FREE

IDEAS FOR TASK 2 IELTS
COLLECTED FROM IELTSSIMON.CON


3
Sadddddddd IELTS MATERIALS – FOR VIETNAMESE LEARNERS

I.

ADVERTISEMENT :

POSITIVES
- creative industry that
employs many people
- Advertising is a form of
modern art People enjoy
adverts

II.
1

VEGETARIANISM

POSITIVES
- Animals are used in important
scientific research
It is necessary to do medical tests
on new drugs

NEGATIVES
- Humans have no moral right to
do experiments on animals
The lives of animals should be
respected

-

Researchers aim to minimize
the suffering that animals
experience

-

There are alternative methods
of research (using plants)

-

Many people question the
treatment of animals in factory
farms, do not eat foods that are
produced by killing animals

-

It is completely natural for us to
kill them for food, to eat a
balanced diet


-

In many cultures, meat is the
main ingredient in traditional
meals

-

3

ZOOs

III.
1

OPINION
- Advertising aimed at
children should be
controlled or even banned
- Unhealthy foods should not
be marketed in a way that
attracts children

ANIMAL

ANIMAL
TESTING

2


NEGATIVES
- manipulates people, use
glamorous, successful
people
- Children can easily be
influenced by
advertisements. Children
put pressure on parents to
buy them things

A healthy diet is possible without
eating meat
A vegetarian diet may reduce the
risk of disease like cancer
- help to protect endangered
species

-

- educational, interesting and fun
Children, in particular, enjoy learning
about animals

kept in cages or have limited
space
- lose the freedom to hunt for
food
no right to use animals for
entertainment and profit


POSITIVES/ REASON
- Move to cities in search of job

NEGATIVES/ DRAWBACKS
- The cost of living is higher than

CITIES
URBANIZATION/


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Sadddddddd IELTS MATERIALS – FOR VIETNAMESE LEARNERS
CITY LIFE

2

PEDESTRIAN
AREAS

IV.

opportunities, because offer
greater employment possibilities
- Offer a higher standard of living
(education, healthcare)
- People who walk or cycle
regularly are generally healthier
EX : Dependence on cars is linked to
health problems like obesity
- Improve the local environment

Safer and more attractive for
both residents and tourists

-

in rural areas
Life in cities can be extremely
stressful
Traffic congestion and crime

CRIME

1

CRIME
PREVENTION

2

PRISON/
PUNISHMENT

3

REHALBILITATION
(giáo dục tính cách)

4

CAPITAL

PUNISHMENT
(death sentences)

5

COMMUNITY
SERVICE

6

CRIME IN THE
MEDIA

POSITIVES/ REASON
- Police should have close
contact with schools
They should focus on young
people who have dropped out
of school
- Government campaign
- Fines are used as punishment
for minor crimes
If the crime is more serious,
prison is the most common
punishment
- criminals pose a threat to
society
- put in prison to ensure the
safety of other citizens
- Prisoners receive education of

vocational training
 make them better citizens
- Rehabilitated prisoners are
less likely to re-offend
- deters crime
Fear of the death penalty
stops people from committing
offence
- The cost of imprisonment is
avoided
- a way to reform offenders
useful in their local
communities
- The cost of imprisonment is
avoided
- The mass media focus on
violent and sensational crimes
This lead to fear of crime
among the public
- The media report crime stories
in order to increase their
audience

NEGATIVES/ DRAWBACKS

-

Criminals are put together
They make friends with other
offenders

A criminal record makes finding
a job more difficult

-

-

-

Innocent people could be
wrongly convicted and
executed
Executing prisoners creates a
violent culture and encourages
revenge
not a sufficient punishment
Criminals should be locked up,
away from their victims


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Sadddddddd IELTS MATERIALS – FOR VIETNAMESE LEARNERS

V.

