A lot of older people are suffering from loneliness these days. They also lack physical fitness.

What do you think are the reasons for these problems? Can you think of possible solutions? Use personal examples if applicable.

This question was asked on an IELTS writing test held in Norway in April 2012. It is taken from www.ieltsielts.com Model Answer Loneliness is a major problem that plagues older people all over the world. People in their seventies and eighties have always had their share of problems. But the kind of loneliness and associated problems that they experience today are much worse than what older people had to endure twenty or thirty years ago. What are the reasons for these problems? How can these problems be solved? Lets examine .

Loneliness is not a new phenomenon. People of all ages and nationalities face it from time to time. While loneliness can affect all people, the older people are the worst hit by this problem. Part of this problem can be attributed to the rise of nuclear families. Families all over the world are becoming smaller and smaller. While youngsters who spend a considerable part of their away from home have plenty of opportunities to socialize, their older parents and grandparents have few outing options which severely limit their chances of interacting with other people. Old age is also a period of physical inactivity. Few older people even bother to step out of their home.

To overcome loneliness older people must keep themselves engaged in meaningful activities. They can go a walk in the morning or in the evening. It will give them physical exercise. It will also give them an opportunity to meet and interact with other people. They can join clubs or they can pursue other interests. By keeping themselves constantly engaged in something or the other they can overcome loneliness. What is more, when they are physically fit they will feel better about themselves and that will add a whole new layer of meaning to life.

The following question was asked on IELTS (General module) test held in Brisbane, Australia.

To what extent do you think governments should be held responsible when problems of homelessness and unemployment arise? Model answer Countries where social welfare schemes are properly implemented by the governme nts dont have high levels of homelessness or unemployment. In fact when a country has a large number of homeless and unemployed people, it is a clear indication that something is wrong with the way it is governed. But can governments be held completely responsible for loss of jobs and homes? Lets examine.

Both internal and external factors can have a significant effect on a nations economy. A good government should be able to c ontrol the internal conflicts that might be causing joblessness and homelessness. However, no government in the world can effectively control external affairs. For example, a lot of people lost jobs due to the economic crisis in 2008. Although recession was mainly in the US, its effect was felt all over the globe. In fact, the US recession caused job loss in countries like India and China. It affected Indias booming outsourcing industry. And because it w as an external factor, the governments in India or China couldnt do anything to ease its ramifications.

Nonetheless, there are many things that governments can do to reduce the severity of these problems and protect their citizens. Most governments have enough money in their coffers to ensure basic amenities like food and shelter. Governments collect taxes from the wealthy people. If this money is effectively used it will significantly improve the living standards of the poorer sections of the society. If a government fails to do it, it is either apathetic or inefficient.

In India, for example, the government has launched several schemes to provide housing and employment to people. Although the country still faces these problems, the situation has considerably improved in recent years. This is a clear indication that political willpower and proper governance can improve the economic status of a country and its people.

After analyzing the situation, it is difficult to arrive at the conclusion that governments can be held completely responsible for problems like job loss and unemployment. Of course, the governments have a role to play in easing these problems, but factors outside the control of a government too can upset a nations financial status.

Some people believe that giving a weekly allowance will help children to develop good spending habits. Do you agree or disagree?

This essay question was asked in an IELTS test held in Bulgaria recently. You have to spend 40 minutes answering this question. Your essay must have at least 250 words. Model Answer In many families it is a common practice for parents to give a weekly allowance to their kids. When I was a kid, my father used to give me a small sum of money every day. I was supposed to spend that money judiciously. Although he never really asked what I was doing with the money, I always made sure that I didnt waste a single penny. I used that money to buy books and pay tuition fees.

In hind sight, I think his decision to give me a daily allowance was good. That small sum of money gave me a sense of independence. Because I always had a small amount with me, I didnt have to ask him every time I needed to buy a book or things like that. I also learned the importance of spending money wisely. As I was getting only a small allowance, I had to limit my spending. I had to spend money only on things that was absolutely necessary. So in my opinion, giving your kids a daily or weekly allowance is a good idea.

