316 original practice prompts for IELTS Writing — 130 General Training Task 1 letters, 56 Academic Task 1 chart prompts covering all seven chart types, and 130 Task 2 essays (the same essay in both modules), grouped by type and by recurring practice theme. Write your answer, then compare it with the graded samples or get it diagnosed.
Original practice prompts written in exam style — not real exam questions, and not predictions. They are written to mirror real exam topics, formats and difficulty; any resemblance to a live test question is coincidence.
IELTS Online is the at-home version of IELTS Academic, with the same content and scoring as the test-centre exam. Three facts decide whether it is the right test for you: it is Academic only (there is no General Training version); it is accepted by universities for admission but is NOT accepted by immigration authorities, so it cannot be used for visas or permanent residence; and results take 6–8 calendar days to arrive. If your score is for immigration, book a test-centre test instead. If it is for university admission, the Writing tasks are exactly the ones in this bank — practising them counts the same way.
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Recurring practice themes (65): · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
Invitation · Home & neighbourhood
You have recently moved into a new apartment and want to invite a close friend to visit. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: • describe your new apartment and the area you live in • explain how your friend can get there • suggest a day and time for the visit and what you could do together
Examiner focus: Warm informal tone, a clear invitation, and concrete arrangements (time, place, directions).
Invitation · Work
A manager at your company is retiring after many years, and you are organising a small farewell dinner. Write a letter to a colleague inviting them to the dinner. In your letter: • give details of when and where the dinner will be held • explain why this manager is being honoured • ask your colleague to help with one part of the arrangements
Examiner focus: Friendly but organised: full event details plus a specific, polite request for help.
Invitation · Family & friends
Your cousin is visiting your city for the first time next month and will stay for three days. Write a letter to your cousin. In your letter: • invite them to stay at your home instead of a hotel • describe two or three things you could do together • tell them what the weather will be like and what to bring
Examiner focus: A generous invitation with a realistic mini-itinerary and practical packing advice.
Invitation · Community
Your neighbourhood association is holding a street party in June to celebrate the opening of a new community garden. Write a letter to a neighbour inviting them to the party. In your letter: • explain what the street party is for • give the date, time and place • ask them to bring a dish or help with the music
Examiner focus: Community warmth plus clear logistics and one specific contribution request.
Invitation · Work
You have been promoted at work and want to celebrate with the team you are leaving. Write a letter to your colleagues. In your letter: • tell them your news • invite them to a lunch or dinner to celebrate • thank them for something specific they did while you worked together
Examiner focus: Good news, a concrete invitation, and gratitude with evidence — not generic thanks.
Invitation · Education
Your English class is organising an end-of-course picnic in a local park. Write a letter to a classmate inviting them to the picnic. In your letter: • say when and where the picnic will be • suggest what food or games they could bring • explain how the class will get there
Examiner focus: Friendly detail: meeting point, transport, and a role for the guest to play.
Invitation · Culture
You have two tickets for a concert next Friday, and your friend who was coming with you cannot go. Write a letter to another friend inviting them to take the spare ticket. In your letter: • describe the concert and why you think they will enjoy it • give the time and meeting place • explain why the ticket is available
Examiner focus: Persuasion tailored to the friend's tastes, with the practical details up front.
Invitation · Family & friends
Your parents are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary and you are organising a surprise family dinner. Write a letter to your brother or sister. In your letter: • tell them about the dinner and why it must stay a surprise • say where and when it will happen • ask them to help you organise one part of it
Examiner focus: Secrecy, family logistics, and a clearly delegated organising task.
Invitation · Health & sport
You have joined a running club that meets every Sunday morning, and you think your friend would enjoy it too. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: • invite them to join you at the running club • describe what a typical session is like • explain what they need to bring and how much it costs
Examiner focus: An invitation that answers the beginner's real questions: pace, cost, kit.
Invitation · Travel
You are renting a cottage by the sea for a week in August and there is a spare bedroom. Write a letter to a friend inviting them to join you. In your letter: • describe the cottage and the area • say what activities you are planning • explain how the costs would be shared
Examiner focus: Selling the place honestly, plus money arrangements stated without awkwardness.
Invitation · Home & neighbourhood
You are holding a housewarming party two weeks after moving into your new flat. Write a letter to a neighbour you have not met yet. In your letter: • introduce yourself briefly • invite them to the party and give the date and time • apologise in advance for any noise and say when the party will end
Examiner focus: A first impression that combines the invitation with consideration for the neighbour.
Invitation · Education & travel
Your old school friend now lives in another country, and a school reunion is being held in your home town. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: • tell them about the reunion and invite them to come • remind them of two classmates who will be there • offer them a place to stay and suggest travel options
Examiner focus: Nostalgia as persuasion, with the travel barrier removed point by point.
Invitation · Work
Your department is organising a charity quiz night to raise money for a local children's hospital. Write a letter to a colleague in another department. In your letter: • invite them to join your quiz team • explain what the money raised will pay for • give the date, venue and entry fee
Examiner focus: A cause worth joining, team logistics, and the practical entry details.
Complaint · Home & appliances
You bought a washing machine from a local shop three months ago. It has broken down twice and the shop's repairs have not fixed it. Write a letter to the shop manager. In your letter: • describe the problem with the machine • explain what has happened when you asked for repairs • say what you would like the shop to do now
Examiner focus: Firm, factual complaint: a clear problem history and one specific remedy requested.
Complaint · Housing
You rent a flat and the heating has not worked properly for two weeks, despite several phone calls to your landlord. Write a letter to your landlord. In your letter: • explain the problem and how it affects your daily life • mention the attempts you have already made to get it fixed • say what action you expect, and by when
Examiner focus: Polite firmness: documented attempts, daily-life impact, and a reasonable deadline.
Complaint · Travel
Your train journey last week was delayed by four hours and you missed an important appointment. Write a letter to the train company. In your letter: • describe your journey and the delay • explain what the delay caused you to miss • say what compensation you expect
Examiner focus: A documented claim: times, consequences, and a compensation request with a basis.
Complaint · Shopping & technology
You ordered a laptop online three weeks ago. It arrived with a cracked screen, and the company has not answered your emails. Write a letter to the company's customer service department. In your letter: • give your order details and describe the damage • explain what you have already done to contact them • say whether you want a replacement or a refund, and by when
Examiner focus: Escalation done properly: evidence, contact history, one clear demand with a deadline.
Complaint · Housing
The flat above yours has had a leaking pipe for a month, and water is damaging your ceiling. The building management company has done nothing. Write a letter to the management company. In your letter: • describe the leak and the damage so far • say when you first reported it and what happened • state what you will do if it is not fixed this week
Examiner focus: A paper trail plus a proportionate warning of the next step.
Complaint · Education
You paid for a ten-week evening course, but the teacher has been changed twice and two classes were cancelled without notice. Write a letter to the course provider. In your letter: • explain what you were promised when you enrolled • describe what has actually happened • ask for a partial refund or extra classes
Examiner focus: Contract language: promise versus delivery, then a remedy that matches the shortfall.
Complaint · Transport
Buses on your route are regularly late in the morning, and you have been late for work several times this month. Write a letter to the bus company. In your letter: • describe the pattern of delays with examples • explain the effect on your work • suggest one practical improvement
Examiner focus: Pattern evidence (dates and times) instead of one angry anecdote, plus a constructive suggestion.
Complaint · Health & fitness
You joined a gym in January. Two of the machines you use most are often broken, and the changing rooms are frequently dirty. Write a letter to the gym manager. In your letter: • describe the problems in detail • explain why they matter for your membership • say what you would like the gym to do
Examiner focus: A member's complaint that connects specific faults to the value of the contract.
Complaint · Home & appliances
A company fitted a new kitchen in your home last month. One cupboard door is crooked, and the workmen left paint marks on the floor. Write a letter to the company. In your letter: • describe the faults in the work • say why you are not satisfied with the finish • ask them to return and put the work right
Examiner focus: Snagging list precision: name each fault and the standard you expect it put right to.
Complaint · Money & banking
Your mobile phone bill this month is three times higher than usual, and you cannot see why from the bill. Write a letter to the phone company. In your letter: • give your account details and the amount in question • explain why you believe the bill is wrong • ask for a full breakdown and a correction if needed
Examiner focus: Query, don't accuse: exact figures, the explanation owed to you, and the correction path.
Complaint · Community
A new café on your street has started playing loud music outdoors in the evening, disturbing residents. Write a letter to the café owner. In your letter: • explain how the music affects you and your neighbours • acknowledge that you support local businesses • ask them to reduce the volume after a certain time
Examiner focus: Firm but neighbourly: support stated first, then the specific, reasonable limit requested.
Complaint · Travel
You booked a guided tour on holiday, but the guide did not speak the language promised and the tour finished two hours early. Write a letter to the tour company. In your letter: • describe what was promised in the advertisement • explain what actually happened on the tour • ask for a partial refund
Examiner focus: Advertisement versus experience, item by item, ending in a proportionate refund claim.
Complaint · Housing & money
When you moved out of your rented flat, your landlord kept half of your deposit for cleaning, although you left the flat clean and have photographs. Write a letter to your landlord. In your letter: • explain why you disagree with the charge • mention the evidence you have • say what you will do if the money is not returned
Examiner focus: Disputing a charge with evidence named and the formal next step stated calmly.
Request Information · Education
You are interested in taking an evening course at a language school near your home. Write a letter to the school. In your letter: • say which course you are interested in and why • ask about class times, fees and class size • ask how you can enrol if you decide to join
Examiner focus: A short list of precise questions, each easy for the reader to answer in turn.
Request Information · Health & fitness
You have seen an advertisement for a new sports centre in your town and are thinking of joining. Write a letter to the centre manager. In your letter: • say which facilities and classes you are interested in • ask about membership prices and any joining offers • ask whether you can visit for a trial session before joining
Examiner focus: Specific questions about facilities, price and a trial — not a general enquiry.
Request Information · Travel
You are planning a week's holiday in a small coastal town and have found a family-run hotel online. Write a letter to the hotel. In your letter: • say when you plan to stay and how many people are coming • ask about room facilities and meals • ask about parking and how to reach the hotel from the station
Examiner focus: Questions grouped so the hotel can answer each one in a single reply.
Request Information · Education
Your six-year-old child will start school next year, and you are choosing between two local primary schools. Write a letter to one of the schools. In your letter: • explain your situation • ask about class sizes and after-school care • ask how you can visit the school before deciding
Examiner focus: A parent's real decision criteria, asked in priority order.
Request Information · Work
You have seen a job advertised at a logistics company, but the advertisement gives very little detail about the hours. Write a letter to the company. In your letter: • say which job you are interested in • ask about working hours, pay and training • ask what the next step in applying would be
Examiner focus: Asking about terms before applying — specific, professional, no wasted questions.
Request Information · Community
A new community centre in your area offers activities for teenagers, and you have a 14-year-old son. Write a letter to the centre. In your letter: • explain why you are writing • ask what activities run on weekday evenings • ask about costs and how to register
Examiner focus: Matching the enquiry to one child's age and schedule, not a general leaflet request.
Request Information · Housing
You are moving to a new city for work and have seen a flat advertised by a letting agency. Write a letter to the agency. In your letter: • say when you need the flat and for how long • ask what is included in the rent • ask about the deposit and the earliest viewing date
Examiner focus: The money questions and the logistics question, in the order a tenant decides.
Request Information · Health & fitness
Your doctor has advised you to start swimming regularly, and there is a public pool near your home. Write a letter to the pool manager. In your letter: • explain why you want to swim regularly • ask about quiet times and lane swimming sessions • ask about monthly membership and any discount for residents
Examiner focus: A goal (medical advice) translated into precise questions about sessions and price.
Request Information · Culture
A theatre in your city is performing a play you studied at school, and you would like to take a group of friends. Write a letter to the theatre box office. In your letter: • say which performance you want to attend • ask about group discounts and seat availability • ask about access for a friend who uses a wheelchair
Examiner focus: Booking questions plus an access question asked plainly and early.
Request Information · Technology & communication
You work from home and your internet connection is too slow for video meetings. Write a letter to an internet provider. In your letter: • explain what you use the connection for • ask about faster packages and their real speeds • ask about installation time and contract length
Examiner focus: Asking for usable speeds and contract terms, not headline marketing numbers.
Request Information · Transport
You want to take your bicycle on a long-distance train journey next month. Write a letter to the train company. In your letter: • give details of your journey • ask whether bicycles are allowed and if a reservation is needed • ask about any extra charge and where bicycles are stored
Examiner focus: One practical subject, fully covered: permission, booking, price, storage.
Request Information · Money & insurance
You are buying your first car and need insurance, but you do not understand the different types of cover. Write a letter to an insurance company. In your letter: • give brief details about yourself and the car • ask them to explain the types of cover in simple terms • ask what information they need to give you a price
Examiner focus: Admitting what you don't know and asking for a plain-English explanation plus a quote path.
Request Information · Education & travel
You want to spend three months improving your Spanish in Spain before starting a new job. Write a letter to a language school in Madrid. In your letter: • explain your goal and your current level • ask about course dates, class sizes and accommodation options • ask about the total cost including materials
Examiner focus: Goal, level, dates, money — the four things a school needs to answer usefully.
