ielts essay topics music

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IELTS Writing Task 2: Music Essay (Band 9)

Here’s my band 9 sample answer for the question below.

Some people say that music is a good way of bringing people of different cultures and ages together. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

1. Sample Band 9

It is often said that music has the power to unite and connect people, regardless of their cultural backgrounds or ages. I completely agree with this view, and will give my reasons below.

Music can certainly reach across cultural and national boundaries and bring people together. Perhaps the best example of this would be the Live Aid concerts that took place back in the 1980s, and which were broadcast to a global audience. Two live events were held simultaneously in the UK and the US, and the objective was to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. The concerts were a huge success, both in terms of the number of people around the world who watched them and their impact on international public awareness of the famine. They demonstrated, I believe, that music truly is the planet’s global language.

Just as it transcends cultures, music also has the ability to connect people from different generations. Regardless of age, we can all enjoy a memorable melody, a strong rhythm or a beautiful singing voice, and the best songs seem to have the same magical effect on all of us. This would explain why televised music competitions, such as ‘The X Factor’ or ‘The Voice’, are such popular prime-time shows. These programmes attract incredibly broad audiences because singing and popular songs appeal to children, parents and grandparents alike. I would argue that no other form of entertainment can bring families together in this way.

In conclusion, I believe that music is unique in its capacity to create shared experiences between people, irrespective of culture and age.

(265 words)

2. Sample Band 9

Many believe that music is an effective means of strengthening the bond between people from different cultural backgrounds and generations. From my perspective, I wholeheartedly agree with this point of view.

To begin with, music has an exceptional ability to  evoke a wide range of feelings  of the listeners such as sadness, anger, and happiness regardless of their country of origin. Although it is true that the lyrics of a song might be  incomprehensible  due to the language barrier, its melody is  linguistically neutral . In fact, in order to feel the melody of a song, the listener does not need to fully understand the language in which the song is written. For example, a Vietnamese may fall in love with a Korean pop song or a Japanese may shed tears while listening to a  melancholic piece of music  written by an American musician. This is a clear evidence that shows music is a universal language that  transcends  all cultural boundaries.

In addition, music is a  common ground  for people to understand each other better  irrespective  of their age. Nowadays, it is not surprising to see young individuals are fond of the  nostalgic feel  of a song released years ago, and likewise, modern music genres such as hip-hop, rap, and techno are also becoming increasingly popular amongst older people. For instance, it is commonplace to see a family of different generations gathered together in a karaoke room, singing and dancing to the same song with much joy.

In conclusion, music is an important part of people’s lives and it can also act as a powerful means of  uniting  people of different cultures and ages

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IELTS Music Essay: A Complex Essay Question

In this lesson we’ll look at an  IELTS music essay  in order to explain how to approach a more complex IELTS task 2 question.

Many questions have a clear  task . For example, the task may clearly state that you need to agree or disagree, offer solutions to a problem, or give the reasons why a problem exists.

Some though may have more general questions. Take a look at the example below:

There are many types of music in the world today.

Why do we need music?

Is the traditional music of a country more important and should it be preserved or is international music that is heard everywhere nowadays more useful to a society?

This is quite complex - the IELTS music essay question is long and ‘music’ is quite an abstract topic.

Understanding the Question

When you get a more complex IELTS task 2 question like this you should make sure you underline important words and carefully break it down into its different parts.

This will make sure that you do not miss something when you answer the question.

When you have done this, you should hopefully end up with something like this:

• Why is traditional music important?
• Should it be preserved?
• Why is international music important?
• Which is the most important?

You need to discuss all these things as they are all within the IELTS music essay question. If you address all of these points then you will be fully answering the question .

These kinds of question are usually asking your opinion in some way, and this question is no exception.

All of the points listed are asking for your opinion, but most importantly you MUST make it clear which type of music, traditional or international, you think is more important/useful (if indeed you do think one is more important than the other - you may think they are equally important).

Planning and Organizing your Answer

You can use these questions to brainstorm and plan your answer.

