IELTS Writing for Success

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This podcast aims to give you an insight on how to write high level IELTS essays. Every episode is a new essay, which our hosts, Maria and Rory, will be writing on the spot, to keep it real and help you follow the course of writing as it happens. They’ll be showing you their brainstorming, planning, and writing processes (and having fun along the way). You will learn what it takes to write a great IELTS essay and how to write one yourself!

Success with IELTS


    • Nov 1, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 12m AVG DURATION
    • 19 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from IELTS Writing for Success

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2022 7:11


    Nowadays, a growing number of people with health problems are trying alternative medicines and treatments instead of visiting their usual doctor. Do you think this is a positive or negative development?Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experienceWrite at least 250 words-Get the full episodes of our IELTS Writing Task 1 and 2 episodes here: https://www.patreon.com/ieltswfsMaria's IELTS writing course: https://course.yourielts.net/ielts-writing-courseListen to our IELTS Speaking podcast: https://fanlink.to/ieltssfsOur social media: https://linktr.ee/successwithielts© 2021 Success with IELTS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2022 4:22


    The graph below shows the number of shops that closed and the number of new shops that opened in one country between 2011 and 2018.Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.Write at least 150 words.-Get full episodes of our IELTS Writing Task 1 and 2 episodes: https://www.patreon.com/ieltswfsMaria's IELTS writing course: https://course.yourielts.net/ielts-writing-courseListen to our IELTS Speaking podcast: https://fanlink.to/ieltssfsOur social media: https://linktr.ee/successwithielts© 2021 Success with IELTS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2022 3:29


    Some people believe that professionals, such as doctors and engineers, should be required to work in the country where they did their training. Others believe they should be free to work in another countryDiscuss both views and give your own opinions.Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experienceWrite at least 250 words-Get the full episodes of our IELTS Writing Task 1 and 2 episodes here: https://www.patreon.com/ieltswfsMaria's IELTS writing course: https://course.yourielts.net/ielts-writing-courseListen to our IELTS Speaking podcast: https://fanlink.to/ieltssfsOur social media: https://linktr.ee/successwithielts© 2021 Success with IELTS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2022 8:32


    It is important for people to take risks, in both their professional lives and personal lives.Do the advantages of taking these risks outweigh the disadvantages?Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experienceWrite at least 250 words-Get the full episodes of our IELTS Writing Task 1 and 2 episodes here: https://www.patreon.com/ieltswfsMaria's IELTS writing course: https://course.yourielts.net/ielts-writing-courseListen to our IELTS Speaking podcast: https://fanlink.to/ieltssfsOur social media: https://linktr.ee/successwithielts© 2021 Success with IELTS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2022 9:15


    The maps illustrate an industrial area in Norbiton in the present day compared with plans for future development of the site.Summaries the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.Write at least 150 words.-Get full episodes of our IELTS Writing Task 1 and 2 episodes: https://www.patreon.com/ieltswfsMaria's IELTS writing course: https://course.yourielts.net/ielts-writing-courseListen to our IELTS Speaking podcast: https://fanlink.to/ieltssfsOur social media: https://linktr.ee/successwithielts© 2021 Success with IELTS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2022 11:11


    Some children spend hours every day on their smartphones.Why is this the case? Do you think this is a positive or a negative development?Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experienceWrite at least 250 words-Get the full episodes of our IELTS Writing Task 1 and 2 episodes here: https://www.patreon.com/ieltswfsMaria's IELTS writing course: https://course.yourielts.net/ielts-writing-courseListen to our IELTS Speaking podcast: https://fanlink.to/ieltssfsOur social media: https://linktr.ee/successwithielts© 2021 Success with IELTS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2022 4:14


    The horizontal bar graph compares the average percentages of income spending in two years which are fifty years apart.Get full episodes of our IELTS Writing Task 1 and 2 episodes on Telegram: https://t.me/+rBNn9hwmRYc4NzhlMaria's IELTS writing course: https://course.yourielts.net/ielts-writing-courseListen to our IELTS Speaking podcast: https://fanlink.to/ieltssfsOur social media: https://linktr.ee/successwithielts© 2021 Success with IELTS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2022 24:21


