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Compare And Contrast Essay

Compare And Contrast Essay Topics

Interesting Compare and Contrast Essay Topics & Ideas

13 min read

Compare and Contrast Essay - Overview

A compare and contrast essay is a type of essay that explains how two or more subjects are different or similar.

The purpose of this essay is to examine two things and find out how they are similar and different. When writing a compare and contrast essay, it's important to consider the relevance of each characteristic being compared. This will help you decide which characteristics are most worth exploring.

Here’s a video that explains compare and contrast essay in more depth:

If you have not decided on the topic as yet, get inspired by the topic ideas given below:

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics for University Students

Compare the education systems of the United States and the United Kingdom.
Compare and contrast the themes and characters in two classic novels of your choice.
Compare the democratic systems of the United States and European countries.
Compare the impact of Eastern and Western philosophies on modern society.
Compare and contrast the theories of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung.
Compare the economic systems of capitalism and socialism.
Compare the theories of evolution and creationism in the context of biology.
Compare the impact of World War I and World War II on global politics and society.
Compare the role of women in society in the 19th and 21st centuries.
Compare and contrast classical music and contemporary pop music.

College Level Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Check out these compare and contrast essay topics for college students.

School vs. College - Which is more difficult?
Employed vs. unemployed students
Research papers vs. Essays
American Culture vs. British
Education vs. employment
IELTS vs. TOEFL
Graduate vs. Postgraduate student
Argumentative vs. Persuasive essays
Android vs. iOS
Online writing vs. traditional writing

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics for High School Students

John Locke against Thomas Hobbes
George Bush vs. Donald Trump
Bill Gates and Steve Jobs
Prince and Michael Jackson
Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi
Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill
Adolf Hitler and Mussolini
Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May
Jon Bon Jovi and Elvis Presley.
Socrates and Plato

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics for Middle School

Playing video games vs. reading a book
Real communication vs. texting
Apple vs. Pear
Giving vs. Getting presents - Which is more pleasant?
Long hair or short hair
Cats vs. Dogs
King Arthur vs. Zeus
Watching a film at home vs. in cinema
Dictators vs. School bullies
Hurricane vs. Tsunami

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics 9th Grade

Comparing the Dangers of On-Screen Screen Time vs Outdoor Activities
Contrasting Ancient Rome and Modern America
Online Classes vs On-campus Classes
School Uniforms vs Casual Dress Code
Homeschooling vs. Public Schooling
Video Games vs. Movies
Reading Books vs Watching Movies
Examining the Impact of Social Media on Teenage Lives
Comparing Private Schools to Public Schools
Exploring the Advantages and Disadvantages of City Life vs Country Life.

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics For 7th Grade

Nighttime vs. Daytime
Sleeping vs. Being active
Running & Walking
Summer & Winter
Comic books and TV shows
Halloween or prom night? - Which one is more fun?
Riding or driving - Which is more difficult?
Swimming vs. cycling
Brazil team vs. Manning team
Evening exercise vs. morning exercise

Easy Compare And Contrast Essay Topics for 6th Grade

Compare quotes from known celebrities
Books of famous writers
Rap songs and Pop Songs
Reptiles vs. Mammals
Shaggy vs. Fred
Renting and owning things
Italy vs. Spain
Is living in a house better than a flat?
Compare and contrast between adulthood and childhood.
Superman vs. Spiderman

Best Compare and Contrast Essay Topics For Elementary Students

Facebook or Instagram
Fast food vs. healthy meal
Public school vs. Private school
Parental control or full freedom
Good teacher vs. a bad teacher
Online vs. Traditional shopping
Chinese vs. American beauty concepts
Rock vs. Classical music
Apartment vs. House
University professors vs. School teachers

History Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Renaissance and Baroque Art
US President vs. British Prime Minister
Fascism and Totalitarianism
Religious Studies vs. Anthropology
America vs. Soviet Government
Gandhi and Jinnah’s political approaches
Communism vs. Liberalism
Make a comparison between Russian emperors
Iran pre and post monarchy
Karl Marx and Friedrich Hegel

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Science Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Astronomy vs. Astrology
Chemistry vs. Physics
Nature vs. Nurture in Psychology
Renewable Energy vs. Fossil Fuels
Biotechnology vs. Genetic Engineering
Climate Change vs. Natural Climate Variability
Quantum Mechanics vs. Classical Physics
Space Exploration vs. Ocean Exploration
Animal Behavior vs. Human Behavior
Artificial Intelligence vs. Human Intelligence

Sports Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Sports vs. Exercise - Which is better for health?
Table tennis vs. Lawn tennis
Football vs. Soccer
Basketball vs. Baseball
Breakdance vs. ballet
Steroids vs. Energy drinks - More harmful to athletes?
Women’s vs. men’s basketball
Australian vs. Indian cricket team
The Bundesliga vs. The English Premier League
Barcelona vs. Real Madrid

Psychology Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Psychology and Psychiatry
Nature vs. Nurture
Therapy vs. Medication
Rehabilitation Advantages and Disadvantages
Autism vs. Down Syndrome
Suicide and Homicide
Smoking and Vaping
Impact of social media on people and depression
Stress and Depression
Compare Theories of J. Watson and B. Skinner.

Literature & Language Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Shakespearean Tragedies vs. Comedies
Poetry vs. Prose
Classic Literature vs. Contemporary Literature
Fiction vs. Non-Fiction
First-Person vs. Third-Person Narration
Modern English vs. Old English
The Use of Symbolism in Poetry vs. Prose
Gothic Literature vs. Romantic Literature
Literary Realism vs. Magical Realism
Literary Criticism vs. Reader Response Theory

Education Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

SAT vs. IELTS
Scientific Paper vs. Academic Writing
Science and Art
Professional vs. Skill Degree
Essay Writing and Research Paper
What is the difference between Public and Private School students?
Casual Clothing vs. Uniforms
University and College
Gender studies and Women's Studies
Sociology and Anthropology

Social Sciences Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Democracy vs. Authoritarianism
Capitalism vs. Socialism
Traditional Education vs. Online Learning
Urban Living vs. Rural Living
Gender Roles in Modern Society vs. Traditional Societies
Individualism vs. Collectivism
Globalization vs. Cultural Diversity
Social Media vs. Face-to-Face Communication
Environmental Conservation vs. Economic Development
Cybersecurity vs. Privacy Rights

Arts and Culture Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Classical Art vs. Contemporary Art
Film vs. Theater
Traditional Dance vs. Modern Dance
Literature vs. Film Adaptations
High Culture vs. Popular Culture
Museum Exhibitions vs. Art Galleries
Classical Music vs. Contemporary Music
Traditional Architecture vs. Modern Architecture
Fashion Trends vs. Historical Costume
Cultural Festivals vs. Music Festivals

Funny Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Here are some fun compare and contrast essay topics for light-hearted essays

Moonwalk vs. Gangnam Style
Xbox vs. PlayStation
Growing a tree vs. raising a child
Being single vs. in a relationship
Drugs or Coffee - Which is better to improve performance?
Morse code vs. Beethoven’s fifth symphony
Love or friendship
Apple vs. Samsung
Live-in relationship vs. marriage
Barbie vs. Bratz

Controversial Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Gun Control vs. Second Amendment Rights
Pro-choice vs. Pro-life
Capital Punishment vs. Life Imprisonment
Censorship vs. Freedom of Expression
Climate Change Denial vs. Environmental Activism
Globalization vs. Protectionism
Legalization vs. Criminalization of Drugs
AI Advancements vs. Job Displacement
Universal Healthcare vs. Private Healthcare
The Role of Government vs. Individual Liberty

Movie Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Comedy vs. horror movies
Vampires of Twilight vs. Vampire diaries
Avengers vs. Fantastic Four
DC or Marvel
Normal vs. 3D screening
Dumbledore vs. Voldemort
Michael Jackson vs. Prince
Netflix or Youtube
Bollywood vs. Hollywood
Mystery vs. Crime movies

Good Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Football in 20th vs. 21st Century
Sociology vs. psychology
Bipolar Disorder vs. Epilepsy
Strict Parenting vs. Relaxed Parenting
Ego vs. Superego
Soft Drugs vs. Hard Drugs
Traditional vs. online education
Homeschooling vs. traditional education
Testing or stress-free education
Studying languages vs. sciences

Fun Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Wizards vs. Witches: Magical Showdown
Summer Festivals vs. Winter Carnivals: Seasonal Celebrations
Metropolis Madness vs. Country Calm: Where to Live?
Adventures in Middle-earth vs. Galaxy Far, Far Away: Epic Journeys
Social Butterflies vs. Snap-happy Explorers: Social Media Stars
Pizza Palooza vs. Burger Bonanza: Foodie Face-off
High School Hijinks vs. College Capers: Student Life
Road Trippin' vs. Jet Settin': Travel Adventures
Campfire Chronicles vs. Hotel Hideaways: Outdoor Escapes
Mozart vs. Morrison: Musical Masterminds

Unique Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Renaissance vs. Baroque Art
Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing in the Digital Age.
Exploration of Dreams in Psychology vs. Literature.
The Impact of Video Games vs. Literature on Storytelling.
Natural Medicine vs. Conventional Medicine
Shakespearean Sonnets vs. Modern Song Lyrics
Eastern and Western Approaches to Meditation and Mindfulness.
Ancient Greek Democracy vs. Modern Democratic Systems.
The Internet's Effect on Traditional Journalism vs. Citizen Journalism.
Family members vs. Friends in tough life decisions

Deep Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Paintings vs. photos
Superman vs. Batman
Harry Potter Books vs. Movies
Pride and Prejudice vs. The Great Gatsby
Mission Impossible 1 vs. 6
Game of Thrones vs. The Witcher
Apple or Google Pixel
Free college education.
Silver vs. gold.
Old vs. new: analyzing the similarities

Medical Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Vaccination or medications
Female vs. male doctors
All-natural cures vs. chemical cures
Alternative medicine vs. traditional medicine
Soft Drugs s. Hard Drugs
Should medical marijuana be approved on the federal level?
Traditional vs. modern medicine
Old-fashioned or unique ways of treatment
Doctor vs. nurse
Medicine vs. herbal

Healthcare Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Traditional Medicine vs. Modern Medicine
Telemedicine vs. In-Person Doctor Visits
Mental Health vs. Physical Health Care
Vaccination vs. Natural Immunity
Traditional Chinese Medicine vs. Western Medicine
Healthcare in Developed vs. Developing Countries
Public Health vs. Personal Health
Hospital Care vs. Home Healthcare
Healthcare Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics on Technology

Traditional vs. Online Commerce
Mobile phones vs. tablets
E-readers vs. traditional paper books
iPhone or Smartphone
Artificial intelligence vs. cloud computing
Online photos vs. camera photos
Traditional TV or streaming platforms
Laptops or tablets
Cloud computing vs. traditional computing
Robots vs. humans

Entertainment Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Live Concerts vs. Music Streaming Services
Hollywood Films vs. Independent Movies
Video Games vs. Board Games
Fiction Books vs. Non-Fiction Books
Stand-Up Comedy vs. Improv Comedy
Theater Plays vs. Movie Adaptations
Cable TV vs. Streaming Services
Action Movies vs. Romantic Comedies
Pop Music vs. Hip-Hop Music
Classical Art vs. Street Art

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics on Economy

Keynesian Economics vs. Supply-Side Economics
Market Economy vs. Planned Economy
Microeconomics vs. Macroeconomics
Economic Development vs. Economic Growth
Fiscal Policy vs. Monetary Policy
Developed Countries vs. Developing Countries' Economies
Income Inequality in Capitalist vs. Socialist Economies
The Great Depression vs. the 2008 Financial Crisis
Trade Protectionism vs. Free Trade
Economic Impact of COVID-19 vs. Other Major Crises

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics on Politics

Different models of democracy
Republicans vs. Democrats
Democracy and communism
The political system of US vs. UK
Margaret Thatcher vs. Barack Obama;
Good vs. bad politics
American politics vs. British politics
Parliamentary vs. presidential
World war I vs. World War II
Rural politics vs. urban politics

How to Choose a Topic for a Compare and Contrast Essay?

Usually, elementary school and college students are assigned topics for their essays. But if not, then it is time to show your creativity by choosing an interesting topic.

Choosing the right topic for your essay is both important and daunting. Choosing an exciting topic is mandatory to make your compare and contrast essay engaging for the readers.

If you want to select an impressive topic for your essay, follow the tips provided below:

Identify Your Interests: Identify the topics you find interesting and are passionate about discussing. Your enthusiasm will enhance the quality of your writing.
Create a List of Ideas: List down all the ideas and choose subjects that can be described in detail with various aspects.
Ensure Coherence: Make sure that the subjects you choose for your essay belong to the same group or category. This ensures a logical and coherent flow of ideas.
Consider Your Audience: Keep in mind the target audience. Structure your writing based on the readers' interests to increase your essay’s readership. Choose a topic that aligns with your audience's preferences.
Explore Current Trends: Choose topics from current trends and controversies. People are more interested in subjects that are new or controversial. This ensures your essay remains engaging and relevant to your audience.

Researching before choosing your compare and contrast essay topic is essential. In this way, you will know if your chosen topic is suitable or not.

To sum up , these are some helpful and fun writing ideas you can use in your compare and contrast essay.

However, sometimes students need more than a list of compare and contrast essay topics to guide them. You should also read some compare and contrast essay examples to get a better understanding.

Whether writing an essay or an academic paper on compare and contrast, it is essential first to pick a good topic. You can easily get help from our essay writing company online.

At MyPerfectWords.com , we provide reliable writing services that provide quality and custom academic assistance.

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Nova Allison is a Digital Content Strategist with over eight years of experience. Nova has also worked as a technical and scientific writer. She is majorly involved in developing and reviewing online content plans that engage and resonate with audiences. Nova has a passion for writing that engages and informs her readers.

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IELTS Writing Task 2/ Essay Topics with sample answer.

Ielts writing task 2 sample 658 - compare and contrast knowledge gained from experience with knowledge gained from books, ielts writing task 2/ ielts essay:, it is often cited that “not everything that is learned is contained in books”. according to many, we learn most of the things from our own experience while others believe that books are our main source of knowledge. compare and contrast knowledge gained from experience with knowledge gained from books. in your opinion, which source is more important why .

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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 : Compare and Contrast

Updated On Aug 25, 2023

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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 : Compare and Contrast

Limited-Time Offer : Access a FREE 10-Day IELTS Study Plan!

Like it has already been discussed in all the other TASK 1 lessons, to get a high band score in your Writing Section, you need to use appropriate vocabulary.

In IELTS Writing Task 1 , you are commonly provided with graphs, pie charts, etc. which have data that should be compared and contrasted.

In this lesson, you will learn the type of vocabulary that you’ve got to use to compare and contrast information in the graph.

Comparative and Superlatives

To compare any graphs or charts, you need to use comparatives or superlatives.

Comparatives are used when comparing two things.

Jill runs faster than Ted.

Superlatives are used one thing against a group of elements.

Jill runs faster than any other girl in her class.

There are a few basic ways in which these words are formed. They are:

Other Vocabulary

Though Comparatives and Superlatives are essential, they aren’t sufficient for an IELTS Task 1 essay. Therefore, we should use other kinds of vocabulary.

Subordinating Conjunctions

Although the sale prices of the CDS decreased, it remained the same for the year 2002 and 2003.

The sale prices of the CDs decreased in 2001, whereas/while it remained the same in the year 2002 and 2003.

Transitions

In 1970, the most popular fast food was pizza, over 300 grams were consumed each week. By 1990, however , this had fallen to just over 200 grams.
There was a vast increase in the consumption of Fish and Chips. In contrast, there was a drop in the consumption of pizza over the years.
On the one hand, the consumption of hamburgers increased. On the other hand, the consumption of pizza decreased.

Other Structures

Like Canada, Japan also has a 99% adult literacy rate.
Canada has more annual income than all the other four countries.
The adult literacy rate of Zaire is far less than all the other four countries.
As observed from the given data, daily calorie supply in Canada and Japan was 3326 and 2846 per person, while this ratio in Peru and Zaire was almost half, with 1927 and 1749 per person.
Initially, the annual incomes of Canadian and Japanese people were much higher than in Peru and Zaire.
Zaire’s life expectancy is not as high as Canada’s or Japan’s.
The economic and social living standards of Canadian and Japanese citizens were far better than those of the people of Peru and Zaire.

Using Approximate Data

When you are comparing and contrasting, you don’t usually have the exact numbers, like in the chart below. Thus you use appropriate phrases for comparative data.

In 1990, the fertility rate in Kuwait was just over 3.
In 1990, the fertility rate in Kuwait was approximately 3.

Here you can see that if your value is above the value mentioned and there is no precise number given, you can use ‘just over’ or ‘approximately.’

In 2000, the fertility rate in the UAE was nearly 3.
In 2000, the fertility rate in the UAE was almost 3.

Here you can see that if your value is below the value mentioned and there is no precise number given, you can use ‘nearly’ or ‘almost.’

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20 Common Essay Topics for IELTS Writing Task 2

Below is a list of the 20 most common IELTS essay topics that appear in writing task 2 with subtopics. Although the essay questions change, the subject of the essays often remains the same. Each topic is divided into subtopics which you should prepare.

You should practice developing ideas for all common essay topics used by IELTS so that you can write your essay within the given time limit. Follow this link to get over 100 IELTS essay questions for the topics below.

