ielts essay topic happiness

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Best Age for Happiness

by Gagan (Amritsar)

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Essay 100 – Happiness is considered very important in life

Gt writing task 2 / essay sample # 100.

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Happiness is considered very important in life.

Why is it difficult to define? What factors are important in achieving happiness?

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

Write at least 250 words.

Model Answer 1:

Happiness is deemed paramount in life and it means different things to different people. This essay will explore the reasons why it is difficult to denote happiness, and then discuss the major factors contributing to the pursuit of happiness, followed by a reasoned conclusion.

Happiness barely fits any definition. This is because it is an abstract notion. Each individual, therefore, has his own different happiness in each phase of life. As people live in different conditions, they are influenced by different factors, like family, relationships, friends, living standards and even knowledge, so each person has a different concept of what happiness is. For instance, with homeless people, happiness means that they can buy a home or apartment but people who have a house think thank they would be happy when they can buy a large mansion in a posh area. Similarly, for the unemployed, a job is the definition of their happiness while for executives, happiness may mean moving swiftly up the corporate ladder.

Likewise, several factors are taken into account in pursuit of happiness. Firstly, it seems hard for an individual to achieve happiness if there is a lack of basic needs, like food, shelter, cloth, and education for example. Secondly, relationships have been considered to be an eminent factor when it comes to pursuing happiness. In simple words, strong family ties or a close circle of friends can lead to a happy life. A good chunk of studies has discovered that people who have a network of close friends with whom they can rely in challenging times are more likely to lead happy life. Last but not least, the key to achieving happiness is to enjoy what people already have.

In conclusion, happiness is regarded as an eminently desirable phenomenon in humans’ lives. Although it is difficult to give a precise definition of happiness because the phenomenon is relatively subjective, I believe that basic needs and sound relationships are the minimum prerequisites of a happy life.

Model Answer 2:

Happiness is widely recognized as a crucial aspect of life, yet defining it can be a complex task due to its subjective and multifaceted nature. Various factors contribute to the difficulty in defining happiness, including its subjective nature, its varying interpretations across cultures and individuals, and its multidimensional aspects. Additionally, achieving happiness is influenced by several key factors, including personal well-being, positive relationships, and a sense of purpose and meaning in life.

One reason defining happiness is challenging is its subjective nature. Happiness can be understood differently by different individuals based on their unique perspectives, values, and life experiences. What brings happiness to one person may not necessarily do the same for another. Thus, attempting to establish a universal definition that encompasses the diverse range of human experiences and preferences can be elusive.

Cultural differences also contribute to the difficulty in defining happiness. Different cultures have distinct norms, values, and ideals, which can shape their perceptions and definitions of happiness. For instance, some cultures prioritize collective well-being and harmony, while others emphasize individual achievement and personal fulfilment. These cultural variations make it challenging to establish a singular definition applicable to all societies. Moreover, happiness is a multidimensional concept. It encompasses various aspects of human life, including emotional well-being, satisfaction with life circumstances, and a sense of purpose and meaning.

To achieve happiness several factors play a significant role. Firstly, personal well-being, which includes physical health, mental well-being, and self-care practices, contributes to overall happiness. Taking care of one’s physical and mental health through regular exercise, proper nutrition, and stress management techniques can enhance well-being and happiness. Positive relationships and social connections are also crucial for happiness. Meaningful connections with family, friends, and a supportive community provide a sense of belonging, emotional support, and fulfilment. Cultivating and nurturing these relationships can contribute significantly to one’s happiness. Furthermore, having a sense of purpose and meaning in life is vital for happiness.

In conclusion, while happiness is considered essential in life, its definition is challenging due to its subjective nature, cultural variations, and multidimensional aspects. Recognizing and embracing the diverse interpretations and factors that contribute to happiness can guide individuals in their pursuit of a fulfilling and meaningful life.

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IELTS Writing 2 Practice Test 23 Topic: Happiness

Updated On Oct 20, 2021

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IELTS Writing 2 Practice Test 23 Topic: Happiness

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Discuss the reasons why people define happiness differently and how to obtain happiness?

Direct question essay

Introduction

State your answer to the questions

Begin with a general idea that takes into account the key topic words (a definition of happiness). Then include a thesis statement.

Paragraph 1: Address the question. It’s not a surprising fact that people pursue different interests and have different objectives to attain in a lifetime. Also, their objectives and interests depend on their age.

