band 8.5 essay sample

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IELTS Band 8 Essay Samples

These are IELTS band 8 essay samples that have been given grades (of 8 or 8.5) and basic comments on the score for each criteria by an experienced IELTS instructor.

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Topic: Health & Diet (Band 8)

Some people believe that it is the responsibility of individuals to take care of their own health and diet. Others however believe that governments should make sure that their citizens have a healthy diet.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Nowadays an increasing number of people are becoming concerned about their health and the quality of their diet. There are two diametrically opposed opinions on the matter. Some people believe that each and every individual is responsible for their own health while others state that it is the government that must ensure that the citizens have healthy eating habits.

Personally, I believe that people bear full responsibility for their diets for a number of reasons. First, nowadays there is a vast variety of products that everyone can choose from, ensuring a balanced diet consisting of different types of products with sufficient vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Everyone can balance their diets according to these factors and also based on their taste preferences. For example vegetarians will prefer beans rich in protein while omnivorous eaters might opt for meat instead. Secondly, while governments cannot considerably vary in their healthy eating programs usually adhering to 'one size fits all' approach, individuals know exactly what they need in order to keep fit and healthy both generally speaking and in terms of food. We take tailored approach as we know exactly what we need to succeed in life, be strong and healthy.

However, others argue that the government is fully responsible for the kind of food its population consume because they make decisions regarding the quality of food their country produce and import as well as prices. For instance, in many developing countries people rarely have access to high quality food, thus being forced to choose something cheap like fast food. Moreover, the government can introduce legislation as regards to what kind of food can be promoted, seen for example in many European countries where the advertising of fast food, alcohol and cigarettes is prohibited. These measure, it is argued, can affect the way we eat and control the diets of the whole population.

In conclusion, while the governments may play a role in the choice of food of its citizens, it is still the responsibility of every individual whether to eat healthy diet or not due to many reasons being that a variety of methods to balance their diets or their finances. After all our life is in our hands!

Task Response: 8

The question is answered and ideas are well-supported. Both parts of the question are fully addressed. Some parts are not given quite enough explanation and the logic appears faulty. For instance, the statement that developing countries depend on fast food. The essay should also not end with an informal comment such as "After all our life is in our hands!"

Coherence & Cohesion: 8

This IELTS band 8 essay sample is well-organised with a mix of transition signals and some good use of referencing and substitution. However, there are slightly too many transitions in initial position to get a 9 e.g. first, for example, secondly. These need to be more sophisticated. There is a danger with this that it could be awarded a band 7.

Lexical Resource: 8

There is a good mix of relevant topic related vocabulary of a high level, an excellent awareness of collocation, and plenty of evidence of less common vocabulary. However, there are some errors which would prevent a 9 e.g. "...cannot considerably vary in...".

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: 8

The writer has a very good grasp of grammar with a good mix of complex sentence and forms, with a very high level of accuracy. However, a few errors persist that prevent a 9 e.g. a missing article in "We take tailored approach" and "whether to eat healthy diet..." and a missing plural 's' in "These measure...".

Topic: Professionals Working Abroad (Band 8)

An increasing number of professionals, such as doctors and teachers, are leaving their own poorer countries to work in developed countries.

What problems does this cause?

What solutions can you suggest to deal with this situation?

Nowadays more and more professionals that play a key role in the social stability and development, including in the spheres of education and medicine prefer to find a job in more developed countries that provide more opportunities. Evidently, it creates a deficiency and lack of professional help in the above-mentioned spheres. This essay will address the problems such situation causes and conceivable solutions to redress it.

The most serious problem associated with the drain of the experts in vital areas of life is the consequent shortage of specialists and hence, lack of professional help for citizens of poor countries that can lead to deterioration of the conditions of life. It goes without saying that it is the work of these specialists that is absolutely essential for the survival of people. For example, if professional, qualified doctors leave their poorer countries in search of a better life it leads to a deterioration in the medical help available and in some cases even considerable life losses and decrease of life expectancy. Therefore, local communities and the whole society are seriously affected by such changes in the labour market.

To redress the balance in such a situation there must be serious measures taken by the government. Considerable funds are to be invested in these spheres to contribute to the improvement of work conditions and salaries of different professionals. For example, governments might stimulate young professionals by paying them additional bonuses for working in public hospitals and schools or fund their education. This, in turn, will create better chances to retain stuff and boost the morale of experts, who might choose to stay in their countries in order to contribute to its growth and development.

To conclude, it is apparent that a great number of specialists, especially young ones, opt for working in more developed countries and this trend is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future. However, governments can try to solve this problem by allocating more funds and invest more in the enhancement of working conditions for specialists. Were they to turn a blind eye to the current situation, it would have a pernicious effect on their countries.

B oth problems and solutions are addressed in the essay, and ideas are extended and supported. The ideas though in each body paragraph could have been explained more succinctly, providing the opportunity to add further supporting ideas, rather than the just one that appear in each body paragraph. Reducing the length of the introduction and conclusion would help to achieve this.

Generally coherence and cohesion is very good in this IELTS band 8 essay sample but there could be more variety and more sophisticated cohesive devices used i.e. 'for example' is used twice.

An excellent range of vocabulary, mostly used correctly and appropriately However, a few minor errors persist, such as using 'stuff' instead of 'staff'.

