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IELTS Writing Task 2 – Topic: BUILDING

ielts writing topics 2019

1.  It has recently been announced that a new movie theater may be built in your neighborhood. Do you support or oppose this plan? Why? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

Sample Answer

I live in a small community. From my everyday experience and observation I can say  that the idea about building a new theatre in my neighborhood has some advantages as  well as disadvantages. In this essay I will first focus on the reasons why I support this  idea and then move on to analyzing why I oppose it.

First of all, I like movies and my husband and I sometimes go to the movie theatre to  watch premieres. Unfortunately, it is time-consuming for us. We have to drive about 50  minutes to the nearest movies theatre. So, the idea of having a movie theatre in our  neighborhood seems very attractive. It would save us an hour just to get there and  another hour to get back home. Another important aspect of it is that in this case we will  be able to get to the movie theatre by foot. I must to confess that we always have  parking troubles in the parking space near the movie theatre.

Second of all, new movie theatre is a very good place for students who want to earn  some money. My husband and I live near a student community, so I think it would be a  great news for them. In addition to this practical benefit students will be able to watch all  movies free of charge. I suppose it is a great way to save some money.

Finally, there are usually many restaurants and entertaining centers around a movie  theatre. There people can have dinner or play game machines.

In contrast, I think that the building of a new movie theatre will destroy the silence and  beauty of out community. Such entertaining centers are often noisy. Moreover, traffic  jams will probably be the result of it.

In conclusion, I think that if the question was about building a new movie theatre in the  next neighborhood I would completely agree.

 (316 words)

2.  A company has announced that it wishes to build a large factory near your community. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this new influence on your community. Do you support or oppose the factory? Explain your position.

Sample Answer 1

I am from Saint-Petersburg, Russia. I believe that building a large factory near my  community has advantages as well as disadvantages. In the following paragraphs I will  list basic benefits and losses that will be brought by a new factory.

For several reasons, I think that a new factory will not be a good addition to my  neighborhood. First of all, factories often bring pollution. They are prone to  contaminating the local air and water. Second of all, factories make noise. Another  important aspect of building a new factory near by is that it will make the local traffic  heavy. As a result of this, the amount of traffic congestions will increase, as well as  contamination of the air. So, all these obviously will not make one’s life happier and  healthier in my community.

From the other side, I believe that a new factory will bring some advantages to my  community. First of all, it will bring new job opportunities. Many specialists will be  required to work there. Second of all, I think many local community facilities will have to  be renovated to obtain reliable supply of water and electricity. So, some old pipes may  be changed. Another important benefit of this is that the local roads in order to manage  the increasing traffic will be rebuilt and widened.

However, I do not think that listed above benefits are worth all these troubles including  water contamination and the constant pollution of air. From my point of view all factories  must be built far from the people communities because they can be really harmful for  people’s health.

 (266 words)

Sample Answer 2

New factories often bring many good things to a community, such as jobs and increased  prosperity. However, in my opinion, the benefits of having a factory are outweighed by  the risks. That is why I oppose the plan to build a factory near my community.

I believe that this city would be harmed by a large factory. In particular, a factory would  destroy the quality of the air and water in town. Factories bring smog and pollution. In  the long run, the environment will be hurt and people’s health will be affected. Having a  factory is not worth that rise.

Of course, more jobs will be created by the factory. Our population will grow. To  accommodate more workers, more homes and stores will be needed. Do we really want  this much growth, so fast? If our town is going in growth, I would prefer slow growth with  good planning. I don’t want to see rows of cheaply constructed townhouses. Our quality  of life must be considered.

I believe that this growth will change our city too much. I love my hometown because it  is a safe, small town. It is also easy to travel here. If we must expand to hold new  citizens, the small-town feel will be gone. I would miss that greatly.

A factory would be helpful in some ways. However, I feel that the dangers are greater  than the benefits. I cannot support a plan to build a factory here, and hope that others  feel the same way.

 (251 words)

3.  The government has announced that it plans to build a new university. Some people think that your community would be a good place to locate the university. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of establishing a new university in your community. Use specific details in your discussion.