Paragraph 2: Mention solution: one’s characteristics, pursuits and philosophies.

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Summarize the answer for the question.

Sample Answer

It is quite common that individuals hold different view towards happiness. I think the perception of happiness varies dramatically from one person to another as a result of the combined effect of individual characteristics and environmental factors. These elements decide the approaches adopted by people to obtain happiness.

It’s not a surprising fact that people pursue different interests and have different objectives to attain in a lifetime. Also, their objectives and interests depend on their age. An individual may have a passion for toys as a child, fashionable clothes as a teenager, a rewarding career as an adult and possibly the company of family members as an older adult. We can see that a person’s attitudes and concerns are subjected to change. For instance, following the latest fashion is appealing to young people such as purchasing trendy consumer products or changing a hairstyle. In contrast, older people are hardly bothered about what they wear or how they look.

In addition to these visible factors, there are some other factors that affect a person’s perception of happiness. These intrinsic factors include one’s characteristics, pursuits and philosophies. For example, people often perceive the value of money differently. Some people sacrifice everything for wealth, whereas others take it more lightly. They treasure family, friends, hobbies and their core values. It is also one of the reasons why people see events such as marriage, family reunion, a promotion, and so forth differently and also react differently to trouble or bad luck, for example, accidents, conflicts, divorce to name a few.

Because people are encouraged to attain their happiness, they must evaluate whether the objectives are attainable or not. High expectations for the future might bring nothing but increase levels of stress and a sense of disappointment. Setting a reachable target is a recommended alternative. Another step to be taken is setting prioritizing things in one’s life, such as money, health, growth, fame, power and relationship. It is almost impossible to attain all that are targeted. The secret is to identify the top priorities and spend your energy on those.

Dramatically
Characteristics

Band 9 Sample Essay

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The feeling of happiness is a complicated emotion that is unique to each individual. We all interpret this sentiment differently due to the vastness of our life experiences and the source of joy for a person might be hugely distinct from another person. In the following paragraphs, I will explore the questions posed by the topic in detail.

We are all aware that contentment is what humans strive for in life because it is our nature. This statement is incomplete without acknowledging that the meaning of happiness can be immensely different and something enjoyable might be taxing for another person. Although there can be various reasons for this characteristic, a key factor, that is tremendously responsible for shaping someone’s personality is their upbringing and the circumstances of their childhood. For instance, material possessions delight people who were raised, in well to do households, whereas individuals from modest backgrounds, might not be attracted to materialistic pleasures.

Furthermore, this trait in human nature facilitates the diversification of the sources of pleasure in a great way. Since the spectrum of pursuits that can be entertaining are so dissimilar, a definite path to being cheerful is hard to pinpoint. An individual’s nature and preferences significantly influence the avenues which bring elation to a person. These choices have always evolved with time and are also dependent on the kind of life someone is leading. Presently, social status and financial freedom are invariably considered appealing attributes in society and thereby deemed gratifying.

To sum up, it is a widely known fact that humans enjoy being joyful. However, the path to finding a healthy source of joy can be difficult and requires experience and maturity. Nonetheless, it is necessary to understand that physical and mental well-being is an honest approach to a fulfilling life.

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IELTS Writing task 2 band 8 essay | Happiness

This model answer about happiness is very strong at band 8.0. Read on below to find out why this answer doesn’t quite get top marks!

Happiness is considered very important in life

Why is it difficult to define?

What factors are important in achieving happiness?

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

Happiness is one of the most important things in life, and yet it is almost impossible to define due to the fact that it is completely subjective, and unique to individuals. However, in order to achieve happiness, there are some broad factors that most people require, and these are based around the fulfilment of human needs. This essay will explain the difficulty in defining happiness and explore some of the broad aspects which can contribute to achieving it.

Defining happiness is deeply problematic due to its individual nature. One approach used by many economists has been to approximate happiness to the standard of living, which is defined by material wealth.

However wealth and happiness are not the same thing: for certain individuals greater wealth will indeed result in increased happiness but for many people other issues are more important. One definition that has been applied is based around a person’s perceived quality of living , which accounts for personal differences, and accepts that there is not a single definition of happiness.

An individual’s quality of living is affected by a range of important factors. Socially, friends, family, and a spouse are all essential for someone to feel a sense of belonging and to feel loved. People also need to be given status and esteem, which may be obtained through material wealth, an important job, or power and responsibility. Finally, people need to feel that they are constantly improving themselves and progressing with their life in a meaningful way. At some level, most people must meet each of these needs to some extent in order to feel happy.