Common Essay Topics with Subtopics

censorship of art and artists
art at school
the benefits of art for individuals and society
small vs large business
international business
family run business
management and leadership
success in business
business and technology
skills vs knowledge for business
materialism and consumerism
technology and communication
family and communication
face to face vs long distance communication
types of communication
the development of character and personality
innate or developed personalities
female / male characters
prisons vs rehabilitation
capital punishment vs other types of punishment
criminals – what makes a criminal
major vs minor crime
crime and technology
teenagers and crime
role of policemen
men and women in law enforcement
cash vs credit cards
saving vs spending
globalisation and economy
world economic issues
economic progress and success
children and education
relevant subjects
education and technology
role of teachers
discipline and rules in school
single-sex schools
educational aid to poorer countries
protection of endangered species
environmental problems
saving the environment & solving problems
government vs individual roles
family roles
family size
the generation gap
role models
family and education
health diets
education of diet
traditional vs modern diets
children and diet
prevention vs cure
health and education
poor countries and rich countries
dealing with global epidemics
hospitals and treatment
exercise and health
having only one language in the world
methods of language learning
travel and language
the disappearance of languages
language and culture
censorship, control and freedom of speech
advertising methods
children and advertising
media and technology
news & reporting
Space Exploration
Water and Oceans
Change or Moving vs Stability and Constancy
paper books vs ebooks
children and reading
books in education
reading and leisure
controlling the internet
socialising online
children and technology (safety)
the change in society
letter vs email
storing data
safety of personal information
development of infrastructure
comparing forms of transport
problems with modern forms of transport
environmental issues
culture and travel
understanding people and travel
living in a global world
overpopulation
homeless people
crime on the streets
modern life styles
budget spending
public services
professionals vs amateurs
sport and learning
sport as a school subject
men vs women in sport
types of sport
women in work
types of jobs (blue collar / white collar)
children and exploitation
part time work
work and technology

IELTS Recent Exam Topics

To get a list of recent essay questions as well as recent topics and question from all other sections of the IELTS test, follow this link: Recent IELTS Exam Questions & Topics

IELTS Writing Task 2

Get model essays, tips, free video lessons and practice exercises for IELTS writing task 2: IELTS Writing Task 2

100 IELTS Essay Questions

Get over 100 IELTS essay questions for free. The essay questions are organised into topics and also into different types of essays: 100 IELTS essay questions

IELTS Vocabulary

Develop your vocabulary for some of the above topics: IELTS vocabulary page .

Main IELTS Pages Develop your IELTS skills with tips, model answers, lessons, free videos and more. IELTS Listening IELTS Reading IELTS Writing Task 1 IELTS Writing Task 2 IELTS Speaking Vocabulary for IELTS IELTS Test Information (FAQ) Home Page: IELTS Liz

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Hi Liz.. I really appreciate your good work here and pray that God will give you more strength to continue this your great work to humanity..

My question is on writing task 2 about the way they use to ask their questions.. For example,In many countries, paying for things using mobile phone is becoming increasing common. Does this development have more advantages or disadvantages? My question now, should I just choose one and give my reasons or should I elaborate on both the advantages and disadvantages and conclude with the one that has more advantage?..

Secondly,some will ask you to what extent do you agree or disagree?

Sounds like you need my advanced lessons which take you step by step through the different types of essays. This is a link to my store: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/

Why are you not active in youtube. When can we see new video of yours there ?

This is due to a serious health problem that has prevented me from making videos for many years.

Breaks my heart to here this. I’m sure everybody’s wish here is same as me and that we all hope you recover soon.

Thanks. That’s very kind. I hope that next year my health will be more stable and if so, I’ll try to make some new videos 🙂

Hi Liz, Hope your great.

Just need your opinion about increasing overal writing from 6 to 7 or above. Even though how hard i tried my writing score is not increasing beyond 6. Would be happy if you could give your overal opinion on how to increase it. Thanks in advance

This is not a simple task to explain in just a short message on my website. For this reason, I created advanced writing task 2 lessons and e-books in my online store: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/ . You can buy them individually so you can see if one of them helps you. If they do help, you can consider getting more.

I need your help in understanding this question in Task 2- writing. Some people think educated people are more valuable than people who learned skills through experience. Do you think educated people are the most valuable to society? What kinds of skills can people through experience that can benefit society? In this question, does education mean Hard Skills or formal education such a degree/ certification and skills through experience means soft skills? Thanks for your support.

Education refers to formal educational. This is about education or skills – not about different types of skills.

I’m new to this website, although reading the few comments here makes me feel secured. I hope to get the best from here. Thanks

Hello Liz You have some great content. It is extremely helpful when preparing for IELTS. Recently I came across an essay topic for GT that seemed quite vague. ‘In some areas of the US, a curfew is imposed, in which teenagers are not allowed to be out of doors after a particular time at night unless they are accompanied by an adult. What is your opinion about this?’ This is from a credible practice material. What is a good response to this?

Which sources did you get this from? IELTS essay questions do not relate to only one country. However, the topic of curfew is possible. With such a topic, you would write about freedom of movement, learning independence and learning about safety, against protecting children for various reasons.

I love the way you answered a question. Thank you Liz for your tutoring. Tan from Vietnam

Nice to meet you, Tan from Vietnam

Hi Liz, Is there any difference in essay topics that can appear for general and academic writing task 2? If yes, can you categorize them accordingly? Is there any difference in writing essay for academic and general ielts?

The topics are basically the same although it is unlikely GT candidates will get Space Exploration as a topic (but they could easily get this topic in the Speaking test part 3). For this reason, all candidates should prepare all topics. As for differences in the writing test, see this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-gt-academic-writing-differences/

Your trainings are very useful. For those writing the general ielts test (Not Academic), are the essay topics limited to specific areas ? Would the topics be selected from the different essay types such as opinion essay, discussion essay, solution essay, direct questions etc ?

See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-gt-academic-writing-differences/ . If you use the RED MENU BAR at the top of the website, you’ll find links to all key pages on this site.

Hi liz, I am a trainer of IELTS. Your lessons are much beneficial for me. But I have a question that while getting training I heard from trainers that we are not allowed to use personal words like we, us, he, she, him, her, our as well as words like etc. and too, too much as it effect our writing bands. So can you tell me that is it put any effect on our band of writing or not? Thank you

“etc” is an abbreviation of “et cetera”. When you give examples, choose the number of examples to give rather than use “etc”. When you explain something, be specific rather than using “etc”. It is completely fine to use pronouns, but some pronouns are used more than others. For example, the pronouns “we” and “us” are not commonly used. Also the pronouns “he/him” or she/her” are also not used a lot because we are mostly writing about people in general rather than specific people. The word “too” is used whenever it is needed. So, you see, there are no IELTS rules about this. It is just about what the likely to be used based on the aims of the essay. I have a chapter on Pronouns in the Grammar E-book which covers this.

Task 2 academic topic: Date: August 6, 2020 Some people believe that old customs and traditions should be given up, as people do not use them now. To what extent you agree and disagree?

Hi Liz,, I would like to thank you for the great effort put in this website,, really useful. Regarding writing task 2,, what should I do if I did not get the meaning of the essay topic?!!

If you can’t understand the meaning fully, hopefully you can understand the meaning partially. Of course, it will affect your score for Task Response, but not for the other marking criteria. However, most essay questions are written quite simply so you can understand. Also, your preparation should involve reviewing all common topics and over 100 essay questions.

Hi Liz, I hope you’re doing well. I have encountered some problems in giving correct points in writing task 2. Here is the question of the task which I selected for your website. Some schools are very strict about their school uniforms and the appearance of their pupils, while other schools have a very relaxed dress code. May I know ‘strict about their school uniforms’ simply means having the same dress codes/school uniforms? Looking forward to your reply. Thank you so much

Strict implies that they follow the dress code precisely and have very specific dress codes. For example, they have very precise rules for the length of a girls skirt and they make sure these rules are followed. In South Korea, they are even strict about the length of a girls hair and if a teacher thinks the girls hair is longer than permitted, they get a pair of scissors and cut it. That is a very strict rule about appearance. However, in the school I went to, girls had to wear ties, but the ties could be tied in any way the girl wanted. There were also rules about how short a skirt could be. But, in fact, the girls often looked very sloppy with ties in a mess and skirt very short. So, my school had rules but didn’t enforce them properly. So, struct dress codes applies to both the rules and the enforcing of those rules.

Hi Liz, thank you for the very clear and informative explanation. I’ve bought your E-books and advanced lessons and I’ve noticed my improvement after following exactly what you mention in the books and the lessons. All in all, I’m more than happy that I found your website and I would highly recommend to anyone who wishes to score in IELTS follow every note and advise at your website. Thank you and stay safe.

I’m pleased you are improving 🙂

Hello Liz, I have been reluctant to send you a comment since I don’t know if you would be free to reply. I am planning to take the GT exam whenever the quarantine is over but until then, I have been practicing the writing task. my questions is: Can you have a glance at my essays and just let me know if what I am doing is right or not? I just need to know if my answering steps are in place, if I am starting my essay in the correct way and how much will I approximately score if I continued practicing in this manner. Thank you in advance and stay safe!

Unfortunately I don’t offer a marking service at present. However, I suggest you get my Advanced Writing Task 2 Lessons which take you step by step through each paragraph and will ensure you use the right techniques. I’m running a discount from about May 5th on those lessons as well as for my new Grammar E-book which will released then. Wait for that time to purchase.

Is there any important topics for GT essay? Could you please assume frequently asked essay?

There is no difference between GT essays and Academic essays except that the GT essays are easier with slightly easier essay questions, So, ALL the lessons and tips for writing task 2 on this site are for both GT and Academic Writing Task 2. If you want ideas for topics, get my Ideas for Topics E-book which you can find in my online store. Click here: Liz’s Online Store

I just started ielts preparation so please share ielts materials.

This whole website contains hundreds of page of lessons, tips etc. Go to the HOME page and read how to access them.

Hello Liz, I have a question to ask about agree or disagree essay. “In the future, it seems more difficult to live on the Earth. Some people think more money should be spent on researching other planets to live, such as Mars. To what extent do you agree or disagree?” My essay goes like this: 1. Intro: disagree, money should be spent on saving the Earth rather than doing researches on other planets 2. Body 1: no certainty about life on other planets => could waste money 3. Body 2: saving the Earth is more important => reasons 4. Conclusion Is it ok if I write like that? Thank you in advance!

You have the right approach. However, your third body paragraph is not needed. That forms part of body paragraph 1 = Earth is more important which is why more money should be spent on research.

Dear Liz, do we have to practice all the subtopics to get a good band in writing? Or working on only one subtopic will be enough?

The more you prepare, the better your chances of getting a specific question you have prepared. You can use this page for questions: https://ieltsliz.com/100-ielts-essay-questions/ and this page is a link to my Ideas for Essay Topics E-book in my online store: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/

Hi Liz, Thank you for your effort in providing excellent resources. I have a strange question. If I get a question which I dont know at all in task 2, can I write something general related to that.For instance, if they asked about the importance of preserving historic places, can i just talk about history and can still get good bands for the other three criteria except for task achievement. Secondly, If I dont talk about anything about history,and I completely write offtopic, do they still consider my answer by giving 0 for task achievement,but giving appropriate band scores for the other three criteria.Thank u

1. If you don’t write about history at all, you might get band 0 for a memorised answer. Don’t change the topic because you prefer a different one. 2. If your topic is obviously off topic because you chose that – the above might apply. 3. You should always stick as close to the topic as possible. Yes, being on or off topic, only affects Task Response score – unless the above applies. 4. If you got my e-book “Ideas for Essay Topics” this is an unlikely situation: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/ . In fact, preserving old buildings and also the importance of history are both given in my e-book which actually covers over 150 common essay topics. I hope this helps 🙂

Hey Liz, Greetings. Can I agree on the first half and express my disapproval on the second half for the same essay?

For the same point? You would say “I agree in free education” and then in the next paragraph you would say “I don’t agree with free education”? This means you have confused the reader. In an opinion essay, the requirement of a high score is that you maintain a clear position throughout – this means one position from start to finish. This is clearly stated in the band score descriptors that IELTS have published to the public.

I think what you are talking about it actually a partial agreement (a balanced approach) to an opinion essay. You should only try this if you have been trained. See my Advanced Writing Task 2 Lessons which you can purchase on this page: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/ . Otherwise, stick to a one sided approach – it’s easier.

it depends on the plan followed in an essay as well as question asked. for illustration, if you are asked to give only your views then you can,,or if you are asked to discuss both pros and cons of notion.In the case,you are discuss give only one side so you have to go on one side either in favour or not. MAY YOU FIND THIS HELPFUL

Dear Liz Thanks a million for all the unconditional help and support you have given us during these years to improve our English. I have a question regarding Agree/Disagree essays. In the following essay question are we supposed to write about both positive and negative effects if we think there are more positive aspects? I mean in these types of questions we must explain both sides even if we think there are more advantages? Below is the question. In the last 20 years there have been significant development in the field of IT. However, these developments are likely to have more negative effects than positive in future. To what extent do you agree with this view? Best regards Mona

You need to look at how it is phrased: more X than Y. If you think there is more X, you will also think there is less Y. This means you will explain both from your point of view. Do you see what I mean?

MAM A Huge Thanks for providing theses topics! I have almost gone through every topic in detail and now when i check latest questions from your website, i feel like i can write ay of those tasks easily.

I have just one doubt. While studying about poverty i found that every cause of it is totally related to other one, and in this situation it becomes difficult to write two separate reasons or body paragraphs about poverty. Overpopulation, for instance, is the reason of lack of resources or services that include education, but education can be a different reason. In the similar way unemployment is another cause of pooverty, and unemploymet is also due to overpopulation.

You have plenty of ideas and that’s great. Now it is your task to select and organise. You can’t put all your ideas in your essay – you need to decide which ones to use. If the essay is about poverty (lack of money), then resource depletion isn’t really relevant. However your point about limited education is a good point. You do not need to link lack of good education to overpopulation – that isn’t necessarily connected. So, one cause is – lack of good education which helps create professionals who will pull a country out of poverty. Your second point is lack of employment – this is a clearly connected to poverty and that is a another good cause. You can add as a supporting point that overpopulation leads to too much competition for jobs that are scarce in the first place. So, you see, you need to filter your ideas and cut out any point that isn’t directly related. IELTS essays are short – only 280 words on average – you can’t list everything. So, we have cut out “resource depletion” and we have decided that “overpopulation” is a supporting point which adds problems to the lack of employment. The two main causes will be: limited education and lack of jobs, which together cause poverty both for the country, for families and for individuals. Do you see how you need to plan more after you have brainstormed. Once you have ideas, sift through them to choose only two causes that you will use. This of course is advice for a cause/solution essay where you shouldn’t have more than two causes. I hope this helps.

Thanks for clearing my doubts mam You are so generous and humble. I can’t express my gratitude towards you in words.

I wish you healthy and happy life!!!

Dear Lucia, Thank you so much. It took me about 2 month to improve my skills and to be honest, I spent most of my time reading different topics. Based on Topic’s complexity and range of questions, each topic took me between 1 to 4 days to study at first.

Hi Dear Liz, I didn’t know where to say my words so i Chose this page. I just wanted to extremely express my appreciation for your great website and your efforts to help people pass the IELTS exam. I have centered around my study time on your website and I went through all the 100 essay topics and latest speaking questions in all three parts. I have succeeded in the exam with L:8.5, R:8, S:7.5, W:7.5 while my previous scores were: L:8.5, R:8.5, S:6.5 W:6 and your website was the one main way that made my dream come through. I again want to thank you a lot and I am referring your website and your courses to all the people who ask about my success path here in Iran. I hope all people understand and appreciate your hard work and thanks for all the positive energies. Regards, Danial

I’m really pleased for you, Danial. It’s great to see your scores improving so much – well done 🙂

hi liz there is no written topic about globalisation…. can u please provide

See the topic of society on this page: https://ieltsliz.com/100-ielts-essay-questions/

Hi Danial, I am also happy for you that you got that such a brilliant score.. Could you please share how you make it? I also following Liz’s website which is very helpful fo me.. But i wondering about how long did you prepare to get that much improvement?and how many topics of writing did you do everyday?

Thank you in advance

Hi Danial, What exactly you did to improve your skill by this website?

Dear Liz, I just want to know that in agree or disagree type of essay, the body paragraph should be based on one side either agree or disagree or it should be 80:20 ratio? Please guide me, I will be very thankful to you.

There are no such rules. No rules at all like that in IELTS. You decide your own personal opinion when you read the essay question.

Are calculators allowed in the IELTS exam? Thanks!

IELTS requires no calculations and, therefore, you need no calculator.

Hlo mam can u please provide last 3 months essay topics

See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

Hello Liz, I had this question, I saw several times in videos that while question asks about “advantages and disadvantages”, tutors write one example of for each advantage and disadvantage. I was wondering, is it OK to do so on test day? thanks in advance!

It is your choice how you expand and explain your ideas. You can use or not use examples – it’s your choice.

I had a question and would appreciate if you could kindly clarify. The below essay statement falls under which category? and Why? To me it looks like an opinion essay where we need to choose a side either positive or negative and then give points to support the view in 2 paragraphs. Is that right?

Essay Question: Some universities offer online courses for students. Do you think it is a positive or negative development for students?

The question is listed under sample essay questions on this website.