I think it is a great idea to build a new university in my community. However, I think it is  a controversial question whether the building of a new university will bring only benefits  to our community. In this essay I will analyze advantages and disadvantages of this  issue and present my view in favor of establishing a new university in my community.

From the one side, establishing a new university in my community brings many benefits.  First of all, a new construction means more job opportunities. I think it would be good for  my community because many people have to spend much time driving to their work day  in and day out because they could not find a job in our neighborhood. Second of all, a  new university is a good chance to meet new people and I like this opportunity. Many  students will live in our community. Finally, if a new university is built in my community  there is a big chance that I will be willing to enroll in it. I think it is great because it is not  far from my place and I do not have to move to another part of the city. Another  important aspect of this is that people from my community will have a chance to use  new libraries and facilities of a new university. For example some people can take  courses and classes there.

From the other side, building a new university can bring some disadvantages. A new  construction means noise, traffic jams and different kinds of pollution. In addition to  these disadvantages, many young people in our community can cause more noise  especially in the evenings.

To sum up, I think that I would support the decision of the government of establishing a  new university in my community despite a few disadvantages that could follow this  construction. I believe that a new university will increase a chance of many young  people to get a higher education, gain more knowledge and experience, which will help  them to succeed in today’s world.

 (341 words)

4.  Should a city try to preserve its old, historic buildings or destroy them and replace them with modern buildings? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

Some people think that old, historic buildings are no need for the city and they should  be destroyed and replaced with modern ones. However, other people believe that  historic buildings must be preserved in order to know and remember our past. For several reasons that I will mention bellow I agree with those people who want to  preserve old, historical buildings.

First of all, by preserving historical buildings we pass our history to our future  generations. I think that out children should know their history, learn from it and respect  it. People need to know their traditions and customs, which are priceless and  irreplaceable. Our history is our knowledge and power. From my opinion we need to  preserve and restore historical buildings. By destroying them we show our disrespect to  our forefathers and their traditions.

Second of all, by preserving historical buildings a city can attract many travelers.  Welcoming tourists a city can get many benefits including money, which can be spent  on preserving historical buildings as well as on improving roads and facilities.  Also, many tourists mean a lot of new business opportunities. Another important aspect  of this is that businessmen will be willing to build new recreational centers, hotels, movie  theaters, shopping centers to make a city more attractive for travelers. In addition to  those practical benefits, many people will have the opportunity to get a job. All this is  good for the economy of the city.

To sum up, I believe that preserving old, historical buildings can bring only benefits to a  city and all humankind.

 (259 words)

5.  In the past, buildings often reflected the culture of a society but today all modern buildings look alike and cities throughout the world are becoming more and more similar. What do you think is the reason for this, and is it a good think or a bad think?

City has its architectural character, but the similarities between cities are more obvious  these days than in the past. In my opinion, one reason for this is the high price of land.

In most large cities, land is scarce and consequently it is very valuable. This has led to  the construction of tall buildings which occupy only a small area of land while providing  lots of floor space where people can live or work. Buildings of this type are made of  concrete and steel and can be built comparatively quickly using prefabricated materials.  They do not use local materials, such as stone, timber or brick, which used to give cities  their individual character. In consequence many cities. now look very much the same  and you might not know whether you were in Brisbane, Bangkok or Berlin when you are  on the street.

While I realise that we cannot stand in the way of progress, I believe that cities should  try to keep some individuality. For example, in Paris it is prohibited to build very tall buildings in the centre of the city, as this would spoil the overall appearance of the  skyline.

Other cities have chosen to design unique buildings to ensure they look different. The  twin towers in Kuala Lumpur or the Opera House in Sydney are examples of this  approach, and I agree with this kind of initiative.

All in all, although it is regrettable that modern cities look similar, I tend to feel that this is  unavoidable. However, it can be argued that, even if the buildings are similar, cities will  maintain their own character as a result of cultural diversity, the terrain and the climate,  which ultimately determine how people live.