Request Help · Travel
You are going on holiday for two weeks and need someone to look after your cat while you are away. Write a letter to a friend who lives nearby. In your letter: • explain when you will be away and why you are asking them • describe what looking after the cat involves each day • offer to do something in return for their help
Examiner focus: Make the favour easy to accept: exact dates, simple daily tasks, and a genuine offer in return.
Request Help · Home & neighbourhood
You will be away from home for a month for work and are expecting several important parcels during that time. Write a letter to your neighbour. In your letter: • explain why you will be away and for how long • ask them to take in your parcels and water your plants • tell them how they can contact you if there is a problem
Examiner focus: Clear scope of the favour, exact dates, and a contact route for problems.
Request Help · Home & neighbourhood
You are having a new bathroom fitted next week and will have no water for two days. Write a letter to your neighbour. In your letter: • explain the situation and the dates • ask if you could use their shower on those two mornings • offer to do something for them in return
Examiner focus: A short, specific favour with exact times and a genuine return offer.
Request Help · Work
You have to give a short presentation at work next week in English, which is not your first language. Write a letter to a colleague whose first language is English. In your letter: • explain what the presentation is about • ask them to listen to a practice run and correct your pronunciation • suggest a time that suits their schedule
Examiner focus: Asking for skilled help without imposing: fixed length, their choice of time.
Request Help · Family & friends
You are moving house next Saturday and your new flat is on the third floor with no lift. Write a letter to a friend. In your letter: • explain the move and why you need help • say what kind of help you need and for how many hours • tell them what food and drink you will provide
Examiner focus: Honest about the hard parts (third floor, no lift) and clear about duration and thanks.
Request Help · Education
You missed two weeks of your evening course because of illness and have fallen behind. Write a letter to a classmate. In your letter: • explain why you were absent • ask to borrow their notes from the missed classes • offer to share your notes from earlier in the course
Examiner focus: A fair exchange, not a one-way favour: notes for notes.
Request Help · Travel
Your flight arrives at midnight next Tuesday, and the last bus home leaves before you land. Write a letter to a friend who lives near the airport. In your letter: • give your flight details • ask if they could collect you or lend you their car • explain how you will thank them
Examiner focus: Late-night favour asked with a fallback option, so saying yes is easy.
Request Help · Health & fitness
You broke your arm last week and cannot drive for six weeks, but you need to get to work every day. Write a letter to a colleague who lives near you. In your letter: • explain what happened • ask if you could travel with them to work and share the petrol cost • say how long you would need the lifts for
Examiner focus: A time-limited request with the end date and cost-sharing stated up front.
Request Help · Community
You are organising a charity fun run in your town park and need volunteers to help on the day. Write a letter to a local sports club. In your letter: • explain the event and what the money is for • say what help you need (marshals, water station, registration) • give the date and the hours involved
Examiner focus: Volunteering asked of a group: roles named, hours bounded, cause clear.
Request Help · Money & banking
Your washing machine has broken down and a new one costs more than you can pay this month. Write a letter to your brother or sister. In your letter: • explain the problem • ask to borrow a specific amount of money • say exactly when and how you will repay it
Examiner focus: A family loan asked properly: amount, purpose, and a repayment date in writing.
Request Help · Technology & communication
You have just started selling handmade furniture online and need good photographs of your products. Write a letter to a friend who is a keen photographer. In your letter: • explain what you are selling and why photographs matter • ask them to take photographs of about ten items • offer payment or a piece of furniture in return
Examiner focus: Professional help from a friend: scope counted, payment offered, no assumption of free work.
Request Help · Housing
You are going to be away for the whole winter and your elderly neighbour will be alone in the street. Write a letter to another neighbour. In your letter: • explain that you will be away and for how long • ask them to keep an eye on your elderly neighbour • give them your phone number and your return date
Examiner focus: Asking someone to watch over a person, not a property — sensitivity plus practical contact details.
Request Help · Culture & reading
Your book club has grown to fifteen members and no longer fits in your living room. Write a letter to the manager of a local café. In your letter: • explain what the book club needs • ask if the group could meet at the café one evening a month • explain what the café would gain from the arrangement
Examiner focus: A request framed as a two-way benefit: guaranteed customers on a quiet evening.
Apology · Family & friends
You were invited to a close friend's birthday dinner last week but could not attend. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: • apologise for missing the dinner • explain why you were unable to come • suggest another time to meet and celebrate together
Examiner focus: A sincere apology with a believable reason and a concrete new plan, not just regret.
Apology · Housing & money
You rent a room in a shared house and your rent payment this month will be ten days late. Write a letter to your landlord. In your letter: • apologise for the late payment • explain the reason for the delay • say exactly when the rent will be paid and how you will avoid this happening again
Examiner focus: Own the delay, give the reason briefly, and commit to an exact payment date.
Apology · Work
You missed an important team meeting yesterday because you wrote down the wrong time. Write a letter to your manager. In your letter: • apologise for missing the meeting • explain how the mistake happened • say how you will catch up on what was discussed
Examiner focus: Owning a simple mistake cleanly, then showing the recovery plan.
Apology · Home & neighbourhood
Your dog escaped from your garden last week and dug up several plants in your neighbour's garden. Write a letter to your neighbour. In your letter: • apologise for the damage • explain how the dog got out • offer to repair the damage or pay for the plants
Examiner focus: Responsibility for a pet, a fixed fence, and a concrete offer to put things right.
Apology · Education
You borrowed a textbook from your teacher and accidentally spilled coffee on it, damaging several pages. Write a letter to your teacher. In your letter: • apologise for the damage • explain what happened • offer to buy a replacement copy
Examiner focus: A short, honest apology with the replacement offered before it is asked for.
Apology · Family & friends
You forgot your best friend's wedding anniversary dinner reservation that you had promised to book, and the restaurant is now full. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: • apologise for forgetting • explain why it slipped your mind • say what alternative you have arranged for them
Examiner focus: The fix matters more than the excuse: a booked alternative presented in the same letter.
Apology · Travel
You were supposed to meet a friend at the airport to collect her, but your car broke down and she waited for two hours. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: • apologise for not being there • explain what happened to your car • invite her to dinner to make up for it
Examiner focus: Apology for a let-down the friend experienced alone — empathy first, explanation second.
Apology · Community
As secretary of a local club, you sent out the wrong date for the annual general meeting, and several members arrived a week early. Write a letter to the club members. In your letter: • apologise for the error • explain how it happened • confirm the correct date and what will change in future
Examiner focus: A formal group apology: error, cause, correction, prevention — in that order.
Apology · Housing & money
You share a flat and accidentally used your flatmate's expensive shampoo and food shopping several times thinking they were shared items. Write a letter to your flatmate. In your letter: • apologise for using their things • explain the misunderstanding • offer to replace everything and suggest a labelling system
Examiner focus: Small domestic wrong, handled with humour and a system that stops it recurring.
Apology · Work
You sent an email complaining about a client to a colleague, but accidentally sent it to the client. Write a letter to the client. In your letter: • apologise sincerely for the email • explain briefly that it was sent in error during a stressful week • assure them of the service they will receive from now on
Examiner focus: Damage control: brief, sincere, and focused on the client's future experience, not your embarrassment.
Apology · Culture
You borrowed a rare vinyl record from a friend and your child scratched it. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: • apologise for the scratch • explain how it happened • say that you are looking for a replacement and will pay for it
Examiner focus: Valuing what the item means to the owner, with the replacement search already under way.
Apology · Health & fitness
You booked a doubles tennis court with your partner but arrived 40 minutes late, so you only played for twenty minutes. Write a letter to your tennis partner. In your letter: • apologise for being late • explain the reason honestly • offer to book and pay for the next two sessions
Examiner focus: A sporting apology with compensation in kind: their lost court time repaid double.
Apology · Family & society
You promised to look after your sister's children for a weekend but now have to work that weekend. Write a letter to your sister. In your letter: • apologise for breaking your promise • explain the change at work • suggest two alternative dates you can offer instead
Examiner focus: Breaking a family promise early, with alternatives ready — not a last-minute cancellation.
Job Application · Work
You have seen an advertisement for a part-time job in a café in your town. Write a letter to the café manager applying for the job. In your letter: • say which job you are applying for and where you saw it advertised • describe your relevant experience and skills • explain when you are available to work and to attend an interview
Examiner focus: Match your experience to the job, state your availability clearly, and keep a confident tone.
Job Application · Community
A local charity shop is looking for volunteers to help at weekends. Write a letter to the shop coordinator applying to volunteer. In your letter: • explain why you want to volunteer at this shop • describe any experience or skills that would be useful • say which days and hours you can offer
Examiner focus: Motivation plus useful skills plus exact availability — the three things a coordinator needs.
Job Application · Work
A hotel in your town is looking for a receptionist to work night shifts. Write a letter to the hotel manager applying for the job. In your letter: • say where you saw the advertisement • describe your experience with customers and computers • explain why night work suits you
Examiner focus: Turning the antisocial hours into a selling point with honest reasons.
Job Application · Education
A language school needs a part-time assistant to help in children's classes on Saturday mornings. Write a letter to the school director. In your letter: • explain your interest in working with children • describe relevant experience (babysitting, volunteering, teaching) • confirm your availability on Saturdays
Examiner focus: Child-facing experience evidenced, and availability for the exact slot confirmed.
Job Application · Health & sport
A sports centre is recruiting a lifeguard for its swimming pool. Write a letter to the centre manager. In your letter: • state your lifeguard qualification and when you obtained it • describe your swimming and first-aid experience • say which shifts you can work
Examiner focus: Safety-critical role: qualifications and currency first, personality second.
Job Application · Technology & communication
A small online shop needs someone to answer customer emails from home in the evenings. Write a letter to the shop owner. In your letter: • explain why remote evening work suits you • describe your writing skills and any customer service experience • say how quickly you could start
Examiner focus: For a writing-based job, the letter itself is the audition — accuracy is the evidence.
Job Application · Community
Your town's museum wants volunteers to guide school groups during the week. Write a letter to the museum coordinator. In your letter: • explain your interest in local history • describe any experience speaking to groups • say which weekdays you can offer
Examiner focus: Enthusiasm backed by evidence: talks given, groups handled, days named.
Job Application · Transport
A delivery company is hiring van drivers for early-morning routes. Write a letter to the company. In your letter: • state how long you have held a driving licence and whether it is clean • describe your delivery or driving experience • confirm you can start work at 5 a.m.
Examiner focus: Licence record and reliability — the two things a delivery firm actually hires on.
Job Application · Home & appliances
An elderly couple in your street has advertised for a gardener for four hours a week. Write a letter to the couple. In your letter: • introduce yourself and where you live • describe your gardening experience and tools you own • suggest a time to meet and discuss the work
Examiner focus: Trust built locally: proximity, own tools, and a face-to-face meeting offered.
Job Application · Culture
A cinema is looking for front-of-house staff for Friday and Saturday evenings. Write a letter to the cinema manager. In your letter: • explain your interest in films and customer-facing work • describe experience handling money and queues • confirm your availability for late finishes
Examiner focus: Evening-economy realities: tills, queues, and staying until the last screening ends.
Job Application · Work
After two years in your company's warehouse, a supervisor position has opened in your department. Write a letter to the operations manager. In your letter: • say which position you are applying for • describe what you have learned and improved in your current role • explain why you are ready to supervise others
Examiner focus: An internal application: improvements you personally made, quantified where possible.
Job Application · Family & friends
A friend is opening a bakery and needs a counter assistant, and has asked you to write formally for the record. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: • thank them for thinking of you and accept formally • describe your food hygiene certificate and café experience • ask about start date and rota
Examiner focus: Formal on paper, warm in tone: the balance an application to a friend demands.
Job Application · Education & travel
A summer camp abroad is recruiting English-speaking activity leaders for July and August. Write a letter to the camp director. In your letter: • explain why you want to work at a children's camp • describe your sports, music or outdoor skills • confirm you can commit to the full two months
Examiner focus: Energy plus safeguarding awareness plus a full-season commitment, stated plainly.
Formal Business · Money & banking
Your bank statement shows a charge of $85 that you do not recognise. Write a letter to your bank. In your letter: • give details of the charge and your account • explain why you believe the charge is wrong • ask the bank to investigate and refund the amount
Examiner focus: Formal register, precise details (date, amount, account), and one clear requested action.
Formal Business · Money & insurance
You recently made a claim on your home insurance after a water leak, but you have heard nothing for three weeks. Write a letter to the insurance company. In your letter: • give your claim reference and the date you submitted it • describe the damage the claim covers • ask for an update and a timescale for a decision
Examiner focus: Reference numbers and dates up front; a calm request for a decision timescale.
Formal Business · Housing
You want to end your flat rental contract one month earlier than agreed because your job is moving to another city. Write a letter to your landlord. In your letter: • explain the change in your job • propose the earlier leaving date • offer to help find a new tenant or pay a fair amount for the final month
Examiner focus: Negotiating out of a contract: reason, dates, and a concession offered before it is demanded.
Formal Business · Money & banking
You are starting a small business and want to open a business bank account. Write a letter to your bank. In your letter: • describe your business briefly • ask what types of business account they offer and their fees • ask what documents you need to bring to an appointment
Examiner focus: A prospective customer comparing offers: fees and paperwork in one letter.