    Introduction: It has been observed that many companies focus on the novelty of what they produce. This is largely due to their desire to generate more profit by manipulating customers. While there may be some positive aspects, I believe this is a largely negative development. P1: The main reason companies choose to frame their goods as new ones is that their primary goal is to generate profit. They do this by exploiting people's instinctual attraction to novelty as people are more likely to want to engage with goods and services if they are seen as new. As a result, an updated or improved version of an existing product can be used to make more money for a company. Moreover, it is easier to advertise a new product than an existing one since all previous forms of marketing and advertising can be applied to such goods while older products can only have new forms of advertising applied to them. For instance, classic Coca Cola can only be advertised as classic Coca Cola whereas a new Coca Cola can be advertised as a product in its own right and in relationship with other beverages in the Coca Cola Company. P2: However, I would argue that this is a negative trend. Firstly, many changes are either not really new or they are meaningless. For example, many new smartphones are advertised as faster than the old versions, but they are only slightly faster than the originals. This means people spend more money on a product which is not much better. In addition to being wasteful of customers' money, it is also wasteful of the environment. In other words, older products which are almost as good as older products are thrown away in favour of something that is marginally more efficient. This creates an excessive amount of rubbish and environmental damage which could be averted if people did not purchase allegedly new goods. Conclusion: In conclusion, businesses present their products as new ones in order to meet the profit motive. Though this behaviour may benefit this particular goal, there are clear negative outcomes in terms of customers being misled and damage being done to the environment. - Get exclusive episodes on IELTS Writing Task 1 here: https://patreon.com/ieltswfs Read the full essay with comments from Rory here: https://successwithielts.com/t2009 Maria's IELTS writing course: https://course.yourielts.net/ielts-writing-course Listen to our IELTS Speaking podcast: https://fanlink.to/ieltssfs Our social media: https://linktr.ee/successwithielts © 2021 Success with IELTS

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2021 8:47


    In this week's IELTS Writing Task 2 episode we're brainstorming ideas and writing a problem/solution essay. - Introduction: It has been argued that certain natural resources are being depleted in an unsustainable manner. This can result in serious issues which require certain solutions to be implemented. P1: Foremost among these problems is the overreliance on oil resources and subsequent lack of them. This could pose a variety of problems like power shortages and a lack of material for various processes including plastic manufacture. If these issues occur, they could result in deaths when hospitals lose power and suffer from a poor supply of spare components for machinery which could cause accidents. Similarly, an unsustainable loss of timber due to logging or deforestation can cause a shortage of building materials with a corresponding lack of shelter contributing to poverty and homelessness. Lastly, the depletion of freshwater can lead to severe dehydration and potentially starvation since freshwater is used in crop production in addition to other production methods. All of these problems can occur within countries, but could also provoke conflicts between nations if they resort to military force in order to secure access to the remaining resources. P2: Despite the severity of the aforementioned problems, there is a variety of solutions. In terms of addressing the oil issues, it may be possible to use more alternative sources such as solar or wind power and recycle current oil-based products. This could help reduce the dependence on this fossil fuel and extend existing resources. A similar strategy may be used when considering overlogging or deforestation; alternatives to wood-based products could be used and existing goods could be recycled when no longer in use. Unfortunately, these strategies cannot be applied to the water overuse issue. Instead, new sources of water should be found and new methods of freshwater extraction such as desalination need to be implemented on a wider scale. Conclusion: In conclusion, shortage issues concerning oil, timber, and water seem insurmountable and can have serious consequences. However, there are various ways of resolving them such as utilising renewable sources and building more desalination plants. - Get the full episode where Maria and Rory go through the writing process here: https://patreon.com/ieltswfs Read the full essay with comments from Rory here: https://successwithielts.com/t2008 Maria's IELTS writing course: https://course.yourielts.net/ielts-writing-course Listen to our IELTS Speaking podcast: https://fanlink.to/ieltssfs Our social media: https://linktr.ee/successwithielts © 2021 Success with IELTS

    ⚖️ In future all cars, buses and trucks will be driverless. The only people travelling inside these vehicles will be passengers. Advantages vs Disadvantages

