• IELTS Essay Sample: Advantages and disadvantages of keeping flowers at home.

    Advantages and disadvantages of keeping flowers at home.

    There is no denying the fact that flowers can have profound effects on both body and mind. This essay will discuss not only the plus pints of keeping these marvels of nature at home but also potential problems associated with the issue.

    With respect to drawbacks, houseplants produce pollen in the spring, summer and sometimes fall to make seeds for next year’s growth. Pollen is a leading cause of seasonal allergies, which, for sufferers, is a strong disadvantage to keep flowers. Common flowers like African violets, orchids and ficus can cause terrible allergy attacks, and if left untreated, can lead to severe discomfort. Moreover, some house plants like dieffenbachia are poisonous and can be hazardous for households with little children or pets. Last but not least, plants which grow indoors require routine and timely maintenance to keep looking healthy. Not devoting enough time to pruning and deadheading would let them neither bloom nor be photo-worthy.

    Turning to benefits, it is a universally-acknowledged truth that flowers not only improve the smell in a room but also filter and clean the air. Studies conducted by the UK’s Promotional Organization for Flowers & Plants show that plants can help remove harmful toxins from the air and are likely to improve a night’s rest as they absorb CO2 and emit large amounts of oxygen. In addition, the flowers that people often choose for their scents, such as roses, help improve people’s mood and maintain a relaxed atmosphere thanks to their aromatherapeutic powers. It is no exaggeration to claim that a little color can go a long way. Placing flowers around a room where family members can see them even has the ability to make their mood better and help them connect better with other people.

    In conclusion, what I would like to concede is that experiencing a change in mood in today’s hectic life and breathing fresh air, at last at home, is worth the trouble of looking after plants.

    Hamid Mollazadeh
    Time: 45 minutes 
    Word count: 320
  • IELTS Essay Sample: (Balanced): “Schools should not charge students any tuition fees. Education must be totally subsidized by the government.

    Schools should not charge students any tuition fees. Education must be totally subsidized by the government.

    To what extent to do agree or disagree?                              (Balanced)

     

    Whether education expenses should be covered by the government or be paid by pupils has seemingly been a source of contention in the present age. Although I assume free education can trigger some problems, this essay will also shed light on the advantages of adopting such a policy.

    To begin with, an unsubsidized education system would simply be too costly for governments to be maintained for long-term. Hence families may have to start paying much higher taxes, which could hurt the economy since people might have less to spend or invest. Moreover, should the process of learning and teaching at school be free, there may be a concern that some might not study hard to make the most of their education. They are likely to drop out before getting a high school diploma; therefore, they are not well-prepared for jobs after graduation. It is a universally-acknowledged truth that people appreciate something they must pay for more than what is offered for free.

    However, free education empowers low income brackets, most of whom can hardly make ends meet, to send their children to school without being worried about financial problems. Take China as a case in point. Were it not due to government subsidies in the most populous country in the world, half of the population would be illiterate with irreversible consequences, one of which might be high rate of juvenile delinquency. What is particularly noteworthy about not charging students is ensuring fairness in the community as the vast majority of children will have an equal chance to unleash their true potential.

    In conclusion, taking all benefits and drawbacks into account, I would concede that a large number of people in the globe are already suffering from economic and social inequalities and not subsidizing education is very likely to exacerbate the situation.

     

    Hamid Mollazadeh

    Time: 45 minutes

    Word count: 300

     

     

  • IELTS Essay Sample: (Strong): “Schools should not charge students any tuition fees. Education must be totally subsidized by the government.”

    Schools should not charge students any tuition fees. Education must be totally subsidized by the government.

    To what extent to do agree or disagree?                                  (Strong)

     

    We are living in a world where education plays a key role in shaping successful nations. Unlike those who advocate asking pupils for tuition fees, I would argue that education should be free due to the reasons on which this essay will elaborate.

    First and foremost, free education is essential as it is likely to help guarantee every student in a country some level of education irrespective of their social class, skin color or financial capabilities, meaning each child has an equal opportunity to access education on the same scale. Pursuing a similar approach, the US, South Korea and Japan not only have the least number of illiterate citizens but also create equality among learners to be able to continue their education in higher levels. Nonetheless, in other parts of the world namely India and Africa knowledge-seekers have to pay to realize their educational dreams, so not all families have the chance to send their adolescents to learning centers, the result of which is high illiteracy rate. Statistics issued by the World Bank and UNESCO indicate that girls with little or no education are more likely to marry before the age of 18, suffer domestic violence and live in poverty.

