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18 September 2023 IELTS Agree Disagree Essay on Obesity

Find the answer to the 18 September 2023 IELTS Writing Task 2 question as reported by Academic test takers.

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About the article

This IELTS Academic Question Appeared on 18 September, 2023 in India.

Question: The growing number of overweight people is putting pressure on health systems to deal with the associated health problems. Some people think that the best way to deal with this problem is to introduce more physical education classes into the school curriculum. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? 

The increasing number of overweight individuals is burdening the public healthcare system. It is believed by some that the key factor to remedy this situation is to include more sessions on physical education in schools. I completely disagree with the given notion because it will not reduce the proportion of overweight adults in society.

Firstly, it is vital to understand that just by increasing the number of sessions on physical education in schools, weight issues cannot be tackled. It is majorly because this problem is widespread, not only among school-going students but also among adults. Therefore, it becomes mandatory to introduce small lifestyle changes which can provide substantial benefits in the long run. For instance, in the evenings, instead of indulging in fried snacks, which are high in calories, one can enjoy different types of soups, which are palatable, besides being a much healthier option.

Secondly, focussing more on physical education may not be fruitful because students are required to deal with a lot of theories related to this subject rather than actively burning calories. However, if cities are designed to encourage physical activity, it will be much more helpful. For instance, in many societies nowadays, the feature of a swimming pool is being added besides a bike lane, which can be instrumental in promoting an active lifestyle, apart from being enjoyable.

To conclude, in my opinion, only changes in the school syllabus may not be a drastic enough step to address the issue of the rising number of overweight individuals. Instead, some other measures like alteration in one’s lifestyle can prove to be more beneficial to tackle this concern.

How To Write An Agree Or Disagree Essay?

In writing task 2 you will be asked to write a discursive essay ( 250 words minimum ). You will be given a question asking you to give your opinion and discuss a problem or issue. You could also be asked to provide solutions, evaluate a problem, compare and contrast different ideas or challenge an idea. In this post, we will be focussing on how to write an agree/disagree/opinion essay .

One of the first things you should do is read the marking criteria  to see what the examiners expect. This is really important, as you need to know what they are looking for in the band 7+ boxes. 

You should be able to give the examiners exactly what they want, in order to get a 7+ band score. 

If you would like to purchase a 31  page PDF download that is easy to read and print out please take a look at the bookshop >

Writing Task 2 Agree/Disagree Essay Structure

The structure that I advise my students to use, will be sure to get you a band score of 7+. You need to practice using this structure, with as many questions as you can, before sitting your IELTS test. This writing task 2 structure has been proven to be successful for my students and when perfected, can easily help you to achieve a high band score. 

TIP >> Before you start writing, plan your ideas so that you can organise the information clearly. You must decide how much you agree or disagree and why. Take 5 minutes and plan out your ideas, opinions and examples. 

TIP >> It is very important that spend a full 40 minutes on this task as the score you get for writing task 2 is two-thirds of your total writing score. You also need to write a minimum of 250 words and use your own ideas.  

TIP >> Remember to write in a formal tone, this is an academic essay, and therefore your writing should be formal. 

IT IS A 4-PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE

Paragraph 1 – The Introduction

This is the introduction to the essay and where you should start off by paraphrasing the question. 

Do you understand what I mean, when I say ‘paraphrase’ the question?

This means that you rewrite the question in your own words using synonyms. You can’t just copy the question again or use the same words in the question. Paraphrase and show off your vocabulary knowledge by using synonyms. When practising your essay writing, use an online thesaurus  to help you. This is a great tool and can help you to learn many new words.

Then your next sentence should give your view/opinion on the issue. A good way to say this is to start with…I agree…. or I disagree…… or In my opinion, I believe that…….. 

The third sentence in the introduction should outline for the examiner exactly what you will discuss in the main body paragraphs. For example, Firstly this essay will discuss……… Secondly, this essay will discuss…….

There are three sentences you need in the introduction >>

• Paraphrase the question
• Give your view/opinion
• Outline the specific topics that will be discussed in the main body paragraphs.

Paragraph 2 – Main Body Paragraph 1

In this paragraph, you should write about your first main idea (opinion A) that supports your opinion on the issue from the question. You should give specific information and only write about one main idea in each main body paragraph. 

Start the paragraph by introducing the topic. This is where you need to have a topic sentence. The next sentence(s) should explain the topic, going into detail. The third sentence should give an example that supports the view.

The example you give could be something from your own experience or made up – it is ok to make up something as the examiners will not fact check your information. They want to see your ability to use English at a certain level. You could make up an example from a report, journal, newspaper or University study to support your view. 

This is how the paragraph should look >>

• Introduce the topic (topic sentence – opinion A)
• Explain/give detail

Paragraph 3 –  Main Body Paragraph 2

In this paragraph, you should write about your second main idea (opinion B) that supports your opinion on the issue from the question. You should give specific information and only write about one main idea in each main body paragraph. 