On the flip side, giving too much money to your kids is bad. Many parents who have high disposable incomes commit this mistake. Kids are too young to understand what is necessary and what isnt. If they get a lot of money, they are invariably going to splurge. They might even get into harmful habits like smoking, drinking and gambling. So I think what parents should do is to give a small amount that would meet the day-to-day needs of their children. Parents must also monitor what their kids are doing with that money.

INTERVIEW What is your name? My name is Anita. Are you coming from a large city or a small town?

I am coming from a small town in Kerala. Kerala is a south Indian state known for its backwaters and scenic landscape.

Are you good at remembering names or numbers?

Well, I guess I am good at remembering names. I still remember the names of most of my old classmates. But I am not very good at remembering numbers. Sometimes, I find it difficult to remember my own telephone number.

Does any number have a special significance in your life?

I am not really into numerology, however, I have often felt that the number 9 is lucky for me. I was born on May 9, so maybe that is the reason.

CUE CARD Where should your ideal house be located?

I dont like noisy surroundings so my ideal house should be located in a quiet area away from the city. However, it must stil l be well connected to the city as I work there. I am also particular about having all the necessary amenities like shopping malls, schools and hospitals within walking distance.

Who should be living there with you?

My parents and siblings. I have lived all my life with them, so Im very close to them. I dont think I can live without the m.

How large it should be?

It should be neither too large nor too small. Large houses might look attractive, but they also require a lot of maintenance. So I would much rather have a medium sized house that has just enough space for all of us.

DISCUSSION Would you like to live in a rural area? What do you think about living in a rural area?

Well, I dont know. I lived all my life in a small town so I am not exactly familiar with the rural way of living. That said, I would still like to try it for a few days. And if I like it, I might consider buying a weekend home in a rural idea. But I dont think I will ever want to move into a rural area for good.

What do you think about the urbanization process?

I think it is unavoidable. As population increases more and more people will have to move into cities in search of jobs. The cities have to grow in order to accommodate migrant workers from rural areas. This will naturally lead to urbanization.

PART 1 (INTERVIEW) Examiner: Hello, my name is .. Can you tell me your name, please?

Candidate: My name is ..

Examiner: Can you show me your ID, please? It is for security purposes.

Candidate: Oh Sure. (Shows his ID card to the examiner)

Examiner: Thank you. Now I would like to ask you a few general questions about yourself. Where do you live now?

Candidate: I live in Bangalore. It is a large city in south India. It is actually the capital of the IT industry in India.

Examiner: Where you born there?

Candidate: No I was born in Kochi, another large city in south India. Kochi is a port city situated on the western coast of India. I moved to Bangalore after I finished my studies.

Examiner: Do you live on your own or with your family?

Candidate: I live with my uncle and his family. They have a nice home in Bangalore. I have been living with them ever since I moved to this city. My parents and brother still live in Kochi.

Examiner: How often do you visit your family?

Candidate: I visit them whenever I get an opportunity. Im sort of home-sick, you know. Fortunately for me, Kochi is well-connected to Bangalore so it really is not all that difficult.

Examiner: Are you working?

Candidate: Yes, I am working as a probationary officer at a nationalized bank.

Examiner: Sounds great. Thank you.

PART 2 (SPEECH) Examiner: In this part, you have to talk about a topic for one minute. I will give you a topic card with three or four questions. Your speech should answer all of these questions. You can take up to 60 seconds to prepare notes before you speak. Here is the topic card, and here is a pencil and a sheet of paper. Now I would like you to talk about a person who has inspired you the most.

Candidate makes notes

Examiner: Now you have one minute to talk about the topic. I will tell you when to stop.

Candidate: The person who has inspired me the most is Mahatma Gandhi. Part of the reason could be the fact that I am Indian and I have heard about him right since my childhood. We are taught about Gandhiji and his ideologies right from primary school.

