Many people spend time worrying about what topics are going to be in the IELTS* writing exam’s Task 2 question.
The topics are fairly predictable.
Task 1 Writing questions are usually specific and detailed. This is because the Task itself provides all of the information you need. You do not have to provide your own ideas or show your knowledge.
So you might get question about the manufacturing process for wooden jigsaw puzzles or the price of coffee beans in Ecuador or the declining population of Eastern Romania.
Task 2 questions, on the other hand, will inevitably have a more global approach. These questions have a universal focus drawing on the background knowledge of people from all kinds of countries and all walks of life.
So they are bound to introduce topics that are of interest to a wide number of people.
Here is a general list of the kind of topics most frequently included in Task 2 questions:
You will never get a Task 2 question about the design of Swiss watches or the price of deep sea cod in Scottish auctions or the effects of insecticides on the Egyptian date industry.
It is no use hoping that you might get lucky and strike a question about your favourite hobby. There is never going to be a Task 2 question about firewalking or the design of opal jewellery. Those topics are too specialized.
The kinds of topics that are likely are the universal ones which are of concern to or of interest to the largest number of people around the world.
Your challenge, as you prepare for the IELTS writing and speaking exams, is to develop your English language skills in the areas of the global subjects on this list.
You need to be aware of the issues that are being discussed in the media about these topics. You need to build up your vocabulary on these topics.
Here’s a quick test to see if you can disinguish the likely topics from the unlikely ones:
Circle the ones you think are unlikely and see if your estimate agrees with mine (**answers at the end of this article):
1.Baseball is a more tactical game than softball
2.The date of Michael Jackson s birth should be a public holiday.
3.Travelling is the best way to learn about the world.
4.Climate change is a problem that affects only developing nations.
5.Mariah Carey is a better singer than Taylor Swift
6.Tibet should be an independent country
7.The benefits of mobile telephones outweigh their disadvantages
8.The Olympics should include only individual sports
9.Public transport should be free
10.Purple is the fashionable color for teenagers this year
Good luck with the test and good luck with your IELTS exam!
*IELTS – International English Language Teaching System. IELTS is the world’s leading test of English for immigration, higher education, and employment.
**1,2,5,6 and 10 are unlikely topics
The IELTS Writing Task 2 essay is worth twice as much as the Task 1 essay. So the date of your IELTS exam approaches, it is vital to have a clear idea about the kind of topic you will have to write about in your crucial IELTS Writing Task 2 essay.
Author Resource:
Do you need help with your IELTS exam preparation? Free help is all around you if you know where to look for it. Barbara Takase has spent more than 20 years co-ordinating a team of professional IELTS teachers. For more free tips and suggestions go to: http://www.ieltspersonaltrainer.com/home.
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