• Introduce the topic (topic sentence- opinion B)

Paragraph 4 – The Conclusion

In the fourth paragraph, you write the conclusion giving a summary of your main points and restate your opinion/views and justify them. You should not enter any new information or ideas in this paragraph. 

• Summary of the main points
• Restate own views/opinion/justify

Expressing your opinion

To get a high score in IELTS academic writing task 2, you should use as many different structures, collocations and idioms as you can.  

Sequencing ideas

You can use phrases like these to make statements, for example; On the one hand sunbathing can give your body vitamin D, on the other hand, it can also be very dangerous for your health. 

Sample Agree/Disagree essay

**All questions have been reported by students who have taken the IELTS exam.**

Obesity has become a huge concern as an increasing percentage of the population have become overweight and this has put a tremendous strain on the healthcare authorities, leading to increased costs. One solution that is being implemented is the introduction of more sports lessons in the school curriculum. In my opinion, I strongly agree that the integration of active lessons will greatly assist in kerbing obesity. Firstly, this essay will discuss how sports lessons will increase awareness of the benefits of having a healthy lifestyle. Secondly, this essay will discuss, the importance of combining exercise with a healthy diet.

On the one hand, I believe that the best way to fight health care problems is by utilising health education. By integrating physical education classes into the curriculum, impressionable young children and adults will be exposed to healthy lifestyle practices of sport and exercise, whereas they will also learn about teamwork and see their self-confidence grow. For example, at Westminster primary school in the UK, 10-minute exercise intervals were introduced between classes. The children must run laps around the playground before going to their next lesson. This formed part of a study by Cambridge University, where it reported that 85% of the children performed better on tests and obesity records were at an all-time low.  

On the other hand, in my view having more physical education classes in the curriculum is not the only way to teach young people how to have a healthy lifestyle. The children should be educated how to balance exercise with a healthy diet, so that this could extend, not only to the students in the schools but also to the parents. For instance, the NHS in the UK regularly hold talks in schools for both parents and students to educate communities on how to have a balanced diet. They also promote proper exercise, involvement in sports, and having an active lifestyle. As a result of this program, in some areas, they saw a decrease in the number of overweight health issues.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that having more sports lessons in schools will help to fight the growing number of overweight people. By combining this with a healthy diet, the students will be encouraged to be healthy, from a young age, right through into adulthood.

(Word Count = 385 / Band Score 9)

• Task Achievement  – The answer provides a paraphrased question, to begin with, followed by a clear opinion. The opinion is fully supported in the main body paragraphs in the essay, with fully extended and well-supported ideas
• Coherence and Cohesion  – The answer has been divided into clear logical paragraphs and each main body paragraph only has one main idea. There are cohesive links between the main body paragraphs and between most sentences.    
• Lexical Resource  – There is evidence of a wide range of vocabulary, with no errors in the text.
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy  – The answer has no grammatical errors. The sentences have a wide range of structures. 

TIP >>  Remember to give your opinion, state your opinion in the introduction clearly and develop your main body paragraphs around it. Use each of the main body paragraphs to support your opinion, giving examples that are relevant. In the conclusion, summarise your main points and restate your opinion. 

Writing Task 2 Band Score 9 Criteria

If you would like to view more high band score agree or disagree essay examples please click the button below >

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Obesity Essays

Overweight Children Essay

Parents of obese children should be punished for making their children overweight. Do you agree or disagree? It is argued that obese children’s parents should be held responsible and punished for making their children fat. They should be considerate about their children’s health. This essay agrees with this opinion because parents should take care of their children’s diet and should make them health cautious. Parents have the power to take control of their children’s diet and make them eat healthy food. This will fulfill their children’s body needs which will help in their growth. Eating junk food is bad for health and will make children fat when consumed excessively. Fast foods, for instance, burgers and pizzas will cause obesity over long-term consumption. Hence, parents should make a proper diet plan and make their children follow it. Parents, not only, should worry about their children’s health but should also make their children take care of themselves. Parents should make their children aware of the consequences of bad eating habits. They, for example, can show them what will happen to them like obesity if they consume junk food over a long period of time. This will make their children’s health cautious. In conclusion, I would say that parents should give priority to their children and their health over all other things. They can give their children a healthy life by making their children eat good and nutritious food and stay away from junk food. Otherwise, not only obesity but blood pressure and many other diseases will damage their children’s life. Hence, they should be held accountable for their children’s health and fitness.

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Band 5+: The sugar tax can reduce obesity? Do you agree or disagree?

The consumption of sugar has increased considerably after the Industrial Revolution. Doubtless, people had addicted to sugar as companies started to use it in various products day by day. At first sight, the desserts which include sugar look so delicious and yummy for all of us. Therefore, not only the dessert but also the other foods which seem to us, not including sugar, actually include it. For example, some breads, sauces, tiny miny crackers. In addition to the delicious and charming look of sugar, it can cause some catastrophic problems for our health that we cannot handle easily.