In conclusion, happiness is impossible to define due to its subjective nature, although the standard of living is definitely a less satisfactory definition than quality of living . It is also determined by a mixture of factors, with the priority given to each of these depending on the individual. Of these factors, the main ones required by most people are meeting their social needs, achieving an acceptable level of social status, and feeling that their lives are constantly improving.

The coherence here is very strong. The use of connecting and linking words (cohesive devices) is effortless and shows good variety, including the use of comment adverbs (e.g. Socially, / Finally,). There are no mistakes with referencing or substitution, and the writer’s meaning is always clear.

There is, however, one issue with paragraphing which prevents this essay from scoring a band 9. The short paragraph on defining happiness and the following paragraph about wealth, happiness and quality of life is a development of the topic in the previous paragraph (‘Defining happiness’), and it should not be separated. This small slip prevents the essay from meeting the requirement to ‘skilfully manages paragraphing’ laid out in band 9.

Sequences information and ideas logically
Manages all aspects of cohesion well
Uses paragraphing sufficiently and appropriately

Task Response

Both parts of the question have been addressed fully and the writers position is clear, fully developed and extended, and has relevant, detailed supporting ideas. Nothing more could reasonably be expected to answer this question by a non-expert in the time limits and conditions of the test.

Fully addresses all parts of the task.
Presents a fully developed position in answer to the question with relevant, fully extended and well supported ideas.

There are some very minor slips that prevent this answer from scoring top marks for lexical resource. The writer has used a wide range of vocabulary with flexibility and precision. There are no errors in spelling.

The writer misses a band 9 because there are very small slips with word form and collocation. The writer has collocated the words ‘deeply problematic’. This is a slightly unusual collocation, and ‘highly problematic’ would sound more natural. The writer also refers to ‘quality of living’ rather than ‘quality of life’, which is a word form slip, probably caused by confusion with the concept of ‘standard of living’.

Uses a wide range of vocabulary flexibly and fluently to convey precise meanings
Skilfully uses uncommon lexical items but there may be occasional inaccuracies in word choice or collocation
Produces rare errors in spelling and/or word formation

The grammar here is very strong, and there are no obvious mistakes. There is a wide range of very complex grammar and the majority of sentences are error-free.

The issue that prevents this answer from scoring band 9 for grammar is a slightly noticeable slip in punctuation with one sentence in the body paragraph on wealth and happiness missing commas (,) in appropriate places. This sentence should read:

“However, wealth and happiness are not the same thing: for certain individuals, greater wealth will indeed result in increased happiness, but for many people, other issues are more important.

As several commas are missing which one would expect a native speaker to include, this makes these rare minor errors slightly more than the native-level slips allowed in band 9.

Uses a wide range of structures
The majority of sentences are error-free
Makes only very occasional errors or inappropriacies .

That brings an end to this essay rating. If you are preparing for your IELTS test and want to find out a bit more about task 2, check out our post giving five tips to improve your IELTS writing task 2 ! Our candidate would have scored 8 for coherence, lexis and grammar with a 9 for task achievement, giving an overall score of 8.0. The band 9.0 version of this answer which fixes the small errors in the essay can be found on the IELTS writing task 2 essay question in the question bank.

Is there anything that surprised you about this essay’s score? Have your say, and comment in the section below! Click here for the full public IELTS task 2 writing descriptors .

If you need your writing corrected and rated, make sure that you check out our writing corrections and feedback service!

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IELTS Writing Task 2/ Essay Topics with sample answer.

Ielts essay # 1387 - people are fully responsible for their happiness, ielts writing task 2/ ielts essay:, some believe that people are fully responsible for their happiness and they can be happy if they want. others, however, feel that happiness depends on other factors in their life than just their wishes., discuss both these views and give your own opinion..

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A rocket on a space background symbolises the importance of practicing with these authentic 100 IELTS essay topics

100 IELTS Essay Topics for IELTS Writing

Let me start by saying that by far the best resource for authentic IELTS essay topics are the Cambridge 1 – 13 books. These are real past IELTS exam papers and, therefore, provide students with the highest quality questions for all parts of the test. However, what do you do if you have finished the Cambridge books? Or you struggle with one particular type of question and want a lot of that specific type of practise?