    Furthermore, adopting the policy empowers children to have a positive perspective and a more optimistic outlook about life. To put it simply, when no tuition is charged, the gap between the haves and the have nots will not be widened which in turn can help provide security in the future. Take Scandinavian countries as an example. They are among the most secure places in the world because education is not only compulsory but also free. Hence unemployment rate is low and the community can live a crime-free life.

    (However, proponents of charging students tuition highlight the heavy burden of financing education system that will be imposed on governments’ shoulder, which I assume is not justifiable so long as people pay taxes.)

    To sum it up, should pupils be not charged, more children will have the opportunity to fulfill their potential; or else, inequality may grow and future cannot be promising.

    Hamid Mollazadeh
    Time: 35 minutes                                                              
    Word count: 350   
  • IELTS Essay Sample: The qualities a person needs to become successful in today’s world

    The qualities a person needs to become successful in today’s world cannot be learnt at university or any similar institutions.

    To what extent do you agree or disagree? (Balanced)

    Whether or not universities are capable of equipping people with the skills and personal characteristics that they require to fulfill their goals has stirred up quite a bit of controversy. I myself would concede that achieving success needs several qualities, a few of which — not all of them — can be learnt at academic centers, and the rest should be learnt not only in the family but also in society.

    To start with, a number of skills can be acquired at educational institutions, two of which are problem solving and creative thinking. Regarding the former, a large number of students all over the globe are obliged to take special courses in which they are educated on strategies to tackle challenging problems that is bound to help ensure their future prosperity. Furthermore, academic institutions teach learners how to think creatively should they face a thorny issue. A combination of these skills is likely to pave the way for those who are determined to accomplish their objectives; nonetheless, they are not enough.

    Nevertheless, there are practical abilities which are essential to succeed, but can be learned neither at school nor at university. To put it simply, academic centers primarily focus on theoretical issues which hardly ever come in handy in real world; therefore, so long as people do not get involved in undertaking actual projects, they will not learn practical skills. Furthermore, personal qualities such as appreciating certain values including honesty and being committed to ethical principles are usually though by parents as school officials normally focus their attention on academic curriculums.

    To sum up, required qualities to ensure success should be learnt both from academic circles and social groups namely family and community.

    Mollazadeh

    Word count: 280

    Time: 50′

  • IELTS Essay Sample: “Countries are becoming more and more similar”

    Countries are becoming more and more similar because people are able to buy the same products anywhere in the world.

    Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

     

    There is no denying the fact that the world is transforming into a global village through major scientific and technological development. People can buy what they long for everywhere in the world in the blink of an eye which is, in my perspective, a positive development as it leads to a steady progression towards social well-being and economic growth.

     

    To begin with, thanks to cutting-edge innovations namely internet, communities bear more resemblance to one another in today’s world as an array of commodities are readily available whether you are dwelling in a remote area or a metropolitan city. To put it simply, regardless of their geographical location, people can have access to almost whatever they desire whenever they feel like that apparently is making life not only enjoyable but also more comfortable. For instance, Japanese who visit Tehran and fancy to eat “Sushi”, a traditional Japanese cuisine, can easily search on the internet and find specialized restaurants for that special dish in a city that is thousands of kilometers away from their homeland. This shows that due to such globalized world everything can be accessible with no limitations, because of which individuals in different continents feel relaxed when they go on an expedition to far-flung destinations.

     

    More importantly, such similarities among nations are bound to have positive economic impacts on a wide range of societies. The example of iPhone, made by an American brand, assembled in China and available across the globe can be a notable case. Engineers for the repair and maintenance work are available in most countries, the majority of whom are local dwellers. Needless to say, apart from the reduction in the unemployment rate, globalization is likely to contribute to the economic prosperity of international communities where a large number of job seekers can be hired in international firms.

     

    Overall, it is an irrefutable fact that globalization has revolutionized the whole world, and I personally would like to assert that the benefits of such improvement outweigh its downside.