There is a fact, that when we eat sugar, our blood sugar increases sharply and in a short time declines quickly. Because of this imbalance in blood sugar, we feel more hungry and hungry. Then we eat more food than we can digest. And here it is! Health problems start to show themselves in our bodies, like obesity and heart attacks.

In recent years, obesity has started to be a big problem not only for people but also for countries. From my perspective, in order to decrease obesity, countries have to take some initiatives. One of these initiatives can be to apply taxes for sugar. Thanks to taxes, companies can start to reduce the sugar percent in their products. In conclusion, obesity with other health problems won’t be able to a huge problem if we cannot reach it easily.

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IELTS agree or disagree essay - band 9 guide

This is a band 9 guide to writing agree/disagree essays in IELTS Writing. Agree or disagree essay questions are very common for IELTS Writing task 2 . This type of questions asks you to say whether you agree or disagree with a given statement and justify your opinion .

In this lesson you will see IELTS writing task 2 sample question + model answer and learn

• how to choose an opinion for agree/disagree question
• how to generate ideas
• how to give a band 9 answer for agree/disagree question

IELTS agree/disagree question sample

Let’s look at an example of IELTS writing task 2:

Big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.

Do you agree or disagree?

Provide relevant examples if necessary.

This is a classic example of agree or disagree question that you may get on IELTS Writing task 2.

You can watch our video tutorial on how to tackle agree/disagree questions in IELTS Writing:

Choose your opinion & generate ideas

Agree or disagree question asks you to clearly determine whether you agree or disagree with the statement. Unlike questions that ask you to what extent do you agree or disagree , this question asks you to have a super-clear opinion. After you’ve decided your opinion, generate 2-3 supporting points for it .

For the task above you have two possible options:

• You fully agree that big salary is more important than job satisfaction
• You completely disagree that big salary is more important than job satisfaction

 Now let’s generate supporting points for each of the opinions:

• Big salary is more important
• Having a job with a high salary makes people feel satisfied no matter what kind of job they do
• Money is essential for survival and good living
• Job satisfaction is more important
• Job satisfaction gives you a sense of fulfillment
• Doing what you like keeps you motivated and therefore leads to a career growth
• Money can’t buy happiness and it’s more pleasant to pursue what you’re interested in

For our essay, we’ll choose the second opinion.

Band 9 answer structure

After you’ve decided whether you agree or disagree and generated your supporting points, it’s time to start writing your essay.

There are a lot of ways to structure your essay, but we’ll use a structure that has been approved by many IELTS examiners to be high-scoring and coherent.

Band-9 essay structure :

Introduction

Body paragraph 1 - the 1st reason you agree/disagree

Body paragraph 2 - the 2nd reason you agree/disagree

Let’s take a look at each of these sections in detail.

Write your introduction in two sentences:

It is often argued that it is more advantageous to choose a job with high wage, even if it doesn't appeal to you at all.

I completely disagree with this opinion and think that job satisfaction is much more important than salary.

• Sentence 1 - state the first reason you agree/disagree .

First of all, I believe that job satisfaction gives people a sense of fulfillment that no money can guarantee.

To explain the reason effectively, you can imagine that your examiner has no knowledge of this subject at all and you have to explain every detail:

Even if someone is earning a high salary, but feels tensed and compromises with his conscience, this person won’t enjoy his life. While pursuing one’s interests will always bring pleasure and feeling of satisfaction.

For example, a lot of famous researchers made their career choices not because of appealing wages, but because they were passionate about science.

That’s why it’s more important to choose the kind of work that makes you happy than to look only at a high salary.

Secondly, doing what you like keeps you motivated and therefore leads to a career growth.

In other words, there is a strong relation between job satisfaction and productivity. People who love their jobs can easily excel in their fields of work and achieve better results than those, who put salary on the first place.

• Sentence 4 - support your idea with an example :

For instance, Henry Miller decided to leave his everyday job despite a good wage and ventured to become a writer. And after enduring years of ups and downs he became one of the most famous and well-paid authors of the twentieth century.

Thus, advantages of jobs that keep you satisfied outweigh the drawback of a low salary in a long-term perspective.

You can write the conclusion in one sentence that summarizes your opinion + 2 reasons for it :

To conclude, I strongly believe that job satisfaction is more beneficial than high salary because it makes people happy and motivated.

DO NOT write new ideas in the conclusion!

IELTS agree/disagree model answer

This is a full band-9 answer for IELTS agree or disagree question above:

It is often argued that it is more advantageous to choose a job with high wage, even if it doesn't appeal to you at all. I completely disagree with this opinion and think that job satisfaction is much more important than salary.

First of all, I believe that job satisfaction gives people a sense of fulfillment that no money can guarantee. Even if someone is earning a high salary, but feels tensed and compromises with his conscience, this person won’t enjoy his life. While pursuing one’s interests will always bring pleasure and feeling of satisfaction. For example, a lot of famous researchers made their career choices not because of appealing wages, but because they were passionate about science. That’s why it’s more important to choose the kind of work that makes you happy than to look only at a high salary.