Well, until now, people have relied on questions that were “memorised” by test-takers(often incorrectly), or written by well-meaning teachers who have no specific education in test creation. As a result, many of the “IELTS questions” on the Internet are worded incorrectly. And, as a professional exam writer ( yes, I work creating academic exams for universities ), I know how damaging it can be if even one word in a question is changed.

So, today I am sharing my list of 100 IELTS writing topics. Some are taken from old exam papers, a few are from the Cambridge books, but most are from my own course . More importantly, I can guarantee that each of these questions is as “authentic” as a question can be. Have fun (and let me know your favourite question in the comments!)

If you are new to IELTS, then check out my FREE Introduction to Writing Task 2 👈 video lesson. It contains everything you need to know to get started on your IELTS journey 🚀

IELTS Discuss Both Views and Give your Own Opinion Writing Topics

Some people think that illegal Internet downloads are having a negative effect on the music industry . Others feel that they have little or no impact on artists. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people think that exams are a good way of assessing a student’s level . Other people believe that they put unnecessary pressure on young learners and tell us very little about their actual ability. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Successful sportsmen can earn a great deal more than people in other important professions. Some people think this is fully justified while others think it is unfair. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people feel that there should be a fixed punishment for each type of crime . Others feel that the circumstances of an offence should be taken into account when deciding on a punishment. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people believe that all children should learn a foreign language from the time they start school, while others believe it is better to wait until a child is at secondary school. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people believe that in the near future there will be no borders between countries , while others feel that national borders will always remain. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people feel that the cost of space exploration is far too high for the benefits it brings while others argue that we space programmes should continue no matter what the cost. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people believe that advertising has a strong effect on a person’s decision-making process. Others feel that it has little or no real impact. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people believe that every human can create art . Other people think that art can only be created by people with special talents. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Some people feel that the media has the strongest impact on people’s lives . Others feel that it is politicians who have the most control over the way people lives. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people feel that the primary function of a university should be to prepare students for the working world. Others argue that the purpose of a university education is to provide knowledge for knowledge’s sake. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people think that the teenage years are the happiest times of most people’s lives . Others think that adult life brings more happiness in spite of greater responsibilities. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people prefer to spend their lives doing the same things and avoiding change. Others, however, prefer to take risks and think that change is a positive thing. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people think that boys and girls should attend school together . Others feel that they should be educated separately. Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.
Some people feel that global warming should be dealt with by governments. Others feel that it is the responsibility of individuals in society to solve the problem. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people think that all university students should study whatever they like . Others believe that they should only be allowed to study subjects that will be useful in the future, such as those related to science and technology. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people think that a sense of competition should be encouraged in children . Others believe that children who are taught to cooperate rather than compete become more useful adults. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people think that economic development is the only way to end poverty while others believe that it is causing damage to the environment and so should be stopped. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Some people think that new houses should be built in the same style as the older houses in an area . Others believe that the government should allow people to build houses in the style they want. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Some people like to spend their leisure time with their colleagues . Others think it is better to keep their private life separate from their work life. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

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.

T o What Extent Do you Agree or Disagree Writing Topics

University education s hould be free for all students. To what extent do you agree or disagree
Men and women are capable of doing all jobs equally well. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people believe that nowadays we have too much choice . To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Advertising that targets children should be banned from our televisions. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people say it is important to keep your home and your workplace tidy , with everything organised in the correct place. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
In some countries it is common for school leavers to take a year off between finishing school and starting university. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this practice?
Open plan offices offer a better working environment for staff than a normal office. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Universities should accept equal numbers of male and female students in every subject. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
The recent popularity of online shopping will result in the end of high street shops. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
International sporting events promote peace between countries. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people think it is a good thing for senior managers to have much higher salaries than the other workers in a company. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
People who read for pleasure in their free time have a better imagination than those who prefer to watch TV. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people believe that children who are given pocket money every week have less problems managing money when they become adults. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people believe that eventually all jobs will be done by artificially intelligent robots . What is your opinion?
Nowadays environmental problems are too big for individual countries or people to solve. We have reached the stage where we need cooperation on an international level to protect the environment. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people say that a person’s success is as a direct result of the way they were brought up by their parents. Do you agree or disagree?
Some people think that plastic shopping bags should be banned because they contribute to land and sea pollution. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people who have been in prison become good citizens later, and so 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?
Some people believe that children should be taught how to manage money at school. Do you agree or disagree?
Some people believe that in order for a hobby to be enjoyable , it needs to be difficult. Do you agree or disagree?