     

    Hamid Mollazadeh

    Time: 40′

    Word count: 300

     

  • IELTS Essay Sample: “The positive and negative effects of retirement on retirees’ life”

    Discuss the positive and negative effects of retirement on retirees’ life.

     

    Retirement may seem to be an ending or a closing, but it also can be a new chapter or a beginning with its own benefits and drawbacks that will be discussed in this essay.    

    On the minus side, retirement has the potential to adversely impact retirees’ finances. For a large number of people in different countries, retirement means having difficulty in making ends meet owing to the fact that those who stop working because of reaching a certain age are very unlikely to earn half as much income as they used to generate and this is while they might have to pay for an array of extra expenditures namely medical expenses. A case in point is Iran where the retired have to seek for a part time job due to high inflation; otherwise, they will have to grapple with financial challenges as long as they are alive.

    Moreover, physical health and conditions are bound to be endangered once people retire. For some senior citizens abandoning one’s job due to age limitations equals not only living a sedentary life but also being engaged in passive activities like watching TV. Statistics issued by UN Retiree Associations indicate that pensioners are twice as much in danger of cardiovascular diseases as other society members. Another great impact of retirement might be felt mentally and emotionally as their sense of identity and usefulness was tied up in their occupation for many years and leaving the job would hurt it.

    On the plus side, retirement can be an opportunity to find new ways to get engaged in activities of which retirees were deprived for long due to their tight schedule. Volunteering at a community organization, mentoring a child, or becoming more involved with grandchildren are just some typical examples. Furthermore, responsibilities at work are a major source of anxiety for many employees whether they are junior clerks or high-ranking managers, and retirement might offer a respite from the pressure of work. By removing the need to perform a high standard service to meet specific targets or the stress that may come from interacting with superiors and customers, retirement can bring peace of mind.

    In conclusion, quitting the rat race could be nice; however, one has to adopt themselves to get along with less cheese.

    Hamid Mollazadeh

    Time: 45′

    Word count: 37

  • IELTS Essay Sample: “Many governments think that economic progress is their most important goal”

    Many governments think that economic progress is their most important goal. Some people, however, think that other types of progress are equally important for a country.
    Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

     

    People have different views about how governments should measure their countries’ progress. While economic progress is of course essential, I agree with those who believe that other measures of progress are just as important.

    There are three key reasons why economic growth is seen as a fundamental goal for countries. Firstly, a healthy economy results in job creation, a high level of employment, and better salaries for all citizens. Secondly, economic progress ensures that more money is available for governments to spend on infrastructure and public services. For example, a government with higher revenues can invest in the country’s transport network, its education system and its hospitals. Finally, a strong economy can help a country’s standing on the global stage, in terms of its political influence and trading power.

    However, I would argue that various other forms of progress are just as significant as the economic factors mentioned above. In particular, we should consider the area of social justice, human rights, equality and democracy itself. For example, the treatment of minority groups is often seen as a reflection of the moral standards and level of development of a society. Perhaps another key consideration when judging the progress of a modern country should be how well that country protects the natural environment, and whether it is moving towards environmental sustainability. Alternatively, the success of a nation could be measured by looking at the health, well-being and happiness of its residents.

    In conclusion, the economy is obviously a key marker of a country’s success, but social, environmental and health criteria are equally significant.

  • IELTS Essay Sample: “advantages and disadvantages of making unemployed people take any job”

    Some people believe that unemployed people should be made to work for their welfare/benefit payments. Others, however, see this as cheap labor.
    Discuss the possible advantages and disadvantages of making unemployed people take any job.
    Do you believe that making unemployed people work is a good idea?

    Unemployment is one of commonly problem in the developing countries. Some people think that several jobs should be provided for unemployed people even though others see this as the form of outsourcing labor. I would argue that making unemployed people to take any job will make them being productive inhabitants, who can contribute to increase the country’s income, and also automatically will reduce the rate of unemployment.

    It is true that making people who do not have a job will make them being cheap labor since their academic level cannot compete with professional workers. Result shows that mostly companies are looking for employees who have a degree certificate than they who are only high school graduates although they have an equal skill. It is thus clear that unemployed people who are given a job will be lower salary labor.

