Plan this two-part essay about media with the ideas and outline below, write it on a 40-minute timer, then compare it with a band-8 model answer.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
False information spreads easily through social media and often influences people's opinions.
Why is this happening? What can be done to address it?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
GoPrep wrote this practice question in the style of the exam. It is not an official IELTS question.
Pick two or three points from one or both columns. You do not need all of them, and your own examples score better than memorised ones.
Spend the first few minutes planning, then write.
0 words of 250 minimum
Your answer stays on this page only. Copy it before you leave.
Write your own answer first, then compare: how it answers the exact question, what each paragraph does, and which phrases you could borrow.
False information now travels around the world within hours, and it can shape what people believe about politics, health and public events. This essay will explain why the problem has grown and suggest how it can be reduced.
There are several reasons for the spread of fake news. Firstly, social media algorithms are designed to keep users engaged, so they tend to promote shocking or emotional content, which is often exaggerated or untrue. Secondly, many people share posts without reading beyond the headline or checking the source, especially when the message confirms their existing opinions. Finally, publishing online costs nothing, so anyone can create a professional-looking website or video, and there is no editor to reject false claims. During the pandemic, for example, invented cures reached millions of people before health authorities could respond.
Several measures could help. Platforms should label disputed posts, link to reliable sources and remove material that is clearly false and harmful. They should also change their algorithms so that accuracy matters as much as popularity. Education is equally important: schools can teach media literacy, showing students how to identify the author of an article, compare different reports and recognise manipulated images. Young people who learn these habits are less likely to pass on rumours. In addition, governments could make companies legally responsible if they fail to act on harmful content, with fines for repeated failure. This must be balanced against freedom of expression, but clear rules would encourage platforms to take the problem seriously.
In conclusion, fake news spreads because of how platforms are designed, how people behave and how easy it is to publish. A combination of fact-checking, education and legal responsibility offers the best chance of restoring trust in information.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| fake news | deliberately false stories |
| fact-check | verify whether information is true |
| media literacy | ability to judge media messages |
| go viral | spread widely |
| echo chamber | space where people hear only similar views |
| credible | believable and trustworthy |
Answer random Part 1, 2 and 3 questions on an exam timer.
Average your four skill bands, rounded the way IELTS rounds them.
Compare an IELTS band with TOEFL, Duolingo and PTE scores and CEFR levels.
Look up the IELTS score a university asks for, with the source.