Plan this discussion essay about government 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:
Some people think governments should spend taxes on art, music and museums. Others think the money should be used on health and education.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
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
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Write your own answer first, then compare: how it answers the exact question, what each paragraph does, and which phrases you could borrow.
Some people think governments should use tax money to support art, music and museums, while others believe it should go to health and education. In my opinion, essential services deserve priority, though culture should not be neglected.
Supporters of arts funding point out their value. Museums, orchestras and galleries preserve a nation's heritage and give citizens opportunities to enjoy and learn from creative work. Culture strengthens national identity and attracts tourists, which brings income to local businesses; the museums of Paris and London draw millions of visitors each year. Public support also keeps these institutions accessible, so that not only the rich can enjoy them, and it supports artists who might otherwise be unable to make a living.
However, health and education address basic needs on which everything else depends. A person who cannot get medical treatment may die or become unable to work, and no amount of culture can compensate for this. Hospitals, doctors and medicines are expensive, and public funding is the only way to ensure that poorer people can receive treatment. Education is equally fundamental. It gives young people the skills to find employment, raises the productivity of the economy and reduces poverty and crime in the long term. Where budgets are limited, as in most countries, it is difficult to justify spending on a new concert hall when classrooms are overcrowded or patients wait months for operations.
This does not mean that the arts should receive nothing. Governments can provide modest support and encourage private donations, sponsorship and ticket sales to cover the rest, while making sure that schools include art and music as part of education.
In conclusion, culture enriches society, but health and education are essential and should receive the larger share of public money. I therefore support giving them priority.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| public funding | money from government |
| allocate resources | decide how money is divided |
| essential services | vital public facilities |
| cultural institutions | museums, theatres and similar bodies |
| tax revenue | income governments get from taxes |
| spending priorities | areas where money is used first |
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