With a question like this there is no ‘fixed’ way to organize it. There could be many different ways. But you must ensure that, as always, it is logical and covers everything .

One clear way would be to discuss why we need music first, then go on to discuss/compare the relative importance of traditional and international music, ensuring that you finish by stating your opinion (or re stating your opinion if you already gave it in your introduction).

Now, take a look at the IELTS music essay model answer.

IELTS Music Essay Model Answer

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

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

Write at least 250 words.

Model Answer:

Music exists in some form or another in every culture around the world and it provides enjoyment to millions of people. However, some people are concerned that traditional music is being lost because of the popularity of international music.

Without a doubt, music is a necessity. Firstly, music is important as it provides enjoyment and pleasure in daily life. People listen to music to relax at home, to relieve the boredom of long journeys, and to dance to in the evening at clubs. Not only this, music is also an expression of culture, often being an essential part of religious ceremonies such as weddings and funerals or yearly festivals. It is also now common in educational development as children learn to play music at school.

In considering which kind of music is the most important, international music is certainly useful to society because it can be argued that it helps us to understand and relate to other people, cultures and countries as we all listen to the same songs. This has occurred as globalization means Western music is heard around the world. However, it is critical that this is not at the expense of traditional music. It should be a priority to preserve this since it teaches people about their history, and helps societies remember and retain their national and cultural identity.

To conclude, I would argue that one type of music is not more important or useful than another. Traditional music is vital and should be preserved as it is part of a country’s cultural identity, but both are needed as they provide enjoyment to people in different ways.

(270 words)

As you can see, the IELTS music essay answer is 270 words.

There is a lot more you could have written about this topic and I could have made the answer longer, but this is to show you that you can address quite a few points in a short space.

If you are a good writer and you can write more then that is fine, but most people cannot write much more if they have to brainstorm, plan and check their grammar as well as write the answer.

The question has quite a few points to discuss and they are all within the essay.

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IELTS Topics: Music

Posted by David S. Wills | Sep 21, 2020 | IELTS Tips | 1

Music is one of those universal topics that affect almost all people. Whether you live in France or Zimbabwe, Brazil or China, you have almost certainly listened to music and maybe even played music. We all have opinions and ideas about it, so it makes music the perfect IELTS topic .

In today’s lesson, I am going to tell you how the topic of music could occur throughout the IELTS exam, as well as teach you some music vocabulary.

Music Vocabulary

First of all, let’s look at some language we can use to talk about music. I would like to break this into two categories: musical genres and musical instruments.

Music Genres

It can be useful to talk about the type (genre) of music that you like. This will certainly help you in part one of the IELTS speaking test.

Some genres include:

The list could go on. What’s most important is that you can talk about the type of music that matters to you. Let’s say you are into rock music. Well, you probably don’t just like “rock,” do you? It’s going to be more specific than that:

• alternative rock
• heavy metal
• death metal
• speed metal

Here is a PPT that teaches you some kinds of music:

You might also enjoy this lesson that I designed around the topic of music. It is not specifically for IELTS and it is geared more towards teachers than students, but it still could be interesting.

Musical Instruments

It’s also worth knowing the names of some musical instruments. In fact, that’s an integral part of music vocabulary. Here are some common ones:

This PPT has even more instruments and is divided into useful chapters to make learning easy:

Here is some more music vocabulary that could be useful for you:

• play a song
• go to a concert
• band practice

You can learn more music vocabulary by listening to podcasts, watching videos, or reading articles.

IELTS Speaking Topics: Music

It is most likely that you will encounter the topic of music in the IELTS speaking test. This could occur in any part, but I suppose part one is probably where it occurs the most.

For part one, the questions are going to be pretty general. They will revolve around your personal views and could be as simple as:

• Do you like listening to music?
• What sort of music do you listen to?
• Can you play any musical instruments?

Remember that for this part of the test you should give full answers but you don’t need to say very much. For example, to the first question I might respond:

Yes, I quite like listening to music. To be honest, I don’t listen to it that much, but when I go to the gym or when I am cooking I will put on a Spotify playlist.