A lot of people may have problems with his ideologies and I know at least some people even in India still believe that he was very dogmatic. I dont quite think so. He had great faith in his principles and stuck to them no matter what. How many leaders of our times show such unflinching loyalty to their principles?

Of course, the world has changed a lot since his days and some of his principles may have lost their value. For example, Gandhiji was not a supporter of capitalism. In fact he was against the accumulation of wealth in a few hands. But now the whole world including India has embraced capitalism. It was perhaps unavoidable but I dont think that Gandhiji would be happy about this, if he were alive today.

That said, his principles of truth, non-violence and tolerance are still very significant and can solve many of the problems plaguing the world. In my opinion, the world still has a lot to learn from Mahatma Gandhi. Being a follower of Mahatma Gandhi is not about subscribing to certain beliefs. In fact, it is all about being true to ones inner self.

PART 3 (DISCUSSION) Examiner: Now in this part I would like to ask you a few more general questions about the topic you have just talked about. Mahatma Gandhi was perhaps the most famous Indian ever lived. Does he still have a large number of followers in India?

Candidate: Well, the truth is that there are very few people who follow his principles wholeheartedly. A lot of people, especially politicians, claim to be his followers, but most of them have selfish motives.

Examiner: Gandhi played a very significant role in Indias freedom struggle. Do you believe that India wou ld have achieved independence without Gandhi?

Candidate: Well, I dont know. Gandhiji played a very significant role in Indias freedom struggle, but it is wrong to assume that he was the only freedom fighter. There were a large number of them and I dont want to underestimate their role by saying that India wouldnt have won independence without Mahatma Gandhi.

Examiner: Gandhi and his principles are gaining popularity in the western world. What do you think about this?

Candidate: Gandhian principles are based on truth and tolerance. These are values that people all over the world can relate to. That probably explains why Gandhijis principles are gaining popularity in the western world.

Examiner: Thank you! That is the end of the test.

Nowadays, more and more young unmarried adults are choosing to study and live outside their parents ho mes. Do you think this trend is positive?

Sample essay
Thanks to urbanization, more and more young and often unmarried adults migrate to cities in search of jobs or a better life style. This trend is largely positive, but it does have a few negative side effects as well. Lets start with the positive aspects. When unmarried youngsters live on their own, they learn to become self -reliant. They learn to take care of themselves. They learn to cook, clean and wash. In fact, single men and women living alone in the cities learn all the skills necessary to run a home. They also learn to manage their time and money. They wouldnt perhaps learn many of these skills if they were living with the ir parents.

Independence is another plus point. When people live on their own away from their family they get an opportunity to explore and discover themselves. They discover their inherent skills. They learn to cope with challenges. They also learn several social skills.

On the flip side, too much independence can have a negative impact as well especially in the case of single adults who cant distinguish between right and wrong. The cities are full of traps and young adults are their main targets. In the absence of a guiding voice, many youngsters living alone in the cities can get into bad company. They may also develop bad habits like smoking and drinking because they have no one to fear in the city. They may not develop these habits if they were living with their parents or elder siblings.

After analysing both aspects of the situation it is not hard to see that living on ones own helps a youngster to grow into a mature and self -sufficient adult. There are some negative aspects as well, but this trend is largely positive and should be encouraged.

People do not have enough money to pay internet. Should the governments provide free internet service to everyone?

Sample response
Much like the telephone or the television, the internet has become an integral part of our day-to-day existence. However, the internet is expensive and this prevents many people from accessing this limitless source of knowledge and information. This, however, doesnt mean that the government should provide free internet to everyone. All over the world, the number of people who use the internet is steadily on the rise and that is hardly surprising. The internet is a vast source of knowledge and entertainment. In fact, having a computer with an internet connection is a bit like having all the books in the world under ones disposal. The internet is even better because it allows you to find the necessary information in a matter of seconds. The internet also provides entertainment and keeps us up-to-date with the latest happenings in the world. And hence one cannot underestimate the importance of internet.