EDUCATION
POSITIVES/ REASON
- The best universities employ
teachers who are experts in their
fields, offer better courses

- Living abroad can broaden
students’ horizons
- (become more independent
responsible for cooking, cleaning
and paying bills, learn new
foreign language)
- Overseas students are exposed
to different cultures and customs.
- Powerful tool to engage students
(more interesting lesson)
- Take distance learning courses
(Students can study whenever
and wherever they want)

NEGATIVES/ DRAWBACKS
- The language barrier
- Living alone in an unfamiliar
culture can cause homesickness

HIGHER
EDUCATION/
UNIVERSITY

-

A degree can open the door to
better employment prospects
Repetitive manual jobs are now
done by machine, high paying
jobs require specific knowledge


-

HOME
SCHOOLING

-

Parents can respond to what
their children need and how they
learn best
One-to-one lessons allow much
faster progress
Good for families live in isolated
areas with poor transport

-

For religious or cultural reasons
 male and female students
should go to separate
schools
Learn in different ways and have
different needs

-

Teachers can work at the right
speed for their students
 Plan more suitable lessons

 According to their academic
ability
High-level groups may progress
faster
Lower level groups can benefits

-

1

STUDY ABROAD

2

TECHNOLOGY IN
EDUCATION

3

4

-

-

5

SINGLE-SEX
EDUCATION


-

7

STREAMING
(Phan loai hoc
sinh)

-

-

-

-

-

-

Computers are expensive to
maintain and can be unreliable
Learners need a structured
course
An experienced teacher knows
what materials to choose
Practical training is more
important in some industries
A healthy economy needs a wide
range of workers

EX : In the UK, for example,
there is currently a shortage of
plumbers
Most parents do not have the
time to educate their children at
home
 One parent would need to
give up work
Home-schooled children may
lack social skill
 Learn how to get on with
each other
A mixed-sex environment is more
representative of real life
 It is unhealthy in terms of
children’s social development
Separating boys and girls creates
discrimination (increase
differences between)
Grouping by ability may have a
negative impact on students
 Children do not want to be
seen as less intelligent than
others
 damage students’ self
esteem
 lose motivation


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Sadddddddd IELTS MATERIALS – FOR VIETNAMESE LEARNERS

8

9

10

CORPORAL
PUNISHMENT
(Danh tre em)

-

-

A way of controlling children
using fear

-

-

HOPPING JOBS
TO ANOTHER
JOBS

-

SELFEMPLOYMENT


-

11

from a slower pace

-

further their career
gain experience, learn different
skills (need to develop a range of
experience and skills)
The Internet provides a global
marketplace
offers greater freedom than
working for a company

-

UNEMPLOYMEN
T
-

1

EDUCATING IN
DEVELOPING
COUNTRY


2

BAD BEHAVIOUR
IN SCHOOLS

3

UNEMPLOYMENT

4

BALANCE WORK
AND LIFE

VI.
1

Mixed ability classes encourage
everyone to achieve their
potential
Children who are punished
physically may become shy or
resentful
This does not promote trust
between adults and children
salaries gradually increase
promoted within the organization
stable career with a good
pension and health insurance
face financial difficulties

fail to make a profit
no benefits like pensions, sick
pay and holiday pay

PROBLEMS
- Low literacy rates (ti le biet
chu)
- No schools in many areas
Families do not have access to
books or computers
- Bad behavior is due to a lack
of structure and discipline
- Disruptive students come from
an unstable family background
- Other parents are too lenient
and spoil their children
- not have the sufficient level of
education or qualifications
- Jobless people may become
involved in crime as a means
to get money
- “workaholics” may neglect
their families and friends
- result in stress and poor health

SOLUTION
- Developed countries could help
developing nations by providing
money
- They should encourage parents

to send their children to school
- Schools need a clear code of
conduct, a set of rules about
behavior
- Schools need to work closely
with parents

POSITIVES/ REASON
- Fossil fuel like oil and gas are
running out
 produce electricity without
wasting natural resources
- They could help to reduce
carbon emissions that cause
global warming

NEGATIVES/ DRAWBACKS
- Worries about the safety of
power stations
 Nobody wants to live near
one
- There is currently no way to
decontaminate radioactive
material

-

Governments need to provide
vocational courses and
retraining

Good education
take regular holidays
Technology allow people to
work from home

ENVIRONMENT

NUCLEAR
POWER
(build more
nuclear power
stations)


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Sadddddddd IELTS MATERIALS – FOR VIETNAMESE LEARNERS

1

GLOBAL
WARMING

2

IMPACT OF
HUMAN ON THE
ENVIRONMENT

PROBLEMS/ REASON
- Greenhouse effect

Gases such as carbon dioxide
trap heat from the sun
 causes global
temperatures to rise
- Human : major factor
+ produce emissions and
exhaust fumes
+ becoming industrialized

-

3

WASTES/
RUBBISH

-

4

LITTER

-

-

VII.