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Best Way IELTS Essay Topics

One of the biggest problems facing the world today is growing enough food to feed the ever-expanding population . Genetically Modified foods are the best way to solve this issue . To what extent do you agree or disagree?
The main cause of global warming is pollution from cars. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Playing computer games only has negative effects on children. To what extent do you agree or disagree
The main reason for the high sale of consumer goods in today’s society is advertising . To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Good marketing is the key to running a successful business . To what extent do you agree or disagree?
The best way to tackle the problem of obesity is to educate people about healthy eating. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
The most important factor in job satisfaction is salary . To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many people use customer reviews on the Internet to make decisions about what they buy. A re customer reviews the most useful tool to use when making a purchase ?
Many governments think that economic progress is their most important goal . Some people, however, think that other types of progress are equally important for a country. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people say that the only reason for learning a foreign language is in order to travel to or work in a foreign country . Others say that these are not the only reasons why someone should learn a foreign language. Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.

When you are writing an IELTS essay, it is important to always think about how your answer will satisfy the IELTS Band descriptors. Don’t know what they are or how the examiner uses them to check your work? Watch my free video lesson to find out how you can use the band descriptors to achieve a high score.

Cause / Problem / Solution IELTS Essay Topics

The increase in the number of privately-owned cars is having a negative impact on both our towns and the environment . What can individuals and the government do to reduce this problem?
Many people play sport when they are young, but then stop when they become adults. Why do so many adults stop doing physical exercise ? What can be done to solve this problem?
Fewer people today visit museums than in the past. Why is this? What can be done to encourage more people to visit museums in the future?
Many animals today are being hunted to the point of extinction. What can be done to tackle this problem?
In many countries today, the average weight of people is increasing . What has led to this situation? What can be done to solve it?
Global warming is one of the most serious issues facing the world today. What are some of the causes of global warming? What can governments and individuals do to solve the problem?
The gap between the rich and poor is growing. What difficulties does this cause? How can these problems be overcome?
More people are stressed today than ever before. What are the causes of this stress? What can be done to address this problem?
Many young people today are leaving their homes in the countryside to move to cities . Why is this happening? What can be done to encourage young people to stay in rural areas?
Many people today are choosing to stay in rented apartments rather than hotels when they travel. What led to this change? What problems could it cause the travel industry?
Children today spend a lot of time on social media . What potential problems could this cause and how could they be addressed?
Many young people today will never be able to afford to buy a house . What has led to this situation? What can be done to remedy it?
In many countries, the tradition of having family meals together is disappearing. Why is this happening? What will the effects of this be on the family and society?
Nowadays we are producing more and more rubbish . Why do you think this is happening? What can the government do to help reduce this amount of rubbish produced?
In many countries, the level of crime is increasing. What do you think are the main causes of crime? How can we deal with those causes?
People today are spending more and more time outside of the home . What are the reasons for this trend? What effects is it having on individuals and society?
In spite of the advances made in agriculture, many people around the world still go hungry . Why is this the case? What can be done about this problem?
People today know fewer of their neighbours than in the past. Why is this? What can be done to solve this problem?
The quality of life in many large cities is currently becoming worse. Why is this? What measures can be introduced to tackle this issue?
Many people have jobs that involve working shifts (i.e. working at night). What are some of the problems that shift workers might face? What can be done to solve them?

IELTS Advantages and Disadvantages Essay Topics

Thanks to low-cost airlines , many people can travel abroad. What advantages and disadvantages do tourists bring to the countries they visit?
People today are able to take out loans from the bank or get a credit card very easily. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this practice?
Many people use the Internet as their main educational resource . What are the advantages and disadvantages of this practice?
In some countries, teenagers have part-time jobs while they are still at school. What benefits does this bring a child? Are there any drawbacks?
Schools in some countries require their students to wear a uniform . What are the positives and negatives of this rule?

One of the most important things you should do in an IELTS essay is support your argument with relevant examples. But what are good examples for an IELTS essay ? – well, let me give you a clue: they do NOT include fake statistics and they are NOT personal!

The symbols e dot g dot which are used to denote an example are used to illustrate that the text is about how to add good examples in your IELTS essay, for example essay

Outweigh Advantages and Disadvantages Essay Topics

Being a celebrity – such as a film star or singer – brings problems as well as benefits. Do you think that being a celebrity brings more benefits or more problems?
As a country develops, more people are able to purchase a car . Do you think that the positive for the individual outweigh the negatives for the environment?
Many museums charge an admission fee while others are free. Do you think that the advantages of charging admission to museums outweigh the disadvantages?
Today, it is common to see famous sports people advertising sports products . Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?
More and more people are choosing to eat ready-made meals rather than freshly cooked food. Does this trend have more advantages than disadvantages?