You can see that this is just two sentences with relatively little information, but for part one you aren’t required to speak at length. Just try to answer the question honestly and then maybe say one more thing – such as a justification for your statement.

I’ll answer the other two questions so that you can see what I mean:

Q: What sort of music do you listen to? A: I have a fairly eclectic taste in music, but I suppose I lean towards rock more than anything. I like bands from the sixties and seventies, like Bob Dylan and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Q: Can you play any musical instruments? A: I got a guitar when I was about fourteen or fifteen and technically I’ve been playing it since then… but really I have no musical talent whatsoever. I can play a few songs but I don’t have a sense of rhythm or tone, so I’m not very good.

You might also be asked about concerts, so it is helpful to have a range of ideas and language. Music is more than just instruments and songs.

IELTS Cue Cards About Music

It is also possible that you could be asked to describe something musical for part two of the speaking test. Here are two possibilities:

• Describe a musical instrument you want to learn
• Describe a musician that you admire
• Describe your favourite singer

Of course, these would require totally different approaches and have their own challenges.

If you encountered a question about music in part three of the speaking test, it would likely ask you about music and age, culture, or gender. I suspect the question might ask you about generational differences in music – ie whether you and your grandparents could enjoy the same songs.

IELTS Writing Questions about Music

Music comes up less frequently in IELTS writing because it is hard to put it into an IELTS framework without making it really specific. I mean to say that turning the topic of music into an IELTS question might require some specialist knowledge, which is not possible with IELTS questions. You would not be asked about the fine details of the music industry, for example.

Still, I have found two IELTS essay questions about music, which I will share with you belong alongside my sample answers.

Sample Essay #1

Here is one possible question, although you can see that it is not 100% focused on the topic of music:

Some people believe that playing a musical instrument can be beneficial in many different ways. Others think it is a waste of time to play a musical instrument. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

This question is about musical instruments but you do not have to know the name of many. Instead, you just have to be able to talk about them in general. Think of the benefits of playing an instrument – it is relaxing, it is fun, it is creative, etc.

Sample Band 9 Answer

Throughout human history, playing musical instruments has generally been viewed as an important pastime that can have various benefits for the players and the listeners. However, some people believe that it is just a waste of time. This essay will look at both sides of this argument but strongly agree that playing music is beneficial.

There are various benefits to playing musical instruments. For one thing, music is a major cultural element and so playing it can help bring a person into a group, as well as uniting that group. When people hear music, they feel many different emotions and this can create bonds between them, so playing a musical instrument is highly important in such societies. It has also been demonstrated that playing a musical instrument can be relaxing, so it is useful for people to decompress after a difficult day by playing a song on their piano or guitar. In addition to this, music is a form of creativity, and so playing a musical instrument helps people to exercise their artistic side. This can have countless benefits for both the player and the listeners.

Some people believe that it is a waste of time to play an instrument. They tend to view it in the same way that people view computer games or other frivolous pastimes. Their argument simply says that this is little more than a hobby and thus there are other things to do in life that are more worthy of attention. For example, some strict parents believe that their child should not spend time learning the guitar because they will be unlikely to become professional in future; therefore, the child should concentrate his energies on more fruitful endeavours. However, this is a limited and unhelpful perspective that ignores the aforementioned benefits.

In conclusion, there is a split between people who think playing musical instruments is a waste of time and those who recognise that it has various benefits. Certainly, it seems that the relaxing, social, and creative rewards of music vastly outweigh any perceived negative attributes.

Sample Essay #2

Here is another question. This one is a bit more general than the first, and it relates to the issue we discussed before: music and age.

Some people say that music is a good way of bringing people of different cultures and ages together. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Music has been a part of human culture for many thousands of years. Some people say that it can bring different cultures and generations together, and this essay will agree with that view.

Music differs from culture to culture and it has changed a lot over the course of history, but it has always been a part of human identity. If a person from Japan travelled to the Amazon to meet an uncontacted tribe, or an aboriginal Australian went to visit an Inuit in Alaska, they would recognise the local music as music, even though they have never heard it before. Although they could not talk to each other, they would certainly recognise that the other one is playing music, and they could theoretically contribute to that. In this sense, music can act as an international language.