However, saying that the government should provide free internet to everyone is kind of absurd. In a world where we have to pay for basic necessities like food and medicine, demanding that the internet should be free is a bit ridiculous. It is a useful service but for many people there are far more pressing needs. For example, millions of people across the world still have no access to safe drinking water or electricity. Tens of thousands of people are homeless. A lot of them havent even heard about the intern et. What they need are the basic necessities of life and not free internet.

After analysing the situation it is not hard to see that the basic necessities of life are far more important than the internet. Of course, the internet is useful, but it is not indispensable. And hence the governments should use their resources to provide the basic amenities rather than giving free internet.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Some people believe that public celebrations like national days and festivals are a waste of time. They are of the opinion that people should spend money on more important things. Do you agree or disagree? Support your arguments with examples from your own experience.

Sample essay
Festivals bring cheer and provide an opportunity to celebrate. They help us forget the bitter realities of our existence and hope for a better tomorrow. Needless to say, people all over the world celebrate special occasions like national holidays and festivals. It is true that insane amounts of money are spent on these public celebrations but that doesnt necessarily mean that they are a waste of money or other resources.

Festivals and national holidays are perhaps the most eagerly anticipated occasions of the year. The best thing about public celebrations is that they bring people together. For example, Diwali is celebrated in all parts of India. This festival not only brings people together but also helps them stay connected with their culture and values. Nowadays it isnt uncommon for different members of a family to liv e in different parts of the world. They hardly get an opportunity to meet one another. In most cases festivals are the only occasions they get together. One cannot put a price tag on the joy one gets from spending time with ones dear ones.

Diwali is also the busiest shopping season in India. It is true that people spend enormous amounts of money of gifts, sweets and fireworks, but one cannot overlook the boost this Diwali spending gives to the Indian economy. In the same way, Christmas and the associated holiday shopping season bring cheer to the US and several other economies.

National festivals also foster national integration. They invoke a sense of unity among the people. When people celebrate an occasion together they forget about their religious, cultural or other differences.

After examining the situation it is not hard to see why festivals are so important and how they help us stay united. And hence the argument that public celebrations are a waste of money doesnt hold much water.

Studies suggest that the rise in the consumption of junk foods is the major cause of obesity. Some people argue that this problem can be tackled to a great extent by increasing the price of these food items. Do you agree or disagree? SAMPLE ESSAY Obesity or excessive fattiness has become a major health crisis all over the world. The worst thing about obesity is that it leads to major diseases such as heart trouble, diabetes and in some cases even cancer. One of the major causes of obesity is the rise in the consumption of junk or fast foods. These food items contain high levels of unhealthy fats which make people gain weight. Some people argue that this problem can be solved to a great extent by increasing the price of junk foods. Interestingly, this argument is true to a great extent.

Consumers are a price-sensitive lot. Market studies have always proved that there is less demand for pricey items. This is one of the reasons why companies often launch new products at reduced or even half the prices. When the prices are low e ven those people who dont really need the product are likely to buy it. The demand will automatically go down when the prices go up. This is especially true in the case of food items.

One of the reasons behind the popularity of junk foods is their affordability. If their prices go up, few people will be able to buy them. This will automatically reduce their consumption. Whats more, when fast foods become unaffordable people will automatically turn towar ds home-cooked healthier items. This will not only improve their overall wellness, but also reduce their weight.

After analysing the situation, it is easy to see that high prices can be an effective way to discourage the consumption of fast foods. In fact, if countries put this idea into practice, there will be fewer fat people around.

Some people believe that strict policies are necessary to regulate internet because a lot of harmful content is available online with very little or no regulation. Others oppose this view and think that the internet should not be regulated.
Why internet should be regulated 1. There is harmful content on the Internet. 2. There is offensive content on the Internet. 3. There is criminal activity on the Internet. 4. Most users want some form of control or regulation.

Why internet should not be regulated 1. Freedom of expression should be an absolute right. 2. The Internet is different in kind from other communications networks. 3. The Internet cannot be regulated because it is so large and so global. 4. Rating and filtering techniques are very imperfect. 5. Parents and teachers, not regulators, should protect children.