 (285 words)

6.  In many major cities of the world, you will find large public buildings, both new and old. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of such buildings. How important is it for a country to construct impressive public buildings when houses are want is really required?

A public building is a building that belongs in some way o the state. The number of  public buildings in any town or village will depend on the size of that community and its  needs. For example, you will usually find a town hall of some sort, a school and a place  of worship at he least. In anger communities there will be a police station, law courts, a  library and maybe a theatre funded by he state.

The desire to build impressive buildings is not new. The ancient cities of the Middle East  and South America were designed with large public buildings to impress visitors and  enemies and give a sense of pride. In modern times, outstanding public buildings still,  create a great sense of local and national pride. They are what gives a city its character  and they form asocial centre, a place where people like to meet.

However, some people argue that governments have constructed unnecessary, and  sometimes ugly, buildings simply to make themselves feel important. I tend to feel that  such buildings may be a waste of public money but I am not sure we can claim that they  prevent houses from being built, because these governments have often ensured that  adequate housing was also available. Houses and public buildings can exist side by  side.

The answer lies in finding ape right balance. We want o feel pride in our town, but we  also want our citizens to have comfortable homes. It is hard to please everyone.

7.  In the past, buildings often reflected the culture of a society but today all modern buildings look alike and cities throughout the world are becoming more and more similar.

While I realise that we cannot stand in the way of progress, I believe that cities should  try to keep some individuality. For example, in Paris it is prohibited to build very tall  buildings in the centre of the city, as this would spoil the overall appearance of the  skyline.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Topic: Designing a Building

Updated On Oct 04, 2023

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Sample essay, band 9 sample essay.

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The Essay Writing section of the IELTS Writing Module can be a difficult task for many IELTS Aspirants. Thus, it is vital that you polish your essay writing skills before attempting the IELTS.

Below is a sample IELTS Essay for the IELTS Essay topic:

While designing a building, the most important factor is the intended use of the building rather than its outward appearance. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Some individuals opine that the most vital aspect when designing a building is its function rather than its outer aesthetics . I somewhat agree with this viewpoint as although a good-looking building enhances the beauty of its surroundings, without meeting its basic function , it would be a waste.

On the one hand, a building with an appealing appearance may be a source of beautification of its locality that may encourage people to visit it as it may serve as an incentive for tourism , leisure, or work. For example, the bathhouses of Brighton are well-known for their bright and colourful designs and promote tourism in the state of Victoria. Similarly, attractive university campuses and office spaces are deemed to be popular study and work destinations among young adults.

However, the function of a building is of pivotal importance when considering its design. A building needs to accommodate the needs of its owners, residents, and patrons . Specifically, one basic necessity of any building is safety; that is, it needs to be sturdy and durable . However, nowadays, there are many fashionable styles of buildings that compromise their stability and safety. For example, in India, an architectural firm gained popularity for its one-of-a-kind designs and, a few years later, the designs were claimed as unsafe when many of the buildings collapsed during a minor earthquake. As a result, several resources were wasted, and many lives were endangered in light of the importance given to the outward appearance of the buildings over their basic functionality.

In conclusion, I agree to some extent that the purpose of a building is of utmost importance instead of the external aspects when designing it, as without serving the primary functions , a building would be a waste of essential resources and even risky.

Vocabulary:

• Opine (v)  to state your opinion
• Aesthetics (n)  the beautiful qualities of something
• Appealing (a) attractive & interesting
• Beautification (n)  the process of making visual improvements to a person, place, or thing.
• Locality (n)  a particular area or district
• Incentive (n)  Inducement or supplemental reward that serves as a motivational device for a desired action or behaviour.
• Deem someone/something to be something(v)  to consider that someone or something has a particular quality
• Pivotal (adj.)  extremely important and affecting how something develops
• Accommodate (v)  to consider and include something when you are deciding what to do
• Patron (n) someone who uses a particular restaurant,  hotel , or other business
• Sturdy (a) strong & not easily affected/damaged by what happens
• Durable (a)  able to stay in good condition for a long time and after being used a lot
• compromise (v)  settle a dispute by mutual concession
• in light of (phrase)  because of a  particular fact

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The process of finalizing the design of a building can be a tedious task as such a decision has to be approved by several figures of authority. A common dilemma faced while making such choices is whether to focus more on the appearance of an establishment or its functionality. In my opinion, the blueprint of an edifice should always be formulated with the utility of the structure as a top priority, since a building that is simply visually pleasing serves little to no purpose.

