Women and man are commonly seen as having different strengths and weaknesses

Women and man are commonly seen as having different strengths and weaknesses. Is it right to exclude males or females from certain professions because of their gender?

Model answer:

There have always been differences in the types of work men and women have done. However. the trend in modern times has been for both men and women to have greater freedom of choice in terms of employment. Some people might say that there is no need to go further. However. in my view, wherever possible, gender equality should be encouraged. 

There may indeed be good arguments for allowing certain posts to remain predominantly male or female. 
Where all-male or all-female groups exist, there may be a need for related posts to be held by men and women respectively. Patients in all-female hospital wards, for example. would probably appreciate having female nurses to look after them. It could also be argued that certain jobs requiring a great deal of physical strength, coal mining or loggingI for example. should continue to be done mainly by men. 

However, in the vast majority of situations, making occupations more open to both genders has distinct 
advantages. Men and women can bring slightty different perspectives and approaches to a job. Female police officers, for example. may have a greater understanding of domestic violence and a better range of strategies for dealing with this problem. Male primary school teachers probably have a better understanding ofthe needs of young boys and can serve as good role models for them. 

The changes that result from allowing men into female-dominated occupations and vice versa may be subtle. 
but they are far-reaching. However, to benefit the most from this development, it is important not to expect 
males and fernates to appmach work in identical ways.

New technologies and ways of buying and selling are transforming to the lives of consumers

New technologies and ways of buying and selling are transforming to the lives of consumers. To what extend do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

My essay:

     The internet has undoubtedly changed the way people shop. In some countries, buying and selling products online has become commonplace. Enthusiasts claim that the internet offers consumers greater choice and flexibility. However, those who say that the internet is transforming the lives of consumers are going too far.

     Firstly, although online shopping appears to offer greater convenience, it is often rather risky and cumbersome in practice. Consumers can not evaluate the quality of online products by handing them directly. Instead, they must rely on sellers to describe goods accurately in word and/or pictures. Mistakes can easily be made, leading to the inconvenience of having to exchange goods or seek a refund. Products bought online also normally need to be delivered by post. The convenience of online shopping thus hinges in part on the efficiency of the postal service.

     Secondly, in spite of the promise of lower prices, internet shopping seldom offers substantial savings. A competitive marketplace ensures that large price differentials rapidly disappear as suppliers align themselves with one another. Also, the cost of postage is normally borne by the buyer. A product that appears to be a bargain on screen often turns out to be no cheaper than the same product bought in a shop. Not surprisingly, only one in ten purchases in the UK are made online.

     For these reasons, internet shopping is likely to remain a minority pursuit. The continuing popularity of shopping in the traditional way suggests that consumers continue to value its advantages: the opportunity to sample, compare and buy products in a real as opposed to a virtual space. 

Sample ielts writing #7

What can be done to maintain biodiversity?

The importance of biodiversity is being more widely recognized as increasing numbers of species come under threat.
What can be done to maintain biodiversity?

My essay:

     In recent years there has been growing awareness of the importance of preserving the world’s biological diversity. As increasing numbers of unique, and potentially useful, plants and animals come under threat, people are beginning to ask whether more can be done to reserve this trend.

     One possible approach is to regulate agricultural and industrial activity so that pollution and disruption to natural habitats is kept to a minimum. People argue that economic prosperity must be curtailed if it comes at the expense of the environment. However, businesses affected are unlikely to comply with such a strategy. It may even generate hostility to conservation efforts generally if the economic costs are perceived to be too high.

     An alternative approach would be to protect and expand nature reserves so that complete ecosystems can be kept intact. This would ensure that a minimum number of wild plants and animals would survive. However, although such places are indeed valuable, experience shows that it is difficult to protect rare plants and animals from exploitation. In fact, as some species, like the tiger, become rarer, the more valuable they become to poachers and others who seek to benefit from their trade.

     A more effective approach is to educate the public about the benefits of biodiversity. Money should be invested in the research and development of the world's biological resources. Once people understand that there are real benefits to exploiting natural resources in a sustainable way, they are more likely to make the short-term sacrifices necessary to preserve natural habitats.

Sample IELTS writing #6

Convenience foods replace traditional method of food preparation.

Convenience foods will become increasingly prevalent and eventually replace traditional method of food preparation.

To what extend do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

My essay:

     One of the most significant advances of civilization is the development of modern methods of food production and preparation. Convenience foods have now become the norm in many societies. Although some people idealize traditional cooking practices and believe they will prevail indefinitely, demographic trends suggest that this is unlikely to be the case. In fact, there are a number of reasons for believing that convenience foods are unlikely to grow in popularity.

     The first reason is the decline in family size and the increase in single-adult households. In more traditional societies, where families tended to be large, it made economic sense for one person to devote him/herself to time-consuming domestic tasks such as growing and preparing foods. Nowadays, people tend to live in ever smaller families units. If each family were to spend large amounts of time growing and processing food, this would be a poor use of society’s human resource.

     Another reason convenience foods are likely to become more popular is the increase in the number of adults, especially women with children, who work in full-time employment. In the UK, for example, working mothers significantly outnumber stay-at-home mothers. There is evidence that consumption of convenience foods rises with numbers of hours worked. As modern life increasingly demands that people are economically active, this trend is likely to continue.

     Although many people still value traditional foods and methods of cooking, the trend towards smaller, dual-income households suggests that convenience foods are likely to continue to grow in popularity and may very well eventually replace traditional methods of food production and preparation.

Sample IELTS writing #5

How to reduce stress (2)

How to reduce stress

     Stress is now a major problem in many countries around the world. However, we can reduce stress if we know its roots clearly.

     First of all, high pressure can lead to stress especially time pressure. Fortunately, better time management is often regarded to be the key dealing with time pressure. Time management include setting priorities which needs to be done firstly and setting real goals. In addition, better time management helps people to have more time to relax, which enhance their mood and health.

     Secondly, stress can came from low health. Solution to people in this case is taking more daily exercises which can make them feel better and release stress. However, if they have a vulnerable body, they should ask doctor before doing anything. Obviously, well-nourished body is better to cope with stress so we should eat a healthy diet and get away from caffeine, sugar, alcohol and nicotine.

     Thirdly, people may become stressed if they do not share their problems and keep these inside. Simply changing the viewpoint may help them to see it from a more positive way. Moreover, they should share their feelings with close friends. Their friends can encourage and help them more than they expected. In some case, if they cannot talk their friends, the best way they can do is smiling. Recent researches show that smile can reduce the stress considerably.

     There are many solutions for stress. However, people should choose the best way for themselves. They should start thinking in a positive way and enjoy their life from now.

Sample IELTS writing #4