SAMPLE RESPONSE
The internet has changed the way we access information. The discussion about whether or not strict policies are necessary to regulate internet is a very controversial one. There are people on both sides of the argument who have very strong feelings. There probably were some rules on use of the Internet before it went public, but certainly there was no formalized regulation and neither was any needed. However, today the Internet can be accessed by a young child from the privacy of her bedroom at any time of the day or night. In these circumstances, we must have some procedures for tackling illegal content on the Internet and some mechanisms for allowing end user control of what is accessed on the Internet. There are many reasons why people think that internet should be regulated. Firstly, there is harmful content on the Internet. For example, child pornography and sexual solicitation of

children are widely available on the net. We cannot simply accept this as the price for freedom of expression. Secondly, there is criminal activity on the Internet. Like every other human endeavor, some people use internet for a wide range of immoral activity, much of which is illegal in most jurisdictions. Such activity includes copyright theft, credit card fraud, financial scams, money laundering, hacking, industrial espionage, cyber terrorism, suicide assistance. Moreover, the Internet is no different from other electronic networks. T he Internet is an electronic delivery mechanism for messages and information. In that sense, it is not fundamentally different from other electronic communications networks such as radio, television and telecommunications. These other networks are regulated and so should the Internet. There are, however, many reasons why people think that there should not be any regulation on internet. Firstly, Freedom of expression should be an absolute right. Any system of controls on the content of the Internet represents a breach of the individuals right to freedom of expression. Secondly, the Internet is different in kind from other communications networks. The genesis of the Internet was such that it embraced and fostered a new spirit of freedom, openness and experimentation and that these values must remain an integral feature of the Internet. Moreover, the Internet cannot be regulated because it is so large and so global. Unlike other communications networks, the Internet is simply enormous, growing rapidly and genuinely global and that, in these circumstances, even if one wanted to, it is just not possible to regulate the Internet.

I totally opposed to all forms of state blocking of generic categories of material on the Internet. My strong preference is for co-regulation by industrial bodies with government support plus - in the case of children on the Net - the appropriate use of filtering software supported by adult supervision and more public awareness.

PART 1 Examiner: Hello my name is Mathews. Can you tell me your name, please?

Candidate: My name is Gautam Menon.

Examiner: Can you show me your ID, please?

Candidate: Yes, here you are. Examiner: Thank you. Now I would like to ask you a few general questions about yourself. Do you live in a city or a village?

Candidate: Well, I live in a small town. It cant quite be called a city, but it is much bigger than a village.

Examiner: How long have you lived there?

Candidate: Well, I have lived all my life there.

Examiner: Can you tell me something about your hometown?

Candidate: Sure. It is a small town some 50 kilometers away from here. It is well connected to the city. There are some good schools and colleges there. There is also a famous temple, but I guess the best thing about this place is that it is less polluted than a big city. The air is cleaner and fresher because there are fewer vehicles on the road.

Examiner: Have you ever wanted to move into a large city?

Candidate: Well, not really, but I might move into a large city after my studies. There are fewer job opportunities in my town. In fact, some of my cousins and friends have already migrated to metros after they got good jobs there. I might do the same.

Examiner: Now lets talk about shopping. Do you enjoy shopping?

Candidate: I do. I like to shop for things like clothes and gadgets. These days I do most of my shopping online, but sometimes I just cant resist the temptation to walk into a brick and mortar store and buy stuff.

Examiner: Now lets talk about animals. Do you like animals?

Candidate: Yes, I do. In fact, I have a pet dog. He is a Doberman and I absolutely adore him. He was just six months old when he became a member of our family. Now he is an integral part of it. He is also my best friend. Actually he follows me wherever I go.

PART 2 Examiner: Now in this part, you have to talk about a topic for one minute. I will give you one minute to make some notes before you speak. Here is a pencil and some papers for you, and here is the topic card. I would like you to talk about a film you saw and really liked.

The candidate makes some notes.

Examiner: Now you have one minute to talk about the topic. I will tell you when to stop.