    In addition, the high rate of unemployment triggers to an outsourcing system, which hires cheap labor with no social guarantee. The result of a research held by National University in Indonesia proved that many workers who are involved to this system do not get a health guarantee that has already regulated by the government. As a result, the outsourcing company often cut the workers’ salary that is expensive under treatment. It is imperative that cheap labor occurs as a consequence of the high number of unemployed people.

    However, in my opinion, hiring jobless people will bring some benefits not only for the workers itself but also for the states. First, unemployed people will be productive. They will produce money to fulfil their daily essentials. Second, the rate of unemployment is going to decrease, which also means it will increase the rate of welfare people. Take Indonesia as an example, the government announced to public in 2010 that unemployment rate has been decreasing over the last 10 years due to many career opportunist which are provided by government. It is evident that there is a significant effect of making unemployed people work. Third, it cannot be denied that more people have a job and produce money, more tax revenue that the state can get.

    In conclusion, it seems to me that although providing jobs for unemployed people will do not guarantee them get a good salary, I strongly believe that it is better for jobless people to have an occupation as they can produce income not only for themselves but also for the country. Where possible, the government should improve the controlling system to guarantee the social welfare of labor.

  • IELTS Essay Sample: “Slavery”

    Slavery still exists today and is too wildly-practiced to be realized by people.

    Do you agree or disagree?

     

    Abolition of slavery seems to be no more than an empty slogan as it has been introduced in a plethora of new forms. Based on the following arguments, I concur with the idea that victims of modern-day slavery outnumber those who were exploited physically and/or psychologically in the past.

    First and foremost, in addition to forced labor, present day slavery includes not only human trafficking but also forced early marriages; therefore, it covers a wider range of victims compared to the past when slaves were only forced to work in farms from dawn to dusk. According to the Global Slavery Index 2018, over 40 million people are victims of modern slavery, of whom 15 million are in forced child marriage and the rest are either trafficked around the world or forced into prostitution.

    Furthermore, the horrific practice of slavery is invisible and hidden these days, meaning although it is the everyday reality for a large number of people, it is not as noticeable as in the past when slaves were soundly whipped in the middle of fields to work as hard as possible. Ranging from electronics to textiles, from handicrafts to coffee and cacao, each commodity is likely to include a kind of contemporary slavery. In other words, millions of those who live in abject poverty in underdeveloped countries have no choice but to work like mules in secret underground sweatshops, where working conditions are thoroughly miserable. Translation: far more people are bound to be dehumanized because of the newly-emerged types of slavery in the 21st century.

    In conclusion, although neo-slavery is less about people literally owning others, as long as innocent juveniles’ lives are controlled by their exploiters and they have to work not to starve to death, eradication of slavery would be all an illusion.

     

    Hamid Mollazadeh

    Word count: 290

    Time: 50

     

  • IELTS Essay Sample: “benefits from dams vs. anti-dam policies”

    Some presume that people receive major benefits from dams, yet others have adopted anti-dam policies.

    Discuss both ideas and state your opinion.

     

     People are at loggerheads over constructing dams. Despite the fact that some concur with the notion of building dams, there are still dissenting voices who have their own compelling arguments regarding the issue. 

     To begin with, those who follow pro-dam policies argue that dams are bound to offer a wide range of socio-economic and environmental benefits including recreation, flood control, water supply and electricity generation. Not only are canoeing, jet skiing and swimming supported by dams, but also communities have dammed up for centuries to help impound floodwater, which then is either released to the river below the dam or stored for other uses like carrying out irrigation projects. The last but not least, dams account for generating 35% of green energy in the world in the form of hydroelectric power.

    Nonetheless, others, including I myself, keep asking why colossal budgets should be expended on building dams when there is not enough water to store due to the low rainfall in most parts of the world. Moreover, building dams is likely to be associated with problems, some of which are seepage and evaporation, resulting in a great deal of water wastage. Opponents also refer to statistics issued by the World Commission on Dams that indicate the rate at which dams are built in the world has plunged from almost 1,000 a year in the mid-1970s to about 250 in the early 2000s.

     To conclude, I personally concede dams, though essential sources of water and electricity, are most probably not the optimal solution to alleviate the world’s water crisis that explains why concerted efforts must be made to pull the plug on constructing such structures as failing to do so might create dangerous illusions of water abundance and make a bad situation worse.

     

    Hamid Mollazadeh

    Word count: 295

    Time: 50’