Secondly, doing what you like keeps you motivated and therefore leads to a career growth. In other words, there is a strong relation between job satisfaction and productivity. People who love their jobs can easily excel in their fields of work and achieve better results than those, who put salary on the first place. For instance, Henry Miller decided to leave his everyday job despite a good wage and ventured to become a writer. And after enduring years of ups and downs he became one of the most famous and well-paid authors of the twentieth century. Thus, advantages of jobs that keep you satisfied outweigh the drawback of a low salary in a long-term perspective.

(277 words)

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How to Write “Agree or Disagree” Essays for IELTS

Posted by David S. Wills | Jan 15, 2021 | IELTS Tips , Writing | 1

There are various types of essay that you may be asked to write in task 2 of the IELTS writing test, but one of the most common ones is the “agree or disagree” question. This will provide some kind of statement and then ask you whether (or to what extent) you agree or disagree.

In this article, I will tell you everything you need to know about writing an agree or disagree essay .

What is an “Agree or Disagree” IELTS Question?

There are various kinds of questions in IELTS writing task 2, and one of them is called “agree or disagree” because that is precisely what you are asked to do. The question will normally contain those words although there are slight variations:

• Do you agree or disagree?
• To what extent do you agree or disagree?

This question will follow a statement and your task is to give your reaction to that statement. As long as you can understand the precise nature of the statement, this question is quite to understand.

Note that some people would call this an “opinion essay” but I would disagree with that label. Whilst it is certainly a type of opinion essay, there are other question types that require your opinion, so this is a problematic label. Here’s my guide to opinion essays.

How Should I Answer an “Agree or Disagree” Question?

The important thing about this sort of IELTS question is that you answer the question directly . In other words, you should state whether you agree , disagree , or neither agree nor disagree .

Some people wonder whether it is possible to give a balanced answer and others seem to think that you must always give a balanced answer, but the truth is simple:

You can agree, disagree, or neither agree nor disagree. Any of these is acceptable.

Just pay attention to the exact wording of the question. If it asks “to what extent…?” then you should clearly state the extent to which you agree/disagree:

• Completely agree
• Partially agree
• Neither agree nor disagree
• Partially disagree
• Completely disagree

If it just says “Do you agree or disagree?” then you don’t necessarily need to give the degree and you could just say “I agree” or “I disagree.” However, it is better to provide more explanation and detail.

If you want a more in-depth discussion of the issue of balanced answers, you can read this article .

Structuring “Agree or Disagree” Essays

Some kinds of IELTS essay are easy to structure. For example, “ Discuss both views ” and “ Advantages and disadvantages ” questions can easily be answered with a predictable four-paragraph structure. However, “agree or disagree” questions require a little more thought. Sometimes it can be a little difficult to find the right structure.

Generally, I recommend writing four or five paragraphs and preferably just four. As such, here are two possibilities for structuring your “agree or disagree” essay:

As you can tell, the second structure is more complicated and thus there is more scope for mistakes in terms of Task Response or Coherence and Cohesion . However, if you do this right it can provide a more interesting and developed answer.

In any case, the important thing to know is that your structure should be coherent and logical. Your reader should never feel confused. If you make a plan before writing, this will really help you to stay on topic and deliver your views effectively.

Let’s look at an example:

Some people argue that the government should give every unemployed person a mobile phone and should make sure they have access to the Internet. They believe this is the best way of using public money to reduce the problem of unemployment. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

To answer this question, I would firstly decide the extent to which I agree or disagree. I disagree that it is the best use of public money, so I would structure my essay thusly:

Now let’s look at how I would write that essay:

Sample Band 9 Answer

It has been suggested that governments should give jobless people phones and internet access to alleviate the unemployment problem. This essay will argue that, whilst this may be a good idea, it is certainly not the best way of using public money to solve the problem.

To begin with, it could be seen as a positive step to give unemployed people phones and internet access. This would certainly help improve their lives in a small way and may give them the ability to hunt down job leads. However, it is not a guaranteed method of finding employment. For one thing, phones are severely limited in comparison with computers, which would be far more useful for jobseekers. A computer is more appropriate for writing CVs and scrolling through lists of adverts. As such, perhaps public funds would be better spent on computers rather than phones.

In addition, the idea of just giving unemployed people technology in order to solve their problems seems a little wishful. The fact is that most people have phones and internet access in 2021, suggesting that this is not what prevents them from finding work. Perhaps the money would be better spent on job fairs, counselling, benefits, or even investment in local businesses to spur the hiring process. Indeed, whilst none of these is a perfect solution, they all seem rather more realistic and preferential than buying thousands of phones and internet contracts.

In conclusion, while it may be a good idea to give all jobless people a phone and internet access, it is almost certainly not the best use of public funds in terms of tackling unemployment.

Language for Agreeing and Disagreeing

Once you have figured out the structure for your essay, you need to have the right language to accurately and effectively express your ideas. Most of the grammar and vocabulary you need will be dependent upon the topic , but there are some useful words and phrases to know for all “agree or disagree” essays.

