majority of the global market As such, I would agree that marketing, which happens to be a source of information accessible on these platforms can influence the consumers who use them This notion is further aided by the rise in online retail stores who conduct the bulk of their transactions online This makes it easier for the consumer to purchase from anywhere in the world As a consumer on social media, you are constantly bombarded with advertisements of various products that are specifically designed to catch your attention This means that most of the adverts on your news feeds aren’t random and will almost always feature something you have previously searched online or something currently popular or trending Given the fact that most social media users are young consumers who are influenced by current trends and happenings these adverts will almost always catch their eye The habit of sharing, retweeting and liking also ensures that these adverts get around, quite fast As such, when an advert does reach your news feed you have already probably seen it on your friend’s news feed The truth is, adverts are a form of information and with the age of the internet, information spreads faster than a wild fire Therefore, it only makes sense that in the era and age of technology, globalization and the need to be trendy, social media marketing can influence what consumers buy Note You should spend about 40 minutes on this task Write about the following topic Fresh water has always been a limited resource in some parts of the world Today, however, growing worldwide demand has made this a global problem What are the causes of the increased demand and what measure could governments and individuals take to respond to this problem? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience Write at least 250 words Model Answer: Since time immemorial, in certain drier parts of the world, fresh water has always been a scarce natural resource However, in the present time, due to various reasons, scarcity of fresh water has become a global issue This essay will illustrate some factors contributing to this problem and will also elicit certain steps that can help the national authorities and individuals in controlling this growing demand for natural salt free water Firstly, population explosion is the factor of utmost importance, which has lead to the global surge in potable water requirement Secondly, increased pollution of natural fresh water reserves due to urbanization and industrialization has compounded this demand Furthermore, in modern times, the growing use of salt free water for activities like recreational swimming, have also catalyzed the surge in global water demand National authorities, on the other hand, can control this surge by implementing public education schemes regarding controlled water usage Strict national legislations for preventing natural fresh water reserve pollution are also required Moreover, government should also enact infrastructures for purification of seawater into saline free water, which will help in meeting the growing requirement of fresh water It is often said that modern life presents us with an overwhelming number of choices I completely agree with this, and I believe that the Internet and globalisation are the two major factors involved It is undeniable that the Internet has led to a dramatic expansion in the number of choices that are available to us The number of online media options, for instance, is now almost endless There are countless websites offering entertainment, news, videos, on-demand TV and music streaming, many of which are free I would argue that this abundance of media leads to confusion on the part of the average user, as we have to make so many decisions about the content that we consume A personal example of this trend would be the fact that I had a choice of just four TV channels when I was a child, whereas I now have access to thousands of films and series through services like Netflix Alongside the influence of the Internet, globalisation is making the world smaller and compounding this problem of too much choice Cheap international flights have made overseas travel possible for millions of people, but this also means that we are faced with a world of options when deciding where to go on holiday or even where to live We no longer have the limited but simple travel choices of our grandparents’ generation The same is true if we look at the increasing tendency for young people to study abroad While the opportunity for overseas study seems appealing, many students are confused about where to go and which path to take In conclusion, we are faced with a huge number of options in most areas of life nowadays, and this is often more bewildering than beneficial (293 words) Note Some people believe that developments in the field of artificial intelligence will have a positive impact on our lives in the near future Others, by contrast, are worried that we are not prepared for a world in which computers are more intelligent than humans Discuss both of these views and give your own opinion People seem to be either excited or worried about the future impact of artificial intelligence Personally I can understand the two opposing points of view; I am both fascinated by developments in artificial intelligence and apprehensive about its possible negative effects On the one hand, the increasing intelligence of technology should bring some obvious benefits Machines are clearly able to many jobs better than humans can, especially in areas that require high levels of accuracy or calculations using large amounts of data For example, robots are being developed that can carry out surgical procedures with greater precision than a human doctor, and we already have cars that use sensors and cameras to drive themselves Such technologies can improve safety by reducing the likelihood of human errors It is easy to imagine how these developments, and many others, will steadily improve our quality of life On the other hand, I share the concerns of people who believe that artificial intelligence may harm us if we are not careful In the short term, it is likely that we will see a rise in unemployment as workers in various industries are replaced by machines or software programs For example, self-driving vehicles are expected to cause redundancies in driving jobs, such as lorry drivers, taxi drivers and bus drivers In the medium term, if intelligent technologies gradually take jobs away from humans, we may find that people become deskilled and lose their sense of purpose in life A longer term fear is that computers become so intelligent that they begin to make decisions without human oversight and without regard for our well-being In conclusion, while intelligent machines will no doubt