SOLUTION/ EFFECTS
- Significant impact on our

planet
+ Rising temperature will
cause melting of the polar ice
caps
+ Rise sea levels
- On human
+ more extreme weather
conditions
+ Flooding and droughts :
more common
Governments could introduce
laws to limit emissions from
factories
- Governments campaign :
promote recycling

The increasing world population
is putting pressure on natural
resources
destroying wildlife habitats
cut down enormous areas of
rainforest
led to the extinction of many
species of animals and plants
Result of our consumer culture
+ If something breaks, we throw
it way and buy a new one
Most foods are sold in nonbiodegradable plastics
packaging
People do not think about the

consequences of dropping
rubbish
 They assume that
somebody is paid to clean
the streets
Most foods are sold in nonbiodegradable plastics
packaging  not easy to break
down

-

(Use from above 2th )

-

(Use from above 2th )

FAMILY SIZE :

1

FAMILY SIZE

2

WORKING
PARENTS

3


NEGATIVE
EFFECTS ON

PROBLEMS
- Tend to live in small nuclear
families rather than large
extended families
- More difficult to raise a large
family
- Generation gap
- Busy parents have less
contact with their children

- Children spend more time with
friends or surfing the Internet
- Friends, television and the
Internet become the main

SOLUTION
-

-

Women traditionally stayed at
home to cook, clean and look
after children

-

Parents should be more

involved with their children’s


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Sadddddddd IELTS MATERIALS – FOR VIETNAMESE LEARNERS
CHILDRENS

4

DIVORCE

-

5

CARE FOR
ELDERS

-

VIII.

GENDER AND
EDUCATION

2

GENDER AND
WORK


3

MEN AND WOMAN
ROLES

upbringing
Young people need positive
role models

-

-

ENCOURAGE
DISENCOURAGE
- Males and females should be accepted onto courses according to
their abilities, depend on hard work and individual merit
EX : In the UK, there are similar numbers of male and female
students in higher education
 Gender should be irrelevant in education
- They should be employed according to their abilities, qualifications
and experience, depend on hard work and individual merit
- Earn equal salaries, not restricted to certain roles
- Mother stay at home and bring - Share the same responsibilities
up her children
- Families can divide roles and
The father should be the
responsibilities in the most
breadwinner of the family
convenient way


SCIENCE/ TECHNOLOGY

1

GENETIC
ENGINEERING

2

Geneticallymodified foods

3

In the past, divorce was
unacceptable  considered to
be embarrassing for a family
Lone parents may face
financial difficulties
Caring for elderly people was
traditionally the responsibility
of families
Families tend to be smaller
these days, and women often
have full-time jobs Cares

-

GENDER


1

IX.

influence on children’s
behavior
Juvenile delinquency is on the
increase

MEN AND WOMAN

ADVANTAGES
- Better crop :
+ more resistant to insects
and diseases
+ modified crops grow more
quickly
- Better health care :
+ Inherited illnesses would no
longer exist
+ clone human organs
- Better crop :
+ more resistant to insects
and diseases
+ modified crops grow more
quickly
- Modified to look perfect
+ more attractive to customers
- Mother stay at home and bring


DISADVANTAGES
- Ethical concerns about human
genetic engineering
+ Unacceptable in most
religions
- Lead to war
+ Soldiers could be cloned from
the genes of the strongest
people

-

-

Change whole ecosystems
+ Food chains could be broken
if crops are resistant to
predators
Modified genes could product
unwanted biological product
EX : cause tumor
Share the same responsibilities


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Sadddddddd IELTS MATERIALS – FOR VIETNAMESE LEARNERS
ROLES

X.


