IELTS Vocabulary for the Topic: Advertising  drug companies make inaccurate claims

about the safety

 advertising budget  doctors are offered incentives to prescribe
 “below-the-line” advertising drugs
 direct mail  misleading information
 billboards
 in-store
 promotions
 telemarketing Essay topics:
 sponsoring events 1. Consumers are faced with increasing numbers
of advertisements from competing
 advertising entices children to drink and
companies. To what extent do you think
smoke
consumers are influenced by
 marketing campaigns
advertisements? What measures can be taken to
 to shape preferences protect ordinary people?
 to promote junk food on television 2. Some of the methods used in advertising are
 to impose restrictions on the marketing unethical and unacceptable in today’s
of society. To what extent do you agree or disagree
 tobacco and alcohol with this view?
 to ban adverts 3. Advertising is an integral part of modern life.
 to hook children Some people say that advertising is a
 food promotion positive phenomenon, while others say it is a
 conventional commercials negative one. Discuss both views and
 children’s exposure to junk-food include your own opinion.
 marketing 4. There is an increasing amount of advertising
 children’s vulnerability directed at children, which
encourages them to buy goods such as toys and
 a splendid audience
snacks. Many parents are worried
 the influence of marketing on minors
that advertisements put too much pressure on
 legislation to curb marketing to children children, while some advertisers
 children might be manipulated by a claim that they provide useful information.
commercial Discuss both views and give your
 such marketing contributes to childhood opinion.
obesity
 children are gullible
 to shield children from marketing IELTS Vocabulary: Art Page
 product placement
 glossy magazine ads
 consumers can be targeted by internet  free entry
advertisers  to merit an entry fee
 a surge in online advertising  to marvel at modern masterworks
 getting value for money  ticketing practices
 consumers are becoming far more  a sign at the ticketing line
sophisticated  $25 adult admission fee
 “viral” marketing  in the UK, all national museums are free
 consumer resistance to the growing  museums focused on generating revenue
 intrusiveness of advertising  museums should be free community
 people often reject traditional ads resources
 unscrupulous marketing techniques  still-life paintings
 unethical marketing  some museums do not charge general
 the companies violate ethical marketing admission
codes  others tend to charge high entry fees
 strong government grant programs
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  private donations 1. Should museums and art galleries be free of
 a revived culture of philanthropy charge for the general public, or
 many scientists are very appreciative of should a charge, even a voluntary one, be levied
the arts for admittance? Discuss this issue,
 aesthetic experience and give your opinion.
 to bring creativity and out-of-the-box 2. Foreign visitors should pay more than local
thinking into other disciplines visitors for cultural and historical
attractions. To what extent do you agree or
 science and art have different ways of
disagree with this opinion?
explaining the world
3. Advances in science and technology have
 great composers are still recognizable to
made great changes in lives of ordinary
most people
people, but artists such as musicians, painters
 a decline in concert attendance and and writers are still highly valued.
funding What is more important, science or art?
 plenty of symphonic orchestras 4. Music is an important part of human life.
 professional choirs What does music reveal to people about
 art connoisseur the world? Do you believe that modern forms of
 choral and orchestral pieces are used in music have superseded the more
popular movies traditional forms of music?
 film composers 5. One of the functions of art is to challenge the
 to expand musical horizons establishment. There should,
 to live in harmony with the global therefore, be no restrictions in the form of
patterns of life censorship. To what extent do you
 music can provide a model for the agree or disagree?
renewal of human consciousness 6. It is more important for the government to
 the importance of artistic freedom invest in projects that benefit the
 an inhibitor to artistic freedom whole community such as welfare programmes
and infrastructure improvements
 freedom of expression
than to subsidise museums and art galleries as
 art mirrors the culture
these will only benefit a minority.
 a matter of taste To what extent do you agree or disagree?
 intelligent, rational viewers of art
 to remove certain artworks from public
display IELTS Vocabulary for the Topic: Education
 to censor exhibitions
 voluntary curtailment of expression
 free communication is essential to the  top-tier institutions
preservation of a free society  MOOCs, massive open online courses
 suppression of artistic expression leads to  MOOCs have multiplied in number
conformity and the stifling of freedom  traditional institutions
 public investment in the arts can yield  high drop-out rates
both cultural and economic dividends  graduate diplomas
 Britain is now bursting with quality  professional degree
museums and theatres  job prospects
 the arts are essential to a healthy society  ultimate payoff
 state funding creates dependency  financial burden
 state funding of the arts can cause them  enormous endowments
to stagnate  less affluent students
 Britain’s mixed funding model for the  recent graduates with bachelor’s degrees
arts are among the most indebted
 enrollment more than doubled
Essay topics:
 to keep pace with the growing student
body
2
  state-subsidized higher education satisfactory way to do this. To what extent do
 to become mired in a financial morass you agree or disagree with this
 sharp increases in tuition statement?