Positive or Negative Development IELTS Essay Topics

Many parents today employ private tutors to teach their children after school hours. Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
Today, more people are waiting until their thirties to get married and have children . Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
In recent years, many small local shops have closed because customers travel to large shopping centres or malls to do their shopping. Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
Countries are becoming more and more similar because people are able to buy the same products anywhere in the world. Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
Nowadays many people communicate using social media . Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

Most IELTS blog posts are full of advice about how to paraphrase. Me? I’m the opposite – I want to encourage people NOT to paraphrase? Why? Read my blog post on the Dangers of Paraphrasing to find out! ☠️

IELTS Direct Question Writing Topics

Some students who perform badly at school go on to have very successful lives as adults. What qualities are needed to do well at school? Are these the same qualities that help people succeed later in life?
100 years ago, it was felt that the human race was making progress in all areas of life . Nowadays, there is less certainty that this is the case. In what areas do you think that the most progress has been made so far? In what area are more things needed to be done?
Many people believe that globalisation is leading to the culture of individual countries being lost . What can be done to protect a society’s traditional values?
Children often complain that history lessons are boring because they are about a past that is dead. How can schools bring history alive for pupils?
Some people think that the government is responsible for looking after the elderly . Others believe that it should be family members. Who do you think should take responsibility?

Don’t know what a complex sentence is or how to write one? Well my friend, you are in the right place! Watch the lesson voted the #1 most useful by my students here (you really don’t need to be afraid!)

IELTS Two-Part Question Essay Topics

More and more people today are moving from the countryside . Why is this happening? Do you think it is a positive or a negative development?
People spend a major part of their adult life at work, and job satisfaction is an important part of individual well-being. What contributes to a person feeling satisfied at work? How realistic is it for all people to feel satisfied?
Many people have problems managing money . What skills does a person need to manage their money well? Who should teach children these skills?
Technology has changed the way that people interact with each other. In what ways has technology changed the types of relationships that people make? Has this been a positive or negative development?
Children have to be punished to learn the difference between right and wrong. To what extent do you agree or disagree? What sort of punishments should parents be able to give their children?
Thanks to developments in technology, many people today have lost basic skills such as how to repair clothes, etc. Why is this happening? Do you think that this is a negative development?
Some people think that governments should try to reduce air traffic by taxing it more heavily, Do you agree or disagree? What other methods could be used to reduce air traffic?
Some people feel that schools should teach children how to become a good parent. Do you agree or disagree with this opinion? What skills do people need to be a good parent?
Nowadays, men’s sport is given far more attention in society than women’s sports. What are the reasons for this? Do you think this is a positive or a negative situation?
Advances in technology mean that many people today work from home . What has led to this change? Is it a positive or negative development?

So, those were 100 IELTS essay topics you can use to practice your IELTS skills. I hope you found them useful. You can find out how to write every one of these 100 essay in My IELTS Classroom – the interactive writing course with 33-hours of lessons that will prepare you for any IELTS question 🚀

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IELTS Essay: Is Personal Happiness Related To Economic Success

05/25/2022 11:27 AM

Discuss Both Views

This essay type asks you have to discuss both sides of the question and give your opinion. You can use Paragraph 1 for one side + your opinion and Paragraph 2 for the other side + your opinion . Don't forget to support your opinion with examples.

What is Happiness?

This is a very tough question

However, you need to have a definition of happiness in order to be able to answer the question clearly and logically. Depending on different people, there are different answers to the question. For some, happiness is all related to being financially stable and that is what the question asks. For others, it has to do with less stress and worry in their life. There are many definitions and many different understandings. Here are four well-rounded ones:

1. Financial Stability - this is very simple and straightforward. When people have the ability to buy what they want and what they need, they feel happy in their current moment of time.

2. Companionship - having the company of friends, family, loved ones, and so on is in some cases even more important and satisfying than simply having money alone.

3. Peace - as life is getting more stressful and full of worries, people find pure happiness if they manage to live a stress-free life.

4. Personal Growth - growing and improving is the most rewarding thing in the world. This can be related to the money of course, but also it could be about your hobbies, your dreams (unrelated to money), and passions.

