TASK TWO: MODEL ESSAY – AGREE OR DISAGREE
This type of essay question prompt asks the test-taker to take a position and give examples and explanations that support it.
In this essay, a strong position in favour of replacing old buildings has been used. It is normally easier to take a strong position, but it is fine to take any position (for/against/in the middle) as long as you organise your essay into clear paragraphs and logical order.
Remember, the golden rule of high IELTS grades is ‘develop every idea’. In this essay, only two main ideas are expressed (body paragraph 1 and 2) because it is better to use a few ideas but develop them fully than to list ideas and quickly move on to the next one.
Remember, all the model essays shown on this website follow structures that can be learned and practised by taking the writing courses available. There is no better way to understand the best way to write IELTS essays.
Question
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
A lot of money is spent repairing old buildings. Instead of repairing these buildings, they should be knocked down and replaced with new ones.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answers and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Model essay
For decision makers worldwide, the maintenance of old and historical buildings involves difficult decisions. Often there is a choice between spending large amounts of money on repairing old buildings or demolishing them and building modern constructions. When this choice has to be made, it is better to choose the latter option as new buildings are more environmentally friendly and usually have superior designs.
Old buildings should be replaced by newer ones as modern constructions have superior designs. Due to modern construction techniques, newer buildings are usually larger and use space more efficiently. For example, in Europe many old buildings have very small doors and small rooms, designed for smaller people and houses where heating was difficult. In contrast, modern housing is open and spacious, creating a better living environment. Simply put, old buildings are not as nice to live in, so they should be replaced.
Furthermore, as modern construction is also far more environmentally friendly, it is clearly the right choice to replace older buildings. Old buildings tend to have very poor insulation and inefficient heating or cooling systems, whereas modern buildings are equipped with the latest advancements. In fact, a recent study by Oxford University showed that newer buildings use 20% less energy than old buildings. This matters because most energy comes from burning fossil fuels, which causes global warming. It is clear, therefore, that newer buildings are a better choice.
Modern constructions are better for both the environment and the people that inhabit the spaces inside them, which is why it is the right course of action to replace old buildings with new ones. Decision makers should stop spending large amounts of money on repairing old buildings and instead invest in modern alternatives.
285 words