The IELTS band 8 essay sample overall has very good grammar, but there are still a few grammatical errors or the wrong choices. For example, "Considerable funds are to be invested" should be "Considerable funds should be invested" and there are also some errors with punctuation, such as missing commas.

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Learn how IELTS helps improve English language skills & why language skills are important for success. Read our IELTS Essay Samples today!

In modern education, the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) helps check how well you speak and understand English. It’s important because English is a global language. IELTS tests your language skills, which are needed for school and work. This essay looks at different “IELTS Essay Samples” to show why language skills matter. You can learn how to use English well for success in your studies and job.

Important Tips to Write IELTS Essay

Understand the Question : Grasp the topic and requirements.
Plan Your Ideas : Organize your thoughts before writing.
Clear Introduction : Start with a brief, focused introduction.
Use Examples : Support your points with specific examples.
Stay Focused : Stick to the topic and main argument.
Structured Paragraphs : Divide your essay into clear paragraphs.
Formal Language : Write in a formal, academic style.
Vocabulary and Grammar : Use varied vocabulary and correct grammar.
Transition Words : Connect ideas using transitional phrases.
Balanced Argument : Present both sides if required, then express your view.
Summarize in Conclusion : Recap main points in your conclusion.
Stay within Word Limit : Follow the recommended word count.
Proofread : Check for errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Time Management : Allocate time for planning, writing, and editing.
Practice : Regularly write essays to improve your skills.

Types of IELTS Essays

Opinion Essay (Agree/Disagree)
Discussion Essay (Advantages/Disadvantages)
Problem-Solution Essay
Advantages and Disadvantages Essay
Direct Question Essay
Two-Part Question Essay
Cause and Effect Essay
Process Essay
Comparison Essay
Pie Chart/Bar Graph/Line Graph/Map Essay
Mixed Graph Essay
Double Question Essay
Opinion and Discussion Essay

To improve your understanding of writing IELTS essays, consider reading the IELTS Essay Samples below for a band score of 8.

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BAND 8.5 IELTS ESSAY SAMPLE: COMPARISON OF ENERGY CAPACITY PROPORTIONS IN 2015 AND PREDICTIONS FOR 2040

All General Writing Task 1 Samples / Band 8.5

The pie charts below compare the proportion of energy capacity in gigawatts (GW) in 2015 with the predictions for 2040.Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Essay Sample

The pie charts depict the distribution of energy capacity in gigawatts (GW) in 2015 and the projected figures for 2040. Several key features and comparisons can be made based on the given information. In 2015, the energy capacity was primarily dominated by fossil fuels, accounting for 64% of the total capacity. This included coal at 40% and natural gas at 24%. Renewables constituted only 19% of the energy capacity, with hydroelectric power being the most significant contributor at 13%. Nuclear energy accounted for the remaining 17%. Looking ahead to 2040, a significant shift is anticipated in the energy landscape. Fossil fuels are expected to decline to 45% of the total capacity, with coal witnessing the most substantial decrease. Natural gas is projected to increase marginally. On the other hand, renewables are set to experience a considerable surge, reaching 56% of the energy capacity. The largest growth is anticipated in solar and wind power, which are expected to contribute 30% and 26% respectively. Hydroelectric power is also predicted to expand to 15%. Nuclear energy is projected to remain relatively stable at 4%. In summary, the pie charts highlight a shift towards renewable energy sources by 2040, with fossil fuels decreasing and renewables, particularly solar and wind power, becoming the dominant contributors to the energy capacity.

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Sample band 8

The graph illustrates young people’s expectations for change in five different aspects of European life over the next 20 years.

Overall, the majority of the surveyed youth expect that, besides the communication between people, all other surveyed aspects of life will get worse.

Looking at the graph in more detail, it can be seen that 77% of people surveyed expected to see a decline in air quality, which was over three times more than the number of people who believed otherwise. Similarly, over half of the surveyed youth believed that the quality of health, as well as water, would decline over the next 20 years, with the figures being 58% and 60% respectively.

In contrast, the majority of people participating in the survey expected to see improvements in the communication between people, at 64%, while only 36% of them thought the opposite. Meanwhile, opinions on food quality were divided almost equally with just over half the survey participants believing that things would improve, and 49% thinking the opposite.

Some people think that sending criminals to prison is not effective. Education and job training should be used instead. Do you agree or disagree?

Sample Band 8

Some people believe that providing better education opportunities and job training should replace prison sentences in combating crime. Personally, I think this is a one- sided point of view and therefore disagree with it.

There are a number of compelling reasons why it is unreasonable to consider imprisonment to be an obsolete practice. Prison sentences serve as one of the embodiments of justice and fairness in society . When a person commits an unlawful act, be it a misdemeanor or a felony, there should be punishments or else society would fall into chaos. Furthermore, prisons are not only a physical place that keeps criminals contained to protect innocent people but also a reminder of the consequences of violating the law .

Although better education and job training can enhance a person’s awareness and employability that will, in theory, reduce crime, they cannot eliminate all the elements that induce a person to become a criminal. In fact, there have been many heinous crimes committed by well-educated people , for example the infamous sexual assault on a Vietnamese child in Japan. It is naive to expect everyone to follow the law just because they are provided with better education and job skills. We cannot disregard the fact that some people are morally bad by nature and some people who are psychologically unstable may show a propensity for crime.

In conclusion, better education and job training are not the ultimate answer to crime, nor can they replace prison sentences in this regard. It is the combination of both measures that can truly make a difference in the fight against crime.

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