The shared passion for music is also something that brings people of different ages together. Although it is almost a cliché that generations have different musical tastes, there are certainly many cases of artists transcending those generational divides. People like Bob Dylan or the Rolling Stones have been beloved by several generations, and it is not uncommon to find parents and children listening to this music together. They can find some degree of common ground in music that perhaps they don’t find in other parts of the culture.

In conclusion, music is something that unites humanity, and although we all have different musical tastes, music is still recognised as a form of human expression, and people from different backgrounds and ages can still enjoy it together.

In neither of these essays did I need specialist music vocabulary. Instead, I used more general language and then applied it to music. I said things like “international language” and “transcending the generational divide,” which are specific to the topic but not exactly to music. However, they still relate closely to music.

Reading and Listening

It is possible that you could encounter the topic of music in either the listening or reading test, but it is hard to predict just how that could occur. In order to prepare, I recommend reading and listening to various news articles. This will help you learn new vocabulary and become familiar with the topic.

In the meantime, here is a short passage from an article about a band. Read it and then try to answer the following question.

As it has for most bands, 2020 has been a tough year for Elkins and band co-founder Vanessa Olivarez. In March, they survived the devastating Nashville tornado that struck near their homes. Then, the coronavirus pandemic shut down most live music. “It’s the first time in my life that I haven’t been able to do music for people,” Olivarez said. “But there still is the ability to create. I try to remember that, and that I still have the ability to record and make music. And we still have the opportunity to write these books and tell people’s stories. That’s a blessing in and of itself.”

How does Vanessa Olivarez sound?

• Pessimistic

Although this is not a true IELTS-style question, it is asking you to infer meaning from her language, which is definitely an IELTS reading skill.

Did you figure it out? I’ll put the answer in the comment section below.

If you want some listening practice, I have a short lesson from a few years ago. You can check it out here .

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

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The answer is #2. We can tell this because of her repetition of “still” and also the reference to “blessing” at the end.

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IELTS Band 9 essay, topic: Some people believe that teaching music in schools is vital, while others think it is unnecessary (opinion)

• IELTS Essays - Band 9

This is a model response to a Writing Task 2 topic from High Scorer’s Choice IELTS Practice Tests book series (reprinted with permission). This answer is likely to score IELTS Band 9.

Set 1 General Training book, Practice Test 2

Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Some people believe that teaching music in schools is a vital part of growing up and the human experience, whilst others believe that teaching music in schools is a waste of time and resources.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

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

You should write at least 250 words.

In modern day society, education has become a vital aspect of every child’s life. Educational facilities tend to offer a wide range of subjects aimed at educating children and teaching them various skills. Fundamental subject areas are said to be mathematics, science, languages and physical education. Whilst some have the ideology that musical education is an important part of growing up, others believe that it should no longer be taught in schools, as it is considered a waste of time and resources. In my view, it is important to incorporate music in children’s education as it promotes creativity.

Typically people judge that learning to express oneself in a creative manner is less important than learning about mathematical theories and scientific facts. Music falls under the subject area of art, causing it to often be considered as less valuable than other subjects. Often the opponents of musical education propose that a more rationally-based education will benefit children later on in their lives, as they will be able to perceive and comprehend the logical aspects of life more easily.

The supporters of musical education, on the other hand, argue that music is beneficial for children, because it offers a manner of creative self-expression. It is important for a child to learn about thinking creatively and to take a break from logical subjects once in a while. Furthermore, music is a salient part of human culture, as it brings people together and therefore children who study music can obtain a sense of cultural knowledge.

In conclusion, music should be taught at school, because it enables children to express themselves creatively and to learn more about culture and human interaction. I, personally, benefited from musical education, because I played piano for seven years and believe that this has helped me become a more balanced person.