Formal Business · Work
Your company has announced that your office will move across town next month, adding an hour to your journey. Write a letter to your employer. In your letter: • explain how the move affects you • ask whether flexible hours or some home working would be possible • suggest a trial period
Examiner focus: A reasoned request to an employer: impact stated, solution proposed, trial offered.
Formal Business · Education
You want to transfer your daughter to a different secondary school because the family is moving house. Write a letter to the head teacher of the new school. In your letter: • explain the move and when it will happen • give brief details about your daughter's current school and subjects • ask about available places and how to apply
Examiner focus: A parent writing formally about a child: dates, subjects, and the admissions question.
Formal Business · Community
Residents on your street want the council to install speed bumps because drivers use the street as a shortcut. Write a letter to the local council. In your letter: • describe the problem and give examples • explain the risk to children and elderly residents • request speed bumps or another traffic measure
Examiner focus: Civic letter discipline: evidence, affected groups, one clear requested action.
Formal Business · Health & fitness
You need to change your registered doctor because you have moved to a new area. Write a letter to the medical centre near your new home. In your letter: • explain that you have recently moved • ask how to register as a new patient • ask how your medical records will be transferred
Examiner focus: Administrative clarity: registration steps and record transfer asked in sequence.
Formal Business · Money & insurance
Your car was damaged in an accident last week that was not your fault. Write a letter to your insurance company. In your letter: • describe the accident briefly with date and place • list the damage to your car • ask what the next steps are for your claim
Examiner focus: Claim letter essentials: facts without blame language, damage listed, process requested.
Formal Business · Transport
You lost a bag containing important work documents on a bus last Friday. Write a letter to the bus company. In your letter: • describe the bag and the journey you took • explain why the documents matter • ask how lost property is handled and how you can check
Examiner focus: Identification detail (route, time, seat area) that makes recovery actually possible.
Formal Business · Technology & communication
You are cancelling your broadband contract because you are moving abroad for two years. Write a letter to the provider. In your letter: • give your account number and moving date • confirm that you want the contract cancelled on that date • ask about returning the router and any final bill
Examiner focus: A cancellation that closes every loose end: date, equipment, final bill, confirmation in writing.
Formal Business · Culture
You run a small choir and want to hire the community hall for a Saturday concert in December. Write a letter to the hall manager. In your letter: • explain the event and the expected audience size • ask about availability, hire cost and use of the kitchen • ask about rules on finishing time and cleaning
Examiner focus: Venue hire covered completely: date, numbers, facilities, money, rules.
Formal Business · Work
You have worked at your company for five years and want to request a reference for a course application. Write a letter to your manager. In your letter: • explain what course you are applying for and why • ask them to act as your referee • tell them the deadline and what the reference should cover
Examiner focus: Making refereeing easy: deadline, form, and the qualities the course wants evidenced.
Thank You · Home & neighbourhood
A friend helped you move house last weekend, spending the whole day carrying boxes and furniture. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: • thank them for their help • mention specific things they did that made the move easier • invite them to your new home for a meal to say thank you properly
Examiner focus: Specific gratitude — name what they actually did — plus a real invitation in return.
Thank You · Education
You have just passed an important exam, and a teacher gave you a lot of extra help while you prepared. Write a letter to your teacher. In your letter: • thank them for their help • explain which parts of their help made the biggest difference • tell them what you plan to do next
Examiner focus: Thank-you letter with evidence: which help mattered most, and what it leads to next.
Thank You · Work
A senior colleague spent several hours helping you prepare for an important interview, and you got the job. Write a letter to your colleague. In your letter: • thank them for their help • say which part of their advice helped most in the interview • tell them your start date and offer to return the favour
Examiner focus: Credit shared precisely: name the advice that actually changed the outcome.
Thank You · Travel
While you were on holiday, your neighbour collected your post, watered your plants and fed your cat. Write a letter to your neighbour. In your letter: • thank them for everything they did • mention something specific you noticed on your return • invite them to dinner or give them a small gift from your trip
Examiner focus: Gratitude itemised from what you actually found on returning home.
Thank You · Health & fitness
After your knee operation, a physiotherapist at the local clinic helped you recover over three months. Write a letter to the physiotherapist. In your letter: • thank them for their support • describe the progress you have made • tell them what you can do now that you could not do before
Examiner focus: Progress as the thank-you: before-and-after evidence of their work.
Thank You · Family & friends
Your grandparents lent you money towards the deposit on your first flat, and you have just moved in. Write a letter to your grandparents. In your letter: • thank them for the loan • describe your new flat and their part in making it possible • invite them to be your first guests
Examiner focus: Family money thanked without awkwardness, ending in the first invitation.
Thank You · Education
A librarian at your university helped you find rare sources for your final project over several weeks. Write a letter to the librarian. In your letter: • thank them for their time • explain how the sources changed your project • tell them the grade you received
Examiner focus: Thanking a professional whose help is usually invisible — with the result it produced.
Thank You · Community
When your car would not start on a freezing morning, a passer-by helped you push it and waited until help arrived. Write a letter to the local newspaper. In your letter: • describe what happened • thank the stranger publicly, describing them so they may recognise themselves • say why their help mattered that morning
Examiner focus: A public thank-you letter: the story told so the right stranger recognises it.
Thank You · Housing
Your landlord responded immediately when your boiler broke in mid-winter, arranging a repair the same day. Write a letter to your landlord. In your letter: • thank them for the fast response • explain what the repair team did • say why it mattered to your family
Examiner focus: Thanking a landlord for doing their job exceptionally — specific, brief, warm.
Thank You · Culture & reading
A friend recommended a book that changed how you think about your career, and you have now changed jobs. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: • thank them for the recommendation • say which idea in the book affected you most • tell them about your new job
Examiner focus: An intellectual thank-you: the idea named, the change it caused described.
Thank You · Money & banking
A bank adviser helped you sort out a complicated problem with a payment sent to the wrong account. Write a letter to the bank manager. In your letter: • explain the problem briefly • name the adviser and describe how they helped • ask for your thanks to be passed on
Examiner focus: Complimenting an employee to their manager: the behaviour praised precisely.
Thank You · Family & society
An older neighbour taught you to cook several traditional dishes from your home country while you were homesick abroad. Write a letter to the neighbour. In your letter: • thank them for the cooking lessons • say which dish you now cook for your own family • invite them to eat that dish at your home
Examiner focus: The student becomes the cook: the invitation completes the thank-you.
Thank You · Work
During your first month in a new job, the office cleaner, security guard and receptionist all helped you settle in small ways. Write a letter to the office manager. In your letter: • explain that you are new and who helped you • give one example for each person • suggest their kindness be recognised
Examiner focus: Noticing support staff by name and deed — gratitude directed where it is rarely sent.
Explanation · Work
Your manager has asked why you want to change your working hours from mornings to evenings. Write a letter to your manager. In your letter: • explain your current working pattern • give your reasons for wanting the change • suggest how your work could be covered during the changeover
Examiner focus: Reasons first, then a practical cover plan that answers the manager's real concern.
Explanation · Life changes
An old friend has heard that you recently moved to a different city and wants to know more. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: • explain why you decided to move • describe your new city and how your life has changed • invite your friend to visit you there
Examiner focus: A clear cause-and-effect story of the move, with honest detail about what changed.
Explanation · Work
Your employer has asked staff to explain in writing why they would like to work one day a week from home. Write a letter to your employer. In your letter: • explain which day you would choose and why • describe how your work would be covered • say how your manager could judge whether it is working
Examiner focus: A proposal with measurement built in: how the trial would be judged.
Explanation · Family & friends
You have decided not to attend a family wedding abroad because of the cost, and your aunt is disappointed. Write a letter to your aunt. In your letter: • explain your decision honestly • describe the costs involved for your family • suggest how you will celebrate with the couple another way
Examiner focus: A refusal explained with love: real numbers, no excuses, an alternative celebration.
Explanation · Education
You are withdrawing from an evening course halfway through the term. Write a letter to the course tutor. In your letter: • explain that you are leaving the course • give your reasons (a change in your work schedule) • ask whether you can join again next term and keep your materials
Examiner focus: Leaving well: reasons brief, relationship preserved, return path asked about.
Explanation · Life changes
You have decided to sell your car and use public transport and cycling instead. Write a letter to a friend who is surprised by your decision. In your letter: • explain your reasons • describe how your daily travel works now • respond to their worry that you will regret it
Examiner focus: A lifestyle change defended with daily detail, not slogans.
Explanation · Housing
You are subletting your flat for three months while you work abroad, and a neighbour has raised concerns. Write a letter to your neighbour. In your letter: • explain the arrangement and its dates • describe who will be living in the flat • give them your contact details in case of any problem
Examiner focus: Reassurance through specifics: who, when, and a phone number that works.
Explanation · Money & banking
Your bank has asked you to explain a large payment that recently left your account. Write a letter to the bank. In your letter: • explain what the payment was for • give the date, amount and who received it • offer to provide documents if needed
Examiner focus: Compliance clarity: facts in order, documents offered, nothing defensive.
Explanation · Health & sport
You are the captain of a five-a-side football team and must explain to a team-mate why you are dropping him from the starting team. Write a letter to your team-mate. In your letter: • explain the decision kindly • give the sporting reasons • tell him how he can win his place back
Examiner focus: A hard message delivered fairly: reasons honest, route back real.
Explanation · Travel
You cut short a group holiday and came home a week early, and your friends want to know why. Write a letter to your friends. In your letter: • explain why you left early • apologise for any plans it changed • suggest meeting soon to hear about the rest of the trip
Examiner focus: Explaining without oversharing: enough truth to satisfy, privacy kept.
Explanation · Work
Your department's sales fell last quarter and your manager has asked team leaders for a written explanation. Write a letter to your manager. In your letter: • explain the main reasons for the fall • support each reason with a fact or figure • say what your team is changing this quarter
Examiner focus: Accountability with data: cause, evidence, corrective action — no blame-shifting.
Explanation · Community
As chair of a residents' association, you must explain why the annual membership fee is increasing. Write a letter to the members. In your letter: • explain what the fee pays for • give the reasons for the increase • say what members will receive that they did not before
Examiner focus: Justifying a price rise: costs itemised, new value named.
Explanation · Culture
You have chosen to learn the piano as an adult, and a friend thinks it is a waste of money. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: • explain why you started • describe what practising is really like • invite them to your first small recital
Examiner focus: Defending a personal choice with experience, ending in an invitation rather than an argument.
Recommendation · Travel
A friend is planning to visit your country for the first time and has asked you for advice. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: • recommend two or three places they should visit and why • advise them on the best time of year to come • suggest what they should bring with them
Examiner focus: Recommendations with reasons, practical timing advice, and a short packing suggestion.
Recommendation · Work
Your company is hiring for a position in your team, and you think a former colleague would be ideal for it. Write a letter to your manager recommending this person. In your letter: • say who the person is and how you know them • describe their skills and experience relevant to the role • explain why they would fit well in your team
Examiner focus: Evidence-based recommendation: specific skills and past results, not general praise.
Recommendation · Education
A younger cousin is choosing which subjects to study at college and has asked for your advice. Write a letter to your cousin. In your letter: • recommend two subjects and explain why • warn them about one thing you wish you had known • encourage them about the decision
Examiner focus: Advice from experience: recommendations tied to the cousin's stated interests, one honest warning.
Recommendation · Travel
A colleague is visiting your home country for two weeks and wants to travel beyond the capital. Write a letter to your colleague. In your letter: • recommend two places to visit and what is special about each • suggest the best way to travel between them • warn them about one common mistake tourists make
Examiner focus: Local knowledge money cannot buy: route logic plus the mistake to avoid.
Recommendation · Health & fitness
Your friend wants to get fit but hates gyms, and has asked what you would recommend. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: • recommend two activities that do not involve a gym • explain the benefits and costs of each • offer to do one of them together
Examiner focus: Recommendations matched to the constraint (no gyms) and made social.
Recommendation · Work
A junior colleague is choosing between two job offers and has asked for your written opinion for their records. Write a letter to your colleague. In your letter: • recommend which offer to accept and why • compare pay, training and travel for both • advise them what to check before signing
Examiner focus: A balanced comparison that lands on one recommendation and one pre-signing check.
Recommendation · Technology & communication
Your parents want their first smartphone and have asked you to recommend one. Write a letter to your parents. In your letter: • recommend a type of phone and explain why it suits them • describe two features they will actually use • offer to set it up and teach them
Examiner focus: Technology recommended by use, not specification: big text, video calls, your tuition included.
Recommendation · Housing
A friend moving to your city has shortlisted two neighbourhoods and asked which you recommend. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: • recommend one neighbourhood • compare rent, transport and noise between the two • suggest they visit at two different times of day before deciding
Examiner focus: A verdict built on a fair comparison, plus a practical viewing tip.
Recommendation · Culture & reading
Your book club is choosing next month's book and you want to propose one. Write a letter to the club organiser. In your letter: • recommend a book and describe it briefly without spoilers • explain why it will suit the group and spark discussion • mention its length and availability
Examiner focus: A pitch that sells discussion value and practicality (length, copies) together.