 regardless of their financial 5. The subjects that children are taught in
circumstances schools are chosen by central
 talented alumni authorities. Some people say that teachers, not
politicians, should be
 grants and scholarships
responsible for this task. To what extent you
 optimistic rhetoric of campus tours
agree or disagree with this
 salesman like admissions officers opinion?
 ever-escalating price of a college degree 6. Some experts believe that it is better for
 marking criteria children to begin learning a foreign
 exams can encourage surface learning language at primary school rather than
 a possibility of plagiarism secondary school. Do the advantages
 to perform significantly better of learning a foreign language at an early age
 students are tempted to cheat outweigh the disadvantages?
 to attain proficiency in another language
 the optimal age for language learning
 there are cognitive benefits to early IELTS Vocabulary for the Topic: Energy
 childhood bilingualism
 avoid ground-level ozone formation
 to demonstrate academic gains in other
areas  prevent acid rain
 to have advantages in relation to their  the lowest impact on the environment
monolingual peers  to reduce carbon dioxide emissions
 academic achievement  stable electricity supply
 the global economy increasingly values  environmentally benign
specialists over generalists  waste byproducts
 tremendous educational value  nuclear waste disposal
 to broaden horizons  to decontaminate radioactive material
 to strengthen analytic and reasoning  shutdown of nuclear plants
skills  stress-testing of reactors
 ban on nuclear power
Essay topics:  harmful pollutants
1. Some people believe the aim of university  enriched uranium
education is to help graduates get  health effects of radiation
better jobs. Others believe that there are much  to emit radiation
wider benefits of university  accidents in nuclear power plants
education for both individuals and society.  escape of radioactive wastes from
Discuss both views and give your confinement systems
opinion.
 natural habitat of rocks
2. Education is not a luxury, but a basic human
 waste generated by nuclear power plants
right and as such should be free
for everyone irrespective of personal wealth. Do  entail environmental hazards
you agree or disagree with  radioactive isotopes
this statement?  solar, wind and biogas plants
3. Some people think that children's free time  fossil fuel plants
must include educational  to eliminate the use of fossil fuels
activities, otherwise they will waste their time.  to turn to renewable sources
What is your opinion?  coal-fired electricity
4. Formal examinations are the only effective  hydroelectric dams
way to assess a student's  the abundance of sunshine
performance. Continual assessment such as  photovoltaic panels
course work and projects is not a  steady ocean breezes
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  offshore wind-farm  low-lying coastal areas vulnerable to
 geothermal power rising sea levels
 tidal power  coastal surges
 to upgrade the network  global warming dries out farmland
 electricity shortages  causes both floods and droughts
 blackout  melting glaciers
 semiconductor materials  searing heat
 strong sunshine  widespread flooding
 state-of-the-art solar energy facilities  climate change is undermining the gains
 wind turbines interfere with birdlife from intensive farming
 water dams can cause flooding  climate-change mitigation
 to destroy habitats  rich countries are responsible for two
 to release harmful gases thirds of the carbon put into the
atmosphere
Essay topics:  carbon capture and storage plants
1. The threat of nuclear weapons maintains  to limit the amount of carbon dioxide
world peace. Nuclear power  to prevent illegal logging
provides cheap and clean energy. The benefits of  to slow deforestation
nuclear technology far  to halt deforestation
outweigh the disadvantages. Do you agree or  to fund sustainable farming
disagree? Give reasons for your  agriculture drives around 80 percent of
answer. the planet's deforestation
2. To what extent is nuclear technology a danger  adverse environmental effects
to life on Earth? What are the
 tourism can cause the loss of biodiversity
benefits and risks associated with its use?