There are probably more reasons to feel happy, but these four are good enough for a discussion. You can use these ideas in your essay to develop two sides.

Example Essay:

"Some people think personal happiness is directly related to economic success, while others believe this depends on other factors."

Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.

Vocabulary related to the topic

Sentence starters and linking words, idioms and phrases, business phrases and idioms, introduction.

Our world has become highly financialized . With the spread of education and literacy across the globe , people have begun measuring life in terms of monetary and financial value , rather than life satisfaction or convenience . Many have become addicted to consumption and ownership and have made their life’s sole purpose to buy more and own more. However, there are more aspects of life that can contribute to one’s personal happiness, and I am going to discuss two sides to this debate .

Vocabulary:

*BUSINESS PHRASE* - financialized - (adj.) to be full of finance, to focus on money and finance a lot

literacy - knowledge and understanding of something

across the globe - around the world

to measure - to understand the value of something

*BUSINESS PHRASE* - monetary value - the value of something in terms of money

satisfaction - happiness

convenience - feeling comfortable and at ease

to be addicted to - not being able to stop doing something

*BUSINESS PHRASE* - consumption - to buy something, to purchase something

ownership - to have something for yourself, to have the rights to something

a sole purpose - the only reason

to contribute - to add to, to help someone or something

Linking Phrases / Sentence Beginners:

Our world has become __________.

With the spread of __________ , people have begun __________ rather than _________.

However, there are more aspects of ___________, and I am going to discuss two sides to this debate .

Paragraph 1

On the one hand , money or economic success has become a central point of everyone’s life. With the ease of online shopping and mass production of goods, we are exposed to a constant never-ending stream of products and services aimed at pleasing us and bringing some sort of happiness to our life. This never-ending cycle makes sure that people focus on the grind of money for the sake of getting more and owning more, to an unknown end. Many have begun to pile up gadgets , collectibles , books, and clothes in hundreds , spending all their last cash on those presumed sources of happiness . In fact, the opposite has started to occur – with more consumption , the satisfaction of each purchase has dwindled , to the point that people do not feel satisfied anymore from owning one or even a hundred of the same items. In my personal opinion items, and money as related to them, have lost value and do not contribute to a real sense of happiness anymore. It is just a shot of happiness in a sea of pressure and stress .

a central point - the main most important point

online shopping - buying things on the internet through your computer or mobile phone

mass production - producing or making products in mass (many)

to be exposed to - something being shown to us all the time, something in front of our eyes all the time

* IDIOM * - never-ending stream - a stream is a small piece of a river, but the meaning is that something never ends (like scrolling on Amazon, it never ends)

something is aimed at - to be made for, to be produced for

*IDIOM* - never-ending cycle - a situation that never ends, it continues to repeat itself forever

a grind of _______ - to grind is an online term meaning doing something over and over again, repetitively without passion or interest

for the sake of - to achieve something instead of another

to pile up - to have many things that pile on top of each other the more you get

collectibles - items that are a collection

presumed - assumed, when people believe in something that might not be real or true

source of happiness - something that makes a person happy

to dwindle - to get smaller, to drop to a lower size or value

to lose value - to have less importance for people

to contribute - to add to something, to help someone

a shot - a single small glass of a drink is called a shot

*Metaphor* - a sea of pressure and stress - the meaning of this metaphor is that life is huge as a sea and it's filled with a lot of stress and anxiety

On the one hand _________.

With the ease of _________.

In fact the opposite has started to occur - _________.

In my personal opinion _________.

Paragraph 2

On the other han d , there are other ways to achieve pleasure and joy in life. For instance, let’s take companionship . Having a loving and caring family that you can rely on , meeting a trustful and loyal partner with whom you could share your life, or having a bunch of supportive friends , is by far the most important aspect of life, and can bring true happiness. There are many stories online of people who manage to achieve financial success by focusing on a career , ignoring all kinds of personal relationships , only to find out that once they have the money, they have no one to share it with. In many cases , those people tend to live a stressful and depressing life, without any purpose or aim to follow past achieving their financial goals . Companionship and spending time with people you love can completely replace the value of money in one’s life and bring the highest levels of joy and delight from living.

pleasure - happiness and satisfaction

joy - being happy

companionship - being surrounded with people, sharing your life, or spending time with people

to be caring - to care about someone deeply

t o rely on - to trust someone and to know that they will help you out

to be trustful - to trust someone

to be loyal - to not cheat or lie to someone

to be supportive - to take care and support someone

a career - a long-term job that you have passion for

to ignore - to not care about, to stop doing something

personal relationships - connections with people like dating, getting married, and so on.

to tend to - something being done often, happening often

stressful - full of stress, pressure

depressing - sad and disappointing, causing miserable feelings

a purpose - a goal, an objective, an aim

*IDIOM* - to have an aim - to have a goal, to follow a path in life, to know what you want to achieve

delight - great pleasure and happiness

On the other hand, there are other ways to _________.