Recommendation · Money & banking
A friend has received a small inheritance and asked whether to pay off a loan or invest the money. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: • recommend one option and explain your reasoning • compare the interest on the loan with likely investment returns • suggest they also keep a small emergency fund
Examiner focus: Money advice with the arithmetic shown and risk stated, not hidden.
Recommendation · Family & friends
Your sister is choosing a primary school for her daughter and values your opinion as a teacher. Write a letter to your sister. In your letter: • recommend the school you think suits her daughter • explain what to look for on a school visit • mention one disadvantage honestly
Examiner focus: Professional judgement for family: a recommendation with its downside admitted.
Recommendation · Transport
A friend who has just passed their driving test is buying their first car on a small budget. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: • recommend a type of car and why it suits a new driver • warn them about running costs people forget • suggest what to check on a test drive
Examiner focus: First-car realism: insurance and running costs before badges and colours.
Recommendation · Community & health
Your elderly neighbour wants to join a local activity group to meet people and has asked your advice. Write a letter to your neighbour. In your letter: • recommend two groups that meet nearby • describe the people, cost and meeting times of each • offer to walk with them to the first session
Examiner focus: Recommendations an older person can act on: near, priced, timed — and accompanied first time.
Line Graph · Technology & communication
The graph below shows the number of internet users per 100 people in three countries between 2000 and 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows. In the United States, the figure stood at 40 users per 100 people in 2000, rising to 60 in 2005, 78 in 2010 and 86 in 2015, before reaching 92 in 2020. Germany followed a similar pattern: 25 in 2000, 50 in 2005, 65 in 2010, 80 in 2015 and 90 in 2020. Brazil started far lower, at just 3 in 2000, and rose to 10 in 2005, 21 in 2010, 58 in 2015 and 75 in 2020.
Examiner focus: Open with the shared upward trend, then group: the two high-start countries versus Brazil's late, rapid catch-up.
Line Graph · Work & economy
The graph below shows unemployment rates in three European countries between 2005 and 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows (percentages of the workforce). In 2005, Germany had the highest rate at 11.0%, followed by France at 9.0% and Spain at 8.0%. By 2010, Spain had surged to 19.0%, while France edged up to 9.5% and Germany fell to 7.0%. In 2015, Spain peaked at 22.0% and France at 10.0%, with Germany down to 5.0%. By 2020, all three had fallen: Spain to 16.0%, France to 8.0% and Germany to 4.0%, the lowest figure in the whole period.
Examiner focus: The story is a reversal: Germany's steady fall versus Spain's sharp rise and partial recovery. Anchor the overview on the 2005 and 2020 endpoints.
Line Graph · Housing & money
The graph below shows average house prices in three cities between 1990 and 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows (prices in thousands of US dollars). In 1990, New York was the most expensive of the three at $150,000, ahead of London ($120,000) and Sydney ($110,000). By 2000 the figures were $210,000, $180,000 and $190,000 respectively. In 2010, Sydney ($350,000) had moved ahead of New York ($320,000) and London ($290,000). By 2020, Sydney remained the most expensive at $520,000, followed by London at $480,000 and New York at $450,000. Prices in all three cities rose in every decade shown.
Examiner focus: All three lines rise throughout — the comparison that matters is the change of ranking, with Sydney overtaking the other two.
Line Graph · Health & society
The graph below shows life expectancy at birth in three countries between 1960 and 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows (life expectancy in years). Japan: 68 in 1960, 73 in 1980, 79 in 2000 and 84 in 2020. Italy: 69 in 1960, 74 in 1980, 80 in 2000 and 83 in 2020. Nigeria: 37 in 1960, 45 in 1980, 47 in 2000 and 54 in 2020. Japan and Italy were almost level throughout the period, with Italy slightly ahead in 1960 and 1980 and Japan slightly ahead in 2000 and 2020; Nigeria remained far below both in every year shown, although its figure rose by 17 years overall.
Examiner focus: Two stories: the near-identical high pair and the much lower third country, whose absolute gain was actually the largest.
Line Graph · Climate & weather
The graph below shows the average monthly temperature in two cities over a calendar year. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows (average temperature in °C, January to December). London: 5, 6, 8, 10, 14, 17, 19, 19, 16, 12, 8, 6. Dubai: 19, 21, 24, 28, 33, 35, 36, 36, 33, 29, 25, 21. Dubai is warmer than London in every month; its coolest month (January, 19°C) equals London's warmest months (July and August, 19°C). Both cities peak in July and August and record their lowest temperatures in January.
Examiner focus: Same seasonal shape, completely different level: compare the peaks, the troughs, and the striking January-equals-July overlap.
Line Graph · Food & agriculture
The graph below shows coffee production in three countries between 1995 and 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows (production in thousands of tonnes). Brazil: 850 in 1995, 1,050 in 2005, 1,450 in 2015 and 1,750 in 2020. Vietnam: 100 in 1995, 650 in 2005, 1,200 in 2015 and 1,550 in 2020. Colombia: 750 in 1995, 700 in 2005, 650 in 2015 and 700 in 2020. Brazil was the largest producer in every year shown; Vietnam, the smallest producer in 1995, overtook Colombia between 1995 and 2005 and finished the period in second place, while Colombia's output barely changed overall.
Examiner focus: One flat line, one steady leader, and one dramatic climb from last to second — group the countries by trend, not by year.
Line Graph · Culture & media
The graph below shows the average number of cinema visits per person per year in two countries between 1980 and 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows (visits per person per year). United States: 4.5 in 1980, 4.2 in 1990, 4.6 in 2000, 4.0 in 2010 and 0.9 in 2020. United Kingdom: 3.2 in 1980, 2.0 in 1990, 3.0 in 2000, 3.4 in 2010 and 1.5 in 2020. The US figure was higher than the UK figure in every year except 2020, when both countries saw a sharp fall; the UK's lowest point before 2020 came in 1990, after which its figure recovered steadily until 2010.
Examiner focus: Long stability, one British dip and recovery, then a collapse in both countries in the final year — the overview must separate the long trend from the 2020 shock.
Line Graph · Environment & energy
The graph below shows carbon dioxide emissions per person in three countries between 1960 and 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows (tonnes of CO2 per person per year). The United States emitted 16 tonnes per person in 1960, rising to 20 in 1980 and remaining at 20 in 2000, before falling to 14 in 2020. China started at just 1 tonne in 1960 and rose steadily: 2 in 1980, 3 in 2000 and 7 in 2020. India also rose throughout, from 0.3 tonnes in 1960 to 0.5 in 1980, 1.0 in 2000 and 1.9 in 2020. The US figure was the highest in every year shown, but it was the only one to fall over the period as a whole.
Examiner focus: Contrast direction, not just level: the long-time leader declining while the other two rise from very low bases.
Bar Chart · Health & lifestyle
The chart below shows how many hours per week people in two age groups spend on four leisure activities. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows (average hours per week). Watching TV: 14 hours for people aged 18–30, and 21 hours for people aged 60 and over. Reading: 3 hours for the younger group and 8 hours for the older group. Sport and exercise: 6 hours for the younger group and 3 hours for the older group. Socialising with friends: 7 hours for the younger group and 4 hours for the older group. Television is the most time-consuming activity for both groups, and the older group spends more time on it; the younger group leads in sport and socialising.
Examiner focus: Group by who leads where: screen and reading time rise with age, active and social time fall.
Bar Chart · Education
The chart below shows the percentage of male and female students who chose each of six university subjects in 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows (percentage of each gender choosing the subject; each column totals 100%). Engineering: 28% of men, 8% of women. Medicine: 11% of men, 22% of women. Business: 20% of men, 18% of women. Education: 6% of men, 24% of women. Computer science: 23% of men, 9% of women. Law: 12% of men, 19% of women. Business is the only subject where the two genders are closely balanced; the largest gaps are in engineering, computer science and education.
Examiner focus: Pair the subjects: two heavily male, three female-leaning, one balanced — quote the gap sizes, not just the rankings.
Bar Chart · Money & spending
The chart below compares average monthly household spending in two countries. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows (average spending per household per month, in US dollars). Rent: $1,800 in the United States and $1,200 in Japan. Food: $600 in the US and $550 in Japan. Transport: $300 in the US and $180 in Japan. Entertainment: $250 in the US and $200 in Japan. Spending in the US is higher in all four categories; the biggest difference is in rent, where US households spend $600 more per month, while the smallest gap is for food, at $50.
Examiner focus: Same order of categories in both countries, different scale — lead with rent dominating both budgets and the US premium shrinking by category.
Bar Chart · Culture & tourism
The chart below shows visitor numbers at four London museums in 2010 and 2019. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows (visitors in millions). The Science Museum received 2.9 million visitors in 2010 and 3.3 million in 2019. The Natural History Museum rose from 4.2 million to 5.6 million. The National Gallery rose from 5.1 million to 6.0 million, remaining the most visited museum in both years. Tate Modern rose from 4.7 million to 5.8 million. All four museums attracted more visitors in 2019 than in 2010, with the largest increase, of 1.4 million, at the Natural History Museum.
Examiner focus: Universal growth: rank the museums in each year and single out the fastest grower versus the one that stayed on top.
Bar Chart · Work & economy
The chart below shows the percentage of a country's workforce employed in three sectors in 1980 and 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows (percentage of the total workforce; each year totals 100%). In 1980, agriculture employed 25% of workers, manufacturing 35% and services 40%. By 2020, agriculture had fallen to just 3% and manufacturing to 10%, while services had more than doubled its share to 87%. Services was the largest sector in both years, but in 1980 the three sectors were relatively close in size, whereas by 2020 services employed nearly nine in every ten workers.
Examiner focus: A complete structural flip: from a fairly even three-way split to overwhelming dominance by one sector.
Bar Chart · Education
The chart below shows the factors students said influenced their choice of university. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows (percentage of students naming each factor; students could choose more than one factor, so the figures do not total 100%). Academic reputation was named by 62% of students, graduate employment rates by 55%, and location by 48%. Tuition cost was chosen by 41% and campus facilities by 33%. Reputation was the most influential factor and facilities the least, with a gap of 29 percentage points between them.
Examiner focus: Note the multiple-response basis early, then rank the five factors and group the two outcome-focused ones (reputation, employment).
Bar Chart · Health & lifestyle
The chart below shows how often adults in a survey said they exercised each week, broken down by gender. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows (percentage of each gender; each gender totals 100%). Men: 28% never exercised, 34% exercised on 1–2 days per week, 24% on 3–4 days, and 14% on 5 or more days. Women: 24% never exercised, 36% exercised on 1–2 days, 26% on 3–4 days, and 14% on 5 or more days. The patterns for men and women are very similar overall; the biggest difference is in the 'never' category, where men exceed women by 4 percentage points, while identical proportions of both genders exercise on 5 or more days.
Examiner focus: The headline is similarity, not difference — say so in the overview, then support it category by category.
Bar Chart · Trade & economy
The chart below shows the value of a country's exports in five product categories in 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows (exports in billions of US dollars). Electronics was the largest category at $310 billion, followed by machinery at $240 billion and vehicles at $150 billion. Pharmaceuticals earned $95 billion and food products $70 billion. Together, electronics and machinery accounted for $550 billion — more than the other three categories combined ($315 billion). Food products, the smallest category, earned less than a quarter of the value of electronics.
Examiner focus: A two-tier structure: two dominant categories worth more than the rest combined, then a clear descending tail.
Pie Chart · Environment & energy
The chart below shows the sources of electricity generation in a European country in 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows (share of total electricity generated). Coal accounted for 28% and natural gas for 24%, so fossil fuels together supplied just over half of all electricity. Nuclear power contributed 15%. Among renewables, wind provided 12%, hydroelectric power 8%, solar 5%, and other renewable sources 8%. The figures total 100%.
Examiner focus: Structure the answer by the fossil / nuclear / renewable split (52 / 15 / 33) before detailing individual sources.
Pie Chart · Travel & tourism
The chart below shows the main reasons for air travel among passengers at an international airport. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows (share of all passengers). Leisure travel was the largest category at 48%, followed by business travel at 32%. Visiting friends and relatives accounted for 14%, and all other purposes together made up the remaining 6%. The figures total 100%. Leisure and business travel together represented four out of every five passengers.
Examiner focus: Two dominant purposes and two minor ones — quantify the top-two share (80%) in the overview.
Pie Chart · Environment & waste
The chart below shows the composition of household waste in a typical city. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows (share of total household waste by weight). Paper and cardboard made up 26%, food waste 22%, and garden waste 14%. Plastic accounted for 13%, other materials 11%, glass 8% and metal 6%. The figures total 100%. Organic waste (food and garden waste combined) formed the largest group at 36%, slightly more than a third of all household waste.
Examiner focus: Regroup before writing: organic, recyclable dry materials, and the rest — single items alone miss the biggest category.
Pie Chart · Work & careers
The charts below show what university graduates were doing one year after graduation in 2000 and in 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows (share of each year's graduates; each year totals 100%). In 2000, 55% were working in the private sector, 30% in the public sector, 10% were self-employed and 5% had gone on to further study. By 2020, the private-sector share had fallen to 48% and the public sector to 24%, while self-employment had risen to 18% and further study to 10%. Employment in the two sectors still accounted for the majority in both years, but their combined share dropped from 85% to 72%.