 land and resources are strained by
3. One-day the world’s oil and gas reserves will
excessive use
run out. Alternative energy
sources like wind power, solar power, burning  impacts on vegetation, wildlife,
waste, and water power are mountain, marine and coastal
causing as much environmental damage as the environments
oil and nuclear power sources  tourists can bring in new species
they are intended to replace. How far do you  can cause enormous disruption
agree with the latter statement?  destruction of ecosystems
What possible benefits do the alternative energy  emissions from jet aircraft
sources pose? Or what  air travel causes the destruction of ozone
damage do they cause? layer
 tourism is a significant contributor to the
increasing concentrations of greenhouse
IELTS Vocabulary: Environment gases
 revenue from park-entrance fees
 to reduce carbon dioxide emissions  to reduce carbon footprint
 to cut greenhouse-gas emissions  to introduce green taxes
 the greenhouse effect  eco-friendly design in architecture
 heat-trapping gases  schemes to offset carbon emissions
 to combat climate change  to buy hybrid cars
 irreversible climate change  to develop alternative energy sources
 natural disasters  offshore wind farms
 changing weather patterns  solar heating
 environmental catastrophe  to dump waste
 impact on water supplies  disposal of household waste
 to spread malaria  to recycle waste

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Essay topics:  convenient and inexpensive foods
1. The best way to solve the world’s  sugary, salty, fatty foods
environmental problems is to increase the cost  to devour fried chicken
of  to consume fewer calories
fuel. To what extent do you agree or disagree?  to maintain healthy weight
2. The world is consuming natural resources
 the intake of nutrients
faster than they can be renewed.
 to maintain calorie balance
Therefore, it is important that products are
made to last. Governments should  to consume nutrient-dense foods
discourage people from constantly buying more  solid fats
up-to-date or fashionable  refined grains
products. To what extent do you agree with this  healthy eating pattern
statement?  low-fat dairy products
3. Developed countries have created many  lean meats and poultry
environmental problems in the world,  fortified foods
particularly in their contribution to global  dietary supplements
warming. What can be done to reduce  pasteurized milk
the dangers of global warming?  to reduce sodium intake
4. In many countries tourism is an important  saturated fatty acids
part of the economy, but it also causes
 polyunsaturated fatty acids
environmental damage. Some people believe
 consume in moderation
that tourists should pay an additional
tax to compensate for this damage. To what  eat rainbow
extent do you agree or disagree?  to replace refined grains with whole
5. Global warming is one of the most serious grains
issues that the world is facing today.  protein foods
What are the causes of global warming and what  insoluble dietary fiber
measures can governments and  soluble dietary fiber
individuals take to tackle the issue?  a varied diet
6. Logging of the rain forests is a serious  metabolic processes
problem that may lead to the extinction of  sedentary lifestyle
animal life and human life. What are the causes  Body mass index (BMI)
of deforestation and what can be  portion sizes
done to reduce its dangers?
Essay topics:
1. Today’s food travels thousands of miles before
it reaches customers. Why
does this happen? Is this a positive or negative
IELTS Vocabulary for the Topic: Food and Health
trend?
 the emerging obesity epidemic 2. Recent research shows that the consumption
of junk food is detrimental
 obese children suffering from diabetes
to health. Some people believe that better health
 processed foods education is the solution
 to pose health concerns to this problem, but others disagree. What is
 poor diet your opinion?
 healthy diet 3. Nowadays many food producers are using
 to address the obesity problem chemical substances to
 people overeat preserve foods. Do the dangers derived from the
 packaged foods use of chemicals in food
 nutritional aspects production and preservation outweigh the
 grocery store advantages?
 unsweetened yogurt 4. The percentage of overweight children in
 whole grains Western society has increased

5
by almost 20% during the last ten years. Discuss 1. Genetic engineering is an important issue in
the causes and effects of modern society. Some people think
this disturbing trend. that it will improve people's lives in many ways.
5. Eating a balanced diet is the most important Others feel that it may be a threat
factor for a healthy life. To to life on earth. Discuss both opinions and give
what extent do you agree? your opinion.
2. In recent years, farming practice has changed
to include methods such as genetic
modification and the use of technology to
improve crops. Some people believe
IELTS Vocabulary: Genetic Engineering these developments are necessary, while others
regard them as dangerous and
 modern biotechnology advocate a return to traditional farming
 recombinant DNA technology methods. Discuss both points of view and
 the precise tailoring of crops by direct give your own opinion.
