Plan this two-part essay about globalisation 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:
In developing countries, small farmers find it hard to compete with large international agricultural companies.
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.
In many developing countries, small-scale farmers struggle to compete with big international agricultural companies. This essay will explain the reasons for this and suggest what could be done.
There are several causes. Firstly, farmers in poorer nations often face competition from cheap imported produce, particularly from countries where agriculture is heavily subsidised, so local crops sell for less than they cost to grow. Secondly, small farmers rarely have access to machinery, fertilisers or credit, which leaves them with lower yields and higher costs than large companies. Finally, they have little bargaining power. Contracts with buyers and supermarket chains can be unfair, forcing growers to accept prices that leave little or no profit, and some are tied to a single customer.
Several steps could improve the situation. Farmers could form cooperatives, pooling their harvests and equipment so that they can negotiate better prices and share costs. Fair trade schemes, which guarantee a minimum price, already help coffee and cocoa growers in parts of Africa and Latin America. Governments and aid organisations can also offer low-interest loans and training in modern techniques, helping farmers to raise productivity and to diversify into higher-value crops. In addition, governments might protect local markets for a limited time, for example by placing tariffs on imports that would otherwise be sold below cost. This should be used carefully, since it can raise food prices for poor consumers, but it gives farmers a chance to build up their businesses.
In conclusion, small farmers are at a disadvantage because of cheap imports, lack of resources and weak negotiating power. Cooperation, fair prices, finance and selective protection would allow them to compete and continue to supply local communities.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| smallholder | farmer with a small piece of land |
| agribusiness | large-scale farming business |
| fair trade | trading that pays producers fairly |
| subsidy | financial support from government |
| livelihood | means of earning a living |
| cooperative | group working together for shared benefit |
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.