Thank you, Soumen

This is listed under the category of direct questions. It requires you to answer one question only and present your opinion. You can find a model for this on this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

Please give me last six months essay topics which came in a ielts exam..

http://www.ieltsliz.com/recent-ielts-questions-and-topics

I’m Ali , from iran and I have to say THANK YOU ! May God bless you

Advertisement reflects the power of renowned consumer products in which celebrities are act as a crowd puller by doing advertises on television screen. Youngsters attract easily due to their favourite film stars , singers advertisevent. However, it is true argument that reduces the substancial real needs of the society in which they sold their goods.

Throughout the years, the scenario has been changed due to development of technology worldwide that helps the advertise companies to launch their products efficiently. Although, there is no actual need of that goods but individual purchase it through online website for instance, http://www.amazon.com /www.eBay.com etcetera that leads to wastage of currency and also grown-ups foster their guardians for that unworthy things. Besides this, companies provide lot of benefit and offer on goods to influence the public but it might have palpable effect that create skin infection , elergy problems due to the usage of cosmetica, medicines or protein powders that are consumed to gain or lpose weight . So , generally unhealthy for people.

On the other hand, there are various aspects against this argument. It is a people’s choice to take decision to buy goods . Advertising may be not a cause of consumer’s buying habits .individuals have their own spending habits . If they have got enough disposable income then they have right to purchase that product . Before buying consumer goods they should evidently aware about it positives and negatives.

To conclude , it is quit inconvenient to say everyone is swayed by advertising. Compared with other product companies , the sensitive areas of business such as toys industries that should be curtail to advertise because children have not enough mature to judge about good or bad.

Sory I don’t comment on writing.

Hi Liz, your website is very helpful,no doubt :). My ielts test day is 15th dec and i am really confused… i wanted to ask that what i ought to do if i have no knowledge about the question in writing task 2. waiting for your response.. Thanks.

You will have a problem if you have not prepared ideas for common topics in writing task 2. See this page for a list of more topics: https://ieltsliz.com/100-ielts-essay-questions/ . You can find ideas from model essays online and debate websites.

hi Liz, today I have elaborately studied marking criteria of writing task 2. Could you please explain me these three things- 1)coherence 2)cohesion 3)referencing

looking forward to your reply thanks in advance 🙂

You can find detailed information about the writing task 2 band scores on this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2-band-scores-5-to-8/ . Coherence is about your language being easy to understand with a logical flow of ideas. Cohesion is about how ideas connect to each other (ie linking). Referencing is about referring back in grammar by using “it” or “they”.

thank you : )

I have been looking for site to know writing task 2 topics with sub-topics,thanks to ieltsliz because its made my task easy.

You can find more here: https://ieltsliz.com/100-ielts-essay-questions/

You might have no idea how MANY DOCTORS around the world are thankful for your help in learning English! On behalf of all white coat wearing people, THANK YOU!.

I read many FB med group chat’s comments and other social networks, where many who want to come to the UK to practice medicine get together , and many of them recommend watching your videos.

Thousands of them, mostly from developing countries, show their gratitude to you.

we need above 7.5 in total and above 7 in each.

Personally, I have given IELTS 5 times, in 6 years. Unfortunately, I have not received the required score yet. BUT, I have received in Speaking 8, reading 7, Listening 7.5, and most horrible part-writing 6.5

Those numbers were different in each time, I just compiled them in the best shape, to show the greatest achievement I could get in those hardest ever my exams. I never got any bad marks during my 8 years of medical exams. I graduated from medical school with Honors yet ENGLISH- is my weak point.

I am proactive and will try for the 6th time, I believe it will be my last time of giving IELTS, I will achieve the required and even more band.

I have never really practice writing exactly at it is given in your explanation. But this time I WILL.

from Central Asia.

Thanks so much for your comment. I’m aware of the issues doctors face hitting their required score and am glad my site helps 🙂 I have actually replied to you at length via email using the email address you have used to post this message. Take a look as I’ve given you some extra tips and a gift. Good luck 🙂

Thank you . You are not wise only, generous and have real concerns for your students.

Heavenly rewards for your tremendous work.

Advance Merry Christmas!

Many new adventures in coming year 2017!

Thank you!!!

Merry Xmas 🙂

Thank you Liz for your help so much! I know you have probably heard it many times before but I really do appreciate your great work. In my case especially, your study materials are priceless. I am a mother of a 9 months old baby girl so you can only imagine how challenging for me is studying and taking care of her at the same time. Actually, now at the moment I am burning the midnight oil to study for my IELTS exam (Academic) which is coming in the beginning of December 2016. My English is far from being perfect and my dream is to get band 8+. I am full of doubts and totally bushed, worried about my final results but I know that I just simply cannot give up. I think many people are having the same thoughts and worries as I do. But you are here, for us and that’s amazing. I am sending my warmest greetings from Finland.

Coming soon 🙂

Thank you very much for your stunning site and I really like and benifited from it.I am a student of IELTS. My asking to you, how can I guess Argumentative written or narrative written. Some time I make mistake it . May you give me any easy way to identify it. Thank you

See the free information video on this page which explain the five types of IELTS essays: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore

4 in reading

really love your website. It’s very interactive.

In my speaking test had to speak about the last story I had watched on TV, with whom I watched and what did I liked about it and why.

Thanks for sharing 🙂 I’m glad my site is useful.

Hi, In most of the GT writing test part II in the introduction paragraph, its mentioned that “In this essay I will be describing or I explained about…..bla bla

Similarly, In conclusion part,”I/we discussed and explained so and so…….”

My question is that is it right to use I and We the way I used in the above example or generalised statement will be given more weightage.

None of the phrases you have listed are advisable to use. I suggest you see my advanced writing task 2 lessons: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore

Hi Liz Thank you for your great and wonderful lessons and tips that is really valuable to us. i bought your Advanced IELTS Writing task2 for different types of essay questions and its amazing,v.thanks. “people should work a fixed number of hours per week,and employers should not ask anybody to work more than this” give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples. what is this type of essay?and how to deal with it?and if any advices you can give it to me regarding my question. thank you.

That question is not complete. Where did you find it?

Cambridge 10 general training test2

Sorry..test1

That’s so badly written for an IELTS question. It’s an opinion essay. You need to comment on the opinion given by giving your own opinion. You need to explain what you think of people working a fixed number of hours in a week.

Hello mam, i done my best in ielts exam …i follow format similar trend which should be followed but unfortunately i overall got 5.5 band in writing ..Can u suggest me something ..now I’m going for it again.

See my advanced lessons: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore

I am going to give general ielts test and I need your advice before giving the test please give me some tips for general ielts test and which lessons is are good for general test from your lessons

All writing task 2 lessons are also for GT. On the writing task 1 page, you will find tips for letter writing.

I am preparing for Ilets Academic exam, It is on 31st March, I have started my preparation on 19th March 🙁 My goal is to achieve 6.5 band in writing, i am doing quite well in other sections. But i am not feeling confident in writing, kindly give me some tips on writing

Hey Liz, I know you are taking some time off. However, I have a question for you in regard to Task 1. When the question is asking you to write a letter to your friends and in your letter, thank them for the photos and for the holiday you spent overseas. Since, no names were given, how would you suggest addressing this letter ? Would you suggest simply using imaginary names? Thanks

https://ieltsliz.com/liz-notice-2015-2016/

Thank you for sharing valuable information for IELTS exam.

After going through your tips, I am a bit confused about how to write an essay for the question ‘To what extent do you agree’?

For example, “Most artists receive low salaries and should therefore receive funding from the government in order for them to continue their work. To what extent do you agree?” – – Can I disagree with the statement or I have to agree only? As I can say here that government has other priorities as well. – In addition to funding, can I write something like additional unemployment benefits for artists etc to further help artists. – Furthermore, If I agree (partially or fully) or disagree, two body paragraphs which I make, I have to justify my statement given in introduction only or can I discuss other side as well (may be in second para)? – I am getting confused over this type of question (To what extent) so please provide me with some resources on it as I have my exam on 23rd Jan.

Hi, Do you have any solve essay so that I can see all the method.

What is your opinion on giving a Title to the Essay before we begin writing it. Will that have a positive or negative impact? Please advice.

Thanks, Vijay

You should not write a title. Liz

hi madam I bit confuse about what I write in this topic some sports make use of steroids in order to boost their performance as it easy to obtain legal drugs through a medical prescription . suggest some possible measures to check such unethical practices ielts task 2 …Please reply me as soon as possible because my exam is on 7 November. .Thanks

This can be checked by regular urine and blood tests. It can also be dealt with by having harsher penalties for people using drugs to enhance their performance. This issue has been in the news a lot so you can read up on google. Good luck Liz

I can’t remember where I found an essay question that really stressed me out. It was something along the lines of “Some people believe the government should spend more money on defense while others believe social benefits should be favored. Discuss both sides.” I really can’t remember what it was exactly, but it concerned defense and social benefits and I honestly had no idea what I could write about on that topic. Would you have tips?

Thank you so much,

This is a current issue in many countries. Should a country aim to protect itself or should it spend money on providing benefits for its citizens. Defense is essential in order to ensure the security of a country and its citizens. Without defense, a country would be open to attack from terrorists or other countries. It is in the interest of the citizens to provide strong defenses. However, if many of a country’s citizens are in poverty or sick, the government has a responsibility to provide benefits and extra money to support them. Without these benefits, they might end up living below the poverty line. I hope some of these ideas help. Feel free to share your views. Liz

Thank you so much for your answer !

Also, I read that each paragraph should have one controlling idea. However, on subjects such as “Some believe a good salary is more important, others believe an enjoyable job is more important. Discuss both views and give your opinion” (something along those lines, I shortened it of course). I’m struggling on two things :

1. Is it ok if I write two paragraphs, one about good salary and the other about enjoying the job but with more than one idea for both? (ie. I wouldn’t have one single controlling idea). 2. Do I have to give my opinion in the intro or can I give it in the conclusion?

Thank you for your time!

You must put your opinion in the introduction, body and conclusion. You could have two body paragraphs and join your opinion with one of them or you could put your opinion separately. Have a think about getting one of my advanced training lessons for essay writing – they are very detailed and will help a lot: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore All the best Liz

i think you are right this will help us and our country and their would not be any problem.

The writing task 2. I came across in my IELTS general exam was

Some people thinks that radio is much more interesting and entertaining than Tv. To what extent do you agree? Or disagree?. Discuss with relevent examples.

Thanks for sharing 🙂

Hello there ! Liz, I tried writing this topic and I’m trying the For-and-Against approach, and my opinion stated at the last paragraph. However, I can’t come up with any ideas as to how is radio more entertaining? How is it more entertaining than TV? Could you please help me out?

I am not clear what topic you are referring to – you need to write it in full in your message. Also I don’t know what you mean about the “for-and-against” approach. Are you talking about the discussion essay? Liz

Oh, I’m sorry, I completely forgot to mention which essay I was talking about. I was referring to “Some people think that radio is much more interesting and entertaining than TV. To what extent do you agree/disagree?” And what I meant by “for-and-against” was that I handle those type of questions like a discussion essay. I would first write the reasons why some people think it IS better than TV, and in the next paragraph I would list the reasons why others think it IS NOT. At the end I give my own opinion. However, I couldn’t think of any ways in which radio is more interesting, so I thought I would ask you for some ideas.

Thank you for the fast reply!

It is ESSENTIAL that you follow the instructions. The instructions do not say “discuss both sides”. This is an opinion essay, you decide your opinion in the introduction and explain it in the body paragraph. Never add any information which is not your opinion. If you fail to follow instructions 100%, you will get a low mark. See my opinion essay lesson from my online course for detailed training: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore All the best Liz

Do you teach online ?

At the moment, these are the only extra lessons I offer: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore All the best Liz

Hi Liz, I found your blog very useful, I have my exam in a week time, I m looking to improve my scores in Reading and Writing Section of ielts, I m good enough in English I would say, What tips you would help me on this.

Listening: As I m from Asian, And you mentioned that on your video that most of the foreigners have issues when it comes to listening to Plurals. with S. any way i can differential or improve on identify it. if so

Reading for General: Ii have experienced issue with matching question type and matching of heading or where you have lists of headings to choice or pick from like for example ( i, ii, iv) or the case of matching with the paragraph ( A, B, D,H). one where of the problem i fixed was with use of Synonyms in passage vs question., with the crunch of time . Are the Any Traps.. to look out for or tips that can help me to do well with this kind of questions apart from skimming the text and identifying the main idea of the paragraph…

Writing: I have issue with sentence construction or paragraph building i have ideas or points in mind when i end up reading up a task question.

Speaking: I plan on using diverse vocabulary words. towards my topic, but how would be able to know when should i use , Could be/ Should be / Would be any differences on those, I m sure i m likely loose points on misuse of words in context or when it comes to pronounciation of words. is that the case

I don’t have time to give you all tips but here are some. For speaking, the issue you are talking about is not vocabulary, it is grammar. The use of the correct modals (should, could etc) and the use of conditional sentences all relates to your grammar accuracy and range. You will find a grammar website recommended on my useful website page in the IELTS Extra section. For writing, the key is preparing ideas for all common topics and also planning your essay so that each paragraph has a central point. If you mix your ideas up in paragraphs, you will not get a good mark for coherence and cohesion – so plan your ideas and then plan how to put them into paragraphs. After that, plan how to support them. All that should be done before you start writing. All the best Liz

Would you recommend to have a balanced view? Or single sided view? If I will choose a balanced view, I think I still need to state clearly which side I preferred. Is that correct? Thanks

You can get a good score with either approach. A one sided approach choose one side (either agree or disagree). The balanced approach is a specific opinion which doesn’t fully agree or fully disagree. I’ll soon be releasing a video to buy which explains in detail how to do both approaches for the opinion essay. I’ll post a link when it’s ready. Liz

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Task 1 Lessons & Tips
Compare & Contrast Language

Compare and Contrast Language for Graphs

The purpose of this lesson is to introduce you to compare and contrast language which is needed to write about graphs.

To begin, take a look at the graph below.

Which country has the highest level of pollution?
Which country has the lowest?

IELTS Bar Chart - Level of Air Pollution in 5 Countries

The country with the higest level of pollution is USA and the country with the lowest is New Zealand.

The Key Language

Comparative and superlative adjectives.

Being able to compare and contrast data is an essential skill for IELTS writing, especially in Task 1. Comparatives and superlatives are one common way to do this.

Comparatives are used to compare two things :

Leopards are faster than tigers.

Superlatives are used to compare one thing against a group of others :

The leopard is the largest of the four big cats.

Here are the basics of how they are formed:

Other Important Language

Comparatives and superlatives are useful to compare and contrast, but they won't be enough.

Here are some other useful words and structures:

Transitions

The Middle East produces high levels of oil; however , Japan produces none.
The USA produces large amounts of natural gas. In contrast , South Korea produces none.
European countries make great use of solar power. On the other hand , most Asian countries us this method of power generation very little.

Subordinating Conjunctions

The Middle East produces high levels of oil, whereas / while Japan produces none.
Whereas / While the Middle East produces high levels of oil, Japan produces none.
Although the Middle East produced 100 tons oil, Japan produced none.

Other Structures

Developing countries are more reliant on alternative energy production than developed countries.
Solar power accounts for far less of the total energy production than gas or coal does.
Hydropower is not as efficient as wind power.
Like Japan, South Korea does not produce any natural gas.
The Middle East produces twice as much oil as Europe.
Western countries consume three times more oil than the Middle East.
Russia consumes slightly more oil than Germany.
The UAE produced the same amount of oil as Saudi Arabia.

Using Approximate Data

When you compare and contrast, you also need to learn phrases so you can refer to data that is not exact.

For example:

Compare and Contrast Language Practice

Look at the table below. What is being compared?

Natural Gas Consumption and Production, 2001

*in millions of tonnes

Compare and Contrast Language Quiz

Look at the compare and contrast language in the drop down box and choose the correct word to complete the sentences.

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Compare and Contrast Essay: Full Writing Guide and 150+ Topics

Compare and contrast essays are academic papers in which a student analyses two or more subjects with each other. To compare means to explore similarities between subjects, while to contrast means to look at their differences. Both subjects of the comparison are usually in the same category, although they have their differences. For example, it can be two movies, two universities, two cars etc.

Good compare and contrast papers from college essay writer focus on a central point, explaining the importance and implications of this analysis. A compare and contrast essay thesis must make a meaningful comparison. Find the central theme of your essay and do some brainstorming for your thesis.

This type of essay is very common among college and university students. Professors challenge their students to use their analytical and comparative skills and pay close attention to the subjects of their comparisons. This type of essay exercises observance and analysis, helps to establish a frame of reference, and makes meaningful arguments about a subject. Let's get deeper on how to write a compare and contrast essay with our research writing services .

How to Start a Compare and Contrast Essay: Brainstorm Similarities and Differences

Now that you know what is compare and contrast essay and are set with your topic, the first thing you should do is grab a piece of paper and make a list with two columns: similarities and differences. Jot down key things first, the most striking ones. Then try to look at the subjects from a different angle, incorporating your imagination.

If you are more of a visual learner, creating a Venn diagram might be a good idea. In order to create it, draw two circles that overlap. In the section where it overlaps, note similarities. Differences should be written in the part of the circle that does not overlap.