genetic manipulation
 conventional crops
 old and haphazard processes of IELTS Vocabulary for the Topic: Overpopulation
hybridisation
 selective breeding  less developed countries
 resistance to insect, fungal and viral pests  raw-material scarcities
 to require pesticides  stringent population-control measures
 to increase yields  higher population further degrades the
 to enhance nutritional value environment
 to object to genetically modified foods  a fast-growing population
 potential risks to human health and the  voluntary population control
environment  the declining rates of fertility
 food manufacturers  to intervene in people's choice
 genetic manipulation is unnatural  to face chronic water shortages
 salads concocted from weeds  to ensure a reasonable quality of life
 to stimulate pest resistance  to lack access to modern sanitation
 GM crops contain their own insecticide  water-borne pathogens
 spraying becomes unnecessary  rising carbon emissions
 GM food is neither toxic nor allergenic  to lack adequate daily nutrition
 mandatory labelling of GM food  women would like to limit their
 opposed to genetic engineering childbearing but have no access to
 to adopt GM crops contraceptives
 the prospect of lower chemical costs  to achieve population stabilisation
 organic produce  to ensure that women can exercise
control over their own reproductive
 a matter of consumer preference
choice
 agricultural biotechnology
 global demographic trends
 the next generation of GM foods
 maldistribution of wealth
 obvious consumer benefits
 densely populated countries
 virus resistance makes plants less
 a country with below-replacement
susceptible to diseases
fertility
 genetically engineered vaccines
 the one-child policy in China
 vaccines are less effective at triggering
 the ratio of taxpayers to pensioners
antibodies
 the birthrate declines as society grows
 the vaccines must be repeated frequently
richer
 insulin for diabetics
 to impose abortions and sterilisations
Essay topics:  the ageing of Britain’s population
6
  immigrants could help balance out the  hypnosis and relaxation techniques
retirees  to alleviate anxiety, panic disorders and
 demographic crunch insomnia
 yoga can reduce asthma attacks
Essay topics:  to address chronic conditions
1. One of the most pressing problems facing the  impact on infectious diseases
world today is overpopulation. What  create a stronger evidence base
policies do you believe governments should  promote therapeutically sound use of
adopt to address the causes and alternative medicine
effects of this problem?
 to expand the health workforce
2. The world is experiencing a dramatic increase
 education of health workers
in population, which is causing
problems not only for developing countries, but  critical shortages of health workers
also for developed nations.  to scale up health education
Describe some of the problems that  reforms in education
overpopulation causes, and suggest at least  collaboration between the education and
one possible solution. health sectors
 to reform teaching curricula
 to obtain free healthcare
IELTS Vocabulary: Health  patients face charges
 to seek treatment
 health practitioners  patients' eligibility for treatment
 complementary/alternative medicine  to balance tight budgets with rising public
 preventive care expectation
 to enhance hospital productivity  cripples in the street
 to promote healthy ageing  people dying of treatable diseases
 to meet the healthcare needs  incurable disease/ untreatable disease
 to recover from acute diseases  to provide medical services to the entire
 to battle chronic afflictions population
 growing demand for healthcare services  regardless of people’s ability to pay
 to fend off diseases before they arise  to forge national health provision
 to mitigate their worst effects  an accessible public-health insurance
 to promote health initiatives system
 to reduce the scourge of infectious and  to break the link between earnings and
chronic diseases health entitlements
 measures such as vaccination drives and  cost-efficiency of medicines and
educational campaigns help prevent treatments
contagious diseases  the performance of hospitals and
 promoting healthy lifestyles helps battle surgeons
chronic illnesses  overuse of the service for transient
 to tighten anti-smoking policies ailments
 to underfund immunization programmes  wellness industry
 an ounce of prevention is worth a pound
of cure Essay topics:
 the costs are mounting 1. Currently there is a trend towards the use of
 to lead active, productive lives alternative forms of medicine.
 a holistic approach to feeling well However, at best these methods are ineffective,
 clinics provide acupuncture and at worst they may be
 to minimize the risks of misused dangerous. To what extent do you agree with
remedies this statement?
 the efficacy of acupuncture to relieve pain 2. “Prevention is better than cure”. Out of a
and nausea country’s health budget, a large

7
proportion should be diverted from treatment to  space-shuttle programme
spending on health  to launch the last mission
education and preventive measures. To what  test pilots are killed
extent do you agree or disagree  traditional spacefaring powers
with this statement?  robotic exploration of the solar system
3. Most developed countries spend a large
 public interest is likely to wane
proportion of their health budgets on
 the descent of the Curiosity rover
expensive medical technology and procedures.
This money should be spent  satellite imagery
instead on health education. To what extent do  to uncover remarkable information
you agree or disagree?  geological evolution of Mars
4. The quality of health care a person receives  manned space travel
should not depend on the size of  to exploit spaceship technology
their bank balance. The government is  to offer commercial sub-orbital flights
responsible for providing a high level  new generation of vehicles
of health care for all its citizens. To what extent  rockets consume a huge amount of power
do you agree or disagree?  passengers will experience weightlessness
5. Some people say that the best way to improve  the fleet should be large enough to
public health is by increasing furnish space-tourism business
the number of sports facilities. Others, however,  to launch satellites
argue that this would have
 air launches avoid igniting rockets in the
little effect on public health and that other
lower atmosphere
measures are required. Discuss
 to launch hypersonic vehicles
both these views and give your own opinion.