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2021 13:31


    In this week's IELTS Writing Task 2 episode we're brainstorming ideas and writing an advantage/disadvantage essay. - Introduction: Some people have speculated that in the near future some modes of transport will be automated. Although there could be certain dangers connected to unemployment and flexibility, I tend to believe that there are more benefits. P1: Foremost amongst these advantages is the likelihood that less time would be spent on driver training. If driving is computerised there will be less need to learn how to drive, so more time could be spent on more productive activities such as work. Related to this idea of efficient time use, less time will also be spent on reading maps and programming GPS for human use. Once cars, busses, and trucks have become driverless, people will be less distracted by having to read maps which could reduce traffic congestion and some road accidents. Similarly, driverless vehicles do not require sleep, so the chances of accidents related to the drivers falling asleep while driving could be minimised. P2: However, there could be certain risks connected to vehicles operated without a driver. In the case of driverless busses and lorries, people who used to drive such vehicles will be made redundant which could contribute to high levels of unemployment. Though this may be a problem in the short term, in the long term it may be possible for jobless drivers to find a new field. For example, former drivers can become new mechanics for driverless cars, so this could address any employment deficit. Less easily addressed might be the benefits that come with having a human driver. For instance, people may be more adept at driving in certain places such as mountain ranges which may require more versatile off-road driving skills. Conclusion: To conclude, there are numerous positive aspects to the implementation of driverless vehicles including greater efficiency and safety. While these advantages may have drawbacks connected to unemployment, there is reasonable scope to address them. - Get the full episode where Maria and Rory go through the writing process here: https://patreon.com/ieltswfs Read the full essay with comments from Rory here: https://successwithielts.com/t2007 Maria's IELTS writing course: https://course.yourielts.net/ielts-writing-course Listen to our IELTS Speaking podcast: https://fanlink.to/ieltssfs Our social media: https://linktr.ee/successwithielts © 2021 Success with IELTS

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2021 36:46


    In this episode we go over both IELTS writing tasks, give you tips and tricks on what and how to write in each of them, talk about structure, punctuation, as well as uncover how examiners mark IELTS Writing tasks. This *QUALITY* content was actually recorded back in August, but unfortunately, until now we didn't really have time to edit it. - Get our premium writing episodes where Maria and Rory write Tasks 1 and 2 here: https://patreon.com/ieltswfs Maria's IELTS writing course: https://course.yourielts.net/ielts-writing-course Listen to our IELTS Speaking podcast: https://fanlink.to/ieltssfs Our social media: https://linktr.ee/successwithielts Brendan McEvoy: https://www.facebook.com/brendan.mcevoy.92 © 2021 Success with IELTS

    ⚖️ In some countries, people are purchasing fewer new items and more second-hand goods. What are the reasons for this? Is this a positive or a negative trend?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2021 12:12


    In this week's IELTS Writing Task 2 episode we're brainstorming ideas and writing a 2 question essay for the following topic: In some countries, people are purchasing fewer new items and more second-hand goods. What are the reasons for this? Is this a positive or a negative trend? - Intro: A trend has been noticed in several nations of people making fewer purchases of new goods and instead opting to buy previously owned items. There are several reasons for this related to price and environmental concerns and I believe it is a positive development. P1: As mentioned previously, one of the major reasons for this trend is connected to the cost of goods with previous owners compared to those without. Second-hand items are much cheaper than brand new goods. For example, second-hand books or clothes are sold at a fraction of their original price compared to new ones. Therefore it is understandable why customers prefer such goods. In addition to this rationale, buying used goods is less wasteful in terms of the environmental resources as well as financial ones. If products have already been made, there is no need to produce new ones and expend resources such as energy or water without cause. As a result, avoiding purchasing new goods contributes to preserving the environment. P2: Overall, this appears to be a positive trend. It allows customers to maximise their budget and does not encourage companies' wasteful behaviour. People can save their money for their other projects such as education and resources are preserved for future generations. Moreover, purchasing used goods promotes a less consumerist culture. If people focus less on consumerism, they will have more time for spiritually productive activities like developing their relationships and spending quality time with their families. It could be argued, however, that the consumption of new products is required for a healthy economy, but this seems to be outweighed by the aforementioned positive aspects. Conclusion: In summary, there are many reasons why people are choosing to buy more second-hand goods which are mostly connected with financial and environmental benefits. While this may not be healthy for the economy, it is a net gain for both society and individuals. - Get the full episode where Maria and Rory go through the writing process here: https://patreon.com/ieltswfs Read the full essay with comments from Rory here: https://successwithielts.com/t2005 Maria's IELTS writing course: https://course.yourielts.net/ielts-writing-course Listen to our IELTS Speaking podcast: https://fanlink.to/ieltssfs Our social media: https://linktr.ee/successwithielts © 2021 Success with IELTS