Let’s look at a simple example of compare and contrast essay. Let one of the subjects be oranges, and the other one be apples. Oranges have thick peel, originally from India, and are tropical fruit. These characteristics pertain only to oranges and should be in the part of the circle that does not overlap. For the same section on apples, we put thin peel, originated in Turkey or Kazakhstan, and moderate to subtropical. In the section that overlaps, let’s say that they are both fruit, can be juiced, and grow on trees. This simple, yet good example illustrates how the same concept can be applied to many other complicated topics with additional points of comparison and contrast.

This format of visual aid helps to organize similarities and differences and make them easier to perceive. Your diagram will give you a clear idea of the things you can write about.

Another good idea for brainstorming in preparation for your comparison contrast essay is to create a list with 2 columns, one for each subject, and compare the same characteristics for each of them simultaneously. This compare and contrast format will make writing your comparison contrast paper argument a breeze, as you will have your ideas ready and organized.

One mistake you should avoid is simply listing all of the differences or similarities for each subject. Sometimes students get too caught up in looking for similarities and differences that their compare and contrast essays end up sounding like grocery lists. Your essay should be based on analyzing the similarities and differences, analyzing your conclusions about the two subjects, and finding connections between them—while following a specific format.

Compare and Contrast Essay Structure and Outline

So, how do you structure this compare and contrast paper? Well, since compare and contrast essay examples rely heavily on factual analysis, there are two outline methods that can help you organize your facts. You can use the block method, or point-by-point method, to write a compare and contrast essay outline.

While using the block structure of a compare and contrast essay, all the information is presented for the first subject, and its characteristics and specific details are explained. This concludes one block. The second block takes the same approach as the first for the second subject.

The point-by-point structure lists each similarity and difference simultaneously—making notes of both subjects. For example, you can list a characteristic specific to one subject, followed by its similarity or difference to the other subject.

Both formats have their pros and cons. The block method is clearly easier for a compare and contrast essay writer, as you simply point out all of the information about the two subjects, and basically leave it to the reader to do the comparison. The point-by-point format requires you to analyze the points yourself while making similarities and differences more explicit to the reader for them to be easier to understand. Here is a detailed structure of each type presented below.

Point-by-Point Method

Introduce the topic;
Specify your theme;
Present your thesis - cover all areas of the essay in one sentence.

Example thesis: Cars and motorcycles make for excellent means of transportation, but a good choice depends on the person’s lifestyle, finances, and the city they live in.

Body Paragraph 1 - LIFESTYLE

Topic Sentence: Motorcycles impact the owner’s lifestyle less than cars.
Topic 1 - Motorcycles
~ Argument: Motorcycles are smaller and more comfortable to store.
~ Argument: Motorcycles are easy to learn and use.
Topic 2 - Cars
~ Argument: Cars are a big deal - they are like a second home.
~ Argument: It takes time to learn to become a good driver.

Body Paragraph 2 - FINANCES

Topic sentence: Cars are much more expensive than motorcycles
~ Argument: You can buy a good motorcycle for under 300$.
~ Argument: Fewer parts that are more accessible to fix.
~ Argument: Parts and service are expensive if something breaks.
~ Argument: Cars need more gas than motorcycles.

Body Paragraph 3 - CITY

Topic sentence: Cars are a better option for bigger cities with wider roads.
~ Argument: Riding motorcycles in a big city is more dangerous than with cars.
~ Argument: Motorcycles work great in a city like Rome, where all the streets are narrow.
~ Argument: Big cities are easier and more comfortable to navigate by car.
~ Argument: With a car, traveling outside of the city is much easier.
Sum up all you wrote in the article.

Block Method

Thesis — cover all areas of the essay in one sentence

Body Paragraph 1

Topic Sentence: Motorcycles are cheaper and easier to take care of than cars.
Aspect 1 - Lifestyle
Aspect 2 - Finances
~ Argument: Fewer parts, easier to fix.
Aspect 3 - City
~ Argument: Riding motorcycles in a big city is more dangerous than cars.

Body Paragraph 2

Topic sentence: Cars are more expensive but more comfortable for a big city and for travelling.
~ Argument: Cars are a big deal—like a second home.
~ Argument: With a car, traveling outside the city is much more comfortable.

Body Paragraph 3 ‍

Use the last paragraph to evaluate the comparisons and explain why they’re essential. Giving a lot of facts can be intense. To water it down, try to give the reader any real-life applications of these facts.

Depending on the structure selected, you can begin to create an outline for your essay. The typical comparison essay follows the format of having an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion — though, if you need to focus on each subject in more detailed ways, feel free to include an extra paragraph to cover all of the most important points.

To make your compare and contrast essay flow better, we recommend using special transition words and phrases. They will add variety and improve your paper overall.

For the section where you compare two subjects, you can include any of the following words: similarly, likewise, also, both, just like, similar to, the same as, alike, or to compare to. When contrasting two subjects, use: in contrast, in comparison, by comparison, on the other hand, while, whereas, but, to differ from, dissimilar to, or unlike.

Show Your Evidence

Arguments for any essay, including compare and contrast essays, need to be supported by sufficient evidence. Make good use of your personal experiences, books, scholarly articles, magazine and newspaper articles, movies, or anything that will make your argument sound credible. For example, in your essay, if you were to compare attending college on campus vs. distance-based learning, you could include your personal experiences of being a student, and how often students show up to class on a daily basis. You could also talk about your experience taking online classes, which makes your argument about online classes credible as well.

Helpful Final Tips

The biggest tip dissertation writing services can give you is to have the right attitude when writing a compare contrast essay, and actively engage the reader in the discussion. If you find it interesting, so will your reader! Here are some more compare and contrast essay tips that will help you to polish yours up:

Compare and contrast essays need powerful transitions. Try learning more about writing transition sentences using the words we provided for you in the 'Compare and Contrast Structure and Outline' section.
Always clarify the concepts you introduce in your essay. Always explain lesser known information—don’t assume the reader must already know it.
Do not forget to proofread. Small mistakes, but in high quantities, can result in a low grade. Pay attention to your grammar and punctuation.
Have a friend or family member take a look at your essay; they may notice things you have missed.

Compare and Contrast Essay Examples

Now that you know everything there is to know about compare and contrast essays, let’s take a look at some compare and contrast examples to get you started on your paper or get a hand from our essay helper .

Different countries across the world have diverse cultural practices, and this has an effect on work relationships and development. Geert Hofstede came up with a structured way of comparing cultural dimensions of different countries. The theory explains the impacts of a community’s culture on the values of the community members, and the way these values relate to their behaviors. He gives scores as a way to help distinguish people from different nations using the following dimensions: long-term orientation, individualism, power distance, indulgence, necessity avoidance, and masculinity. Let us examine comparisons between two countries: the United Kingdom and China — based on Hofstede’s Six Dimensions of Culture.

Over the last two decades, the demand from consumers for organic foods has increased tremendously. In fact, the popularity of organic foods has exploded significantly with consumers, spending a considerably higher amount of money on them as compared to the amount spent on inorganic foods. The US market noted an increase in sales of more than 10% between 2014 and 2015 (Brown, n.p). The increase is in line with the views of many consumers that organic foods are safer, tastier, and healthier compared to the inorganic foods. Furthermore, considering the environmental effects of foods, organic foods present less risk of environmental pollution — compared to inorganic foods. By definition, organic foods are those that are grown without any artificial chemical treatment, or treatment by use of other substances that have been modified genetically, such as hormones and/or antibiotics (Brown, n.p).

Still feeling confused about the complexities of the compare and contrast essay? Feel free to contact our paper writing service to get a professional writing help.

Finding the Best Compare and Contrast Essay Topics For You

When choosing a topic for your comparison essay, remember that subjects cannot be drastically different, because there would be little to no points of comparison (similarities). The same goes for too many similarities, which will result in poor contrasts. For example, it is better to write about two composers, rather than a composer and a singer.

It is extremely important to choose a topic you are passionate about. You never want to come across something that seems dull and uninspiring for you. Here are some excellent ways to brainstorm for a topic from essay writer :

Find categories: Choose a type (like animals, films or economics), and compare subjects within that category – wild animals to farm animals, Star Wars to Star Trek, private companies to public companies, etc.
Random Surprising Fact: Dig for fun facts which could make great topics. Did you know that chickens can be traced back to dinosaurs?
Movie vs. Book: Most of the time, the book is better than the movie — unless it’s Blade Runner or Lord of the Rings. If you’re a pop culture lover, compare movies vs. books, video games, comics, etc.

Use our rewrite essay service when you need help from professionals.

How to Choose a Great Compare and Contrast Topic

College students should consider providing themselves with a chance to use all topic examples. With enough revision, an advantage is gained. As it will be possible to compare arguments and contrast their aspects. Also, discuss numerous situations to get closer to the conclusion.

For example:

Choose a topic from the field of your interests. Otherwise you risk failing your paper.
It is a good idea to choose a topic based upon the class subject or specialist subject. (Unless the requirements say otherwise.)
Analyze each argument carefully. Include every detail for each opposing idea. Without doing so, you can definitely lower grades.
Write a conclusion that summarizes both arguments. It should allow readers to find the answer they’re looking for.
It is up to you to determine which arguments are right and wrong in the final conclusion.
Before approaching the final conclusion, it’s important to discuss each argument equally. It is a bad idea to be biased, as it can also lower grades.

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150 Compare and Contrast Essay Topics to Consider

Choosing a topic can be a challenging task, but there are plenty of options to consider. In the following sections, we have compiled a list of 150 compare and contrast essay topics to help you get started. These topics cover a wide range of subjects, from education and technology to history and politics. Whether you are a high school student or a college student, you are sure to find a topic that interests you. So, read on to discover some great compare and contrast essay ideas.

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics For College Students

When attending a college, at any time your professor can assign you the task of writing this form of an essay. Consider these topics for college students from our team to get the grades you deserve.

Attending a College Course Vs. Distance-Based Learning.
Writing a Research Paper Vs. Writing a Creative Writing Paper. What are the differences and similarities?
The differences between a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree.
The key aspects of the differences between the US and the UK education systems.
Completing assignments at a library compared with doing so at home. Which is the most efficient?
The similarities and differences in the behavior among married and unmarried couples.
The similarities and differences between the EU (European Union) and ASEAN (The Association of Southeast Asian Nations)?
The similarities and significant differences between American and Canadian English.
Writing an Internship Report Vs. Writing a Research Paper
The differences between US colleges and colleges in the EU?

Interesting Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Some topics for the compare and contrast essay format can be boring. To keep up motivation, doing a research , have a look at these topics. Maybe they can serve you as research paper help .

Public Transport Vs. Driving A Car. Which is more efficient?
Mandarin Vs. Cantonese: What are the differences between these Chinese languages?
Sports Cars Vs. Luxurious Family Cars
Wireless Technology Vs. Wired Devices
Thai Food Vs. Filipino Cuisine
What is the difference and similarities between a register office marriage and a traditional marriage?
The 2000s Vs. The 2010s. What are the differences and what makes them similar?
Abu Dhabi Vs. Dubai. What are the main factors involved in the differences?
What are the differences between American and British culture?
What does the New York Metro do differently to the London Underground?

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics for High School Students

When writing essays for high school, it is good to keep them informative. Have a look at these compare and contrast sample topics.

Highschool Life Vs. College Life
Paying College Fees Vs. Being Awarded a Scholarship
All Night Study Sessions Vs. Late Night Parties
Teenager Vs. Young Adult Relationships
Being in a Relationship Vs. Being Single
Male Vs. Female Behavior
The similarities and differences between a high school diploma and a college degree
The similarities and differences between Economics and Business Studies
The benefits of having a part-time job, instead of a freelance job, in college
High School Extra Curricular Activities Vs. Voluntarily Community Services

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics for Science

At some point, every science student will be assigned this type of essay. To keep things at flow, have a look at best compare and contrast essay example topics on science:

Undiscovered Species on Earth Vs. Potential Life on Mars: What will we discover in the future?
The benefits of Gasoline Powered Cars Vs. Electric Powered Cars
The differences of the Milky Way Vs. Centaurus (Galaxies).
Earthquakes Vs. Hurricanes: What should be prepared for the most?
The differences between our moon and Mars’ moons.
SpaceX Vs. NASA. What is done differently within these organizations?
The differences and similarities between Stephen Hawking and Brian Cox’s theories on the cosmos. Do they agree or correspond with each other?
Pregnancy Vs. Motherhood
Jupiter Vs. Saturn
Greenhouse Farming Vs. Polytunnel Farming

Sports & Leisure Topics

Studying Physical Education? Or a gym fanatic? Have a look at our compare and contrast essay topics for sports and leisure.

The English Premier League Compared With The Bundesliga
Real Madrid Vs. Barcelona
Football Vs. Basketball
Walking Vs. Eating Outside with Your Partner
Jamaica Team Vs. United States Team: Main Factors and Differences
Formula One Vs. Off-Road Racing
Germany Team Vs. Brazil Team
Morning Exercise Vs. Evening Exercise.
Manning Team Vs. Brazil Team
Swimming Vs. Cycling

Topics About Culture

Culture can have several meanings. If you’re a Religious Studies or Culture student, take a look at these good compare and contrast essay topics about culture.

The fundamental similarities and differences between Pope Francis and Tawadros II of Alexandria
Canadian Vs. Australian Religion
The differences between Islamic and Christian Holidays
The cultural similarities and differences between the Native Aboriginals and Caucasian Australians
Native American Culture Vs. New England Culture
The cultural differences and similarities between Italians and Sicilians
In-depth: The origins of Buddhism and Hinduism
In-depth: The origins of Christianity and Islam
Greek Gods Vs. Hindu Gods
The Bible: Old Testament Vs. New Testament

Unique Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

What about writing an essay which is out of the ordinary? Consider following these topics to write a compare and contrast essay on, that are unique.

The reasons why some wealthy people pay extortionate amounts of money for gold-plated cell phones, rather than buying the normal phone.
The differences between Lipton Tea and Ahmad Tea
American Football Vs. British Football: What are their differences?
The differences and similarities between France and Britain
Fanta Vs. 7Up
Traditional Helicopters Vs. Lifesize Drones
The differences and similarities between Boston Dynamics and the fictional equivalent Skynet (From Terminator Movies).
Socialism Vs. Capitalism: Which is better?
Curved Screen TVs’ Vs. Regular Flat Screen TVs’: Are they really worth big bucks?
Is it better to wear black or white at funerals?

Good Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Sometimes, it may be a requirement to take it back a notch. Especially if you’re new to these style of writing. Consider having a look at these good compare and contrast essay topics that are pretty easy to start off.

Is it a good idea to work on weekdays or weekends?
Black of White Coffee
Becoming a teacher or a doctor? Which career choice has more of an impact on society?
Air Travel Vs. Sea Travel: Which is better?
Rail Travel Vs. Road Travel: Which is more convenient?
What makes Europe far greater than Africa? In terms of financial growth, regulations, public funds, policies etc…
Eating fruit for breakfast Vs. cereals
Staying Home to Read Vs. Traveling the World During Holidays. Which is more beneficial for personal growth?
Japanese Vs. Brazilian Cuisine
What makes ASEAN Nations more efficient than African Nations?

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics About TV Shows, Music and Movies

We all enjoy at least one of these things. If not, all of them. Why not have a go at writing a compare and contrast essay about what you have been recently watching or listening to?

Breaking Bad Vs. Better Call Saul: Which is more commonly binge watched?
The differences between Dance Music and Heavy Metal
James Bond Vs. Johnny English
Iron Man Vs. The Incredible Hulk: Who would win?
What is done differently in modern movies, compared to old black and white movies?
Dumber and Dumber 2 Vs. Ted: Which movie is funnier?
Are Horror movies or Action Movies best suited to you?
The differences and similarities between Mozart and Beethoven compositions.
Hip Hop Vs. Traditional Music
Classical Music Vs. Pop Music. Which genre helps people concentrate?

Topics About Art

Sometimes, art students are required to write this style of essay. Have a look at these compare and contrast essay topics about the arts of the centuries.

The fundamental differences and similarities between paintings and sculptures
The different styles of Vincent Van Gogh and Leonardo Da Vinci.
Viewing Original Art Compared With Digital Copies. How are these experiences different?
18th Century Paintings Vs. 21st Century Digitally Illustrated Images
German Art Vs. American Art
Modern Painting Vs. Modern Photography
How can we compare modern graphic designers to 18th-century painters?
Ancient Greek Art Vs. Ancient Egyptian Art
Ancient Japanese Art Vs. Ancient Persian Art
What 16th Century Painting Materials were used compared with the modern day?

Best Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Almost every student at any stage of academics is assigned this style of writing. If you’re lacking inspiration, consider looking at some of the best compare and contrast essay topics to get you on track with your writing.

The United States and North Korea Governmental Conflict: What is the reason behind this phenomenon?
In the Early Hours, Drinking Water is far healthier than consuming soda.
The United States Vs. The People’s Republic of China: Which economy is the most efficient?
Studying in Foreign Countries Vs. Studying In Your Hometown: Which is more of an advantage?
Toast Vs. Cereal: Which is the most consumed in the morning?
Sleeping Vs. Daydreaming: Which is the most commonly prefered? And amongst who?
Learning French Vs. Chinese: Which is the most straightforward?
Android Phones Vs. iPhones
The Liberation of Slaves Vs. The Liberation of Women: Which is more remembered?
The differences between the US Dollar and British Pound. What are their advantages? And How do they correspond with each other?

Easy Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

In all types of academics, these essays occur. If you’re new to this style of writing, check our easy compare and contrast essay topics.