 Virgin Galactic of Sir Richard Branson
 to break even in 2014
 commercialising space
 NASA’s cancellation of moon programme
IELTS Vocabulary: Space Exploration  the private sector can lower the costs of
getting into orbit
 governments fund research  to transport a lunar base
 to withdraw money
 to promote innovation Essay topics:
 to pour money into research 1. Space exploration requires vast sums of
 to unravel the mysteries of the universe money. Is the amount of money spent on
 funnelling taxpayers' money into more space research justifiable? Could the money be
down-to-earth projects better spent?
 to contribute to the public good 2. Space travel has become possible. Some
 to lead to underinvestment people think that space tourism will
 crucial to societies' well-being probably be developed in the future. Discuss the
 to bolster the case for government advantages and disadvantages of
subsidies to science space tourism and give your own opinion.
3. Space travel to the moon is cited as a big step
 the returns in terms of innovation
for the mankind. Some people think
 to derive benefits it made little difference to people’s daily lives.
 scientific pursuits To what extent do you agree or
 private ventures disagree with them?
 to make human space flight commercially
viable
 the market seems vulnerable IELTS Vocabulary for the Topic: Sports
 space tourism is a luxury service
 it is unlikely to go beyond low-Earth orbit  to outlaw dangerous sports
 ferrying astronauts to the International  to be banned on safety grounds
Space Station  repeated blows to the head in boxing
8
  to risk brain injury Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
 a mainstream sport 3. Some people believe that competitive sports
 a highly disciplined sport have a positive effect on children’s
 to instill self-discipline education, while others believe there is no place
 to disengage children from gangs for such sports in schools. Discuss
both points of view and give your own opinion.
 tombstoning (cliff-jumping)
4. In many countries, people working in sport
 the rush of adrenaline
and entertainment earn much more
 a bloodthirsty and dangerous sport money than professionals like doctors, nurses
 broken ribs and teachers. Why do you think this
 black eyes happens? Do you consider this a positive or a
 medical risks negative factor?
 martial arts such as kickboxing and Thai 5. Being a celebrity — such as a famous film star
boxing or sports personality — brings
 to host the Olympics problems as well as benefits. Do you think that
 tantalizing promises being a celebrity brings more
 local construction sector tends to benefit benefits or more problems?
 necessary infrastructure
 economic windfall
 to experience cost overruns
 escalating costs IELTS Vocabulary for the Topic: Urbanisation
 magnificent athletic events
 to spur goodwill  modern metropolis
 to alienate inactive schoolchildren  gateways to finance
 competitive team-based sports  to spur economic growth
 to get young people into the habit of  urban proximity
exercise  vulnerable to violent crime
 to lead healthy and active lifestyles  high population density
 to compete against other schools  greater opportunities for face-to-face
 intrinsically valuable interactions
 sports coaches  contagious disease
 to neglect outdoor, adventurous and  highly correlate
dance activity  to foster social ties
 NBA players' annual salaries exceed $2m  rural migrants
 household incomes  urban dwellers
 a star basketball player  pressing problems
 is paid a fortune  insufficient water availability
 superstar compensation  waste-disposal problems
 to tolerate outsized sports incomes  intensive urban growth
 high-paid sports celebrities  concentrated energy use leads [liːdz] to
greater air pollution
Essay topics:  automobile exhaust
1. Some people think that the government  elevated lead [led] levels
should prohibit dangerous sporting
 multiple health hazards
activities while others think that people have the
 magnify the risk
freedom to do whatever sports
they choose. Discuss both views and give your  toxic substances
own opinion.  to upgrade energy use
2. Many people want their country to host an  alternative transport systems
international sporting event. Others  to plant trees
believe that international sporting events bring  traffic congestion
more problems than benefits.  shortage of off-street parking
9
  multi-storey car parks
 provide homes for booming population
 demand fuelled by a massive population
rise
 to cover with concrete
 to destroy green spaces
 despoliation of precious landscape

Essay topics:
1. Overpopulation of urban areas has led to
numerous problems. Identify one or two
serious ones and suggest the ways how
governments and individuals can tackle
these problems.
2. In cities and towns all over the world high
volume of traffic is a problem. What are
the causes of this and what actions can be taken
to solve this problem?
3. In many countries there is a shortage of
housing due to a growing population.
Some people argue that new towns should be
built in the countryside, others
support the regeneration of cities. What are the
advantages and disadvantages of
building new towns in the countryside?

10