improve our lives in many ways, the potential risks of such technologies should not be ignored (295 words, band 9) Note Some people believe that it is more important to teach children the literature and history of their own country, rather than the literature and history of other countries To what extent you agree or disagree? People have different views about the teaching of national versus global literature and history in schools Personally, I support the idea that children should study first and foremost the great books and historical events of their own countries There are several reasons why I believe that schools should focus on teaching national literature and history Firstly, children enjoy learning about where they live, and by studying the ideas, culture and history of their own countries they begin to develop a sense of identity At the same time, this approach is appealing to parents, who studied the same books and historical events and can therefore help their children with school work English children, for example, read Shakespeare and learn about the Battle of Hastings just as their parents did, and there is educational continuity across the generations Finally, an emphasis on national literature and history gives educators a narrower teaching scope, making curriculum design an easier task By contrast, the study of global events and foreign novels could cause unnecessary difficulty and confusion for school pupils For example, I not see the point in presenting Russian or Chinese history to a British child who has not yet studied the history of his or her own country in detail Surely the child would be more able to comprehend historical events that took place in London than those that happened in Moscow or Beijing Similarly, any exposure to international literature is likely to require the teaching of a foreign language or the use of translations Young people at primary or secondary school age are simply not ready for such complications In conclusion, I would argue that it is undesirable for schools to cover aspects of foreign history and literature; they should ground their pupils in the local culture instead (297 words, band 9) Note Caring for children is probably the most important job in any society Because of this, all mothers and fathers should be required to take a course that prepares them to be good parents To what extent you agree or disagree with this view? It is true that parents shoulder a huge responsibility and that raising children is by no means an easy task However, I completely disagree with the idea that we should therefore force all mothers and fathers to attend parenting courses In my opinion, the idea that all future parents should take a parenthood preparation course is completely impractical Many prospective parents have jobs and busy schedules, and they may not be willing or able to attend regular parenting classes This raises the question of whether those who missed the classes, or perhaps refused to attend, would be punished I believe that it would be wrong to this, and it would therefore be impossible to enforce the idea of compulsory training for parents Besides, even if parents could be forced to attend, I doubt that people would agree on what good parenting entails, and so it would be difficult to create a parenting course to suit everyone As well as being impractical, I would argue that training courses for parents are unnecessary Mothers and fathers have been raising children without any formal help or official interference for thousands of years Parenting skills are learnt from family members, friends, neighbours and the surrounding culture Perhaps more importantly, adults learn to be good parents by instinct, by trial and error, and by getting to know their own children; for example, a good parent will try different strategies when faced with a badly-behaved child, and will gradually develop an understanding of what works to correct the behaviour None of this requires the intervention of a taught course In conclusion, while compulsory parenting lessons might seem like a good idea, I believe that such a scheme would be unworkable and largely pointless (289 words, band 9) Note, Some people think that employers should not care about the way their employees dress, because what matters is the quality of their work To what extent you agree or disagree? In the modern workplace, dress codes are changing as employers focus more on results than on the rules that employees must follow While I agree that the way people dress should be seen as irrelevant in many work contexts, I believe that dress codes still exist for good reason in certain professions On the one hand, many employers have stopped telling their staff how to dress, and I see this as a positive trend Some of the most successful companies in the world, including technology giants like Google and Facebook, are famous for the relaxed office environments that they try to create Employees are encouraged to dress casually, and even the company executives and leaders are rarely seen wearing anything other than T-shirts and jeans However, while managers and programmers are free to dress how they like, they are expected to produce work of outstanding quality It is clear from the performance and global dominance of such companies that strict dress codes are completely unnecessary in the technology sector However, I would also argue that rules regarding employees' clothing are still relevant in other work situations We expect certain professionals, such as nurses, police officers and airline pilots, to wear uniforms These uniforms may have a practical or safety function, but perhaps more importantly they identify the person’s position or role in society Similarly, a lawyer, politician or school principal may choose to wear formal clothing in order to portray an image of authority, trustworthiness and diligence I believe that most of us prefer to see these professionals in smart, formal attire, even if it is not strictly necessary In conclusion, I support the trend towards relaxed dress codes for workers, but I not see it as applicable to all occupations or sectors of the economy (298 words, band 9) Note Some people claim that not enough of the waste from homes is recycled They say that the only way to increase recycling is for governments to make it a legal requirement To what extent you think laws are needed to make people recycle more of their waste? It is true that we not recycle enough of our household waste Although I accept that new legislation to force people to recycle could help this situation, I not agree that a recycling law is the only measure that governments should take In my view, a new recycling law would be just one possible way to tackle the waste problem Governments could make it a