Giving Purpose and Position

In your introduction, you need to clearly state your position vis-à-vis the question. You can also state what you will do in this essay.

Here are some great phrases:

This essay will…

To avoid being overly personal or informal, you can speak as though your essay is writing itself. This might seem a little strange, but it is perfectly normal. It is a great idea to use this for the overview section of your introduction to say “This essay will argue that…” or “This essay will agree with the idea that…”

Alternatively, you can include yourself:

In this essay, I will…

The use of the personal pronoun is a little informal but these questions are directly asking for your opinion and so there is nothing really wrong with it. This is a good way of stating your intentions clearly from the offset.

Just be careful to avoid redundant phrasing here, like “In my opinion, I think that…” It is not necessary to say both “In my opinion” and “I think” because they both express the same basic meaning.

It is also worth making sure that you completely understand how to use the words “agree” and “disagree.” This probably sounds very easy, but many people make mistakes. I have a full article on it here .

One of the biggest mistakes is saying, “I agree to the idea.” Instead, you need to say “I agree with the idea.” The preposition here is a huge difference and completely changes the meaning of “agree.”

Language for Structuring your Ideas

You can use some cohesive devices when explaining your ideas but be careful not to over-use them and make sure that each one is used accurately. For example, the phrases “On the one hand” and “On the other hand” are really useful here but many people make mistakes by saying “On one hand” or “One the other hand.”

You can also use words like “Firstly” and “Finally” to order your ideas but remember that having every sentence start with the same sort of word sounds repetitive, so don’t use these too much.

Some other useful phrases are:

The first reason why I think/believe that [summarise view] is…”

In this case, we are directly communicating to the reader that this is the first (and therefore most important) reason to support our opinion. To remove the personal pronoun, simply change to:

The first reason why [summarise view] is…

Here are two examples:

• The first reason why I think that families should take care of their elderly relatives is that it allows more freedom for the individual.
• The first reason why families should take care of their elderly relatives is that it allows more freedom for the individual.

Should You Totally Avoid Personal Pronouns?

For IELTS, some people say that you should always avoid personal pronouns but other people suggest that they are acceptable. It is true that they are acceptable because some questions directly ask for your opinion and experiences. However, it is also true that an advanced writer can answer these questions without personal pronouns, thereby increasing the level of formality .

Take a look at this question:

Rich countries often give money to poorer countries, but it does not solve poverty. Therefore, developed countries should give other types of help to the poor countries rather than financial aid. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is clearly asking for your personal opinion, so it would be fine to say “I think…” or “I believe…” However, we could definitely answer it in a more detached, formal sense.

To give my opinion, I will say:

this essay will argue that giving money is not simply enough and that more nuanced, long-term solutions are necessary

Later, in the conclusion, I will use similar language to affirm my view:

whilst it may seem reasonable to donate money to poor countries, it would be far better to help them through education

Here is the full essay:

The topic of international aid is incredibly controversial and there are no simple solutions. However, this essay will argue that giving money is not simply enough and that more nuanced, long-term solutions are necessary.

To begin with, it is important to acknowledge that poor countries need some form of aid and that money is better than nothing. Wealthy countries give vast sums of money, but there are numerous problems that emerge. Firstly, this money usually has strings attached, meaning that the poor countries often end up owing favours or debts, which exacerbates their problems. Secondly, poor countries are typically poor because of endemic corruption, and money donated is usually embezzled immediately after receipt. As such, giving money is understandable but problematic, and other forms of aid are thus preferable.

Nowadays, many people realise that it is better to provide poor countries with the means to help themselves. This can be done in various ways, including education. As such, perhaps the best way to help these nations is to provide them with teachers and educational facilities. This can allow them to raise a generation of intelligent, motivated people who will shape the future. It can clearly be seen that the education of women is of particular importance, as this lowers the fertility rate, further stopping other problems that contribute to poverty. Therefore, the education of young women should be made a top priority.

In conclusion, whilst it may seem reasonable to donate money to poor countries, it would be far better to help them through education.

Writing an essay for an IELTS “agree or disagree” question is probably a little more difficult than writing one for other question types. However, it is not much more difficult and if you follow the advice above, you can definitely create a wonderful essay that will get a high score. Just remember to answer the question directly and also to use appropriate language throughout.

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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IELTS Writing Task 2 - Childhood Obesity (Agree or Disagree Question)

Updated: Nov 27, 2023

In many countries, children are becoming overweight and unhealthy. Some people think that the government has the responsibility to solve this problem.

To what extent do you agree or disagree? (26/08/2023)

SAMPLE ESSAY:

In modern society, as childhood obesity is becoming increasingly more prevalent , some individuals maintain that the national authorities should play a predominant role in averting this pressing issue. While I agree with this viewpoint to some extent, I believe that parents and educational institutions are also responsible for tackling such a problem.