Examiner focus: A two-pie comparison: same categories, shifting weights — self-employment and study roughly doubled while both sectors shrank.
Pie Chart · Language & population
The chart below shows the share of the world's population that speaks each language as a first language. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows (percentage of the world population). Mandarin Chinese is the largest first language at 12%, followed by Spanish at 6% and English at 5%. Hindi and Arabic each account for 4%. All other languages combined make up the remaining 69%. The figures total 100%. Despite its global role as a shared second language, English ranks only third as a first language, spoken natively by about one person in twenty.
Examiner focus: The contrast between the five named languages (31% combined) and the unnamed 69% is the main feature — do not bury it.
Pie Chart · Education & lifestyle
The chart below shows how a typical university student spends a 24-hour day. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows (average hours per day; the figures total 24 hours). Sleep takes 8 hours and studying 6 hours. Leisure and social activities account for 4.5 hours, part-time work for 2 hours, and meals and personal care for 2 hours. Commuting takes the remaining 1.5 hours. Sleep and study together fill well over half of the day (14 of the 24 hours), while commuting is the smallest single activity.
Examiner focus: Convert hours into the day's structure: rest, work-like activities, and everything else — and note what a third of the day (sleep) implies.
Pie Chart · Society & charity
The chart below shows the sources of income for a national children's charity last year. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows (share of the charity's total income). Individual donations were the largest source at 45%. Government grants provided 25%, fundraising events 18%, and corporate sponsorship 12%. The figures total 100%. Money given directly by the public — donations plus fundraising events — made up nearly two-thirds of the charity's income (63%), comfortably more than government and corporate funding combined (37%).
Examiner focus: Reframe the four sources as public giving versus institutional funding — that 63/37 split is the comparison examiners reward.
Pie Chart · Transport & cities
The charts below show how residents of a city travelled to work in 1990 and in 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows (share of all commuting journeys; each year totals 100%). In 1990, 55% travelled by car, 25% by bus, 12% walked and 8% cycled; the city had no metro system. By 2020, the car share had fallen to 48% and the bus share to 18%, while cycling had risen to 15% and the new metro carried 9% of commuters. Walking fell slightly, to 10%. Although the car remained the most common way to travel to work in both years, every other mode changed noticeably over the three decades.
Examiner focus: Track each mode across both pies: the car's slow decline, the collapse of the bus, and the arrival of the metro.
Table · Cities & living costs
The table below compares the cost of four everyday items in five world cities. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows (all figures in US dollars). Monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment: New York $2,900, London $2,100, Sydney $1,750, Tokyo $1,300, Berlin $1,150. A restaurant meal for one: New York $18, London $20, Sydney $17, Berlin $13, Tokyo $11. A monthly public transport pass: London $190, New York $127, Sydney $120, Berlin $95, Tokyo $75. A monthly gym membership: New York $75, Tokyo $70, London $60, Sydney $55, Berlin $40. New York has the highest rent and gym costs, London the most expensive meals and transport, and Berlin is the cheapest city for rent and gym membership.
Examiner focus: No single city is dearest at everything: organise by item, naming the most and least expensive city for each.
Table · Population & health
The table below gives population data for five countries. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows. Japan: population 125 million, life expectancy 84.6 years, 92% of people living in urban areas. Canada: 38 million, 82.4 years, 82% urban. Germany: 83 million, 81.7 years, 78% urban. Brazil: 214 million, 75.9 years, 87% urban. Egypt: 104 million, 72.0 years, 43% urban. Brazil has by far the largest population, while Japan combines the second-largest population of the five with the highest life expectancy and the highest level of urbanisation. Egypt is the clear outlier, with the lowest life expectancy and the only population that is mostly rural.
Examiner focus: Pick out the extremes column by column, then note the pairings — Japan first on two measures, Egypt last on two.
Table · Culture & reading
The table below shows the number of items borrowed from a public library in four categories in three different years. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows (items borrowed, in thousands). Fiction: 45 in 2015, 38 in 2020 and 29 in 2025. Non-fiction: 30 in 2015, 27 in 2020 and 24 in 2025. Children's books: 25 in 2015, 26 in 2020 and 27 in 2025. E-books: 5 in 2015, 14 in 2020 and 31 in 2025. Fiction was the most borrowed category in 2015 and 2020 but was overtaken by e-books by 2025; children's books were the only print category to grow over the period.
Examiner focus: Two opposite movements: every print category except children's books falling, e-books multiplying sixfold and taking first place.
Table · Education
The table below compares four universities on four measures. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows. University A: 24,000 students, 18% of them international, a student-to-staff ratio of 14:1, and annual tuition of $22,000. University B: 9,500 students, 31% international, a ratio of 11:1, and tuition of $34,000. University C: 31,000 students, 12% international, a ratio of 17:1, and tuition of $15,000. University D: 15,000 students, 25% international, a ratio of 12:1, and tuition of $28,000. University C is the largest and cheapest of the four but has the highest student-to-staff ratio, while the smallest institution, University B, is the most expensive and the most international.
Examiner focus: Trade-offs are the story: size against ratio, price against international share — compare in pairs rather than listing all sixteen figures.
Table · Climate & weather
The table below shows average temperatures and rainfall in four cities in January and July. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows. Moscow: January average −8°C with 45 mm of rain, July 19°C with 70 mm. Singapore: January 27°C with 240 mm, July 28°C with 170 mm. Sydney: January 23°C with 100 mm, July 12°C with 90 mm. Cape Town: January 21°C with 15 mm, July 13°C with 95 mm. Singapore is hot and wet in both months, while Moscow has by far the coldest January. Sydney and Cape Town, both in the southern hemisphere, are warmer in January than in July, the reverse of Moscow's pattern.
Examiner focus: The hemispheric reversal is the headline: two cities warmest in January, one in July, and one almost constant.
Table · Environment & wildlife
The table below shows the estimated populations of five animal species in a national park in 2005 and 2023. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows (estimated number of animals). Elephants: 1,200 in 2005, rising to 1,450 in 2023. Lions: 320 in 2005, falling to 280 in 2023. Rhinos: 85 in 2005, rising to 140 in 2023. Giraffes: 450 in 2005, rising to 510 in 2023. Zebras: 2,100 in 2005, falling to 1,950 in 2023. Three species increased over the period and two declined; rhinos recorded the largest proportional rise (about 65%), while zebras remained the most numerous species in both years despite their fall.
Examiner focus: Separate absolute numbers from proportional change: zebras dominate the counts, rhinos dominate the growth rate.
Table · Transport & cities
The table below shows the average time, in minutes, of a journey to work in three cities, by four means of transport. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows (average commute in minutes). London: 62 by car, 48 by train, 55 by bus and 28 by bicycle. New York: 55 by car, 45 by subway, 50 by bus and 25 by bicycle. Tokyo: 50 by car, 42 by train, 45 by bus and 22 by bicycle. In all three cities the car is the slowest way to commute and the bicycle the fastest; London has the longest journey times for every mode except cycling, where it is also the slowest of the three.
Examiner focus: One ranking repeats in every city (car slowest, bicycle fastest) — state it once, then compare the cities' overall levels.
Table · Technology & society
The table below shows the percentage of people in four age groups who owned a smartphone in 2015 and 2023. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows (percentage of each age group owning a smartphone). Aged 16–24: 88% in 2015, rising to 99% in 2023. Aged 25–44: 79% in 2015 and 97% in 2023. Aged 45–64: 58% in 2015 and 90% in 2023. Aged 65 and over: 21% in 2015 and 61% in 2023. Ownership rose in every age group, but the increase was by far the largest among the oldest group, whose figure almost tripled, narrowing the gap with the youngest group from 67 percentage points to 38.
Examiner focus: Universal growth with convergence: the youngest were already saturated, so the real movement is at the older end.
Process Diagram · Energy & engineering
The diagram below shows how electricity is generated in a hydroelectric power station. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The process is as follows. First, water from a river is held back by a dam, forming a large reservoir at a high level. When electricity is needed, gates in the dam are opened and the stored water flows down through wide pipes called penstocks. The force of the falling water spins the blades of a turbine at the bottom of the dam. The turbine is connected to a generator, which converts the spinning movement into electrical energy. The electricity then passes through a transformer and is carried away by high-voltage transmission lines. Finally, the water is released through an outlet channel and continues flowing down the river below the dam.
Examiner focus: A linear energy chain: stored water → movement → electricity. Use the passive voice and sequencing links (first, next, finally).
Process Diagram · Industry & manufacturing
The diagram below shows the process of making bricks for the building industry. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The process is as follows. First, clay is dug from the ground by a large digger and placed on a metal grid, where it is broken into smaller pieces that fall onto a roller. Next, sand and water are added and the mixture is either pushed through a wire cutter or placed into moulds to form the brick shapes. The bricks are then dried in a drying oven for 24 to 48 hours. After drying, they are baked in a kiln, first at a moderate temperature of 200–980°C and then in a second kiln at a high temperature of 870–1,300°C. Finally, the bricks are cooled in a cooling chamber for 48 to 72 hours before being packed and delivered to customers.
Examiner focus: Seven stages from raw clay to delivery: the middle of the answer should contrast the drying, firing and cooling times and temperatures.
Process Diagram · Environment & recycling
The diagram below shows how plastic bottles are recycled. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The process is as follows. First, used plastic bottles are collected from households and public recycling bins and transported by truck to a recycling plant. At the plant, the bottles are sorted by colour and type, and any unsuitable items are removed. The sorted bottles are then washed to remove labels and dirt, and crushed into small flakes. Next, the flakes are heated and melted down, and the liquid plastic is filtered to remove impurities. After that, the plastic is formed into small pellets. In the final stages, these pellets are sold to manufacturers, who melt them again and turn them into new products such as bottles, fibres for clothing or plastic containers, after which the cycle can begin again.
Examiner focus: A cycle, not a line: flag the return to new products at the end, and keep collection/sorting separate from the melting stages.
Process Diagram · Industry & manufacturing
The diagram below shows the manufacturing process for cement and how cement is used to produce concrete. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The process is as follows. Cement production begins when limestone and clay are crushed into a powder by a crusher. The powder passes through a mixer and then into a rotating heater, where it is heated at a high temperature. The heated material is ground again in a grinder to produce cement, which is then packaged into bags. To make concrete, the cement is combined in a large rotating mixer with three other materials in fixed proportions: gravel (50%), sand (25%), cement (15%) and water (10%). The mixture rotates until it reaches an even consistency, at which point the concrete is ready for use in construction.
Examiner focus: Two linked processes: cement making (four stages) and concrete mixing, where the exact proportions (50/25/15/10) must all be reported.
Process Diagram · Nature & life cycles
The diagram below shows the life cycle of a salmon. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The life cycle is as follows. Adult salmon swim upstream to the upper reaches of a river, where the female lays thousands of eggs among reeds in slow-moving water; the eggs take about three months to hatch. The young fish that emerge, called fry, are about 3 cm long and remain in the river, feeding and growing for several years until they reach about 15 cm, at which stage they are known as smolt. The smolt then swim downstream to the open sea, where they spend several more years and grow into adult salmon of 70–76 cm. Finally, the adults return to the same river where they were born in order to lay their eggs, and the cycle begins again.
Examiner focus: A natural cycle with three named stages and growth figures (3 cm → 15 cm → 70–76 cm) — location changes (river → sea → river) organise the answer.
Process Diagram · Food & production
The diagram below shows the process of producing tea, from the tea bush to a finished cup. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The process is as follows. Tea production starts in warm, high-rainfall regions, where tea bushes are grown and the young leaves are picked by hand. The freshly picked leaves are first spread out on trays and withered in the air or sunshine for several hours to reduce their moisture. They are then rolled, which breaks the leaves and releases their juices, and left to ferment, a stage that darkens the leaves and develops the flavour. Next, the leaves are dried in ovens and sorted by size and quality. The finished tea is packed into chests or packets and transported to shops and markets. Finally, the consumer adds boiling water to the leaves, allows the tea to brew for a few minutes, and drinks it.
Examiner focus: Separate the industrial stages (withering → rolling → fermentation → drying) from the final consumer stage of brewing.
Process Diagram · Water & environment
The diagram below shows how drinking water is treated before it reaches homes. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The process is as follows. First, raw water is pumped from a river or reservoir into a treatment plant, where it passes through screens that remove large objects such as branches and litter. The water then flows into a large settlement tank, where sand and other heavy particles sink to the bottom over several hours. Next, the water is passed through beds of sand and gravel, which filter out smaller particles. After filtration, a small amount of chlorine is added to kill bacteria and other micro-organisms. The treated water is stored in covered reservoirs, and finally it is pumped through underground pipes to homes and businesses. Samples are tested at several points in the process to make sure the water is safe to drink.
Examiner focus: A purification sequence — each stage removes something smaller than the last; end with storage, distribution and testing.