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4 thoughts on “IELTS Band 9 essay, topic: Some people believe that teaching music in schools is vital, while others think it is unnecessary (opinion)”

I played piano for seven years and believe that this \’\’has helped me become\’\’… have helped me

I think this essay will only get 5.5 because of the off topic, grammatical errors, misuse of vocabs and lack in variety of grammatical structure.

These are some bold claims! I would love to see some substantiation – can you explain what grammatical errors and misuse of vocabulary you are referring to? Give any examples of lack of variety of grammatical structures? I would also appreciate an explanation on why you claim this essay is off-topic. Looking forward to hearing from you.

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IELTS Essay: Classical Music

by Dave | Real Past Tests | 4 Comments

This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of classical music from the real IELTS exam.

Please consider supporting my efforts to creative high quality IELTS materials for students around the world by signing up for my Patreon (and so you won’t miss out on any of my exclusive IELTS Ebooks)!

In some countries, there are fewer young people who listen to or play classical music these days.

Why is this?

Should young people be encouraged to play or perform classical music?

It is becoming less and less common for students to both listen to and play classical musical. In my opinion, this is the result of changing tastes and it should be countered by concerned parents when possible.

The reason fewer young people today opt to listen to or take up playing classical music is that there are other, more modern options. In the past, classical music helped students gain entrance into elite universities and was a potential career path. This is still true but to a lesser extent as the diversification of musical styles and the growth of the music industry now allows students to develop skills with music more suited to their particular preferences. A young person today is more likely to want to learn the drums to play in a rock group or practice rapping. This applies for listening habits as well and is reflected in the dominance of pop music.

Regardless, it is still advisable for parents to instill a love of classical music and encourage playing an instrument. First of all, appreciating classical music requires greater mental engagement and patience than other popular genres. In an era of shorter attention spans and immediate gratification, a love of complex melodies can serve as a counter-balance. Secondly, the benefits of playing an instrument are self-evident. Decades of substantial research support the claims that it aids cognitive development generally and one’s creativity more specifically. This is apart from the discipline one must develop through years of intensive practice.

In conclusion, though it is natural younger people today opt for more popular genres, there is great value in sustaining an interest in classical music. It is therefore up to parents to gently encourage such a pursuit.

1. It is becoming less and less common for students to both listen to and play classical musical. 2. In my opinion, this is the result of changing tastes and it should be countered by concerned parents when possible.

• Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
• Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here .

1. The reason fewer young people today opt to listen to or take up playing classical music is that there are other, more modern options. 2. In the past, classical music helped students gain entrance into elite universities and was a potential career path. 3. This is still true but to a lesser extent as the diversification of musical styles and the growth of the music industry now allows students to develop skills with music more suited to their particular preferences. 4. A young person today is more likely to want to learn the drums to play in a rock group or practice rapping. 5. This applies for listening habits as well and is reflected in the dominance of pop music.

• Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
• Explain your main idea.
• Develop it with specific detail as fully as possible.
• Continue to develop it with an example or a hypothetical example.
• Extend it to both parts of the question.

1. Regardless, it is still advisable for parents to instill a love of classical music and encourage playing an instrument. 2. First of all, appreciating classical music requires greater mental engagement and patience than other popular genres. 3. In an era of shorter attention spans and immediate gratification, a love of complex melodies can serve as a counter-balance. 4. Secondly, the benefits of playing an instrument are self-evident. 5. Decades of substantial research support the claims that it aids cognitive development generally and one’s creativity more specifically. 6. This is apart from the discipline one must develop through years of intensive practice.

• Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
• Explain your new main idea.
• Include specific details and examples.
• Switch to a second main idea if you have one.
• And develop the second idea fully.
• Conclude the paragraph or finish developing your last idea.

1. In conclusion, though it is natural younger people today opt for more popular genres, there is great value in sustaining an interest in classical music. 2. It is therefore up to parents to gently encourage such a pursuit.

• Summarise your main ideas.
• Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here .

What do the words in bold below mean?

It is becoming less and less common for students to both listen to and play classical musical . In my opinion, this is the result of changing tastes and it should be countered by concerned parents when possible .