The Third Reich Vs. North Korea
Tea Vs. Coffee
iPhone Vs. Samsung
KFC Vs. Wendy’s
Laurel or Yanny?
Healthy Lifestyle Vs. Obese Lifestyle
Forkes Vs. Sporks
Rice Vs. Porridge
Roast Dinner Vs. Chicken & Mushroom Pie
What’s the difference between apples and oranges?

Psychology Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Deciding upon good compare and contrast essay topics for psychology assignments can be difficult. Consider referring to our list of 10 psychology compare and contrast essay topics to help get the deserved grades.

What is a more severe eating order? Bulimia or Anorexia
Modern Medicine Vs. Traditional Medicine for Treating Depression?
Soft Drugs Vs. Hard Drugs. Which is more dangerous for people’s psychological well-being?
How do the differences between Lust and Love have an effect on people’s mindsets?
Ego Vs. Superego
Parents Advice Vs. Peers Advice amongst children and teens.
Strict Parenting Vs. Relaxed Parenting
Mental Institutions Vs. Stress Clinics
Bipolar Disorder Vs. Epilepsy
How does child abuse affect victims in later life?

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics for Sixth Graders

From time to time, your teacher will assign the task of writing a compare and contrast essay. It can be hard to choose a topic, especially for beginners. Check out our easy compare and contrast essay topics for sixth graders.

Exam Preparation Vs. Homework Assignments
Homeschooling Vs. Public Education
High School Vs. Elementary School
5th Grade Vs. 6th Grade: What makes them different or the same?
Are Moms’ or Dads’ more strict among children?
Is it better to have strict parents or more open parents?
Sandy Beaches Vs. Pebble Beaches: Which beaches are more popular?
Is it a good idea to learn guitar or piano?
Is it better to eat vegetable salads or pieces of fruit for lunch?
1st Grade Vs. 6th Grade

Funny Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Sometimes, it is good to have a laugh. As they always say : 'laughter is the best medicine'. Check out these funny compare and contrast essay topics for a little giggle when writing.

What is the best way to waste your time? Watching Funny Animal Videos or Mr. Bean Clips?
Are Pug Dogs or Maltese Dogs crazier?
Pot Noodles Vs. McDonalds Meals.
What is the difference between Peter Griffin and Homer Simpson?
Mrs. Doubtfire Vs. Mrs. Brown. How are they similar?
Which game is more addictive? Flappy Bird or Angry Birds?
Big Shaq Vs. PSY
Stewie Griffin Vs. Maggie Simpson
Quarter Pounders Vs. Big Macs
Mr. Bean Vs. Alan Harper

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Which Is The Most Effective Topic For A Compare-and-contrast Essay?

How to start a compare and contrast essay, how to write a thesis for a compare and contrast essay.

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

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Academic Task 1

IELTS Academic Task 1 Compare & Contrast Guide

Task 1 Guide
Table & Bar
Bar & Pie
Table & Pie
Compare Contrast
Identifying Trends

The ability to compare and contrast is important in both the speaking and writing sections of the IELTS exam and can help you to improve your score in Grammatical range and accuracy and Lexical Resource . In this guide, we will look at different grammatical structures and language to help you compare and contrast effectively in the IELTS Academic test.

1.1 comparatives and superlatives, 1.2 qualifying comparisons, 1.3 comparing similar/opposite figures, 1.4 subordinate clauses, 1.5 transition words, 2.1 adverbs, 2.2 comparing things that are the same/similar, 2.3 unusual vocabulary, 2.4 cohesive devices, 1 comp are and contrast in ielts writing.

One of the aims of IELTS writing task 1 is to compare and contrast information given in a graph , chart or diagram . If you want to achieve a higher IELTS band score, you need to use a range of language and grammatical structures accurately.

One way to compare and contrast is to use comparatives and superlatives .

Let’s quickly look at the rules for how to form comparatives and superlatives:

Here are some examples for the bar chart below:

Cappuccinos are more popular in Club coffee than Espresso Express.
Americanos are less popular in Espresso Espresso than Club coffee.
Cafe lattes are the most popular hot drinks overall.
Caramel lattes are the least popular beverage in Club Coffee.

Comparatives and superlatives can also be used in any IELTS Writing Task 2 essay , for example:

In recent years, it has become much more common for students to complete their degree overseas instead of their home country.
It is argued that regional and community action is more effective than global efforts.
Having more money and less free time is better than earning less money and having more free time.

You can also modify your comparative phrases even further. See our examples in bold below:

Americanos were a lot more popular than espressos.

The country’s GDP was much higher in 1992 than 2000.

France produced much less energy than Germany in 2009.

There were slightly less visitors to the UK in 1979 than 1980.

The Children’s charity received far more money in 2016 than 2017.

Encouraging cycling is a far more effective way of reducing pollution than punishing drivers.

NEgative news stories are much more common than positive reporting.

Even if you are given numbers that are almost the same in writing task 1, you can still use comparative language such as:

almost as … as
not quite as … as
nearly as … as
Just as many cars as vans were hired in 2000.
The number of people that emigrated to the USA in 2009 was almost as high as the number to the UK.
The number of vehicle thefts in 2000 was not quite as high as it was in 2001.
Travelling by bike was nearly as popular as travelling by car in the UK in 2018.

And if you are given figures that are drastically different , you can use the following phrases to create a contrast:

Not nearly as …. as
Nowhere near as … as
half as … as
The proportion of monthly income spent on entertainment was not nearly as high as housing.
The percentage of women in poverty of women aged 45-54 was nowhere near as high as women aged 18-24.
Half as many history books as fiction books were borrowed from the library in 2014 than 2018.

Subordinate clauses are another way to compare and contrast information, as well as increase your grammatical range and coherence in IELTS Writing Tasks 1 and 2

Subordinate clauses joined to the main clause using a subordinating conjunction .

Here are some suitable subordinating conjunctions you could use:

Even though
Although going to the gym is good for your health, it is not effective without a balanced diet.
While English was the most popular subject in 2020, Economics was even more popular in 2021.
Even though most students pass their exams, many still choose to travel abroad and take a gap year.

Transition words, also known as cohesive devices , are another way to compare and contrast.

Here’s a list of useful cohesive devices to compare and contrast:

In contrast
In the same way
Nevertheless
On one hand
On the other hand
Many actors are often followed by the press. Likewise, reality TV stars often report being hounded by paparazzi.
One one hand , renting your home instead of buying it can be more beneficial as the landlord is responsible for repairs. On the other hand , you will not be able to pass on the house to your children in the future.
It is argued that people should eat a plant-based diet rather than eating meat as it is healthier.

2. Compare and Contrast in IELTS Speaking

Comparing and contrasting is not only important in writing but also the IELTS speaking section of the test, especially parts 2 and 3 where you have more time to develop your answers.

You can comparing people, places and things in any part of the speaking exam using the following structures:

A is similar/different to B because …
A is similar/different to B in that …
Modern art is different to traditional art forms because you often need to interpret modern artwork in your own way.
My hometown is similar to where I live now in that both are busy cities with a great nightlife.

You could also use a range of adverbs such as:

totally/strikingly/ distinctly different
slightly/rather/subtly different
My highschool experience was distinctly different from my time at university.
My daily routine today is only subtly different from a few years ago.
It is quite common for people to choose tea over coffee in my country.

Even if you have two things that are similar, you can still use language to highlight the similarities. Here are just some ways you can do this:

A is as reliable as B
A is identical to B
A is the same as B
Electric vehicles are as reliable as petrol cars.
The replica of the Eiffel tower in my city is identical to the original in Paris.
The level of pollution in London is the same as in other large cities.

To increase your range of IELTS vocabulary and your score in Lexical resources, you should try to include more unusual words and phrases in your answers. Here are some examples linked to comparing and contrasting:

A is a far cry away from B
A is worlds apart from B
A and B are poles apart
A is in a different league to B
Alaska is a far cry away from Florida, it’s so much colder and far less populated.
Australia is worlds apart from Berlin, there are so many cultural differences especially when it comes to the food.
My mother and I are poles apart in personality, she is far more outgoing than I am.
My brother is in a different league to me when it comes to musical ability, he has been composing songs since a very early age.

As with writing, you can also use cohesive devices or IELTS transition words in the speaking section to compare and contrast, for instance:

On the contrary
Children should study art at school because it encourages their creativity. Likewise , they should also be encouraged to take up a musical instrument.
Governments should take responsibility for the food children eat at school. On the other hand , it could also be argued that students should have the freedom to make their own decisions.

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IELTS Writing Task 2: How to Write ‘Compare and Contrast’ Type of Essay

In ‘compare and contrast’ type of essay, IELTS examiners want you to discuss the points of comparing and contrasting the two things i.e. similarities and differences between the two different arguments. Therefore, it is important that you can use a wide range of sentence patterns to compare and contrast. We hope you find the following list of sentence patterns useful in your writing!

1. A and B are different in every way / respect / aspect

Male and female are different in every aspect.

2. A and B differ in…

French and English differ in the respect of grammar.

3. While it is generally believed that A…, I believe B…

While it is generally believed that some people are naturally born with talents, I personally would argue hard work and dedication are far more important.

4. the difference between A and B is/lies in/exists in…

The difference between domesticated animals and wild ones lies in whether or not the animals rely on human for survival.

5. compared with/in contrast to A, B…

Compared with the developed countries, developing countries have a lower literacy rate.

6. the most striking difference is that A…, while B…

The most striking difference after the Covid 19 breakout, is that the majority of people do not question the need to wear masks.

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Describing Trends

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Language for IELTS compare essays

You can guarantee that some point during your IELTS exam, you will need to demonstrate that you can make good comparisons. Interestingly, although the language of comparison is introduced at an Elementary level in most English course books, this is something that many high-level students still struggle with. Today, Nick and describe 4 ways that you can make comparisons in IELTS compare essays, and then show how the same techniques can be used to good effect in the speaking test (which Nick giving a masterful demonstration of how to answer some Part 3 questions)!

Below, you can find a summary of the episode, which includes all of the links to useful materials and the times of each part of the discussion (so you can go directly to the part you want to listen to) 🚀

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When you may need to use or understand compare language in the IELTS exam

The ability to make accurate comparisons is a fundamental English skill, so it is no wonder that it is tested throughout the IELTS test. For example, True, False, Not Given questions in the reading often focus on checking if a given comparison is correct. Part 3 of the speaking exam almost always contains at least one question that will ask you to compare ideas or statements ( as we will see at the end of the episodes when we put Nick to the test) and any student sitting the Academic version of the test knows that they have a 50% chance of getting a chart that shows either change or comparison.

In today’s episode, however, we are going to focus primarily on how you can make comparisons in IELTS essays. Unlike other tests, although no essay prompt ever asks you directly to “compare and contrast”, this does not mean that there are no IELTS compare essays. On the contrary, there are three common types of essay that will require you to make accurate comparisons:

1 Agree / Disagree essays that are actually IELTS compare essays

These are perhaps the most obvious “IELTS compare essays” because despite asking you to “agree” or “disagree” they directly present you with two opposing options, which must be compared. Take this question for example:

Governments should spend more money on railways than roads. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Obviously, to answer this well, you will have to weigh up the benefits and drawbacks of both types of investment and compare them directly to decide which is best (and, thus, if you agree or disagree.

2. Discuss Both sides essays that are actually IELTS compare essays

In a similar way, many Discuss Both Sides essays give you absolute opposite views on the same topic. Again, in order to decide which approach is the best, it will be necessary in your discussion to compare them in some way:

Some people say that parents should encourage their children to take part in organised group activities in their free time. Others say that it is important for children to learn how to occupy themselves on their own. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

3. Essays that ask you to discuss a recent social change are actually IELTS compare essays

I have become quite obsessed recently with social change essays. That is because they are becoming more and more common but are overlooked by most IELTS teachers. Nick and I spent a whole hour in August explaining what social change essays are and how you can approach them best. If you have’t listened to that episode yet, I strongly recommend that you do so now as it could really save your score for Task Response if you get a similar essay in your test. Just click here .

Today more people are travelling today than ever before. Why is this the case? What are the benefits for the traveller?

Very simply though, a social change essay is one that asks you to look at an emerging trend in society. Most of the time you will be asked why that change is happening and then to comment on whether you think it is a positive or negative one. The key to answering these questions well is to focus on the CHANGE i.e. to consider why this trend is happening more today than in the past.

Pictures to represent IELTS social trends

In other words, you will need to compare people’s behaviour in the past to their behaviour today. For the above question, that will mean not focussing on why people travel a lot today, but why they are travelling more today than in the past. It is considering the change that will lead to a high score.

Click here to watch the first three lessons in our IELTS Writing Course to see the difference that genuine expertise can make to your preparation.

4 Ways to show comparisons in IELTS compare essays

Ways to compare 1 – use the “contrast” comparison.

Our first way to compare is a good one for lower level learners as it does not require any specialist comparison language. All we are going to do is write one sentence describing X and a contrasting sentence describing Y, and join the two sentences using “In contrast”. Let’s look at an example sentence for the the railways / road question:

Railways are an environmentally friendly form of transport, with relatively little carbon emissions per passenger. In contrast , many cars often carry just one passenger and emit not only carbon but other poisonous gases into the atmosphere.

As you can see, this a very straightforward strategy as we are using the present simple in each sentence, but it is still a very effective way of making an argument. Note that in this sentence, we do not use “ on the other hand ’ as that signpost is usually only used to transition between paragraphs.

If you want to make a shorter comparison, or to make a complex sentence, you can replace “in contrast” with “while” or “whereas”.

Railways are an environmentally friendly form of transport as they can carry hundreds of passengers whereas many cars often carry just one passenger, especially during rush hour.

Now, although the function of “in contrast” and “while” or “whereas” is the same, you cannot just make a one-to-one swap as these are different types of words grammatically. “In contrast” is a transition signal and “while” and “whereas” are subordinators. That means you need to use “while” and “whereas” between TWO clauses not two sentences.

If you are not sure of the difference, please stop reading and go and watch my free video lessons “Three types of Contrast” by clicking here .

A woman stands with a surprised face next to a blackboard that shows how to make although sentences

Ways to compare 2 – Use the “unlike” comparison

Making simple comparisons using “in contrast” or “while” or “whereas” is a fantastic strategy in the exam, but sometimes these sentences can result in sentences with a problem. Have a look at these three sentences (based on the questions in the introduction) to see if you can spot what the problem with the underlined clause is:

It can be comfortable travelling long distances by rail whereas in a car it can be tiring for the driver.
Children who take part in group activities can learn the value of working as a team and how to communicate with other members of the group whereas those who spend time on their own do not have this chance.
In the past it was expensive to fly to another city, but now it is relatively cheap .

Can you see the issue? All of these sentences make nice comparisons, but there is too much repetition in the second clause. I mean, do we really need to give a long explanation of the “other option” every time?

For example, if you say that travel abroad is expensive, do you really need to say that travel at home is cheap? Surely that is obvious!

In the same way, if you say that children who take part in a group activity learn communication skills, is it really necessary to point out that those who spend time on their own do not? Again, this seems repetitive.

One way to avoid this is to use an “Unlike” phrase to replace the repetitive second clause .

Let me show you how that will work:

Unlike going by car , it can be comfortable travelling long distances by rail
Unlike children who spend time on their own , those who take part in group activities can learn the value of working as a team and how to communicate with other members of the group.
Unlike twenty years ago, now it is relatively cheap to fly to another city.

It is quite simple, isn’t it? We keep the clause that contains the important information (i.e the information that we want to focus on) and replace the repetitive clause with a short one that starts with “like and summarises what we are comparing to. Simple, but VERY effective. This type of comparison earns my gold star recommendation of the day!

Ways to compare 3 – Use comparative adjectives

Now we come to the classic way of comparing – using a comparative adjective. This is the comparison language that we learn from a low level at school, so I don’t want to spend too much time looking at it today (we also have a 35 minute lesson in our IELTS Grammar course that covers this in great detail), but let’s go through the basics here:

If your adjective has one syllable , you will add -er to the end to make the comparative: bigger / taller / shorter. Note that if your adjective ends in a vowel followed directly by a consonant, you will need to “double” the final consonant: ho tt er / bi gg er
If your adjective has two syllables and ends in “y”, you will move the “y” and add -ier to the end to make the comparative: funnier / luckier / happier. If your adjective has two syllables but does NOT end in “y”, then you will just need to add “more”: more modern / more boring / more tired
If your adjective has three syllables, you will again just need to add “more”: more expensive / more challenging / more fashionable

We can also add adverbs into these sentences to make our comparisons more precise and (importantly for IELTS) slightly more complex.

If there is a small difference between the two items, we can add “slightly” or “a little”

Buying a yearly travel pass is only slightly cheaper than buying and running a car.
Taking a holiday in your own country can often be only a little less expensive than travelling abroad.

If there is a big difference between the two items, we can add “far”, “way”, “a lot”, or “much”:

Living in the countryside is far healthier than in the city.
Working at home makes it way easier to have a good work-life balance.
Travelling by train is far more comfortable than by bus.
It is much easier to tell a person bad news by text message than face to face.