PROBLEMS IN
DEVELOPING
COUNTRY

2

IMMIGRATION

GLOBALIZATION

PROBLEMS
- Standards of healthcare and
education are low
- Life expectancy is lower than
in developed countries
+ A lack of infrastructure,
employment and good quality
housing
- In search of a better life
+ Come from less developed
countries
- Migrate to a foreign country to
improve their
+ academic qualifications
+ opportunities for
employment

SOLUTION
- Richer nations can help by
investing in long-term projects

- Multi-national companies can
creating jobs in developing
countries

ADVANTAGE
+ From an economic perspective,
immigration can be extremely
positive
+ Many immigrants have skills that
are needed in the country they
move to
+ People of many different
nationalities learn to live together
This can help people to become
more open-minded and tolerant

DISADVANTAGE
+ Unemployment rates could rise if
there are too many immigrants
(take jobs that should go to local
people )
+Not have equal pay and conditions
(companies exploit immigrant
workers )

-

Multi-national companies do
business across the world
create opportunities for

employment (reduce poverty)

-

Governments pay the salaries
of public sector workers
(police officers and teachers)
The necessary money is
raised by taxing people’s

-

-

4

Families can divide roles and
responsibilities in the most
convenient way

SOCIETY CONCERN :

1

3

-

up her children
The father should be the

breadwinner of the family

PUBLIC
SERVICES

-

-

Companies can move to countries
where labor is cheap  creates
redundancies, or job losses
Companies sometimes exploit
their employees in developing
countries
Provided by private companies
Create competition
 helps to improve quality while
bringing prices down


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Sadddddddd IELTS MATERIALS – FOR VIETNAMESE LEARNERS

5

CENSORSHIP

-


5

6

VIDEO
CAMERAS IN
PUBLIC PLACES

-

SMART CARD
(digital
identification card
system)

-

PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES

-

8

GUNS LEGAL

-

9


POLICE WITH
GUNS

-

10

ARMS TRADE

-

11

12

NUCLEAR
WEAPONS

ARMED FORCE
(spend money on
military)

-

-

7

income
Use censorship to protect

children from violent images
There should be age limits for
websites and computers
games
They are supposed to protect
us and deter criminals

-

-

Reduce crime
+ It would be very difficult for
criminals to use a stolen card
+ It would be easier for police
to identify people and catch
criminals
Hold personal information :
DNA, fingerprint
should be treated the same as
everybody else
Discriminations against
disabled people is illegal in
many countries
people are allowed to own
firearms  use guns in self
defense
Collection

-


It is easier to arrest someone
and avoid physical violence
self defense as many
criminals use weapons

-

This industry creates jobs and
wealth
(Governments of rich,
industrialized countries sell
arms to each other)
The trade of weapons may
improve relationships between
governments
used as a deterrent
prevent wars from starting

-

provide security and protection
deter military attack by
another country
give the police extra support

-

-


this surveillance violates our
privacy
The authorities could build
databases with our pictures and
identities
 Treated like criminals
losing their privacy
+ Governments could store all our
personal and medical information
Employers could check our health
records

-

-

-

-

-

Risk of accidents and mistakes
with guns
Guns create violent societies with
high murder rates, violent crimes
increases
Risk of accidents and mistakes
with guns
There are several alternatives to

guns (e.g. tear gas, sprays and
electric shock weapons)
used in conflicts and wars
Governments are promoting war in
order to make a profit

Nuclear weapons are capable of
destroying whole cities
A nuclear war between two
countries would destroy both
countries
require a lot of funding from
governments
This money could be spent on
schools, hospitals and other public
services


3
Sadddddddd IELTS MATERIALS – FOR VIETNAMESE LEARNERS
13

OLD BUILDINGS

14

HOW SHOULD
WE BUILD
MODERN
BUILDINGS

MONEY EFFECT
TO SOCIETY

15

16

CONSUMERISM

17

CLEAN WATER

18

FREE WATER ?

19

CHILD- LABOUR

XI.