Candidate: I have watched lots of films and I have liked a large number of them but my all-time favourite is Babys Day Out. I think I was eight or nine when I watched it for the first time. It was during a visit to my uncles place. He had just returned from UAE and he had bro ught a VCR. At that time few households in my town owned a video player. People had to go to cinema theatres to watch films. So getting an opportunity to watch a film from the comforts of ones home was indeed a treat. My uncle had a nice collection of video cassettes and he was kind enough to play all of them for us. I dont remember the other movies I watched during that stay at his home but I will never forget watching Babys Day Out. The protagonist of the film was a boy less than one year old. He gets kidnapped by three guys. He is such a hyperactive child that he gives his kidnappers a hard them. He constantly keeps them on their toes and that is the funniest thing about the film. In the end, the boy gets united with his parents. There were quite a few hilarious scenes in the film. In fact, I was laughing throughout the two and half hours I spent watching it.

Examiner: Would you like to watch it again?

Candidate: Yes, I have watched it numerous times since then and I would like to watch it again and again. I have it on DVD.

PART 3 Examiner: In this part I would like to ask you a few general questions about the topic youve just talked about. What kinds of films are popular in your country?

Candidate: Regional films are more popular than international films in India. In Kerala where I live the most popular films are indeed Malayalam films. Tamil and Hindi films also have a huge audience. Bollywood films are popular throughout the country. In large Indian cities Hollywood films also do good business.

Examiner: Some people are more interested in watching films at a cinema theatre than at home. What could be the reason for this?

Candidate: I personally like watching films from the comforts of my home. I havent been to a theatre in a very long time. But I know many people who like to go to the cinema theatre. Thats probably because going to the cinema is a bit like having a day ou t. It is an entirely different experience. Some of my friends prefer watching the evening shows in a cinema. After the film they will have dinner at some nearby restaurant and return home. Watching a film at home is definitely more comfortable, but it doesnt satisfy that need for a change from home.

Examiner: Now that sophisticated home entertainment systems are available, do you think people really have a reason to go to the theatre?

Candidate: Well, as I said earlier the reason that attracts many film goers to the cinema is not the quality of the image or sound. They just want to have an evening or night out and during those hours spent away from home they also want to watch a film. Also there are people who cant wait until the DVDs become available. They want to watch the first day first show.

Examiner: Thank you. Thats the end of the test.

Many people these days travel far for work or spend more hours working. Does this trend have more advantages or disadvantages? What do you think about work-life balance? Model Essay Long working hours are the norm these days and that is hardly surprising. In this competitive job scenario people are forced to work harder and harder. When people spend more hours working, they get less time for themselves. This is not necessarily a positive development because it can lead to health problems as well as the disruption of families and personal relationships. For one thing, there is absolutely nothing to prove that long working hours improve productivity. In fact, when people work longer than they should, what happens is that their productivity decreases. They fail to concentrate and take longer to finish jobs. Traveling far for work doesnt help either. In many major cities people often have to travel several hours to reach their work place. When at last, they reach home braving the traffic and a hardworking day, they have little energy left in them. In addition, studies have proved that people who spend long hours in the office are also more likely to develop major health problems like heart disease and dementia.

We have already seen that long working hours doesnt necessarily translate into improved productivity. Another problem with t his set up is the effect it has on a persons family and social life. When people spend long hours in the office, they get little time to spend with their dear ones. Parents, who work long hours, often fail to take proper care of their young children. This can be quite a problem in families where both parents work. When children are deprived of the attention they deserve, it will affect their emotional well-being. It can also have a negative impact on their academic performance. In extreme cases, failure to strike a balance between work and life can lead to the breakup of families.

As explained above, long working hours are in nobodys interest. They dont improve an individuals productivity. In fact, they make the m less productive. Whats more, when people spend more time in the office, their family life suffers. In other words proper work -life balance is absolutely essential to lead a contented life. It is hoped that companies arrange their working hours in such a way that employees also get some time for themselves.