On the one hand, there are several reasons why the governing bodies should be accountable for addressing childhood obesity. Firstly, it is their basic duty to safeguard the health and well-being of their citizens, especially vulnerable groups like children. By introducing laws that, for instance, guarantee nutrition standards of school meals or restrict the sale of sugary drinks and fattening foods, the government can largely contribute to reduced obesity rates among minors. Secondly, as widely perceived to possess huge financial capacity, the government could allocate necessary resources to public awareness programs or educational campaigns aimed at parents and children. These initiatives can help young individuals make informed choices about nutrition and physical activity, fostering healthier habits from an early age.

On the other hand, I believe that the national authorities cannot be held solely responsible for resolving childhood obesity. One justification for my argument is that parents, who are primary caregivers and role models for children, are likely to have significantly more influence on their eating habits and activity levels. In other words, parents could set a limit on children’s consumption of high-fat food and encourage them to engage in sports or outdoor activities. Besides parental obligations, educational institutions should also play a crucial role in curbing rising obesity rates among minors. Given the fact that children are usually receptive to new knowledge and later adhere to taught lessons, schools and teachers can incorporate health education into their curriculum, thus instilling a proper perception of healthy lifestyles in children .

In summary, although the responsibility to reduce childhood obesity is often assigned to the government, I firmly believe that parents and educational institutions should also contribute to the prevention of this issue for their greater influence on children’s behavior and cognition.

childhood obesity (phrase) = béo phì ở trẻ em

prevalent (adj) = phổ biến

avert (v) = đẩy lùi

governing body (phrase) = cơ quan quản lý

be accountable for sth (phrase) = chịu trách nhiệm cho việc gì đó

vulnerable (adj) = dễ bị tổn thương, gây hại

allocate money / resources / time / etc. to sb / sth (phrase) = phân bổ tiền bạc / tài nguyên / thời gian / v.v. cho ai đó / cái gì đó

foster (v) = khuyến khích, thúc đẩy

role model (phrase) = hình mẫu

curb (v) = kiềm chế, hạn chế

be receptive to sth (phrase) = dễ tiếp thu, lĩnh hội điều gì đó

adhere to sth (phrasal verb) = tuân thủ điều gì đó

incorporate A into B (phrase) = tích hợp A vào B

instill sth in sb (phrase) = khiến ai đó thấm nhuần điều gì đó (về tư tưởng, triết lý, nhận thức,...)

BRAINSTORMING

Some people think that the government has the responsibility to solve the problem of childhood obesity + my personal opinion: Partly agree

Body 1: The reasons why the government should be responsible for addressing childhood obesity

It is the government’s duty to protect citizens’ health, especially vulnerable groups like children → they can make rules like having healthy food in schools or limiting sugary and fatty foods to reduce childhood obesity

Because governments have a lot of money, they can spend some on programs that teach parents and children about eating well and being active → young individuals can learn how to make good choices for their health

Body 2: The reasons why parents and schools should also be responsible for addressing childhood obesity

Parents have a big impact on children’s eating and exercise habits as their primary caregivers and role models → they can guide children towards healthier food choices and encourage physical activities among them

Children are usually open to learning and following lessons → teachers and schools can include health education in their curriculum to help children develop good habits and understanding of healthy lifestyles

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IELTS Writing Task 2: Agree/Disagree Sample Essay

IELTS Writing Task 2 asks you to give your opinion on an important social issue. In this particular opinion essay IELTS sample, the question type is called “agree/disagree.” Agree/disagree essays want you to take a position on an issue that is stated. From there, it’s your job to say if you agree or disagree with the initial statement, supporting your own opinion with examples and details. For more details on this and other question types for the second part of the IELTS Writing section, check out our complete guide to the most common IELTS Writing Task 2 questions .

Below, we’ll look at a model essay, based on an example question. The question is original to Magoosh, but is patterned closely off of real IELTS questions. The model essay is based on an excellent IELTS Writing template for Task 2 created by Rachel, one of Magoosh’s top IELTS experts. Note that this essay is at band 9, the highest IELTS Writing score you can receive. More information on why this is a band 9 response can be seen below the essay.

Agree/Disagree Sample Essay

First things first! Let’s look at the sample prompt.

Example Agree/Disagree IELTS Writing Task 2 Prompt

It is now possible to order almost any item over the Internet and have it delivered to one’s home. As a result, people are no longer patient or careful in their shopping habits. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Example Response

Online shopping and home delivery causes concerns that consumers may become more hasty and less cautious. However, I do not believe that online shopping has this effect. In fact, I would say that the opposite is true. In this essay, I will discuss the reasons that online shopping actually helps shoppers make smarter choices.

Internet shopping actually makes people more patient while they shop, not less patient. This is because, even with home delivery, online shopping is actually less “instant” than traditional shopping in stores. After all, if someone goes into a store, they can leave minutes later with the items they purchased. However, even the fastest delivery methods for online goods take at least a day. As a result, people are actually more accustomed to longer waits before they receive something they’ve bought.