Process Diagram · Food & production
The diagram below shows how olive oil is produced. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The process is as follows. Production begins in autumn, when ripe olives are harvested from the trees, either by hand or by machines that shake the branches. The olives are transported to a mill, where they are washed and any leaves and twigs are removed. Next, the olives are crushed — traditionally between large stone wheels — into a thick paste. The paste is then pressed, or spun at high speed in a centrifuge, to separate the oil from the water and solid material. After separation, the oil is filtered to remove any remaining particles and stored in large steel tanks. Finally, the oil is bottled, labelled and distributed for sale.
Examiner focus: Harvest to bottle in six stages; note the two alternative methods at the harvesting and extraction stages (by hand or machine, pressing or centrifuge).
Map · Cities & change
The maps below show the centre of a town in 1990 and in 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The layouts are as follows. In 1990, a main road ran from west to east through the town centre. On the north side of the road, from west to east, there was a park, a library and a row of small shops. On the south side there was a large car park in the west, a market square in the centre and a post office in the east. By 2020, the main road had been closed to traffic and turned into a pedestrian zone. The park and the library remained in the same places, but the small shops had been replaced by a shopping centre. On the south side, the car park had been replaced by a block of flats, the market square remained, and the post office had become a café. A new bus station had been built just outside the centre, to the south-west.
Examiner focus: Organise by what stayed, what was replaced, and what is entirely new — pedestrianisation is the headline change.
Map · Tourism & development
The maps below show an island before and after the construction of facilities for tourists. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The layouts are as follows. Before development, the island had only a few palm trees in the east and west, a beach on its north-west coast, and open land elsewhere; a short pier stood on the south coast. After development, a resort occupies the centre and west of the island: a reception building and a restaurant stand in the centre, with accommodation huts arranged around them — a cluster in the west connected by footpaths, and two huts in the east. A vehicle track links the reception to the pier, which has been extended, and to the restaurant. The beach in the north-west is now used for swimming, and the palm trees have been kept. No facilities have been built in the far east of the island.
Examiner focus: Almost everything is new: describe the island by zones (west accommodation, central facilities, untouched east) and mention what survived unchanged.
Map · Education & campuses
The maps below show a university campus in 2000 and the same campus today. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The layouts are as follows. In 2000, the main teaching building stood in the centre of the campus, with the library to its north and a small café to its east. Student accommodation was located in the south-west corner, a sports field occupied the south-east, and the main entrance was in the south, with a car park beside it. Today, the teaching building and the library remain, but the library has been extended to twice its original size. The café has been replaced by a larger student centre. A new science building has been built in the north-east corner, where there was previously open grassland. The sports field has been replaced by an indoor sports hall, the accommodation block has been extended, and the car park has been moved to the north-west corner and enlarged.
Examiner focus: Growth in every direction: unchanged core, enlarged buildings, and two swaps (field → hall, café → student centre) plus the relocated car park.
Map · Villages & change
The maps below show a village in 1985 and in 2015. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The layouts are as follows. The village lies on a river that flows from north to south along its eastern edge, with a bridge in the north-east. In 1985, most of the land west of the village centre was farmland, with a small wood in the north-west corner. The village itself consisted of about twenty houses along a single main street, a shop and a primary school. By 2015, the farmland had been replaced by a housing estate of about eighty new houses, and the wood had been cleared to make way for a golf course. The shop had expanded into a small supermarket, and a new health centre had been built next to the school. The school, the bridge and the river were unchanged, and a new road connected the housing estate to the main street.
Examiner focus: Rural to residential: quantify the housing growth (about 20 → about 100 homes) and track the farmland and woodland losses.
Map · Planning & proposals
The map below shows two possible sites, S1 and S2, for a new supermarket in a town. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The locations are as follows. The town centre lies on the south bank of a river, with the main shopping area in the centre, housing areas to the east and west, and an industrial estate in the south-east. Site S1 is in the town centre itself, on the main shopping street; it is close to the existing shops and within walking distance of most homes, but it is a small plot with no room for customer parking, and the surrounding streets are already congested. Site S2 is on the edge of town, in the north-east near the main road that bypasses the town; it is a large plot with space for a car park, and it is close to the industrial estate, but it is about two kilometres from the town centre and poorly served by buses.
Examiner focus: A comparison task, not a change task: weigh accessibility against space for each site, using the map's distances and surroundings.
Map · Coasts & redevelopment
The maps below show a fishing port in 1995 and the same port today, after redevelopment. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The layouts are as follows. The port sits on a bay, with the sea to the north. In 1995, fishing boats moored along a quay on the west side of the bay, next to fish warehouses and a fish market. A boat-repair yard stood on the east side, and a small lighthouse marked the harbour entrance. Today, the fishing quay and market survive on the west side, but the warehouses have been converted into seafood restaurants and a maritime museum. The repair yard in the east has been replaced by a marina for leisure boats, with a sailing school beside it. A new promenade runs along the whole bay, and a car park has been built behind it. The lighthouse is unchanged.
Examiner focus: Working port to leisure waterfront — but fishing itself remains; organise east versus west and note the conversions, not demolitions.
Map · Planning & proposals
The map below shows two possible locations, L1 and L2, for a new community centre in a small town. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The locations are as follows. The town has a high street running east–west through its centre, a primary school in the north-west, a park in the south-east, housing in all four quarters, and a railway station in the south, just below the high street. Location L1 is a vacant plot on the high street itself, directly opposite the station; it is easy to reach on foot and by train, but the plot is small, there is no parking, and building costs would be high because the site is in the commercial centre. Location L2 is a larger plot at the northern edge of town, next to the school; it has room for a car park and outdoor sports facilities and the land is cheap, but it is a fifteen-minute walk from the town centre and far from the station.
Examiner focus: Contrast centrality with capacity: L1 wins on access, L2 on space and cost — support each point with a map feature.
Map · Parks & leisure
The maps below show a public park in 2005 and the same park in 2025. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The layouts are as follows. The park is roughly rectangular, with its main entrance in the south-west corner. In 2005, a rose garden occupied the north-west corner, a large open lawn filled the centre, and a small pond lay in the north-east. There were tennis courts in the south-east and a few benches along the paths. By 2025, the rose garden and the lawn remained, but the pond had been enlarged and a café had been built beside it. The tennis courts had been replaced by a children's playground, and a new outdoor gym had been installed along the southern path. A cycle path now runs around the edge of the park, and a second entrance has been opened in the north-east corner, next to a new car park outside the park boundary.
Examiner focus: Mostly additions rather than replacements: keep the unchanged features brief and give the detail to the pond/café area and the new access points.
Mixed Charts · Climate & weather
The chart below shows average rainfall and average temperature by quarter in a European city. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows. Rainfall (bars, in millimetres per quarter): 210 mm in the first quarter (January–March), 150 mm in the second, 120 mm in the third, and 240 mm in the fourth (October–December). Average temperature (line, in °C): 6° in the first quarter, 13° in the second, 19° in the third, and 9° in the fourth. The wettest quarter is the fourth and the driest is the third, which is also the warmest; the coldest quarter, the first, is the second wettest. In other words, rainfall and temperature move in opposite directions across the year.
Examiner focus: The relationship between the two measures is the task: wettest = cold half of the year, driest = warmest quarter.
Mixed Charts · Travel & tourism
The charts below show the number of international tourists visiting a country and the average amount each tourist spent, in selected years. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows. Tourist numbers (bars, in millions): 8 million in 2010, 11 million in 2015, 14 million in 2019, and 5 million in 2020. Average spending per tourist (line, in US dollars): $900 in 2010, $1,050 in 2015, $1,200 in 2019, and $1,100 in 2020. Visitor numbers rose steadily until 2019 and then collapsed in 2020, while spending per tourist followed the same broad pattern but fell far less sharply in the final year, dropping by only $100 from its 2019 peak.
Examiner focus: Two series, one shared trend, different 2020 falls — compare the depth of the two declines, not just their direction.
Mixed Charts · Food & retail
The charts below show monthly ice cream sales and the average temperature over a six-month period in a seaside town. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows. Ice cream sales (bars, in thousands of units): 12 in April, 21 in May, 35 in June, 48 in July, 44 in August, and 25 in September. Average temperature (line, in °C): 12° in April, 16° in May, 20° in June, 24° in July, 23° in August, and 19° in September. Sales and temperature rise together from April to a peak in July, and both decline in August and September; sales in the peak month are exactly four times the April figure, whereas the temperature only doubles over the same period.
Examiner focus: Correlation with different scales: sales respond far more dramatically than the temperature that drives them.
Mixed Charts · Culture & media
The charts below show cinema admissions and the average price of a cinema ticket in a country between 2000 and 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows. Admissions (bars, in millions per year): 160 million in 2000, 175 million in 2005, 170 million in 2010, 172 million in 2015, and 45 million in 2020. Average ticket price (line, in US dollars): $5.00 in 2000, $6.50 in 2005, $8.00 in 2010, $9.00 in 2015, and $9.50 in 2020. Ticket prices rose in every period shown, almost doubling over the twenty years, while admissions fluctuated within a narrow range until 2015 and then fell dramatically in 2020, to just over a quarter of their 2015 level.
Examiner focus: One line only goes up, one series is stable then crashes — the overview should state both patterns before any figures.
Mixed Charts · Health & fitness business
The charts below show the number of members of a gym and its average monthly membership fee between 2015 and 2023. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows. Membership (bars, number of members): 800 in 2015, 950 in 2017, 1,200 in 2019, 700 in 2021, and 1,350 in 2023. Average monthly fee (line, in US dollars): $40 in 2015, $42 in 2017, $45 in 2019, $38 in 2021, and $48 in 2023. Membership grew until 2019, fell sharply by 2021 and then recovered to its highest level in 2023; the fee followed a similar path, dipping in 2021 — the only year in which it fell — before reaching its peak of $48 in 2023.
Examiner focus: Mirror-image movements with a single dip year: link the 2021 fee cut to the membership slump and joint recovery.
Mixed Charts · Cities & population
The charts below show the populations of three cities in 1950 and 2000, and their projected populations in 2050. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows (population in millions; figures for 2050 are projections). City A: 2.1 in 1950, 4.8 in 2000, and 7.5 projected for 2050. City B: 5.6 in 1950, 6.1 in 2000, and 6.0 projected for 2050. City C: 0.9 in 1950, 3.2 in 2000, and 6.8 projected for 2050. City B was the largest of the three in both 1950 and 2000 but is projected to be overtaken by both other cities by 2050; City C, the smallest in 1950, is expected to grow the fastest overall, multiplying its population more than sevenfold across the century.
Examiner focus: Past versus projection: B stagnates while A and C keep growing — the change of ranking by 2050 is the key comparison.
Mixed Charts · Environment & energy
The charts below show a country's electricity mix and the total amount of electricity consumed by three sectors in 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows. Electricity generation by source (pie chart): gas 38%, wind 26%, nuclear 17%, solar 9%, hydro 6%, and other sources 4% (totalling 100%). Electricity consumption by sector (bar chart, in terawatt-hours): households 110 TWh, industry 95 TWh, and commercial users 70 TWh, giving total consumption of 275 TWh. Renewables (wind, solar and hydro) supplied 41% of generation, slightly more than gas alone, while households consumed more electricity than either of the other two sectors, and about 40% of the national total.
Examiner focus: Two charts, two different questions (where power comes from vs where it goes) — keep them in separate paragraphs and connect them in the overview.
Mixed Charts · Education & growth
The charts below show the number of students in each faculty of a university and the university's total enrolment over a ten-year period. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The data is as follows. Students by faculty in 2023 (bars): Business 3,400; Engineering 2,900; Health Sciences 2,600; Arts and Humanities 2,100; Natural Sciences 1,800 — a total of 12,800 students. Total enrolment (line): 9,600 in 2013, 10,400 in 2016, 11,500 in 2019, and 12,800 in 2023. Enrolment rose in every period shown, by roughly a third overall. Business is the largest faculty, with almost twice as many students as the smallest, Natural Sciences, and Business and Engineering together account for just under half of all students (6,300 of 12,800).
Examiner focus: A snapshot (2023 faculties) plus a trend (ten-year growth): do not mix the two time frames in the same sentences.
Opinion · Transport
Some people believe governments should spend more money improving public transport than building new roads. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Examiner focus: Take one clear position and defend it with transport-specific reasons and examples.
Opinion · Education
Some people think children should start formal schooling at the age of four, while others believe seven is early enough. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Examiner focus: A sharpened stance on school starting age, supported by child-development reasoning.
Opinion · Work & technology
Working from home has become common in many companies. Some people say it should become the standard way of working. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Examiner focus: Weigh productivity, collaboration and wellbeing — but land on one position and hold it.
Opinion · Culture
Some people argue that museums and art galleries should be free for everyone. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Examiner focus: Balance public access against funding reality, with a clear final position.
Opinion · Work
Some people believe that employees should be allowed to retire as early as 55 if they wish. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Examiner focus: Weigh pension costs and workforce loss against health and fairness — then commit to one line.
Opinion · Education
Some people think that homework should be banned for children under the age of 12. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Examiner focus: Distinguish practice from burden: age, amount and purpose decide the stance.
Opinion · Technology & communication
Many people now get their news only from social media. Some believe this is harmful for society. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Examiner focus: Speed versus verification: build the position on how misinformation actually spreads.