For instance, lets take _________.

_________ is by far the most important aspect of _________.

There are many stories online of people who __________ only to find out that _________.

In many cases _________.

Life is a complicated thing, and there is definitely more than one aspect to it, in order for one to feel content and satisfied . I personally believe that financial success is not the only criteria for happiness, but an important part of going through life, accompanied by the best people and living in the best stress-free environment . As life is multifaceted , we too, as people living in it, have to be multifaceted to see all the aspects of living, and only then we can achieve true happiness .

*This essay was written in 20 minutes. It is a bit long, but it presents a perfect case (9.0).

one aspect - one way, one side, one option

content -happy

satisfied - happy, pleased

accompanied by - someone coming along with you

stress-free environment - a place that is peaceful, without stress or pressure

multifaceted - having many sides, having many aspects

a true _______ - a real something

_________ in order for one to feel _________.

I personally believe that _________ is not the only criteria for __________ but an __________.

As life is _________, w e too, as _________ have to be _________ and only then we can _________.

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100 IELTS Essay Questions

Below are practice IELTS essay questions and topics for writing task 2. The 100 essay questions have been used many times over the years. The questions are organised under common topics and essay types. IELTS often use the similar topics for their essays but change the wording of the essay question.

In order to prepare well for writing task 2, you should prepare ideas for common topics and then practise applying them to the tasks given (to the essay questions). Also see model essays and tips for writing task 2.

Below you will find:

Essay Questions By Topic
Essay Questions by Essay Type

Please also note that my new Grammar E-book is now available in my store along with my Ideas for Essay Topics E-book and Advanced Writing Lessons. To visit store, click here: Liz’s Store

1) Common IELTS Essay Questions

IELTS practice essay questions divided by topic. These topics have been reported by IELTS students in their tests. Essay questions have been recreated as accurately as possible.

Art (5 essay questions)
Business & Money (17 essay questions)
Communication & Personality (20 essay questions)
Crime & Punishment (12 essay questions)
Education (17 essay questions)
Environment (12 essay questions)
Family & Children (8 essay questions)
Food & Diet (13 essay questions)
Government (6 essay questions)
Health (9 essay questions)
Housing, Buildings & Urban Planning (8 essay questions)
Language (6 essay questions)
Leisure (1 essay question)
Media & Advertising (12 essay questions)
Reading (5 essay questions)
Society (10 essay questions)
Space Exploration (3 questions)
Sport & Exercise (6 essay questions)
Technology (6 essay questions)
Tourism and Travel (11 essay questions)
Transport (7 essay questions)
Work (17 essay questions)

2) IELTS Essay Questions by Essay Type

There are 5 main types of essay questions in IELTS writing task 2 (opinion essays, discussion essay, advantage/disadvantage essays, solution essay and direct question essays). Click on the links below to see some sample essay questions for each type.

Opinion Essay Questions
Discussion Essay Questions
Solution Essay Questions
Direct Questions Essay Titles
Advantage / Disadvantage Essay Questions

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IELTS Speaking Topic: Happiness

Posted by David S. Wills | Jun 9, 2017 | IELTS Tips , Speaking | 0

Lately I’ve been working with my students on an IELTS topic , and I thought I’d share with you some of the questions that came up. The topic was “happiness” and I’ve collected some of the questions into a sample IELTS speaking test.

What do you like to do when you are happy?

What kinds of things make you happy?

When do you feel the happiest?

What kinds of things people in your country feel happy about?

Describe a time when you felt really happy.

You should talk about:

What the event was
When it occurred
Why it was a memorable and happy event for you

And give any details of the event.

Do you think there’s any relationship between a person’s age and their level of happiness?

Do you think people were happier in the past than they are now?

What contributes to making a happy family?

What kind of people do you think are most likely to be happy?

Are talented people happier than other people?

Some people say that they happiest days of your life are when you are in school. Do you agree?

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.

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