Presently, it is quite evident that the focus of both corporate and private establishments has shifted from being practical to being attractive to on-lookers. Consequently, if a structure is planned and built with only the appearances in mind, the repercussions are not felt by the engineers, rather it is the people who either reside or work in such buildings who have to suffer the inefficiencies.

Furthermore, focussing only on the outward form of a property diverts the attention of the constructors from vital aspects of the premises. It is crucial for the authorities responsible for creating the outline of a structure to make sure that characteristics like the foundation, quality of materials used and other key attributes are in order before determining the external appearance of the establishment.

However, it is true that visual attributes also play a significant role in creating a positive image in the minds of the people. Nevertheless, it is important to understand that such features are entirely superficial in nature and are not an indicator of efficiency or productivity.

Finally, I would like to conclude by saying that the utility of the looks of an establishment cannot be discounted completely. That being said, such exterior qualities should not hold more value than the intrinsic components, especially during the planning process.

More Writing Task 2 Essay Topics

• Education Should Be Accessible To All Economic Backgrounds
• The Best Way To Help Underachieving Pupils Is To Have Compulsory After School Activities
• Today Large Shopping Centres And Shopping Malls Are More Common Than Small Shops
• Some People Say That Economic Growth Is The Only Way To End Hunger And Poverty
• Some Teachers Prefer The Group Study Methods For Their Students

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Nafia Zuhana is an experienced content writer and IELTS Trainer. Currently, she is guiding students who are appearing for IELTS General and Academic exams through ieltsmaterial.com. With an 8.5 score herself, she trains and provides test takers with strategies, tips, and nuances on how to crack the IELTS Exam. She holds a degree in Master of Arts – Creative Writing, Oxford Brookes University, UK. She has worked with The Hindu for over a year as an English language trainer.

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Housing and Buildings Questions

IELTS Essay Questions for the Topic of Housing and Buildings. All essay questions below are reported by IELTS candidates and seem to have been repeated over the years. Regardless of the years the questions were reported, you could get any question below in your test. You should, therefore, prepare ideas for all questions given below. The topics below could appear in both GT and Academic IELTS Writing Task 2.

IELTS Essay Topics: Housing, Buildings & Urban Planning

In some countries, most people prefer to rent their homes rather than buying them. What are the advantages and disadvantages of renting a home? (Reported 2017, 2020)

Planting trees is very important for the environment. Some people says trees should be planted in the vacant areas of cities and towns, while other says housing facilities should be build instead. Do you agree or disagree ? (Reported most years in the test)

Cities should be designed to be attractive for local people and foreign tourists. Do you agree or disagree? (2023)

Services, such as shops, schools and commercial centres should be relocated out of the city center. To what extent do you agree? (2023)

Some people think that old buildings should be protected, while others believe that they should be replaced by newer buildings. Discuss both sides and give your opinion. (appears most years in the test)

Many countries are experiencing population growth and need more homes. Should these new homes be constructed in existing cities or should new towns be built in the countryside? (2017, 2018, 2021, 2023)

Nowadays, a lot of buildings, such as offices and  schools, are now being built with an open plan design. Why is that? Do you see this as a positive or negative development? (Reported 2017, 2022, 2023)

Cities should prioritise parks rather than housing developments. To what extent do you agree? (appears most years in the test)

Reported essay questions are from students who have taken their IELTS test. That means questions may have appeared more frequently than have been reported. These questions may vary slightly in wording and focus from the original question. Also note that these questions could also appear in IELTS speaking part 3 which is another good reason to prepare all topics thoroughly.

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