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2021 14:42


    In this week's IELTS Writing Task 2 episode we're brainstorming ideas and writing an agree/disagree essay for the following topic: Some feel governments should invest in preserving minority languages, while others feel this is not a good use of resources. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. - Intro: It has been argued that it is the responsibility of governmental authorities to allocate funds to conserving languages not spoken by the majority of people in a country. Others, however, have proposed an opposing viewpoint which stipulates that resources would be better used elsewhere. My views align with the former. P1: The main reason why I support the opinion that the government ought to invest in the preservation of minority languages is due to the strong connection between language and culture. If people lose their language, they can lose a part of their culture which may have a negative impact on future generations. For instance, in Canada efforts were made to assimilate native Americans into the dominant culture; part of this involved only speaking English and this caused serious disruption to native American culture which has lasted to the present day. P2: There is an opposing belief that there are better avenues of investment that do not involve protecting minority languages. This is based on the idea that the government should prioritize more essential services to cater for the majority of people such as more funding to national health care systems or national defense. In some cases this might be important, but most countries are not in a state of crisis where these aspects have an overriding priority. Conclusion: On balance, the argument that the government has to invest in maintaining minority languages has more weight than the proposed alternative. The conservation of language and subsequently culture is of greater import than focusing on other priorities especially in a time of general stability in the world. - Read the full essay with Rory's comments here: https://successwithielts.com/t2e004 Get the full episode where Maria and Rory go through the writing process here: https://patreon.com/ieltswfs Maria's IELTS writing course: https://course.yourielts.net/ielts-writing-course Listen to our IELTS Speaking podcast: https://fanlink.to/ieltssfs Our social media: https://linktr.ee/successwithielts © 2021 Success with IELTS

    ✅ Some people believe that fast food has a negative influence on our lifestyle and diet. Do you agree or disagree?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2021 17:43


    In this week's IELTS Writing Task 2 episode we're brainstorming ideas and writing an agree/disagree essay for the following topic: Some people believe that fast food has a negative influence on our lifestyle and diet. Do you agree or disagree? - Intro: It is believed that fast food can have a detrimental impact on how we live and what we eat. Based on the overwhelming weight of the evidence I tend to agree with this proposition. P1: With regard to lifestyle, fast food consumption could contribute to less cooking at home which has the consequence of people not being able to cook in situations without access to fast food. This can have serious problems in terms of culture with certain non-fast food dishes being connected to local traditions. Additionally, if the fast food supply becomes unstable, people will not be able to effectively manage such situations. P2: Not only does fast food consumption have serious potential consequences for the way people live, it can also have major dietary effects. Foremost amongst these is obesity caused by excessive sugar (in addition to other carbohydrates) consumption and high amounts of added sugar along with other chemical additives, are usually present in practically all fast food products. P3: Occurring alongside obesity are equally serious comorbidities such as diabetes (also caused by excessive sugar consumption) and heart disease. In addition to being life threatening, these health issues place a serious strain on families, healthcare systems, and general societal well-being. Conclusion: Taking the aforementioned points together, it is clear that the belief that fast food may have a damaging effect on both our lifestyle and diet is well-founded. These could be seen in the effects on home cooking, various illnesses and their wider influences on society in general. - Read the full essay with Rory's comments here: https://successwithielts.com/t2e003 Get the full episode where Maria and Rory go through the writing process here: https://patreon.com/ieltswfs Maria's IELTS writing course: https://course.yourielts.net/ielts-writing-course Listen to our IELTS Speaking podcast: https://fanlink.to/ieltssfs Our social media: https://linktr.ee/successwithielts © 2021 Success with IELTS

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2021 12:34


    In this week's IELTS Writing episode we're brainstorming ideas and writing an opinion essay for the following topic: Some people think that children under 18 years old should receive full-time education. To what extent do you agree or disagree? - Intro: It is believed that minors under the age of 18 would benefit from the provision of education on a full-time basis. I partially agree with this idea to the extent that it's practical. P1: The benefits of such a policy are clear. Firstly, if minors obtained full-time education, this would lower unemployment figures and decrease competition for jobs for the period when they are at school. Secondly, in addition to combating the unemployment rate, there would be fewer opportunities for the children to be involved in juvenile delinquency since they will be engaged in studying full-time. Thirdly, assuming the education content is structured in such a way, the students could be better prepared for their working life and future career. For instance, to have a high-flying career a doctor needs more than 7 years of studying, and having a full-time education would decrease the time spent on education later in their life. P2: Accompanying these benefits there are some obvious issues to address in terms of practicality. Keeping students in full-time education until the age of 18 is likely to be expensive, which some developing countries might not be able to sustain. Moreover, continuing education past a certain age may not be relevant to the career prospects of some people. Take a sanitation worker, for example. In this case, only a minimal amount of education is required relative to a barrister or a plastic surgeon. Conclusion: In conclusion, I agree that the provision of full-time schooling for minors is worthwhile wherever it is relevant to the needs of the students and is economically viable for the country in question. - Read the full essay with Rory's comments here: https://successwithielts.com/t2e002 Get the full episode where Maria and Rory go through the writing process here: https://patreon.com/ieltswfs Maria's IELTS writing course: https://course.yourielts.net/ielts-writing-course Listen to our IELTS Speaking podcast: https://fanlink.to/ieltssfs Our social media: https://linktr.ee/successwithielts © 2021 Success with IELTS