legal obligation for householders to separate all waste into different bins There could be punishments for people who fail to adhere to this law, ranging from a small fine to community service, or even perhaps prison sentences for repeat offenders These measures would act as a deterrent and encourage people to obey the recycling law As a result, the improved behaviour of homeowners could lead to a clean, waste-free environment for everyone However, I believe that governments should more than simply introduce a recycling law It might be more effective if politicians put education, rather than punishment, at the centre of a recycling campaign For example, children could be taught about recycling in schools, and homeowners could be informed about the environmental impact of household waste Another tactic that governments could use would be to create stricter regulations for the companies that produce the packaging for household products Finally, money could also be spent to improve recycling facilities and systems, so that waste is processed more effectively, regardless of whether or not people separate it correctly in the home In conclusion, perhaps we need to make recycling a legal requirement, but this would certainly not be the only way to encourage people to dispose of their waste more responsibly (279 words, band 9) Note In many cities the use of video cameras in public places is being increased in order to reduce crime, but some people believe that these measures restrict our individual freedom Do the benefits of increased security outweigh the drawbacks? It is true that video surveillance has become commonplace in many cities in recent years While I understand that critics may see this as an invasion of privacy, I believe that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks There are two main reasons why people might disapprove of the use of video cameras in public places The first objection is that these cameras invade our privacy, in the sense that we are constantly being watched by the authorities or by private security firms Many people find this intrusive and feel that the recording of their movements is a form of state control that curtails their individual freedom The second argument against the proliferation of CCTV cameras is that they are being used as an alternative to police officers patrolling the streets If this is indeed happening, then it is unlikely that members of the public will feel safer In spite of the drawbacks mentioned above, I believe that the use of video cameras to monitor public areas is a positive measure The key objective of video surveillance is to deter criminals and to prevent crime For example, petty criminals like shoplifters and pickpockets are less likely to operate in parts of cities where they know that they are being watched At the same time, when crimes are committed, the police can use video evidence to catch and prosecute offenders Therefore, in my view, video cameras offer valuable support to police officers, and they make cities safer for inhabitants, workers and visitors alike In conclusion, it seems to me that we gain more than we lose from the enhanced security that CCTV cameras bring to our cities (275 words) Note Some parents buy their children whatever they ask for, and allow their children to whatever they want Is this a good way to raise children? What consequences could this style of parenting have for children as they get older? It is true that some parents are overly permissive and tend to spoil their children In my opinion, this is not a good parenting style, and it can have a range of negative long-term consequences If parents want to raise respectful and well-behaved children, I believe that a certain amount of discipline is necessary Having worked with children myself, I have learnt that clear expectations and boundaries are necessary, and it is important to be able to say ‘no’ to children when they misbehave or try to push against these boundaries This is the only way to help young people to regulate their desires and develop self-control In my view, parents who the opposite and constantly give in to their children’s demands, are actually doing more harm than good They are failing their children rather than being kind to them The children of indulgent or lenient parents are likely to grow up with several negative personality traits The first and most obvious danger is that these children will become self-centred adults who show little consideration for the feelings or needs of others One consequence of such an attitude could be that these adults are unable to work successfully in teams with other colleagues A second negative trait in such people could be impulsiveness A person who has never lived with any boundaries is likely to lack the patience to carefully consider options before making decisions This may lead, for example, to compulsive shopping, unwise financial decisions, or even criminal activity In conclusion, parents should help their children to develop self-control and respect for others, and I not believe that the permissive parenting style supports this objective (283 words, band 9) Note Some people believe that school children should not be given homework by their teachers, whereas others argue that homework plays an important role in the education of children Discuss both of these views and give your own opinion People’s opinions differ as to whether or not school children should be given homework While there are some strong arguments against the setting of homework, I still believe that it is a necessary aspect of education There are several reasons why people might argue that homework is an unnecessary burden on children Firstly, there is evidence to support the idea that homework does nothing to improve educational outcomes Countries such as Finland, where school children are not given homework, regularly top international educational league tables and outperform nations where setting homework is the norm Secondly, many parents would agree that the school day is already long enough, and leaves their children too tired to further study when they return home Finally, it is recognised that play time is just as beneficial as study time from the perspective of brain development In spite of the above arguments, I support the view that homework has an important role to play in the schooling of children The main benefit of homework is that it encourages independent learning and problem solving, as children are challenged to work through tasks alone and at their own pace In doing so, students must apply the knowledge that they have learnt in the classroom For example, by doing mathematics exercises at home, students consolidate their understanding of the concepts taught by their teacher at school In my view, it