IELTS Writing Recent Actual Test 54

WRITING TASK 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task

The charts show the proportion of money that people in France, Germany and England spent on food and other products in 1998 and 2008.

Write at least 150 words.

WRITING TASK 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task

Write about the following topic:

It is better for college students to live far away from home than live at home with their parents. Do you agree or disagree?

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

Write at least 250 words.

SAMPLE ANSWER IELTS WRITING TEST 54

WRITING TASK 1

The given bar charts indicate the proportion of money that people in France, Germany and England spent on food and other products in 1998 and 2008.

Overall, it can be seen that all three countries saw significant increases in the proportion of purchases of both food and other goods over the examined period.

In 1998, approximately 15% and 10% of the money French citizens spent was on foodstuffs and other goods, respectively. After 10 years, figures for both categories dramatically climbed to 40%. In Germany, there was a mild increase of 5% of money spent on food, at 25% in 1998, and 30% in 2008. The figures for money spent on other goods were approximately 5% lower during the same years.

In England however, buyers spent only 10% on food in 1998 and 15% in 2008. Meanwhile, the figures for money spent on other goods experienced a surge from about 8% in 1998 to 35% in 2008.

(157 words)

WRITING TASK 2

There has been a topic of debate as to whether it is better for students to live independently away from their parents whilst studying at university. Although some people agree with this, my firm conviction is that it depends on the culture of the region where the students are from.

This practice is popular in Western-based societies, like the US or the UK. Independence from parents at a young age is largely accepted and encouraged, especially when students reach the age of eighteen and are able to earn a living on their own. A large majority of students seek temporary employment near their school to earn money or gain valuable work experience, while others will spend time participating in university clubs and activities on campus. This element, I believe, is closely linked to their further development and future success.

However, in many Asian countries such as Vietnam, where traditional values of strong family bonds play a significant role in the lives of the youth and the national ethos, I suspect that it could bring more harm than good. It is, however, common for family members to live separately when they are pursuing tertiary education because most universities in Vietnam are located in major or municipal cities. Students from other provinces have to stay in dormitory accommodation or rent a room off campus in order to complete their study. I consider this to have a detrimental impact on family relationships because it can possibly lead to the unfortunate disappearance of the country’s long-standing culture.

In conclusion, I do consider that living close to schools and universities, away from family, is beneficial for a student’s studies, though it can have a significant negative impact on family relationships depending on the student’s cultural background.

(291 words)