The reason fewer young people today opt to listen to or take up playing classical music is that there are other, more modern options . In the past , classical music helped students gain entrance into elite universities and was a potential career path . This is still true but to a lesser extent as the diversification of musical styles and the growth of the music industry now allows students to develop skills with music more suited to their particular preferences . A young person today is more likely to want to learn the drums to play in a rock group or practice rapping. This applies for listening habits as well and is reflected in the dominance of pop music.

Regardless , it is still advisable for parents to instill a love of classical music and encourage playing an instrument. First of all , appreciating classical music requires greater mental engagement and patience than other popular genres . In an era of shorter attention spans and immediate gratification , a love of complex melodies can serve as a counter-balance . Secondly , the benefits of playing an instrument are self-evident . Decades of substantial research support the claims that it aids cognitive development generally and one’s creativity more specifically . This is apart from the discipline one must develop through years of intensive practice .

In conclusion, though it is natural younger people today opt for more popular genres, there is great value in sustaining an interest in classical music. It is therefore up to parents to gently encourage such a pursuit .

less and less common not popular

classical music Beethoven, Mozart, etc.

changing tastes new inclinations

countered by fought by

concerned parents mothers and fathers who care

when possible if they can

more modern options newer genres

in the past a long time ago

gain entrance into elite universities get into top schools

potential career path could be a job

to a lesser extent not as important now

diversification more options

growth of the music industry more money put into music

more suited to prefer

particular preferences what they like

applies for also true for

habits what you do over and over

reflected mirrored

dominance stronger than

regardless nonetheless

advisable a good idea

instill encourage

encourage suggest

first of all firstly

appreciating caring a lot about

requires greater mental engagement must pay attention to

patience being able to wait

genres types of music

era of shorter attention spans people today can’t pay attention for as long

immediate gratification satisfaction right away

complex melodies complicated songs

serve as a counter-balance help fight against

secondly next

self-evident obvious

decades many years

substantial research support the claims a lot of science backs up

aids cognitive development generally helps people learn/think better

creativity imagination

specifically in particular

apart different from

discipline restraint

intensive practice working hard

great value lots of importance in

sustaining keeping alive

therefore thus

gently encourage suggest without too much force

pursuit area of study

Pronunciation

lɛs ænd lɛs ˈkɒmən   ˈklæsɪkəl ˈmjuːzɪkəl ˈʧeɪnʤɪŋ teɪsts   ˈkaʊntəd baɪ   kənˈsɜːnd ˈpeərənts   wɛn ˈpɒsəbl ɒpt   mɔː ˈmɒdən ˈɒpʃənz ɪn ðə pɑːst geɪn ˈɛntrəns ˈɪntuː eɪˈliːt ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsɪtiz   pəʊˈtɛnʃəl kəˈrɪə pɑːθ tuː ə ˈlɛsər ɪksˈtɛnt   daɪˌvɜːsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən   grəʊθ ɒv ðə ˈmjuːzɪk ˈɪndəstri   mɔː ˈsjuːtɪd tuː   pəˈtɪkjʊlə ˈprɛfərənsɪz əˈplaɪz fɔː   ˈhæbɪts   rɪˈflɛktɪd   ˈdɒmɪnəns   rɪˈgɑːdlɪs ədˈvaɪzəbl   ɪnˈstɪl   ɪnˈkʌrɪʤ   fɜːst ɒv ɔːl əˈpriːʃɪeɪtɪŋ   rɪˈkwaɪəz ˈgreɪtə ˈmɛntl ɪnˈgeɪʤmənt   ˈpeɪʃəns   ˈ(d)ʒɑːŋrəz ˈɪərə ɒv ˈʃɔːtər əˈtɛnʃ(ə)n spænz   ɪˈmiːdiət ˌgrætɪfɪˈkeɪʃən ˈkɒmplɛks ˈmɛlədiz   sɜːv æz ə ˈkaʊntə-ˈbæləns ˈsɛkəndli sɛlf-ˈɛvɪdənt ˈdɛkeɪdz   səbˈstænʃəl rɪˈsɜːʧ səˈpɔːt ðə kleɪmz   eɪdz ˈkɒgnɪtɪv dɪˈvɛləpmənt ˈʤɛnərəli   ˌkriːeɪˈtɪvɪti   spəˈsɪfɪk(ə)li əˈpɑːt   ˈdɪsɪplɪn   ɪnˈtɛnsɪv ˈpræktɪs greɪt ˈvæljuː   səsˈteɪnɪŋ   ˈðeəfɔː   ˈʤɛntli ɪnˈkʌrɪʤ   pəˈsjuːt