ADVANTAGE
SOLUTION :
- part of a country’s heritage,
- Governments should spend money
considered to be works or art
on looking after historic buildings –
- give character to cities and

- They need regular repairs and
attract tourists
maintenance
- should be designed to be environmentally friendly
(make houses more energy-efficient)
- Modern glass buildings take advantage if natural light

-

Society has become increasingly materialistic cause people aspire to
earn more money
- We connect wealth and material possessions with happiness and
success
- Advertising creates new desires and needs, persuades us to buy the
latest styles
- encourages innovation and
- cause damage to the environment
creativity in business
+ use more natural resources
+ create more waste
- creates employment
- Materialism causes greed and
crime
WHY IMPORTANT ?
PROBLEMS
- The supply of clean water
- Areas that suffer droughts often
would improve public health in
need to import water
many developing countries

- As populations grow, there is more
- needed for agriculture and
pressure on water supplies
industry
FREE
NOT FREE
- Private companies should not
- If we have to pay for water, we will
be allowed to profit from this
use it more responsibly
natural resource
- Water supply systems are
- Money from taxes can be
extremely expensive
used to pay for water supply
 Investment is needed to
systems
maintain and improve them
PROBLEMS
SOL
- In some countries, children
- Governments should make
are exploited : do repetitive
education a priority
jobs (agriculture and factory
- The employment of children is
work ) for very low pay
prohibited
- Not free to enjoy their
childhood


HEALTH

1

DIET

2

EXERCISE

ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
- An unhealthy diet can cause various health problems Obesity,
diabetes and heart disease are on the increase
- Many people nowadays rely on fast food or pre-prepared meals
These foods often contain too much fat, salt and suga
- Regular exercise is essential in - Most people nowadays lead a
maintaining a healthy body
sedentary lifestyle
(burns calories and helps to
- We tend to walk less and do
build healthy bones and
desk jobs
muscles)


3
Sadddddddd IELTS MATERIALS – FOR VIETNAMESE LEARNERS


3

SOME SOLUTION
FOR GOVERN TO
DO

4

HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM

5

ALTERNATIVE
MEDICINE
(phuong phap chua
benh truyen thong)

6

STRESS

XII.

-

Governments should promote
a healthy diet and regular
exercise
- Food packaging must show

the food’s nutritional content
STATE HEALTH SYSTEM
- Paid by the government using
money from taxes
- Everyone has access to the
same quality of care and
treatment
- Acupuncture can be used to
treat backache
- Herbal medicines can be used
to treat allergies or viruses
- Some traditional cures have
been used for hundreds of
years
PROBLEMS :
- People work long hours with
strict deadlines
- Children may be affected by
their tests and exams

-

Share the same responsibilities
Families can divide roles and
responsibilities in the most
convenient way

PRIVATE HEALTHCARE :
- shorter waiting lists for
operations and appointments

- Patients have their own room
and more comfortable facilities,
personal services
- not tested scientifically
- cause unknown side effects

SOLUTIONS :
- taking regular exercise and
eating a healthy diet
- work less overtime and take
regular holidays

CULTURE RELATED :

1

ENGLISH AS AN
INTERNATIONAL
LANGUAGE

2

HAPPINESS
MEANS ?

3

SUCCESS MEANS
?


4

WHERE TALENT
COME FROM ?
(nature or nurture)

5

TOURISM

ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
- It is the dominant language of
- If one language is dominant,
technology, science and
other languages may disappear
international business
- Other cultures may be
- The ability to speak English is
damaged
a necessary skill in the modern
world
- described as a feeling of pleasure or enjoyment
- money as a source of happiness
find happiness in bringing up their children
SOLUTION
- get a sense of achievement
Success in any field requires
from raising a family
long-term planning and effort

- defined by wealth or status
- means achieving personal or
professional goals
NATURE
NURTURE
- our personalities are
- education and upbringing are
determined mainly by genetics
more important
(inherit our abilities and
- develop according to the
talents)
influences around us
- The tourist trade is vital for
- Tourism creates pollution and
some economies( creates
waste
employment in services like
- have a negative effect on the
accommodation, transport and
natural environment


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Sadddddddd IELTS MATERIALS – FOR VIETNAMESE LEARNERS

6

TRADITIONAL
CUSTOM


7
6

XIII.