is important for children to develop an independent study habit because this prepares them to work alone as adults In conclusion, homework certainly has its drawbacks, but I believe that the benefits outweigh them in the long term (270 words, band 9) Note Some universities now offer their courses on the Internet so that people can study online Is this a positive or negative development? It is true that online courses are becoming a common feature of university education Although there are some drawbacks of Internet-based learning, I would argue that there are far more benefits The main drawback of the trend towards online university courses is that there is less direct interaction Students may not have the opportunity to engage face-to-face with their teachers, and will instead have to rely on written forms of communication Similarly, students who study online not come into direct contact with each other, and this could have a negative impact on peer support, discussion and exchange of ideas For example, whereas students on traditional courses can attend seminars and even discuss their subjects over coffee after lessons, online learners are restricted to chatting through website forum areas These learners may also lack the motivation and element of competition that face-to-face group work brings Despite the negatives mentioned above, I believe that online university courses are a positive development for various reasons Firstly, they allow learners to study in a flexible way, meaning that they can work whenever and wherever is convenient, and they can cover the material at their own pace Secondly, the cost of a university education can be greatly reduced, while revenues for institutions may increase as more students can be taught Finally, online learning offers open access to anybody who is willing to study, regardless of age, location, ability and background For example, my uncle, who is 65 years old, has recently enrolled on an online MBA course in a different country, which would have been impossible in the days before Internet-based education In conclusion, while I recognise the possible disadvantages of online learning, I consider it to be a positive development overall Note It is inevitable that traditional cultures will be lost as technology develops Technology and traditional cultures are incompatible To what extent you agree or disagree with this view? Some people believe that technological developments lead to the loss of traditional cultures I partly agree with this assertion; while it may be true in the case of some societies, others seem to be unaffected by technology and the modern world On the one hand, the advances in technology that have driven industrialisation in developed countries have certainly contributed to the disappearance of traditional ways of life For example, in pre-industrial Britain, generations of families grew up in the same small village communities These communities had a strong sense of identity, due to their shared customs and beliefs However, developments in transport, communications and manufacturing led to the dispersal of families and village communities as people moved to the cities in search of work Nowadays most British villages are inhabited by commuters, many of whom not know their closest neighbours On the other hand, in some parts of the world traditional cultures still thrive There are tribes in the Amazon Rainforest, for example, that have been completely untouched by the technological developments of the developed world These tribal communities continue to hunt and gather food from the forest, and traditional skills are passed on to children by parents and elders Other traditional cultures, such as farming communities in parts of Africa, are embracing communications technologies Mobile phones give farmers access to information, from weather predictions to market prices, which helps them to prosper and therefore supports their culture In conclusion, many traditional ways of life have been lost as a result of advances in technology, but other traditional communities have survived and even flourished (266 words, band 9) Note Most people have forgotten the meaning behind traditional or religious festivals; during festival periods, people nowadays only want to enjoy themselves To what extent you agree or disagree with this opinion? Some people argue that we no longer remember the original meaning of festivals, and that most of us treat them as opportunities to have fun While I agree that enjoyment seems to be the priority during festival times, I not agree that people have forgotten what these festivals mean On the one hand, religious and traditional festivals have certainly become times for celebration In the UK, Christmas is a good example of a festival period when people are most concerned with shopping, giving and receiving presents, decorating their homes and enjoying traditional meals with their families Most people look forward to Christmas as a holiday period, rather than a time to practise religion Similar behaviour can be seen during non-religious festivals, such as Bonfire Night People associate this occasion with making fires, watching firework displays, and perhaps going to large events in local parks; in other words, enjoyment is people’s primary goal However, I disagree with the idea that the underlying meaning of such festivals has been forgotten In UK primary schools, children learn in detail about the religious reasons for celebrating Christmas, Easter and a variety of festivals in other religions For example, in late December, children sing Christmas songs which have a religious content, and they may even perform nativity plays telling the story of Jesus’ birth Families also play a role in passing knowledge of religious festivals’ deeper significance on to the next generation The same is true for festivals that have a historical background, such as Bonfire Night or Halloween, in the sense that people generally learn the stories behind these occasions at an early age In conclusion, although people mainly want to enjoy themselves during festivals, I believe that they are still aware of the reasons for these celebrations (296 words, band 9) Note _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ... buy their children whatever they ask for, and allow their children to whatever they want Is this a good way to raise children? What consequences could this style of parenting have for children... _ _ Nguồn: https://www.facebook.com/hanoiielts https://www .ielts- simon.com/ https://www.ieltspractice.com/ https://www.ieltspodcast.com/ ... see the point in presenting Russian or Chinese history to a British child who has not yet studied the history of his or her own country in detail Surely the child would be more able to comprehend