3 Potential Problems with using comparative adjectives ☠️

1. Be careful when you use “much” that you do not automatically use “more”

Students seem to automatically write “more” when they write “much”. This can cause problems when you are using a “short” comparative adjective that ends in -er. Why? Well, because the “-er” is already making the comparison, so adding an extra “more” means that you are saying “more more”!

eating in a restaurant is much more expensive than cooking food at home
going to the theatre is something to enjoy but smartphones have made our movie experience much more better

2. Be careful when you have a list of comparatives that all are in the comparative form.

Another problem can be that students remember the comparative rules for the first item in a list, but then forget them for the second:

First, houses are often more spacious and roomy / roomier than apartments.
Cleaning, repairing and refurbishing apartments is usually easier as they are much smaller and compact / more compact than a house.

3. Although you need “than” in the sentence, it is NOT what “compares” on its own!

Take a look back at all of the comparative sentences that I have written in this section. You will notice that they all contain the word “than”. This is a vital component of compare sentences but it DOES NOT make the comparison – it is the adding “-er” or “more” that does this.

We are getting busy day by day than before
We are getting busier day by day than before.

In fact, in many sentences, you can omit the “than X” because it is clear from context, but the comparative adjective must remain! For example if we have the phrase ‘day by day” in this sentence, we really don’t need to add “than before” as it is obvious what we are comparing!

We are getting busier day by day than before

Looking for help with IELTS grammar? We have a dedicated 10-hour course that is specifically designed to show you the structures needed for a 7.0+ Click here to watch the first three lessons for free.

Ways to compare 4 – Use “as + adjective + as” to compare

This is the other classic way to compare. Rather than having to change the adjective to the comparative form, you can simply use it between two “as”:

Women are as intelligent as men

This form of comparison is designed to show that the two items are EQUAL i.e. there is no difference between the intelligence of men and women. However, I don’t think that many things in life are truly equal, so we often add adverbs to show that there is a difference.

If there is a small difference between the two items, we can add “almost” or “nearly”.

Eating sugar every day is almost as dangerous as smoking.
Most teachers are nearly as worried as parents about the problem.

If there is a big difference between the two items, we can add “nowhere near”

Traditional games are nowhere near as interactive as electronic games.

One common problems in IELTS compare essays ☠️

One mistake that I often see repeated is that students seem to think that all they have to do to compare is add the phrase “ compared to ” or “ as compared to ” at the end of a sentence. This is not true! In fact, it is very hard to make a comparison using only the phrase “compared to”, and if this is a phrase that you use often, I would recommend that you forget it and start using one of the four techniques above.

Look at the four sentences below for example. None of them are correct as the students have tried to compare using only “compared to”. Can you change the sentences to be correct? We will give you the answers in the podcast:

The houses are big compared to the past.
I would like to bring to your attention the reason as to why children are not visiting the park frequently these days compared to the past .
People can interact with each other easily as compared to the past .
Living in the countryside is much fresh compared to living in the city

Bonus! Listen to Nick answer these Speaking Part 3 Compare questions

We all know that there is nothing I like more than making Nick work in a podcast. Today, I thought that we could put his vast experience of IELTS speaking tests to good use by making him answer these questions. How did he get on? You will need to listen to find out!

Is it more enjoyable to do free time activities inside or outside?

Do you think young people and old people have the same attitude to change?

Is it better for a person to show their emotions or to hide them?

Do you think life was better before the invention of the computer?

Do you think living in a nice place is more important than having a good job?

What are the differences between the cause of stress today and in the past?

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How to write ‘compare and contrast’ type of essay in ielts writing task 2.

In ‘compare and contrast’ type of essay, IELTS examiners want you to discuss the points of comparing and contrasting the two things i.e. similarities and differences between the two. Therefore, it is important that you find out relevant points of similarities and differences of the two mentioned things after reading the question for IELTS Writing .

So these type of questions are seen commonly in the IELTS writing task 2 and it can be a great exercise for future exams if you read this article. Let’s look at an example:

Some people want to live in a house while others prefer living in an apartment.

Does living in a house bring more advantages than living in an apartment.

With this type of essay for IELTS Writing , you have two points to be discussed as follows:

Benefits of living in a house/apartment
Issues of living in an house/apartment

You must discuss both of them by giving reasons and support them with examples. And at the end, mention which of the two is better and why. If you do not discuss any of the above two points in the essay, you will lose marks. So, in this type of essay, you must explain both the points.

How to structure IELTS Writing asnwer?

The essay can be structured mainly in 4 paragraphs as follows: Paragraph 1: Introduction

Paragraph 2: Benefits of living in a house/apartment

Paragraph 3: issues of living in a house/apartment, paragraph 4: conclusion.

Further structuring of the paragraphs can be done as follows:

a. Paragraph 1- Introduction

Sentence 1- Paraphrase the Question Sentence 2-Outline the sentence

b. Paragraph 2- Body Paragraph 1 (Apartment)

Sentence 1- State the benefit Sentence 2- Explain how it brings this benefit Sentence 4- Write an example

c. Paragraph 3 – Body Paragraph 2 (House)

Sentence 1- State the issue Sentence 2-Explain how it leads to this issue Sentence 3- Write an example

d. Paragraph 4- Conclusion

Sentence 1- Summary of the main point to conclude which is better and why Four paragraphs are sufficient to explain your point of view. You may use any other structure you are comfortable with but this structure is approved by the IELTS examiners to help the students write in an effective and cohesive manner.

Vocabulary:

Useful vocabulary for comparison points.

to be the same as
both… and…
neither… nor…
not only… but also…
to be alike
just like (+ noun)
to be similar (to)
similar to (+ noun)
to compare (to/with)

Useful vocabulary for Contrasting points

in contrast
by comparison
in comparison
on the other hand
to differ from
to be dissimilar to
to be different (from)
to be unlike

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic:

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.

Sample Answer:

There are many people who believe that living in a house is the best. However, some people disagree with this opinion and instead prefer to live in an apartment. This essay makes comparison of the two and chooses the most preferred option. To begin with, living in a flat definitely brings several advantages to a resident. One of the most important reasons behind this is the huge convenience it offers. An apartment is a part of large building giving a feel of living in a small societal association which takes responsibility of any fix or repair or maintenance required. For example, if one needs to repair the roof, the maintenance charges are borne by the landlord. Moreover, various facilities as well as amenities are available nearby including shopping mall, tuition centre, medical store, bus station and so on. On the other hand, living in an owned house does not offer the facilities that one can avail while living in an apartment. One reason for this is that it is quite lonely to stay in a house which occupies a large land area bringing boredom and snatching the joy of living with so many people around. For example, it would be such a dull experience of sitting alone in the garden with no one around to share life experiences. In addition to this, maintenance and cleanliness of the house are borne by the owner and thus it is costly to live in a house. Conclusively, living in an apartment is comparatively better than staying lonely in a house. Though a house provides a large spacious area to move around but living in an apartment enhances more social interaction and adds more excitement to life. (283 words)

Write an essay with minimum 250 words. Use the above mentioned vocabulary. 1. Some people think that learning online is more efficient. However, according to some other people, studying from books is still the preferred method. Which is the better method of learning out of the two? 2. Distance education is gaining popularity day by day and more students are enrolling through distance mode than full-time course in colleges. Make comparison of distance education and full-time course to find which is better and why. 3. A growing number of people own personal vehicle as they find it a convenient mode of transport in comparison to public transport. Compare the public and private mode of transportation and state which is better out of the two.

Well we have learnt quite a few things today about the IELTS writing task 2 and frankly speaking you will surely find it easier when writing, compare and contrast essay in the future.

One Comment

Thank you for providing this article, it was very helpful and valuable for the writing task, can you also provide some more tips?

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Using comparisons to develop your essays

Home » IELTS academic task 2 » Using comparisons to develop your essays

There are usually only two main ways to compare items.

The first one is to point out their similarities and the second is to point out their differences.

Let’s go a little deeper into the discussion of how each one can be used.

I. Comparing similar items

Pointing out the similarities between two or more items can be done in two ways.

A. Expressing similarities but with different degrees or levels

- This means that the items compared share the same characteristics and qualities but one’s intensity is less or greater than the other.

- Here the words more, less, better, worse and words added with the suffix “er” are used.

1. Discrimination against women in economic, social and political aspects of society, appears to be more severe in developing countries than it is in wealthi er ones.

2. The integration of technology into our everyday lives has been beneficial to many but its accessibility is less apparent in the members of the low er class than in those who are members of the high and middle class societies.

3. The development of chemical weapons in some countries are among the growing concerns in the world but the intensifying effects of global warming is a more pressing issue that the world needs to address urgently.

B. Expressing similarities in a different way with two sentences

- Here the words/phrases similarly, in like manner, in a similar pattern, in a similar way, etc. are used.

1. Books are a wealth of knowledge. Similarly , the internet is a learner’s paradise, it just needs to be used purposefully and moderately.

2. Men are said to be the strength and protector of mankind. In much the same way , women are deemed as the heart and soul of humanity.

3. In the very early stages of our lives, as infants, we are very dependent on others for our every need. In a similar way , when we reach the latter years of adulthood we lose or weaken our faculties and resume dependency on others.

II. Comparing different or contrasting items

Pointing out the differences between two or among three or more items can be expressed in two ways.

A. Contrasting with one sentence

- This means pointing out the difference/s in items with the use of just one (1) sentence. - Here you make use of the words/phrases like while, whereas, however, but, in contrast to, compared with, and more.

1. Adults deem play only as a fun leisurely activity, whereas , children deem it as a serious business.

2. Compared with cameras in Android phones and iPhones which are lighter and produce relatively good images, SLR/DSLR are heavier and more complex to use but they are still more preferred by professional photographers.

3. In contrast to the methods used by conventional doctors, non-conventional doctors promote the use of healthy diet and lifestyle and other less painful and less costly ways to fight cancer.

III. Contrasting with two sentences

- This means pointing out the difference/s in items with the use of two (2) sentences. - Here you still make use of similar phrases like in contrast to, compared with, on the contrary, opposite that, from a different perspective, from a different viewpoint, on the other hand, and more.

1. (On the one hand) Financial advisors recommend investments in bonds, mutual funds and FX swaps. On the other hand , businessmen believe that the best investment would often be in private companies.

2. Dehydration can cause blurred vision, brain fog and even high blood pressure. In contrast , being over hydrated causes an imbalance in one’s electrolyte levels.

3. Some analysts believe that formal qualifications prepare workers better. On the contrary , others believe that there is no substitute for real world experience.

*On the contrary is usually used for giving opinions.

Final Thoughts

A great way to develop your essay is through the use of comparisons and there are four different ways described here which you can choose from.

All you need to do now is to practice using each one as many times as possible and find out later which one will best fit the answers you come up with during your IELTS test.

For more help with your IELTS exam , take a look at some more IELTS Writing task 2 questions .

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How to compare and contrast in IELTS Task 1

By ielts-jonathan.com on 31 March 2021 2

Comparing and Contrasting Language for Task 1 IELTS

If you want to achieve a higher band score in IELTS Task 1 writing, effective use of comparison and contrasting language is one of the vital language skills you need to master.

It’s is not enough to simply report what you see in a chart, table or graph.

Being able to accurately report differences in key details helps the examiner award a mark in both Task Achievement, Grammar and Vocabulary.

Comparing and contrasting can help in this respect.

If you want to increase your IELTS band score further and impress the examiner, try to vary your language and provide a number of structures when reporting the information you see .

Language Contrast Compare IELTS Task 1 IELTS JONATHAN

This can be demonstrated by using a number of comparing and contrasting language structures and variations.

You need to do this accurately so it’s important to understand how some words collocate and others do not.

For example, saying ‘ The USA consumed the highest of electricity in 2011′ is not correct because something is missing and this can affect your score.

In contrast, writing ‘ The USA consumed the highest volume of electricity in 2011′ demonstrates to the examiner that you have a good range of vocabulary and an awareness of using language correctly .

For example, the examiner can see you understand that in this example, ‘ the highest + amount/volume + of electricity’ is needed to make an accurate collocation .

So, to score well you not only need to notice and report comparisons and contrast , but do this accurately too.

So I have summarised the most commonly used ways of comparing and contrasting which are suitable for IELTS TASK 1 writing.

These can be incorporated into your writing as needed as long as you have practised how to use these phrases accurately.

Using comparative and superlative adjectives

The simplest way to compare is to adjectives.

These are quite easy to form although there are some irregular patterns that are worth knowing.

Remember, some adjectives requires a particular grammar construction to be accurate.

You can use these adjectives in a number of effective ways, for example as

As a statement

The figure was high . In the 2020, the number of people who worked from home was very high .

As a comparison

The figure was higher than (another figure). In 2021, the figures were lower than in the previous decade.

As a contrast

The figure was the highest . By the end of the period, this figure was the highest .

ADJECTIVES COMPARE CONTRAST IELTS TASK 1

Other simple examples of comparative and superlative language you can look at are:

Sales were lower in 1996 than 1997. Sales were low in the period 1998 to 2001.

The lowest amount of energy was consumed in June.

The cost of imports was more expensive in the winter.

The most expensive imports for the period were in winter.

Using Transition words

Transitioning or s ignalling words are another good way of highlight a key feature in a report.

T hese words link an idea to another, show a connection , or a comparison or an opposite :

However , in contrast , in comparison , on the other hand and similarly are some of the common examples seen in IELTS.

The USA consumed the highest volume of electricity in 2011.

Australia, however , used the least amount (of electricity).

In contrast , Australia used the least (amount of electricity).

More Examples:

British people spent just above £1,000,000 on imported brands.

In comparison , this figure was much lower for Italy at £500,000.

It is clear that the majority of Australians spent their holiday abroad.

On the other hand , Italians opted for staying in their country.

It is obvious that the majority of Spanish people prefer to holiday at home.

Similarly , the Italians prefer to holiday at home too.

Signal Transition Linking Words IELTS task 1

Using Subordinating Conjunctions

A further method is to use subordinating conjunctions .

This might sound difficult or something you’re unfamiliar with, but you’re probably using basic subordinating connections already.

These types of word connect two different ideas , or independent clauses and ‘ because ‘ is a common example of one. 🙂

In this example, ‘ because ‘ provides the reason for something.

The most frequent examples for comparing and contrasting are:

Although Australia came first for the crime rate in 1980, this rate then dropped dramatically.

Look at how two independent clauses (ideas) can be compared.

It is clear that in 1963 food was the main expense, while 30 years later it was consumer items that came top. Europeans and Americans each comprise 25 % of the total, whereas the figure for Africa is lower, at 10%.

SUBORDINATE CONJUNCTIONS COMPLEX CONTRAST COMPARE IN IELTS

The same as / similar to..

Using other ways of comparison: more/less/ as…as/ similar(to) / the same …as:

More females than males attended gym and fitness classes in the last decade.

Less electricity was consumed in 2014 due to the increased use of solar technology.

Further ways of comparing examples:

The BMW brand was not as popular as Mercedes in 2015.

Consumption rates in China were very similar to Russia.

Ireland produced the same amount of electricity as Scotland in 2014.

Scotland caught similar amounts of fish as Greenland.

In Conclusion

If you want to increase your IELTS band score and impress the examiner, vary your language when describing a chart, table or graph .

One way this can be simply done is by comparing and contrasting language and variation .

Remember that some words collocate well and others do not and there are irregular grammar constructions too.

Not all IELTS Task 1 questions will give you the opportunity to compare or contrast so it’s important that you read and fully understand the question.

Do this and then decide on your Task Reponse .

I hope you found this article useful and please f eel free to comment and share.

Everything helps! 🙂

I’m Jonathan

I’ve taught IELTS and University English in more than a dozen universities and schools around the world.

I’m a parent, traveller and passionate about language teaching and helping students achieve their dreams.

Whilst living in Austria or working in Asia, I run IELTS courses to help students get to where they want to be.

If you are serious about IELTS, connect with me to see how I can help you.

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Reader Interactions

7 May 2021 at 3:45 pm

Nice examples of comparative language, how many times are best to use those phrases?

7 May 2021 at 8:41 pm

With practice you’ll get a feel for using the different structures. Try not to repeat the same structures too much though. It’s quite nice, for variation and to display what you are capable of, to try and use a variety, if possible. Of course, it depends on the information you are reporting in the Task. 🙂

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IELTS Compare and Contrast Essay Model Answer – Topic: Living in One Place

Some people live in one community for their entire lives. Others move around to different parts of the country. Compare and contrast living in one place your entire life to moving around to different places.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Question

Sample answer.

Some people choose to live in one community all their lives, while others choose a nomadic ( moving to different places rather than staying in one place) lifestyle. In this essay, staying and moving will be compared in terms of (in relation to) family and cultural stability and in terms of worldviews (the way that someone sees and understands world events, especially in relation to their religious or political beliefs and ideas). (38 words)

First of all, living in one place ensures a well-established (having a recognized position) and stable family structure. For instance, the family circle (close members of your family) provides a source of self-identity (believing that you are a particular kind of person) and becomes a safe haven (a safe or peaceful place) in times of trouble. In addition, households consisting of (include) three or even four generations living together are known to produce emotionally stable citizens, and they also look after (to take care of or be in charge of something) traditional customs and skills.

In contrast, nomads leave friends and family behind and have to establish (build up) new relationships at every new place. Unfamiliar neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, churches, customs, cultures, climates, and so on (and everything else) may be stressful, especially in the lives of children and teenagers.

Second, people with limited exposure to other communities may become stagnated (to stay the same and not grow or develop) and narrow-minded (not willing to accept ideas or ways of behaving that are different from your own) and find it difficult to understand the cultural, racial, ethnic, or religious backgrounds found in other communities.