Opinion · Environment
Some people argue that individuals cannot do anything to protect the environment and only governments and large companies can make a difference. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Examiner focus: Challenge the premise with scale logic: individual action as market and political signal.
Opinion · Health & fitness
Some people believe that sugary drinks should be taxed to reduce health problems. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Examiner focus: A tax judged by evidence: consumption response, fairness to the poor, what revenue should fund.
Opinion · Transport
In some cities, people are encouraged to cycle to work instead of driving. Some believe employers should pay employees who cycle. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Examiner focus: Incentive design: who benefits, who pays, and how the scheme could be gamed.
Opinion · Culture
Some people think that public money should not be spent on the arts because hospitals and schools need it more. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Examiner focus: Avoid the false choice: argue proportions, not absolutes.
Opinion · Family & society
In many families today, both parents work full-time. Some people believe this has a negative effect on children's development. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Examiner focus: Separate income effects from time effects; quality of care is the real variable.
Opinion · Education & technology
Some people believe that online learning will eventually replace classroom learning completely. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Examiner focus: 'Completely' is the trap word: defend partial replacement with the social functions of classrooms.
Opinion · Money & banking
Some people argue that cash will disappear entirely and all payments will be electronic. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Examiner focus: Trend versus totality: the elderly, outages and privacy keep cash alive — argue the degree.
Opinion · Community
Some people believe that local shops are dying because of supermarkets, and that this is a loss for communities. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Examiner focus: Price and convenience versus social infrastructure: what exactly is lost when a shop closes.
Opinion · Work & technology
Many jobs are now done by machines. Some people see this as a threat, while others see progress. In your view, automation is mainly a positive development. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Examiner focus: Short-term displacement versus long-term job creation: the transition is where the argument is won.
Opinion · Housing
Some people believe that governments should control rents in large cities to keep housing affordable. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Examiner focus: Rent control's two-sided evidence: protection now versus supply later.
Opinion · Education
Some people think that students should be allowed to choose all of their subjects from the age of 14. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Examiner focus: Motivation versus breadth: what a 14-year-old cannot yet judge about future needs.
Opinion · Travel
International tourism brings money to local economies, but some people believe it damages local culture. To what extent do you agree or disagree that the damage outweighs the benefit?
Examiner focus: Avoid listing both sides equally: the verdict needs a deciding criterion.
Opinion · Health & sport
Some people believe that professional sportspeople are paid far too much money. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Examiner focus: Market logic versus social value: short careers and revenue generation complicate the easy verdict.
Opinion · Technology & communication
Some people think that face-to-face communication is being lost because of modern technology. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Examiner focus: Define 'lost': quantity of contact has risen while depth has fallen — argue which matters.
Opinion · Environment & transport
Some people believe that air travel should be made much more expensive to protect the environment. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Examiner focus: Who flies and how often: frequent-flyer fairness beats a flat price rise.
Opinion · Family & friends
Some people prefer to live alone, while others believe living alone makes people less happy in the long term. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Examiner focus: Chosen solitude versus loneliness: the position hinges on that distinction.
Opinion · Education
Some people believe that exams are the fairest way to judge students' ability. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Examiner focus: Fairness of exams versus their narrowness: compare against the alternatives, not against perfection.
Opinion · Work
Some people think that job satisfaction is more important than a high salary. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Examiner focus: Hierarchy logic: salary matters most below a threshold — build the stance on that.
Opinion · Culture & reading
Some people believe that reading fiction is a waste of time compared with reading factual books. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Examiner focus: What fiction uniquely trains: empathy, language and sustained attention.
Discussion · Shopping & technology
Some people prefer to shop online, while others still prefer shopping in local stores. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Examiner focus: Both sides genuinely developed before your opinion, with a clear lean in the conclusion.
Discussion · Family & society
In many countries, young adults now live with their parents for longer than in the past. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this trend and give your own opinion.
Examiner focus: Economic and social reasons on both sides, ending in your own considered view.
Discussion · Environment & transport
Some people support banning private cars from city centres, while others say this would harm businesses and residents. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Examiner focus: Air quality and public space versus access and trade — both views, then a verdict.
Discussion · Health & sport
Some people believe team sports are the best way to stay fit, while others prefer exercising alone. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Examiner focus: Motivation, cost and consistency compared across both forms of exercise.
Discussion · Education
Some people believe that boys and girls should be educated in separate schools. Others argue that mixed schools are better. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Examiner focus: Distraction and confidence arguments on one side; real-world preparation on the other — then a verdict with a reason.
Discussion · Work
Some people prefer to work for a large company, while others prefer a small business. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Examiner focus: Security and structure versus visibility and variety — career stage decides the verdict.
Discussion · Technology & communication
Some people say that printed newspapers will soon disappear completely. Others believe they will survive alongside digital news. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Examiner focus: Habit, trust and demographics versus speed and cost: survival in a niche is still survival.
Discussion · Family & society
In some cultures, elderly parents live with their adult children. In others, they live independently or in care homes. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Examiner focus: Care quality, autonomy and cost on both sides — cultural respect in the framing.
Discussion · Health & fitness
Some people exercise alone at home using apps and videos. Others prefer classes and gyms with other people. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Examiner focus: Adherence is the hidden criterion: which format keeps people exercising after month two.
Discussion · Transport
Some people believe the best way to reduce traffic congestion is to build more roads. Others say improving public transport is better. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Examiner focus: Induced demand is the decisive fact: new roads fill up; capacity arguments must answer it.
Discussion · Education & travel
Some students take a gap year before university to travel or work. Others go straight from school. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Examiner focus: Maturity and money versus momentum and forgetting — who benefits from which path.
Discussion · Money & banking
Some people save money for the future whenever they can. Others prefer to spend their income enjoying life now. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Examiner focus: Avoid moralising: inflation, security and life stage make both rational for different people.
Discussion · Culture
Some people believe that museums should charge an entrance fee. Others say they should be free to everyone. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Examiner focus: Funding reality versus access principle; a hybrid verdict (free days, paid exhibitions) can win if argued, not split.
Discussion · Environment
Some people recycle as much as possible at home. Others argue household recycling makes little difference. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Examiner focus: Material-specific truth: aluminium versus plastic; the verdict follows the evidence split.
Discussion · Work & technology
Some companies now allow employees to work four days a week. Others believe the traditional five-day week is necessary. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Examiner focus: Output-per-hour evidence versus coverage and client expectations by industry.
Discussion · Housing
Some people choose to rent a home all their lives. Others believe buying a home is always the better choice. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Examiner focus: Flexibility and risk versus equity and security — prices and job mobility decide it locally.
Discussion · Shopping & technology
Some people only buy well-known brands. Others prefer cheaper, less famous products. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Examiner focus: Brand as risk insurance versus brand as markup: the answer differs by product category.
Discussion · Health & sport
Some people believe that team sports teach children more valuable lessons than individual sports. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Examiner focus: Cooperation and defeat-in-public versus self-reliance and measurable personal progress.
Discussion · Education & technology
Some teachers ban laptops and phones in class completely. Others use them as learning tools. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Examiner focus: Distraction evidence versus digital literacy: rules by task, not by device, is a defensible middle.
Discussion · Travel
Some tourists prefer package holidays where everything is organised. Others prefer to plan everything themselves. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Examiner focus: Risk, time and local money: who gains and who loses under each model.
Discussion · Family & friends
Some people maintain a large circle of friends. Others prefer a few very close friends. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Examiner focus: Support depth versus network breadth across life stages — a psychological, not moral, comparison.
Discussion · Community
Some people believe that supermarkets are good for a town. Others believe they destroy the character of town centres. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Examiner focus: Prices and jobs versus independent shops and money staying local.
Discussion · Culture & reading
Some people prefer watching a film at the cinema. Others prefer streaming films at home. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Examiner focus: Experience economics: attention and occasion versus price and convenience.
Discussion · Work
Some people change jobs frequently to gain experience. Others stay with one employer for many years. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Examiner focus: Skill breadth and salary jumps versus depth, trust and pension continuity.
Discussion · Environment & transport
Some people support building new airports to meet growing demand. Others say air travel should not be encouraged. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Examiner focus: Regional jobs and connectivity versus carbon budgets that do not negotiate.
Discussion · Education
Some people believe that university education should be mainly academic. Others say it should prepare students directly for jobs. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Examiner focus: Knowledge half-life: job-specific skills date fastest; the verdict can split by faculty if argued cleanly.
Problem Solution · Transport
Traffic congestion in large cities is getting worse every year. What problems does this cause, and what measures could governments take to reduce it?
Examiner focus: Name concrete problems (time, pollution, cost) and match each with a workable measure.
Problem Solution · Education & technology
Many students find it difficult to concentrate in class because of their mobile phones. What are the reasons for this, and what can schools do about it?
Examiner focus: Causes in the design of phones and habits, solutions schools can realistically enforce.
Problem Solution · Environment
Plastic waste is a growing problem in towns and cities around the world. What effects does this have on the environment, and how can individuals and governments reduce it?
Examiner focus: Split responsibilities clearly: what individuals can do versus what only governments can.
Problem Solution · Community & health
Loneliness among older people is becoming more common in many societies. Why is this happening, and what can be done to help older people feel more connected?
Examiner focus: Social causes first, then community-level solutions that are practical, not sentimental.
Problem Solution · Transport
In many large cities, public transport is overcrowded during rush hour, making journeys unpleasant. What problems does this cause, and what measures could governments take to make public transport more comfortable?
Examiner focus: Match each measure to a named problem: capacity, pricing of peak travel, staggered hours.
Problem Solution · Health & fitness
Many people today do not get enough physical exercise. Why is this the case, and what can be done to encourage people to be more active?
Examiner focus: Causes in work, screens and city design — solutions at the same three levels, not just 'people should try harder'.
Problem Solution · Education
In many schools, students lose interest in reading books as they get older. What are the reasons for this, and how can schools and parents encourage teenagers to read more?
Examiner focus: Competition from phones is only one cause: text difficulty and choice matter too.
Problem Solution · Environment
Many rivers and lakes around the world are becoming polluted. What are the causes of this problem, and what measures can governments and individuals take to reduce water pollution?
Examiner focus: Split industrial, agricultural and household causes; assign each measure to the cause it actually fixes.
Problem Solution · Work
Many young people find it difficult to get their first job after leaving education. Why is this happening, and what can governments and employers do to help?
Examiner focus: Experience trap, skill mismatch and automation of entry roles — remedies for each.
Problem Solution · Housing
In many cities, house prices have risen so fast that young adults cannot afford to buy a home. What problems does this create for society, and what can governments do about it?
Examiner focus: Social effects (delayed families, key workers priced out) before policy: supply, not just subsidies.
Problem Solution · Technology & communication
Many older people feel left behind by services that are now only available online. What problems does this cause, and how can this situation be improved?
Examiner focus: Access, confidence and fraud risk; solutions must include keeping non-digital routes alive.
Problem Solution · Community & health
In many neighbourhoods, people throw rubbish in streets and parks instead of using bins. Why do people behave this way, and what can local authorities do to keep public spaces clean?
Examiner focus: Bin placement and fines versus norms — behaviour design beats lectures.
Problem Solution · Family & society
Many parents today struggle to spend enough time with their children because of work pressures. What effects can this have on families, and what support could employers and governments provide?
Examiner focus: Effects on children and parents separately; flexible work and childcare as distinct remedies.
Problem Solution · Education & technology
Many university students now use AI tools to help write their assignments. What problems can this cause for education, and how should universities respond?
Examiner focus: Assessment design is the fixable layer: detection alone is a losing arms race.
Problem Solution · Health & fitness
Waiting times to see a doctor have become very long in many countries. What are the causes of this problem, and what measures could reduce waiting times?
Examiner focus: Demand causes (ageing, expectations) and supply causes (training pipelines) need different measures.
Problem Solution · Environment & transport
Noise from traffic and aircraft is a growing problem for people who live in or near large cities. What effects does noise have on people's lives, and how can this problem be reduced?
Examiner focus: Health effects beyond annoyance; planning, insulation and flight-path measures ranked by realism.
Problem Solution · Money & banking
Many people today are in serious debt because credit is easy to obtain. Why do people get into debt, and what can be done to prevent problem debt?
Examiner focus: Separate necessary borrowing from marketing-driven borrowing; regulation and education target different parts.
Problem Solution · Work
Some employees feel stressed because they are expected to answer work messages outside working hours. What problems does this cause, and how can employers and employees deal with it?
Examiner focus: Always-on culture: legal 'right to disconnect' versus team norms — cover both.
Problem Solution · Culture
Many small local museums and libraries are closing because of a lack of money and visitors. Why is this happening, and what can be done to keep them open?
Examiner focus: Funding models plus relevance: partnerships with schools beat nostalgia appeals.
Problem Solution · Travel
Popular tourist destinations are becoming overcrowded, which annoys local residents. What problems does overtourism cause, and what measures can be taken to manage it?
Examiner focus: Resident impact first (housing, prices), then tools: caps, pricing, dispersal.
Problem Solution · Shopping & technology
Food waste is a major problem: supermarkets and households throw away large amounts of edible food. Why is so much food wasted, and what can be done to reduce it?