Not only does online shopping make buyers more patient, it also facilitates careful, informed choices for buyers. This is because there is more competition between different sellers online than there is in a single store. If someone goes to a store in person, they will see a relatively small range of brand names, and they certainly won’t see the offerings of other stores. In contrast, online customers can compare just about every brand of any given product and browse the websites of multiple stores. This gives customers all the information they need to make the best possible purchases.

When shopping on the Web, customers can learn patience because they must wait for their items to be delivered to them, and even more importantly, customers can access all of the information they need to choose the right items. Ultimately, online shopping is truly a positive development, not a negative one.

Word count: 283

Why This Essay is Band 9

This is a very strong essay because it satisfies the level descriptors in the official IELTS Writing Task 2 rubric . Read that official score guide carefully and compare it to this essay, and you’ll see why the example above scored so well. Also, for a more detailed band 9 level score report from Magoosh, see the scorer commentary immediately below.

Scorer Commentary (agree/Disagree IELTS Essay, Band 9)

This score report is patterned after the official level descriptors for IELTS Writing Task 2 . This report also looks a lot like the Magoosh IELTS essay scoring service .

Overall Band Score: 9

What was done well in the essay:

• This essay is above the 250 word minimum. (This is very important for getting full points!)
• The writer does a good job of meeting the task requirements. They take a clear position where they favor online shopping and disagree with the claim that it makes people less careful or patient.
• The paragraphs are well organized. The introduction and conclusion clearly preview the essay and give good final thoughts, respectively. The body paragraphs each have their own well-organized topics. The first body paragraph provides good explanations and examples to show that online shopping doesn’t make people less patient; the second paragraph provides comparable support to the idea that online shopping allows people to be more careful.
• There are some nice key phrases to tie ideas together. Examples include “however,” “in fact,” “actually,” and “not only.”
• Vocabulary and grammar show no serious errors, and a good variety of word choice and structure.

Magoosh’s Other Sample IELTS Writing Task 2 Essays

We have model essays for each of the question types for the second IELTS Writing task. Click the links below to access our other sample essays:

• Advantage/Disadvantage Essay
• Two-Part Question Essay
• Causes/Solutions Essay
• Discussion Essay

Want more sample essays? Magoosh has you covered!

To read out model essays for the other Task 2 IELTS Writing question types, click the links below:

David is a Test Prep Expert for Magoosh TOEFL and IELTS. Additionally, he’s helped students with TOEIC, PET, FCE, BULATS, Eiken, SAT, ACT, GRE, and GMAT. David has a BS from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and an MA from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. His work at Magoosh has been cited in many scholarly articles , his Master’s Thesis is featured on the Reading with Pictures website, and he’s presented at the WITESOL (link to PDF) and NAFSA conferences. David has taught K-12 ESL in South Korea as well as undergraduate English and MBA-level business English at American universities. He has also trained English teachers in America, Italy, and Peru. Come join David and the Magoosh team on Youtube , Facebook , and Instagram , or connect with him via LinkedIn !

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4 responses to “IELTS Writing Task 2: Agree/Disagree Sample Essay”

How many paragraphs are there in to what extent agree or disagree essay as some says that there are 5 para 2 on which we are agree and one Disagree. What is the best structure to get 7 or above for this essay type. Please let me know as my exam in next month.

Hi Sheetal!

Some people might write 3, 4 or even 5 paragraphs–there is no strict requirement. It is important to organize your essay well, however, and ensure that your use of paragraphs makes sense for the content of the essay. Additionally, remember that you need to write at least 250 words for a Task 2 essay, and most students who score the highest are closer to the 300-400 mark. So you should aim for that amount of words if you want a 7+ score. I’d recommend taking a look at more sample Task 2 essays to see how they are structured, and that should help! Best of luck on your test. 😀

in the introduction part, writer mentions his/her own opinion, is it correct we write our own idea in the introduction part?

Yes, that is correct because the IELTS Writing Task 2 asks you to give your opinion on an important social issue. Additionally, note that this question directly asks “To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.”

I recommend reading over several sample Task 2 essays so that you can get a better idea of what they should include/how they should be written. Additionally, be sure to check out our Complete Guide to IELTS Task 2 .

Happy studying! 😀

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IELTS Essays About Health

Jump to: Opinion Essays , Discussion Essays , Discussion and Opinion Essays , or Situation Essays

Opinion Essays

Back to top

Everybody should become a vegetarian because eating meat can cause serious health problems. 

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

The recent trend towards people seeking out alternative medicine, rather than sticking to scientifically proven traditional forms of medicine will cause greater pain and suffering in the future.

To what extent do you agree with the statement?

Many people believe that popular, but unhealthy fizzy drink companies should not be allowed to advertise, while others believe that all companies should have the right to advertise.

What is your opinion?

Doctors should be responsible for educating their patients about how to improve their health and not just treat their symptoms.

Do you agree with this?

Hospitals should charge high prices for their services, and no one should receive free healthcare because individuals are responsible for looking after their own health.

Do you agree with this opinion?

Obesity in children is greatly increasing and this could lead health problems for them later in life, as well as health care costs.