    ⚖️ People nowadays tend to have children at older ages. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2021 18:19


    In this episode we're brainstorming ideas and writing an advantage/disadvantage essay for the following topic: People nowadays tend to have children at older ages. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages? - Intro: Today, there is a tendency for people to give birth and start families at a later stage in their lives. On balance, it seems there are more drawbacks. P1: Despite these disadvantages, there are certain benefits which can be encapsulated under the umbrella of stability, both: financial and familial. As a couple progresses in life they should have greater financial resources to draw upon to support their children and reduce the negative impact on poverty. In addition to the financial stability, there's also stability in the family which should increase as the couple matures. As a result, children born at a later stage are less vulnerable to the negative consequences of divorce and family break up which are less common in older pairings. P2: Although the aforementioned positive aspects appear to have great strength, there are also significant negative factors to consider. Foremost, as people age, they suffer from a greater amount of genetic degradation which can increase the chances of having a child with a genetic defect such as Down's syndrome. Another factor which can have a detrimental effect on a child's quality of life is the fact that older people tend to have less energy which means they are less able to cope with and raise their relatively more energetic young child. In the same way, there is also a generation gap in terms of relatability. As the age gap between the child and the parents increases their ability to relate to each other and share the same ideas about life could be placed under severe pressure. This may have negative consequences on the child's upbringing and development. For instance, there could be numerous intra-family conflicts between youngsters and their elderly parents. Conclusion: In sum, given the greater number of negative elements in comparison to the smaller number of positive aspects of giving birth at an older stage in life, it is reasonable to conclude that it is more beneficial to conceive and raise children at a relatively earlier age. - Get the full episode where Maria and Rory go through the writing process here: https://patreon.com/ieltswfs Read the full essay with comments from Rory here: https://successwithielts.com/t2e001 Maria's IELTS writing course: https://course.yourielts.net/ielts-writing-course Listen to our IELTS Speaking podcast: https://fanlink.to/ieltssfs Our social media: https://linktr.ee/successwithielts © 2021 Success with IELTS

    Welcome to IELTS Writing for Success

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2021 0:51


    It's Maria and Rory here! With this podcast we aim to give you an insight on how to write high level IELTS essays. Every episode is a new essay, which we will be writing on the spot, to keep it real and help you follow the course of writing as it happens. We'll be showing you our brainstorming, planning, and writing processes (and have fun along the way, of course). You will learn what it takes to write a great IELTS essay and how to write one yourself!

    ⚖️ The governments should give each citizen a basic income, so they have enough money to live on, even if they are unemployed. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 1970 18:44


    Introduction: It has been argued that, in order for citizens to be able to maintain an acceptable standard of living in a country, the government should institute a policy of payments to them regardless of their employment status. While such an idea may be appealing in principle, certain social and economic realities make it infeasible at the present time. P1: Foremost among the counterarguments to such schemes is that of inflation. If the government were to set up such a system, it would need to print more money and the prices of goods and services would rise to meet this, rendering any theoretical benefits unworkable. Moreover, in economic terms, countries are not uniform in the distribution of their economic production and so providing the same amount of money to everyone regardless of the reality of their context might adversely affect the balance of the local economy. P2: Similarly, such a system is more likely to reinforce and perpetuate social inequalities in a given area. If middle-class people - who typically have a larger amount of financial knowledge and access to resources relative to working-class people - are given a similar amount of money, they will be better able to effectively exploit this. By contrast, poorer people are more likely to use this money to meet basic survival needs. This would be the case, particularly if the previously mentioned currency inflation occurred. Conclusion: In summary, due to the aforementioned economic and social reasons connected to inflation and social inequality, systems which are designed to provide people with a baseline income (while well-intentioned) are likely to create new problems or make existing ones worse. With this in mind, it seems appropriate to completely disagree with their implementation. -Get exclusive episodes on IELTS Writing Task 1 here: https://patreon.com/ieltswfsRead the full essay with comments from Rory here: https://successwithielts.com/t2010Maria's IELTS writing course: https://course.yourielts.net/ielts-writing-courseListen to our IELTS Speaking podcast: https://fanlink.to/ieltssfsOur social media: https://linktr.ee/successwithielts© 2021 Success with IELTSSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/ielts-writing-for-success/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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