On the other hand, moving to a new environment enables you and your family to come into contact with (to be in a place where you experience something or meet someone ) and appreciate new ideas, customs, and traditions. This develops a variety (wide range) of worldviews from which to choose the one most preferred. As the saying goes, “Variety is the spice of life.” (182 words)

In conclusion, it has to be said that both lifestyles have advantages and disadvantages in terms of family structures and worldviews. People differ, and therefore there will always be those who choose one or the other. (36 words)

Total: 256 words

IELTS Opinion Essay Model Answer 02 – Topic: Tobacco

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How to Compare and Contrast in IELTS

A key skill you need to use in IELTS Speaking is how to compare and contrast things, people, places, activities and general ideas.

In IELTS Speaking Part 1 , you may be asked directly the difference between A and B (e.g. between living in the city and living in the countryside).

In IELTS Speaking Part 3 , you will need to compare and contrast more abstract ideas, opinions and examples.

In this lesson, I will give you the language you need to do that confidently.

Comparing and contrasting.

What do we mean by comparing and contrasting?

Comparing generally means finding the similarities . Contrasting generally means finding the differences.

Comparing places, people, activities and things

The simplest way to find similarities is as follows:

A is similar to B

A is similar to B because

A is similar to B in that… .

If we are talking about places,

London is similar to Paris because they are both capital cities London is similar to Paris in that they have similar populations

We can also show the level of similarity and make our answers richer by using adverbs , such as

For example,

London is pretty similar to Paris in that they have similar populations

Another way to express similarity is to mention both of them first and then give a summarising phrase .

If we are comparing cars or brands, we can say the following:

When it comes to cars, two of the most famous brands are Audi and BMW, they are so alike

We can also use:

They are pretty much alike

They have a lot in common

They are really similar

In addition, we can show likeness with this structure to

A is as _______ as B

For example,

An Audi is as reliable as a BMW

Paris is (almost) as big as London

John is as tall as Michael

Finally, if two things or people are actually the same, we can say,

A is identical to B

A is the same as B

If we are talking about people, for example,

Jack is identical to his father, both of them love football Jack is the same as his father, they both love football

Other common phrases are;

Jack is just like his father Jack is the spitting image of his father

This last phrase refers to physical appearance only.

Contrasting places, people, activities and things

The simplest way to find differences is as follows:

A is different from B

A is different from B because

A is different from B in that it

For example,

Manchester is different from Paris

Manchester is different from Paris because it is much more industrial

Manchester is different from Paris in that the climate is colder (than Paris).

Remember, we can also express the size of the difference with adverbs, such as,

It is is totally different
I think it’s strikingly different
It’s distinctly different

If the difference is slight;

it’s slightly different
it’s rather different
it’s subtly different

Idiomatic expressions for contrasting

Here are some idiomatic expressions we can use to express contrasts, especially big differences.

They are world’s apart

Manchester United and Real Madrid are world’s apart . Manchester United is a much better team 😉

They are poles apart

Manchester and London are poles apart , I mean they really have almost nothing in common.

A is a far cry from B

This museum is a far cry from what I imagined. I thought it would be rubbish, but it’s actually great.

A is in a different league from B

My maths teacher is great, he is in a different league compared to all the other teachers.

A is far/way ____ than B

Beijing is far bigger than Manchester

Hong Kong is way hotter than Manchester.

Connectors to compare and contract ideas

Here are some connectors you can use to compare and contrast ideas, as well as things.

Similarly

I love football, similarly, I am big fan of basketball too.

I love Chinese food, likewise , I’m really into Vietnamese food as well.

On the contrary

Conversely

On the other hand

I am really busy during the week, but on the weekend, conversely , I have lots of free time

Notice in speaking, the word order is a little different from writing:

__ noun 1, noun 2 + adverb, ____

I’m really busy on Mondays, Fridays, on the contrary , are much easier.

I’m busy this week, next week, on the other hand , I have much less work to do.

That’s it.

Interesting and beautiful ways to compare and contrast places, things, people ideas… in fact anything you like.

If you liked this post, or you would like to suggest topics for future posts and videos, leave me a comment below.

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4 thoughts on “how to compare and contrast in ielts”.

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Writing Academic Essays: Tips and Support: Compare and Contrast Essay

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Compare/Contrast Essay

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Compare and Contrast

Compare and Contrast two things

Identify the argument

What makes this paper argumentative?
"Better" may be defined in different ways, depending on your argument.
It should be clear to your readers that you have chosen one subject over the other and why you have done so.

Point-by-Point:

Introduction of two subjects for comparison (Paragraph 1). The Introductory paragraph explains to your readers why they will want to compare the two subjects, and reviews for them the points of comparison.

Paragraph two introduces and explains point 1 for comparison and discusses how it applies to both subjects; i.e. apples and oranges.
Paragraph three introduces and explains point 2 for comparison and discusses how it applies to both subjects.
Paragraph four introduces and explains point 3 for comparison and discusses how it applies to both subjects.

Conclusion of essay, highlighting the similarities and differences of the two subjects and giving overall recommendations as to which one is superior (better) for the audience.

Choose a topic you know a great deal about and can discuss at length. Think of your skills, hobbies, and interests.

Could you compare two cell phones to propose to the audience which one you think is a better buy/faster for sending videos and pics/easier to use?
How about two novels by the same or different authors? Which one is clearly better, and WHY?
What types of exercises to target abdominal muscles?
Which residence hall is better to live in - closer to the gym, closer to the lake, closer to San Antonio?
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How to Write ‘Compare and Contrast’ Type of Essay in IELTS Writing Task 2?

In ‘compare and contrast’ type of essay, IELTS examiners want you to discuss the points of comparing and contrasting the two things i.e. similarities and differences between the two. Therefore, it is important that you find out relevant points of similarities and differences of the two mentioned things after reading the question for IELTS Writing . Let’s look at an example:

Some people want to live in a house while others prefer living in an apartment.

Does living in a house bring more advantages than living in an apartment.

With this type of essay for IELTS Writing , you have two points to be discussed as follows:

Benefits of living in a house/apartment
Issues of living in an house/apartment

So, in this type of essay, you must explain both the points.

How to structure IELTS Writing asnwer?

The essay can be structured mainly in 4 paragraphs as follows:

Paragraph 1: Introduction

Paragraph 2: Benefits of living in a house/apartment

Paragraph 3: issues of living in a house/apartment, paragraph 4: conclusion.

Further structuring of the paragraphs can be done as follows:

a. Paragraph 1- Introduction

Sentence 1- Paraphrase the Question

Sentence 2-Outline the sentence

b. Paragraph 2- Body Paragraph 1 (Apartment)

Sentence 1- State the benefit

Sentence 2- Explain how it brings this benefit

Sentence 4- Write an example

c. Paragraph 3 – Body Paragraph 2 (House)

Sentence 1- State the issue

Sentence 2-Explain how it leads to this issue

Sentence 3- Write an example

d. Paragraph 4- Conclusion

Vocabulary:

Useful vocabulary for comparison points.

to be the same as
both… and…
neither… nor…
not only… but also…
to be alike
just like (+ noun)
to be similar (to)
similar to (+ noun)
to compare (to/with)

Useful vocabulary for Contrasting points

in contrast
by comparison
in comparison
on the other hand
to differ from
to be dissimilar to
to be different (from)
to be unlike

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

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

Write at least 250 words.

Sample Answer:

To begin with, living in a flat definitely brings several advantages to a resident. One of the most important reasons behind this is the huge convenience it offers. An apartment is a part of large building giving a feel of living in a small societal association which takes responsibility of any fix or repair or maintenance required. For example, if one needs to repair the roof, the maintenance charges are borne by the landlord. Moreover, various facilities as well as amenities are available nearby including shopping mall, tuition centre, medical store, bus station and so on.

On the other hand, living in an owned house does not offer the facilities that one can avail while living in an apartment. One reason for this is that it is quite lonely to stay in a house which occupies a large land area bringing boredom and snatching the joy of living with so many people around. For example, it would be such a dull experience of sitting alone in the garden with no one around to share life experiences. In addition to this, maintenance and cleanliness of the house are borne by the owner and thus it is costly to live in a house.

Conclusively, living in an apartment is comparatively better than staying lonely in a house. Though a house provides a large spacious area to move around but living in an apartment enhances more social interaction and adds more excitement to life.

(283 words)

2. Distance education is gaining popularity day by day and more students are enrolling through distance mode than full-time course in colleges. Make comparison of distance education and full-time course to find which is better and why.

3. A growing number of people own personal vehicle as they find it a convenient mode of transport in comparison to public transport. Compare the public and private mode of transportation and state which is better out of the two.

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The one-hour writing portion of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) consists of two tasks, task 1 and task 2, which evaluate your vocabulary, grammar, word count, collocations, and capacity to create complicated sentences sparingly and effectively.

It is crucial to realise that the IELTS Academic and General Training Tasks have different essay subjects. IELTS Academic Task 1 requires you to create a report using a graph, diagram, or chart; in contrast, IELTS General Training Task 1 requires you to write a letter. Essay writing is the second task in both the General and Academic modules. Although the themes for essays in each module may vary, the approach to producing essays is always the same.

To determine the Academic IELTS Writing Task 1 and Task 2 scores, examiners consider the following factors: Task Achievement, Task Response, Coherence, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Lexical Resource.

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Latest IELTS Essay Topics for 2024

Environment, personality, global consumerism and business., essay types for ielts, opinions essay, discussion essays, advantages and disadvantages question essays, direct questions essays, ielts writing task 2 preparation tips, how should the ielts writing section task 2 essays be answered, first, read and comprehend the question, arrange the answer, write a strong introduction in step three, carefully select the primary content.

Most IELTS essay topics center around current affairs and global events. The following listicles contain some IELTS essay writing topics. Additionally, practicing the sample essay questions is one of the best strategies to get ready to answer essays in the IELTS Writing section. Below are the topic categories and essay writing examples to assist students searching for the newest IELTS essay topics:

Students searching for the newest IELTS essay themes can find assistance with the following topic categories and essay writing samples:

Environmental Crisis: One of the most often asked IELTS topics is the environment essay (band 9). But since this is one of the most specialized topics and might cost you points, many students don’t think they need to prepare for it.

Global Warming: Questions about general conversation subjects like deforestation, global warming, the greenhouse effect, and climate change are frequently included in the speaking and writing areas of the IELTS exam.

Sustainable Energy: Writing an essay might be a difficult chore if you are not familiar with its structure and topics. Each sentence needs to make sense and be constructed such that it conveys information and a clear picture. If you write your essay off-topic, you can lose points. Nuclear power and sustainable energy are contentious issues, therefore being knowledgeable about them will set you apart from your peers.

Fossil Fuels: The topics for IELTS essays in writing assignment 2 typically revolve around subjects that are commonly discussed in the everyday lives of applicants. The substitution of renewable energy sources for nonrenewable fuels is one such issue.

Hobbies: “Hobbies” appears frequently in both the Speaking and Writing Task 2 sections of the IELTS exam. Examinees should find this to be a straightforward, mark-fetching topic with minimal obstacles.

First impressions matter a lot in terms of personality as IELTS examiners read hundreds of essays every day and have limited attention spans. Therefore, it is crucial that you start your IELTS essay correctly and give a strong first impression.

Fashion : Often featuring worldwide themes, fashion is one of the best subjects to hone your public speaking abilities.

Education: The IELTS Essay on Education is one of the hardest assignments, with erratic questions throughout the test. Education: The Significance of Extracurricular Activities and School Values. Opinion-driven, these education essay topics—such as the value of leisure activities—evaluate students’ capacity to articulate their knowledge and abilities in a meaningful way.

Government and Society: If you’re planning to take the IELTS exam, you should familiarize yourself with as many topics that are common to Writing Task 2. Government and society is one such frequent IELTS exam theme that you should be familiar with.

Ideal Society: To strengthen their writing and vocabulary skills and raise their overall band score, applicants should practice answering sample questions and practicing essay responses for the Ideal Society IELTS essay.

IELTS writing task 2 frequently features essays on social media. Keeping the word count within reason and being aware of several approaches to the topic are the easiest ways to tackle a social media IELTS essay band 9 or related topic.

Worldwide Trade: The IELTS exam has included global business as one of its themes over the years. In order to properly respond to a question on such a topic, your response must include all relevant details, arguments, justifications, opinions, and supporting proof.

The functions of management and leadership are crucial in any organization. You should always write an essay that answers the query while writing on such subjects.

Language Barriers and Foreign Culture : IELTS Writing Task 2 frequently addresses the themes of foreign languages and culture. Share your thoughts on these subjects.

Sports and kids: Sports are a recurrent motif throughout the essay, and the text should never stray from the major ideas.

Health Obesity: In IELTS writing task 2, essays about overweight people are frequently assigned. Overweight may also be discussed in relation to obesity, current trends in children’s and adults’ health, and other related subjects.

The themes for IELTS essays are typically divided into different sections.

Any of the following essay types may be seen on the IELTS exam:

You are required to provide your thoughts on the assigned topic in this essay genre. Naturally, having prior knowledge of frequent topics that are popular in the IELTS exam is the ideal method to score highly in such essays.

Examples of Questions

Nowadays, most teenagers have a smartphone. Give your thoughts so that we may talk about the benefits and drawbacks.
In recent years, crime novels and TV shows have gained a lot of popularity. What thoughts do you have regarding these criminal dramas?
Developing countries frequently need aid from other countries. While some think that guidance and practical support would be more helpful, many feel that financial assistance should be provided. Talk about your thoughts on both of these points of view.
While some people think industries are to blame, many people think cars are the main source of pollution in cities. Describe the opposing viewpoints and offer your own.
A common belief is that the government ought to provide financial assistance to those who engage in the arts. Others think they should look for different sources. Give your thoughts and discuss each point of view.
Some people think that perseverance, commitment, and drive are the keys to success in life. Many people, however, think that other crucial elements, such as wealth and good looks, determine success. Give your thoughts and discuss the two points of view.
Government funding of programs aimed at finding extraterrestrial life is a popular belief. But some think that governments ought to concentrate on global problems that still need to be solved. Talk about both points of view and offer your own.

In the context of discussion essays, candidates must present arguments in favor of or against each issue. These are the most typical essays that can be seen on the IELTS exam.

Many people think that living in a large city has more benefits than living in a rural area. Do you think this is correct or incorrect?
More than any other element, an individual’s age group determines their shopping behavior. Do you think this is correct or incorrect?
In industrialized nations, the number of overweight children and adolescents is rising. For most developed nations, this is a serious issue. Describe this issue’s causes and effects.
One fantastic invention that benefits everyone on the planet is the internet. However, there are a number of problems with regard to personal data control and security. Do you think this is correct or incorrect?
People who are exposed to advertising are less likely to be creative and more likely to act and appear alike. Do you think this is correct or incorrect?
Many times these days, parents plan extra classes for the weekends or even after school. Do you think this is even remotely helpful? Or are you of the opinion that the education offered in schools suffices?
There are others who think that abolishing the death penalty is a good idea. Do you think this is correct or incorrect?

Students are required to discuss both the advantages and disadvantages of a certain topic in this kind of essay. These essays assess your ability to create arguments and how well you can express yourself in English so that your opinions are as clear and consistent as possible.

Many places have benefited immensely from international tourism. Significant worries have been raised, though, regarding how it may affect the local population and ecology. Are there more drawbacks to foreign travel than advantages?
Recently, legislation restricting employees’ daily working hours have been passed in some countries. Describe the impact that this will have, if any, positive or negative.

The themes for this kind of essay will be given to the students as direct questions, to which they must respond with their own ideas and experiences.

In the past, going shopping was a common household chore. Today, though, it’s more of a pastime. Does this pattern seem promising?

Since they can communicate in English really well, many students think they don’t need to prepare much. It’s true that the IELTS test is difficult. Actually, the test could be challenging for native English speakers as well. Candidates should thus begin their preparation for this portion as soon as possible and should follow a strict and thorough approach.

Start studying for the IELTS at least six months in advance of the date you plan to take the test, and be sure to dedicate some time each day to each of the four components.
For both writing tasks—especially writing task 2—select writing themes and make an effort to write about them every day. Keep an eye on the clock; you have one hour to finish both assignments.
Allocate a substantial amount of time to acquire new words and review grammar. Structured thinking comes next, which enables you to express your ideas in a logical manner. Keep clarity, rationality, and lucidity in mind when you write.
Since any topic could be included in the second IELTS writing task, you should broaden your ideas. Examine all available materials, including books, magazines, and internet resources, to increase your vocabulary and level of understanding. Moreover, practice as many mock.

To successfully improve their essay-writing skills in the Writing portion, students might use the following strategies:

To succeed in assignment 2 essays, you must first thoroughly read and comprehend the question. Candidates typically respond to the question without fully comprehending what is asked of them. It is important for candidates to thoroughly examine the question, determine its type, and attempt to pinpoint its keywords. Lastly, before attempting to respond, they should comprehend the instructions completely.

Students must organize the format of their answers after they have a firm understanding of the question. This will enable candidates to arrange their thoughts and create a concise and coherent response.

The essay’s opening should provide a summary of the main points of the paper. Make sure your opening effectively summarizes the main points of the essay.

The crucial section of the essay is the main body, where you have to include all the information that is required. Make sure to support your ideas with relevant information, examples, and explanations. After finishing, a suitable conclusion must be provided

Also Read: IELTS Exam: 8 Weeks Study Plan IELTS Writing Task 2: Format, Sample, Tips IELTS Academic vs General Tests – What’s the Difference? IELTS Eligibility 2024: Check Minimum Age Limit, Qualification & Score Required

IELTS Essay Topics- FAQs

What is the best way to do well in ielts writing task 2.