COMTETITIVE
SPORT

2

PROFESSIONAL
SPORT SALARIES
TOO HIGH ?

3

SPORT AND
POLITICS

4

WHERE TALENT
COME FROM ?
(nature or nurture)

5
6

1


REASON LOSING CUSTOMS :
- Global advertising encourages
everyone to buy the same
products
- Goods are produced very
quickly and in large numbers,
cheaper products
-

(The building of facilities and
infrastructure can destroy the
habitat of wild animals)
BENEFIT
- still important during weddings
and religious festivals
- celebrate festivals, teach
traditional skills and protect
historic places
-

SPORT

1

XIV.

entertainment)
opens our minds


ADVANTAGES
- same as any other business
- use their talents to earn a
salary
- Competition is healthy
because it pushes us to give
our best
TOO MUCH
- We could all live happily
without professional football
Life would be difficult without
doctors, engineers and other
vital professionals
- do not provide a vital service
- get a sense of achievement
from raising a family
- defined by wealth or status
- means achieving personal or
professional goals
NATURE
- our personalities are
determined mainly by genetics
(inherit our abilities and
talents)
-

DISADVANTAGES
- Some athletes take drugs in
order to win at any cost
- Competitors are often selfish

and rude  not good role
models for children

-

-

ADVANTAGES
- Television programs can be
entertaining and enjoyable
- Programmers can also be
informative and educational

DISADVANTAGES
- Children are less healthy
because they spend less time
palying
- link violence on television with

FAIR
- a large audience of sports fans
- Sports stars have dedicated
hours of practice to developing
their fitness and skills
- Only the most talented among
them will reach the top
SOLUTION
Success in any field requires
long-term planning and effort


NURTURE
- education and upbringing are
more important
- develop according to the
influences around us

TECHNOLOGY

TELEVISION


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Sadddddddd IELTS MATERIALS – FOR VIETNAMESE LEARNERS

2

INTERNET

3

E-READER OR
NEWSPAPER/
BOOKS

4

PHONES

5


WORK RELATED

-

It gives us instant access to
information on almost any
subject
- It has revolutionized
communication
(keep in touch by email or
instant messenger services)
E-READER
- costs nothing to publish or
access information
- read the news in any language
from any country
- stay in touch with family,
friends and colleagues
wherever we are
- fashion accessories

-

6

XV.

Internet, fax and mobile
phone technologies have
revolutionized working life

save time and money

-

crime rates in the real world
Many websites contain
offensive content
(violent or sexual images)
Children are less healthy
because they spend less time
palying

NEWSPAPER
- eye-friendly
- Newspaper articles and books
are written by professionals
(better quality writing)
- Children are less healthy
because they spend less time
palying
- Mobile phones may also
interfere with electronic
equipment (Their waves could
cause damage to our brains)
-

-

TRANSPORT :


1

PUBLIC
TRANSPORT

2

(GENERAL)

3

ROAD SAFETY

4

PHONES

ADVANTAGES
- Well-designed transport
systems are comfortable and
convenient
- reduce pollution in cities, ease
traffic congestion
PROBLEMS
- congestion is caused by
commuters travelling to work
 causes traffic jams during
the rush hour
- Cars and road space are not
used efficiently

PROBLEMS
- Mobile phones can be a
dangerous distraction for
drivers ( draw the driver’s
attention away from the road)
- Drunk driving
- stay in touch with family,
friends and colleagues
wherever we are
- fashion accessories

DISADVANTAGES
- often slow and unreliable
- Metro systems and trains are
often dirty and crowded
SOL
- Workers should share their cars
and travel together
- work from home
+ Meetings can be held as
video conferences
SOL
- Punishments are becoming
stricter
- campaigns are used to remind
people to drive safely

-

Children are less healthy

because they spend less time
palying
Mobile phones may also
interfere with electronic
equipment (Their waves could


3
Sadddddddd IELTS MATERIALS – FOR VIETNAMESE LEARNERS
cause damage to our brains)
5
6

-

-