Examiner focus: Two different waste streams (retail dates, household planning) — do not merge their solutions.
Problem Solution · Education
In many countries there is a shortage of teachers, especially in science and mathematics. What are the causes of this shortage, and what can governments do to attract more people into teaching?
Examiner focus: Pay is one lever; workload and status are the others — a credible package addresses all three.
Problem Solution · Community
Many high streets are declining as shops close and buildings stand empty. What problems does this cause for local communities, and how can town centres be brought back to life?
Examiner focus: Anchor uses (health, education, housing) versus pure retail revival — argue what actually draws people back.
Problem Solution · Health & sport
Childhood obesity has increased in many countries in recent decades. What are the reasons for this trend, and what measures could governments and parents take?
Examiner focus: Environment causes (food marketing, car trips) outrank willpower explanations — solutions follow the causes.
Problem Solution · Transport
Road accidents involving young drivers are common in many countries. Why do young drivers have more accidents, and what can be done to make them safer drivers?
Examiner focus: Experience, night driving and passengers as causes; graduated licensing as the evidence-based response.
Problem Solution · Migration & life abroad
Many skilled workers leave their home countries to work abroad, causing a 'brain drain'. What problems does this cause for the countries they leave, and what can those governments do?
Examiner focus: Loss of training investment versus remittances; retention through conditions, not exit bans.
Advantages Disadvantages · Migration & life abroad
More people are choosing to live and work in a foreign country. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
Examiner focus: Career and personal gains weighed against distance from family and settling costs — with a verdict.
Advantages Disadvantages · Technology & communication
Social media has become the main way many people keep in touch with friends and family. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
Examiner focus: Convenience and reach versus depth, privacy and time — decide which side is heavier.
Advantages Disadvantages · Education & technology
Online courses are now offered by many universities instead of, or as well as, classroom teaching. Do the advantages of studying online outweigh the disadvantages?
Examiner focus: Flexibility and cost versus interaction and discipline, ending in a clear outweigh verdict.
Advantages Disadvantages · Housing & money
In many cities, young people must choose between renting a home for years or saving to buy one. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of renting compared with buying.
Examiner focus: Financial and lifestyle trade-offs compared directly, not two separate lists.
Advantages Disadvantages · Work
Many companies now allow employees to work from home permanently. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
Examiner focus: Commute and focus gains versus collaboration and junior training losses — the verdict needs a deciding factor.
Advantages Disadvantages · Education & technology
Children in many primary schools now use tablets in the classroom. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
Examiner focus: Engagement and differentiation versus distraction and handwriting — evidence quality decides.
Advantages Disadvantages · Shopping & technology
Online shopping has become the main way many people buy clothes and electronics. Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?
Examiner focus: Consumer gains versus high-street and returns-waste costs; the verdict can split by product type if justified.
Advantages Disadvantages · Transport
In many cities, electric scooters and bikes can be rented through phone apps. Do the advantages of these services outweigh the disadvantages?
Examiner focus: Last-mile convenience versus pavement clutter and safety — regulation quality is the swing factor.
Advantages Disadvantages · Family & society
More and more couples are choosing to have children later in life, in their thirties or forties. Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?
Examiner focus: Financial stability and maturity versus fertility and energy — personal and societal levels both count.
Advantages Disadvantages · Technology & communication
Smartphones are now given to children at younger and younger ages. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
Examiner focus: Safety contact and digital literacy versus attention and sleep — age of first phone is the variable.
Advantages Disadvantages · Housing
High-rise apartment blocks are becoming more common in large cities as populations grow. Do the advantages of living in high-rise buildings outweigh the disadvantages?
Examiner focus: Land efficiency and views versus community, lifts and families' space needs.
Advantages Disadvantages · Health & fitness
Many people now track their health and exercise using wearable devices and apps. Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?
Examiner focus: Motivation and early warnings versus anxiety, data privacy and false reassurance.
Advantages Disadvantages · Education
Some schools have replaced textbooks with digital materials for all subjects. Do the advantages of this change outweigh the disadvantages?
Examiner focus: Updatability and weight versus screen fatigue, cost of devices and distraction.
Advantages Disadvantages · Travel
Budget airlines have made international travel cheap for millions of people. Do the advantages of cheap air travel outweigh the disadvantages?
Examiner focus: Access for ordinary families versus emissions and overtourism — who flies is the key fact.
Advantages Disadvantages · Work & technology
Many routine office jobs are now being done by artificial intelligence software. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
Examiner focus: Error reduction and drudgery removed versus entry-level job loss — the transition path decides the verdict.
Advantages Disadvantages · Culture
Streaming services now release whole television series at once, and many people watch several episodes in one sitting. Do the advantages of this way of watching outweigh the disadvantages?
Examiner focus: Viewer control and quality investment versus sleep, anticipation and shared culture.
Advantages Disadvantages · Money & banking
Contactless payment has almost replaced cash in many shops and services. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
Examiner focus: Speed and records versus exclusion of cash-dependent people and invisible spending.
Advantages Disadvantages · Community
Large international events such as the Olympic Games are hosted by different cities around the world. Do the advantages of hosting such events outweigh the disadvantages for the host city?
Examiner focus: Legacy infrastructure versus cost overruns and displacement — the verdict turns on what remains afterwards.
Advantages Disadvantages · Education & travel
Many schools organise trips abroad for their students as part of their education. Do the advantages of school trips abroad outweigh the disadvantages?
Examiner focus: Language and independence gains versus cost, exclusion of poorer pupils and curriculum time.
Advantages Disadvantages · Environment
Recycling programmes now operate in most towns and cities in developed countries. Do the advantages of recycling outweigh the disadvantages?
Examiner focus: Material matters: metals and paper versus contaminated plastics — a split verdict can be the honest one.
Advantages Disadvantages · Health & sport
Professional sport has become a major business, with large amounts of money spent on players and stadiums. Do the advantages of commercialised sport outweigh the disadvantages?
Examiner focus: Grassroots funding and entertainment value versus ticket prices and distorted incentives.
Advantages Disadvantages · Family & friends
Many people now stay in daily contact with friends through group chats instead of meeting in person. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
Examiner focus: Continuity across distance versus depth of contact — frequency is not the same as closeness.
Advantages Disadvantages · Work
A growing number of people work freelance instead of having a permanent job. Do the advantages of freelance work outweigh the disadvantages?
Examiner focus: Autonomy and variety versus income insecurity and lost protections — by career stage the answer flips.
Advantages Disadvantages · Technology & communication
Video calls have replaced many face-to-face business meetings. Do the advantages of this change outweigh the disadvantages?
Examiner focus: Travel saved and access widened versus trust-building and creative friction lost.
Advantages Disadvantages · Housing & money
Some young adults live with their parents until their late twenties to save money. Do the advantages of this arrangement outweigh the disadvantages?
Examiner focus: Deposit saving and family support versus independence and household friction.
Advantages Disadvantages · Culture & reading
E-books and audiobooks have become as popular as printed books for many readers. Do the advantages of these formats outweigh the disadvantages?
Examiner focus: Portability and accessibility versus retention, eye strain and the death of lending habits.
Two Part · Work
Many people change jobs every few years instead of staying with one company for their whole career. Why is this happening? Is this a positive or negative development?
Examiner focus: Answer both questions fully: labour-market causes, then a judged verdict with support.
Two Part · Culture & reading
Fewer people read printed books than in the past. Why do you think this is? What effect could this have on society?
Examiner focus: Two distinct tasks — causes of the decline, and its wider social effects — both must be covered.
Two Part · Family & society
Families today eat meals together less often than families in the past. Why is this? How can families be encouraged to eat together more?
Examiner focus: Explain the time and habit pressures, then propose realistic encouragement, not lectures.
Two Part · Education & travel
Many students take a year off between school and university, often to travel or work. Why do students choose to do this? What benefits can they gain from this experience?
Examiner focus: Motivations and benefits kept separate, each with specific, developed examples.
Two Part · Education
Many students decide to study subjects they enjoy rather than subjects that lead to well-paid jobs. Why do students make this choice? Do you think it is a good idea?
Examiner focus: Motivation first (interest sustains effort), then a verdict that separates personal and financial logic.
Two Part · Work
More employees are asking their companies for flexible working hours. Why is this happening? How can companies benefit from offering flexible hours?
Examiner focus: Causes in commuting and caring duties; employer benefits must be real (retention, coverage), not slogans.
Two Part · Technology & communication
Many people spend several hours a day on social media. Why do people spend so much time on these platforms? Is this a positive or negative development?
Examiner focus: Design-driven habits (feeds built to hold attention) before the verdict — blame allocation matters.
Two Part · Health & fitness
Gym memberships have become very popular in many countries, yet many members rarely visit. Why do people join gyms but not use them? How can people be encouraged to exercise more regularly?
Examiner focus: The intention-action gap: January optimism versus routine design; solutions target routine, not motivation.
Two Part · Transport
In many cities, more people are choosing to travel by bicycle than ten years ago. Why is this happening? Is this a positive or negative development for cities?
Examiner focus: Cost, health and bike lanes as causes; the verdict weighs safety and road space honestly.
Two Part · Family & society
Families are becoming smaller in many countries, with many couples having only one child. Why is this happening? What effects does this trend have on society?
Examiner focus: Housing and career timing as causes; effects on ageing and only-child experience, both directions.
Two Part · Culture
Fewer young people are learning to play musical instruments than in the past. Why is this the case? How could schools encourage more children to learn music?
Examiner focus: Cost of instruments and competing screens; school remedies must address cost, not just enthusiasm.
Two Part · Environment
Many people are trying to reduce the amount of plastic they use in daily life. Why is public concern about plastic growing? What more can governments do to reduce plastic waste?
Examiner focus: Visibility of ocean plastic as the trigger; government tools ranked: charges, bans, deposit schemes.
Two Part · Money & banking
Many young adults say they cannot save money, even when they have a full-time job. Why is saving difficult for them? What advice would you give to someone who wants to start saving?
Examiner focus: Rent share and subscription creep as causes; advice must be operational (automation, percentages), not 'spend less'.
Two Part · Education & technology
Online courses have become extremely popular with adult learners. Why are so many adults choosing to learn online? Do you think online learning is as effective as classroom learning?
Examiner focus: Flexibility and price as causes; effectiveness judged by completion rates and subject type.
Two Part · Travel
Many people prefer to travel independently rather than in organised tour groups. Why has this become more popular? What problems can independent travellers face?
Examiner focus: Booking technology and cost as causes; problems (scams, logistics, emergencies) kept concrete.
Two Part · Work & technology
Meetings in many companies are now held online even when employees work in the same building. Why has this happened? Is this a positive or negative development?
Examiner focus: Calendar convenience and hybrid habits as causes; verdict on what is lost when rooms disappear.
Two Part · Health & sport
Interest in extreme sports such as free climbing and ultra-marathons has grown rapidly. Why are these sports becoming popular? Do you think they should be encouraged?
Examiner focus: Achievement culture and social media as causes; encouragement weighed against rescue costs and risk normalisation.
Two Part · Community
Many people do not know their neighbours well, even after living in the same street for years. Why is this the case? What can be done to help neighbours know each other better?
Examiner focus: Working patterns and design (no shared spaces) as causes; interventions must create repeated contact.
Two Part · Housing
More people are choosing to live in small apartments in city centres rather than houses outside cities. Why is this happening? Is this a positive or negative development?
Examiner focus: Commute time and amenities versus space and price per metre — life stage drives the verdict.
Two Part · Education
Some parents now pay for private tutoring for their children in addition to school. Why is tutoring becoming more common? Do you think it gives some children an unfair advantage?
Examiner focus: Competition for school places as the driver; fairness judged against school quality gaps, not tutoring itself.
Two Part · Shopping & technology
Supermarkets now sell almost everything, from food to clothes and electronics. Why have supermarkets become so dominant? Is this a positive or negative development for shoppers?
Examiner focus: One-stop economics and supply chains as causes; shopper verdict separated from town-centre effects.
Two Part · Culture & reading
Public libraries are lending more digital material and less printed material than before. Why is this change happening? How do you think libraries will look in the future?
Examiner focus: Borrower behaviour and budgets as causes; the future prediction must follow from the causes, not fantasy.
Two Part · Family & friends
Many grandparents now help with childcare several days a week while parents work. Why is this arrangement becoming more common? What are the advantages for the children involved?
Examiner focus: Childcare costs as the driver; advantages (bonding, language, trust) with limits acknowledged.
Two Part · Environment & transport
Electric cars are becoming more common, but still make up a minority of vehicles. Why have electric cars not replaced petrol cars yet? Do you think they will eventually do so completely?
Examiner focus: Price, charging and battery supply as brakes; the prediction must name what would have to change.
Two Part · Work
Many people change careers completely at some point in their working lives. Why do people make such a big change? What challenges do career changers face?
Examiner focus: Burnout, industry decline and values as causes; challenges (income drop, retraining, age bias) faced honestly.
Two Part · Health & fitness
More people are choosing to eat a vegetarian or plant-based diet. Why is this trend growing? Is it a positive or negative development?
Examiner focus: Health evidence, cost of meat and climate concern as distinct causes; verdict avoids preaching either way.
Grade my essay · Samples · Plan backwards from your exam date