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

It is becoming l______________________n for students to both listen to and play c________________l . In my opinion, this is the result of c_________________s and it should be c________________y c_____________________s w___________________e .

The reason fewer young people today o___t to listen to or take up playing classical music is that there are other, m______________________s . I_____________t , classical music helped students g_____________________o e____________________s and was a p______________________h . This is still true but t________________________t as the d__________________n of musical styles and the g__________________________________y now allows students to develop skills with music m______________o their p__________________s . A young person today is more likely to want to learn the drums to play in a rock group or practice rapping. This a______________r listening h________s as well and is r________________d in the d______________e of pop music.

R_______________s , it is still a________________e for parents to i___________l a love of classical music and e_________________e playing an instrument. F______________l , a________________________g classical music r______________________________________t and p_________e than other popular g_________s . In an e_______________________________________s and i_____________________n , a love of c___________________s can s____________________________e . S_____________y , the benefits of playing an instrument are s______________t . D_________s of s__________________________________________s that it a__________________________________y and one’s c_____________y more s_______________y . This is a______t from the d_____________e one must develop through years of i_______________________e .

In conclusion, though it is natural younger people today opt for more popular genres, there is g______________e in s_________________g an interest in classical music. It is t______________e up to parents to g______________________e such a p___________t .

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities :

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice :

https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2020/01/conservatories-sexual-harassment-abuse/604351/

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam :

• Do you like music?
• Which types of music do you like?
• Would you like to learn a musical instrument?
• Do you prefer listening to music by yourself or with someone else?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related topic below and then check with my sample answer:

Some people think that the most important function of music is to help people relax.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

IELTS Essay: Music and Relaxation

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Try to expplain thesis statement properly with

Hi, Thanks for the lesson.

I have written my answer like the following.

I would really appreciate it if you could, kindly, take a look and gave me some feedback.

Thanks in advance, Ghazal

Seemingly, for some reasons, the younger generation is not interested in classical music, however, since recent studies have shown that it is very beneficial to people’s health and well-being it is strongly recommended that people dedicate time to listening to or performing classical music.   Why classical music is less appealing to the younger generation? First of all, compared to the dynamic and rhythmic nature of contemporary music, say, pop or jazz, classical music for the Millennial and Generation Zs is considered to be very boring due to the lack of tempo or rhythm. Moreover, because classical symphonies are quite lengthy, they do not fit the intolerant taste of the younger people. Additionally, there exists this stigma that classical music suits old people and, also there is this tendency that we often hear it in our grandparents’ house. Then, a quick Google search of “Classical music is for old people” and finding hundreds of articles explaining this phenomenon reinforces this stigma. Finally, it is the subject matter of the pop or jazz music that captivates the younger generations’ attention compared to a wordless, bland symphony by Bach.   On the other hand, well-researched studies have shown that in this frantic and chaotic world listening to classical music is quite advantageous in so many ways. First, it can increase concentration skills and boost memory retention. In addition, it can act as a natural pain reliever and can aid sleeplessness. Finally, it improves an individual’s productivity and helps people performing their tasks more efficiently.   All in all, for the younger generation, classical music is not as interesting as contemporary music, since, it is boring, lengthy, and wordless. However, research has revealed that it can be quite useful for a person’s healthy being.

Your essay is a good one, but what you failed to do is put 1 idea in a paragraph. Your ideas are too many for one paragraph, hence you failed to appropriately explain points. Kindly look at that.

Have two ideas per paragraph is absolutely acceptable Abigail as long as they are both well-developed.