Why do you think so many children are obese and what could be done to solve this problem.

Some people believe that public health is the responsibility of the government while others believe that individuals should be take responsibility for their own health.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

With more and more people consuming fast food, which if eaten too regularly can cause health issues. Some people believe that the only solution is to ban it entirely.

To what extent do you agree?

Due to the fast pace of modern life, increasing numbers of people are consuming fast food for their main meals.

Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

The prevention of health problems is more important than the development of new treatments, the government should therefore invest more in prevention. Government funding should reflect this.

Everyone should be made to follow a vegetarian diet as eating meat can lead to serious health issues.

Do you agree or disagree?

Discussion Essays

In western socieities childhood obesity has rapidly increased in recent years.

Discuss the causes and effects of this trend.

Over the last few years it is commonly accepted that the level of obesity amongst children has significantly increased. This essay shall explore some of the reasons for this and the impact they are having.

First of all, one of the main reasons for the surge in obesity is the increased consumption levels of fast food among children. Companies such as KFC and MacDonald's spend millions of pound per year on advertising that specifically targets the youth of a nation. The impact this has on them is that these targeted children are led to believe that fast food is part of a normal diet and can be eaten daily. Of course, with the food containing large amounts of sodium and fat, it should be no surprise that obesity in children which leads to fatty liver disease, high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes in the long term is now commonplace.

One other major contributing factor to the surge in obesity is the lack of exercise that children are doing. In the past children would walk to school, play outside until dark, or play football in the park. These days, however, children are more likely to found staring blankly at their smartphone reading the latest chatter on their preferred social network. This lack of exercise is causing children to not use up many of the calories they are consuming, hence the increase in body fat which is stored around their body. A recent study from the University of Virginia showed that in the last ten years, the average twelve year old child now uses approximately 3,000 less calories per week during their daily life than an equivalent child ten years ago and is at twice the risk of developing heart disease or diabetes..

Overall, the increase of sedentary lifestyles among children and the increased consumption of fast food have caused the surge in obesity. This has led directly to increased health related issues which the government should address as a matter of urgency.

Many people think that having one single fixed punishment for all crimes would be more effective.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a fixed punishment?

Discussion and Opinion Essays

Some people believe governments should introduce measures enforcing a healthy lifestyle on individuals and others believe it must be controlled by individuals themselves.

Some people blame the government for the increase in childhood obesity while others think it is the parents fault.

Situation Essays

In many developed countries stress is one of the biggest problems.

What are some of the factors that cause this stress and how can we reduce it?

The increase in the rate of obesity is leading to an increase in the number of people suffering from heart disease.

What is the reason for the growth in obese people and how can this problem be solved?

People are walking less and less these days even though walking provides many benefits to people’s health.

What are the reasons for this and what can be done to tackle the problem?

In some poorer areas of large cities people are too afraid to leave their houses at night time due to a fear of crime.

What are the causes of crime in those areas and what can be done to tackle those problems?

In order to reduce the problem of overweight children, the amount of time spent on sport and exercise should be increased in schools.

Do you think this is the best method of dealing with the problem and what are other solutions can you suggest?

Nisha gupta

I need answers of all these topics

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IELTS Writing Task 1 (Academic)

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• Band 9 IELTS Essays

The Growing Number Of Overweight People Is Putting A Strain On Health Care System

by Manjusha Nambiar · Published June 7, 2021 · Updated April 17, 2024

Sample essay

According to some people the rise in the number of obese people is a burden on medical facilities because overweight people are more likely to develop health problems. In their opinion, adding more physical education lessons to the school curriculum is the most effective solution to this problem. While I do admit that adding more physical training sessions will help students burn calories and control their weight, this measure is not a complete solution.

There are mainly two reasons for obesity. One of them is the sedentary lifestyle. The other is the excessive consumption of junk food. Adding more physical education sessions to the school programs will certainly force students to play a sport and burn the excess calories in their body. Children who grow up playing physical sports are more likely to maintain this habit and stay physically active as adults too. Thus, obviously, adding more fitness sessions to the school programs will certainly make students healthier and reduce their chances of gaining weight.

On the other hand, lack of physical activity is not the only cause of obesity. Actually, a bigger cause is the excessive consumption of oily and sugary foods and drinks. Without reducing the intake of junk food, it is not possible to control weight gain in young people. Limiting the intake of calories is always a better solution than burning those excess calories by working out. Hence, in addition to making physical education a mandatory part of the school curriculum, the government should encourage young people to reduce their consumption of fast food. This can be achieved by creating awareness among students. Another solution is to make junk food costlier by increasing tax on it.

In conclusion, adding more sports sessions to school curriculums will certainly reduce weight gain in youngsters and make them healthier. However, it is not a total solution as in order to maintain healthy body weight, people also need to limit their intake of calorie rich junk food. Hence, I do not quite agree with the argument that giving more physical education lessons to students is the best way to prevent obesity.

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Hi, I'm Manjusha. This is my blog where I give IELTS preparation tips.

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