Task Response, Cohesion & Coherence, Lexical Resource, and lastly Grammatical range and accuracy are the four primary performance criteria for IELTS Writing Task 2. Make sure you adhere to these four standards when preparing by using appropriate reference materials and practice questions.

Which are the most often requested questions in IELTS Writing Task 2?

In IELTS Writing Task 2, there are various question categories to choose from, such as: Problem/Causes, Opinion, Advantage/Disadvantage, and Discussion of Views.

Which major themes underlie the questions in IELTS Writing Task 2?

A few of the overarching topics are Crime & Punishment, Art, Business, Environment, Food, Health, and more. For question framing, concepts and subjects are grouped under these major themes.

Does the IELTS Writing component require the usage of complicated words?

A further benefit is having a strong vocabulary. However, it’s not appropriate to firmly insert challenging words into phrases. Your phrases should flow naturally and be appropriate for the meaning and situation you’re in.

How can one generate concepts for IELTS Writing Task 2 (2024)?

To come up with ideas for IELTS Writing Task 2, the simplest methods are to look at sample essays, search for ideas on Google, speak with experts, watch movies, ask yourself some questions about the subject, and come up with primary concepts from particular examples.

In IELTS Writing Task 2, how many errors are permitted?

If you write a strong essay overall, the examiner will ignore one or two faults. Nevertheless, committing more errors than that could result in a worse IELTS band score.

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How Americans and Israelis view one another and the U.S. role in the Israel-Hamas war

U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands during a meeting at the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York City on Sept. 20, 2023. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

The United States continues to support Israel in its war against Hamas, but relations appear increasingly strained between the two countries and their leaders . The war also seems to have affected public opinion in both countries: Americans and Israelis now see one another’s leaders more negatively than in the recent past, and other key views have shifted as well.

Below, we explore American and Israeli public opinion in detail. This analysis is based on two Pew Research Center surveys of U.S. adults – one conducted in February and one in early April – as well as a survey of Israeli adults conducted in March and early April.

Pew Research Center analyzed Americans’ and Israelis’ attitudes on a variety of questions related to the Israel-Hamas war. The recent U.S. data is from two polls: a survey of 12,693 U.S. adults conducted Feb. 13-25, 2024, and a survey of 3,600 U.S. adults conducted April 1-7, 2024. The data for Israel is from a survey of 1,001 Israeli adults conducted March 3-April 4, 2024.

Most of the respondents in the February survey of U.S. adults (10,642) are members of the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP). The ATP is an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses, which gives nearly all U.S. adults a chance of selection. Read more about the ATP’s methodology .

The remaining 2,051 respondents are members of three other survey panels – Ipsos’ KnowledgePanel, SSRS’s Opinion Panel, and NORC at the University of Chicago’s AmeriSpeak Panel – who were interviewed because they identify as Jewish or Muslim.

The February survey “oversampled” (i.e., interviewed a disproportionately large number of) Jews and Muslims to provide more reliable estimates of their views. But these groups are not overrepresented in the national figures reported, because we adjusted for the oversampling in the weighting of the data.

Although the February survey included questions about where U.S. adults were born and whether they identify as Arab or of Arab origin, there was insufficient sample size to analyze Arab Americans or people of Palestinian descent separately. In that survey , only about a quarter of U.S. Muslims identified as Arab or of Arab ancestry. As a result, in our U.S. analysis, we describe differences between religious groups, rather than differences in opinion between Arab Americans and Jewish Americans. In contrast, our surveys in Israel have sufficient samples to allow comparisons between Israeli Arabs and Israeli Jews.

Both U.S. surveys are weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education, religious affiliation and other categories.

The survey of Israeli adults was conducted face-to-face. Interviews were conducted in Hebrew and Arabic, and the survey is representative of the adult population ages 18 and older, excluding those in East Jerusalem and non-sanctioned outposts. (The survey also does not include the West Bank or Gaza.) The survey included an oversample of Arabs in Israel. It was subsequently weighted to be representative of the Israeli adult population with the following variables: gender by ethnicity, age by ethnicity, education, region, urbanicity and probability of selection of respondent.

Here are the February and April questions and responses for the United States used for this analysis, and the questions and responses for Israel . Here are the February and April survey methodologies for the U.S. , and the survey methodology for Israel .

Americans have less confidence in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu than Israelis have in U.S. President Joe Biden. Only 30% of U.S. adults express some or a lot of confidence in Netanyahu, while around half (53%) have not too much or no confidence in him. An additional 15% say they have not heard of him.

By contrast, more than half of Israeli adults (57%) have some or a great deal of confidence in Biden to do the right thing regarding world affairs, whereas 42% have little or no confidence in him.

A diverging bar chart showing how Americans and Israelis view each other’s leaders.

Americans’ views of Netanyahu have turned more negative over the past year. The share of Americans with little or no confidence in Netanyahu to do the right thing regarding world affairs is up 11 percentage points since March 2023 (42% then, 53% today).

Democrats are more likely than Republicans to have a negative view of Netanyahu. Approximately seven-in-ten Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents (71%) have little or no confidence in him, up from 56% in 2023. Around a third of Republicans and GOP leaners (34%) now take this view – up from 29% in 2023.

Related: A growing share of Americans have little or no confidence in Netanyahu

Israelis’ opinions of Biden have also turned more negative. While 57% of Israelis express a lot or some confidence in Biden, that’s down from 68% last year . The share of Israelis who have no confidence at all in Biden has doubled, from 9% to 18%.

Israeli Jews and Arabs differ widely in their views of the U.S. president: 66% of Jews have confidence in Biden, but only 21% of Arabs agree. Among both groups, overall confidence in Biden has decreased by 10 points since last year.

Older Israelis, as well as those in the ideological center or on the right, have more confidence in Biden than younger and left-leaning Israelis do.

A diverging bar chart showing that Israeli Jews and Arabs are sharply divided in their views of Biden.

The share of Israelis with a favorable opinion of the U.S. has declined. While a broad majority of Israelis (77%) continue to see the U.S. favorably, this is down 10 points since last year. This marks the lowest overall rating of the U.S. in Israeli public opinion since 2011, based on our nearly two-decade trend .

A dot plot showing that Israeli views of U.S. have turned less positive over the past year – especially among Arabs, those on the left.

Views of the U.S. are significantly more positive among Jewish Israelis (90%) than Arab Israelis (29%). They are also much more positive among Israelis who place themselves on the ideological right (85%) or in the center (84%) than on the left (55%).

Since last year, views of the U.S. have soured among most demographic groups in Israel, but particularly among Arab Israelis and people on the ideological left.

Americans’ views of the Israeli people are broadly positive, but far fewer express favorable views of the Israeli government . In our recent U.S. polling, we have asked separately about views of the Israeli government and the Israeli people , rather than ask a single question about views of Israel. ( Past research suggests that views of the country tend to fall somewhere between views of its people and its government.)

In our survey this past February, 64% of Americans had a favorable view of the Israeli people, while 41% voiced a favorable view of the Israeli government. Both of these figures were down modestly from 2022. Views of the Israeli people have ticked downward more among younger Americans than among older ones.

Americans and Israelis alike are divided over whether Biden is favoring one side too much in the Israel-Hamas war. In our February survey, Americans were about evenly split as to whether Biden was favoring the Israelis too much (22%), favoring the Palestinians too much (16%) or striking the right balance (21%). However, the largest share of all – 40% – was not sure.

A bar chart showing that, in the U.S. and Israel alike, the public is divided over Biden’s approach to the Israel-Hamas war.

In Israel, 41% of adults say Biden is striking the right balance, but nearly equal shares say the U.S. president favors the Israelis too much (27%) or favors Palestinians too much (25%). Just 7% of Israelis aren’t sure or did not answer the question. (It’s important to note that U.S. respondents took the survey online and were given an explicit “Don’t know” option. Israeli respondents, interviewed in person, were not. Previous research shows that offering an explicit “Don’t know” option in online surveys is a better comparison with face-to-face survey data.)

In both the U.S. and Israel , people on the ideological left are more likely than those on the right to say Biden is favoring Israelis too much (in the U.S., ideology was measured as liberal, moderate and conservative).

In the U.S., Muslim Americans are far more likely than Jewish Americans to say Biden favors the Israelis too much (60% vs. 13%). In Israel, Arabs (86%) are much more likely than Jews to say the same (86% vs. 11%). (In the U.S., we “oversampled” Muslim and Jewish Americans but did not have sufficient sample size to analyze Arab Americans. For more details on the sampling, read the “How we did this” box.)

Around seven-in-ten Israelis (72%) want to see the U.S. play a major diplomatic role in resolving the Israel-Hamas war, but Americans are more divided. In the U.S., a majority of Americans (55%) also say the U.S. should play a role in ending the war, but more favor a minor role than a major one (35% vs. 20%). Another 27% want the U.S. to play no role at all – a view shared by only 10% of Israelis.

A bar chart showing that Americans are less likely than Israelis to want the U.S. to play a major role in resolving the Israel-Hamas war.

Americans on the ideological left are more supportive of the U.S. playing a major role than are those in the center or on the right. In Israel, U.S. involvement is broadly popular across the ideological spectrum.

In the U.S., 45% of Jews think the U.S. should play a major role in resolving the war, compared with 27% of Muslims. In Israel, Jews and Arabs are both generally supportive of the U.S. playing a major role (74% and 62%, respectively).

Note: Here are the February and April questions and responses for the United States used for this analysis, and the questions and responses for Israel . Here are the February and April survey methodologies for the U.S. , and the survey methodology for Israel .

Israel Global Image
U.S. Global Image
War & International Conflict
World Leaders

Laura Silver is an associate director focusing on global attitudes at Pew Research Center .

In East Asia, many people see China’s power and influence as a major threat

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ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts .

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200+ Best Compare And Contrast Essay Topics (2024)
History Compare and Contrast Essay Topics. Renaissance and Baroque Art. US President vs. British Prime Minister. Fascism and Totalitarianism. Religious Studies vs. Anthropology. America vs. Soviet Government. Gandhi and Jinnah's political approaches. Communism vs. Liberalism. Make a comparison between Russian emperors.
50 Latest Contrast IELTS Topics
50 Latest Contrast IELTS Topics. Get a band score and detailed report instantly. Check your IELTS essays right now! Write an essay to an educated reader to compare and contrast the childhood of the previous generations with that of the current generations.
50 Latest compare IELTS Topics
50 Latest compare IELTS Topics. Get a band score and detailed report instantly. Check your IELTS essays right now! Read more ». Opinion. In many countries, senior positions have higher salaries compared to those of young workers of the same company. Some people think this isn't justified.
How to Write 'Compare and Contrast' Type of Essay in IELTS Writing Task
Sentence 1- State the issue. Sentence 2-Explain how it leads to this issue. Sentence 3- Write an example. d. Paragraph 4- Conclusion. Sentence 1- Summary of the main point to conclude which is better and why Four paragraphs are sufficient to explain your point of view. You may use any other structure you are comfortable with but this structure ...
IELTS Writing Task 2/ Essay Topics with sample answer.
IELTS Writing Task 2/ IELTS Essay: You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. It is often cited that "Not everything that is learned is contained in books". According to many, we learn most of the things from our own experience while others believe that books are our main source of knowledge.
How to make comparsions and contrasts in IELTS Task 2 writing
Part 1. The purpose of a compare and contrast essay is to analyse the differences and/or the similarities of two distinct subjects. A good compare/contrast essay doesn't only point out how the subjects are similar or different, it uses those points to make a meaningful argument about the subjects. While it can be a little intimidating to ...
IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 : Compare and Contrast
In IELTS Writing Task 1, you are commonly provided with graphs, pie charts, etc. which have data that should be compared and contrasted. In this lesson, you will learn the type of vocabulary that you've got to use to compare and contrast information in the graph.
How to use compare and contrast language in an IELTS Discussion Essay
This is an important element of a successful IELTS task essay. Contrasting and comparing are also important in building a strong and logical argument too. Both of these can add to the coherence of you essay and can make your message much clearer to the examiner. In this post, I am going to use the following Task 2 question to demonstrate ...
20 Common Essay Topics for IELTS Writing Task 2
IELTS Recent Exam Topics. To get a list of recent essay questions as well as recent topics and question from all other sections of the IELTS test, follow this link: Recent IELTS Exam Questions & Topics. IELTS Writing Task 2. Get model essays, tips, free video lessons and practice exercises for IELTS writing task 2: IELTS Writing Task 2
Learn Compare and Contrast Language for IELTS Graphs
Being able to compare and contrast data is an essential skill for IELTS writing, especially in Task 1. Comparatives and superlatives are one common way to do this. Comparatives are used to compare two things: Leopards are faster than tigers. Superlatives are used to compare one thing against a group of others:
Compare and Contrast Essay: Topics, Outline, Examples
Compare and contrast essays are academic papers in which a student analyses two or more subjects with each other. To compare means to explore similarities between subjects, while to contrast means to look at their differences. Both subjects of the comparison are usually in the same category, although they have their differences.
How to Compare and Contrast Academic Task 1
1.1 Comparatives and superlatives. One of the aims of IELTS writing task 1 is to compare and contrast information given in a graph, chart or diagram. If you want to achieve a higher IELTS band score, you need to use a range of language and grammatical structures accurately. One way to compare and contrast is to use comparatives and superlatives.
IELTS Writing Task 2: How To Write 'Compare And Contrast' Type Of Essay
In 'compare and contrast' type of essay, IELTS examiners want you to discuss the points of comparing and contrasting the two things i.e. similarities and differences between the two different arguments. Therefore, it is important that you can use a wide range of sentence patterns to compare and contrast. We hope you find the following.
Language for IELTS compare essays
Ways to compare 1 - Use the "contrast" comparison. Our first way to compare is a good one for lower level learners as it does not require any specialist comparison language. All we are going to do is write one sentence describing X and a contrasting sentence describing Y, and join the two sentences using "In contrast".
How to Write 'Compare and Contrast' Type of Essay in IELTS Writing Task 2?
Sentence 1- State the issue. Sentence 2-Explain how it leads to this issue. Sentence 3- Write an example. d. Paragraph 4- Conclusion. Sentence 1- Summary of the main point to conclude which is better and why. Four paragraphs are sufficient to explain your point of view. You may use any other structure you are comfortable with but this structure ...
Using comparisons to develop your essays
Pointing out the differences between two or among three or more items can be expressed in two ways. A. Contrasting with one sentence. - This means pointing out the difference/s in items with the use of just one (1) sentence. - Here you make use of the words/phrases like while, whereas, however, but, in contrast to, compared with, and more.
How to compare and contrast in IELTS Task 1
T hese words link an idea to another, show a connection, or a comparison or an opposite: However, in contrast, in comparison, on the other hand and similarly are some of the common examples seen in IELTS. The USA consumed the highest volume of electricity in 2011. Australia, however, used the least amount (of electricity).
IELTS Compare and Contrast Essay Model Answer
In this essay, staying and moving will be compared in terms of (in relation to) family and cultural stability and in terms of worldviews (the way that someone sees and understands world events, especially in relation to their religious or political beliefs and ideas). (38 words) BODY. First of all, living in one place ensures a well-established ...
31 Fun Compare and Contrast Essay Topics » JournalBuddies.com
31 Compare and Contrast Essay Topics & Prompts about Similarities and Differences— In this list of essay topics and prompts, high school students (and other grades, too) will get creative as they think about the similarities and differences between specific topics, like their family members, childhood experiences, lifestyle, and preferences.
How to Compare and Contrast in IELTS
A key skill you need to use in IELTS Speaking is how to compare and contrast things, people, places, activities and general ideas. In IELTS Speaking Part 1, you may be asked directly the difference between A and B (e.g. between living in the city and living in the countryside). In IELTS Speaking Part 3, you will need to compare and contrast ...
Compare and Contrast Essay
Introduction of two subjects for comparison (Paragraph 1). The Introductory paragraph explains to your readers why they will want to compare the two subjects, and reviews for them the points of comparison. Paragraph two introduces and explains point 1 for comparison and discusses how it applies to both subjects; i.e. apples and oranges.
How to Write 'Compare and Contrast' Type of Essay in IELTS Writing Task
Sentence 1- State the issue. Sentence 2-Explain how it leads to this issue. Sentence 3- Write an example. d. Paragraph 4- Conclusion. Sentence 1- Summary of the main point to conclude which is better and why Four paragraphs are sufficient to explain your point of view. You may use any other structure you are comfortable with but this structure ...
Recent Most Popular 100+ IELTS Essay Topics of 2024
Most IELTS essay topics center around current affairs and global events. The following listicles contain some IELTS essay writing topics. ... In contrast to other sections of the IELTS exam, the Speaking test measures your conversational abilities in an actual environment through a face-to-face interview with a qualified examiner. You. 12 min read.
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How Americans, Israelis view each other and the US role in Israel-Hamas
Around seven-in-ten Israelis (72%) want to see the U.S. play a major diplomatic role in resolving the Israel-Hamas war, but Americans are more divided. In the U.S., a majority of Americans (55%) also say the U.S. should play a role in ending the war, but more favor a minor role than a major one (35% vs. 20%).

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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 : Compare and Contrast

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Compare and Contrast Language for Graphs

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