I prefer one fully developed but like to show students different approaches as well.

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write an IELTS essay within at least 250 words with the topic "There are many different types of music in the world today. Why do we need music? Is the traditional music of a country more important than the international music that is heard everywhere nowadays?"

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Writing9 with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Fully explain your ideas

To get an excellent score in the IELTS Task 2 writing section, one of the easiest and most effective tips is structuring your writing in the most solid format. A great argument essay structure may be divided to four paragraphs, in which comprises of four sentences (excluding the conclusion paragraph, which comprises of three sentences).

For we to consider an essay structure a great one, it should be looking like this:

• Paragraph 1 - Introduction
• Sentence 1 - Background statement
• Sentence 2 - Detailed background statement
• Sentence 3 - Thesis
• Sentence 4 - Outline sentence
• Paragraph 2 - First supporting paragraph
• Sentence 1 - Topic sentence
• Sentence 2 - Example
• Sentence 3 - Discussion
• Sentence 4 - Conclusion
• Paragraph 3 - Second supporting paragraph
• Paragraph 4 - Conclusion
• Sentence 1 - Summary
• Sentence 2 - Restatement of thesis
• Sentence 3 - Prediction or recommendation

Our recommended essay structure above comprises of fifteen (15) sentences, which will make your essay approximately 250 to 275 words.

Discover more tips in The Ultimate Guide to Get a Target Band Score of 7+ » — a book that's free for 🚀 Premium users.

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You are travelling next month to stay with a family you do not know as part of a language training course. Write a letter to the family to introduce yourself. In your letter, Say when and how you will be arriving, Tell the family a little about yourself -Ask about the type of food that the family eats.

What are advantages and disadvantages of changing careers, some people believe that it is more important to teach children the literature of their own country than other countries. do you agree or disagree, many criminals re-offend after they have been punished. why do some people continue to commit crimes after they have been punished, and what measures can be taken to tackle this problem, scientist and technology experts seem to be more valued by modern society than musicians and artists. to what extent do you agree.

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IELTS Writing Task 2/ Essay Topics with sample answer.

Ielts essay # 1486 - do art and music still have a place in modern world, ielts writing task 2/ ielts essay:, art and music are considered some of the fundamental elements of all societies, and some suggest that children should learn them at school., do you think art and music still have a place in today’s modern world of technology should children spend more time learning art and music at school  .

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100 IELTS Essay Questions

Below are practice IELTS essay questions and topics for writing task 2. The 100 essay questions have been used many times over the years. The questions are organised under common topics and essay types. IELTS often use the similar topics for their essays but change the wording of the essay question.

In order to prepare well for writing task 2, you should prepare ideas for common topics and then practise applying them to the tasks given (to the essay questions). Also see model essays and tips  for writing task 2.

Below you will find:

• Essay Questions By Topic
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1) Common IELTS Essay Questions

IELTS practice essay questions divided by topic. These topics have been reported by IELTS students in their tests. Essay questions have been recreated as accurately as possible.

• Art   (5 essay questions)
• Business & Money   (17 essay questions)
• Communication & Personality   (20 essay questions)
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• Education   (17 essay questions)
• Environment   (12 essay questions)
• Family & Children   (8 essay questions)
• Food & Diet (13 essay questions)
• Government (6 essay questions)
• Health   (9 essay questions)
• Housing, Buildings & Urban Planning (8 essay questions)
• Language (6 essay questions)
• Leisure (1 essay question)
• Media & Advertising   (12 essay questions)
• Reading  (5 essay questions)
• Society   (10 essay questions)
• Space Exploration (3 questions)
• Sport & Exercise   (6 essay questions)
• Technology  (6 essay questions)
• Tourism and Travel   (11 essay questions)
• Transport  (7 essay questions)
• Work (17 essay questions)

2) IELTS Essay Questions by Essay Type 

There are 5 main types of essay questions in IELTS writing task 2 (opinion essays, discussion essay, advantage/disadvantage essays, solution essay and direct question essays). Click on the links below to see some sample essay questions for each type.

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