Plan this opinion essay about cities 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:
Every city should set aside a large part of its land for parks and green spaces, even if this means fewer buildings.
Do you agree or disagree?
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.
Some people say that every city should reserve a large proportion of its land for parks and green spaces, even if this reduces the number of buildings. I largely agree with this view, although housing needs must not be ignored.
The benefits of green space are considerable. Parks and trees clean the air, absorb rainwater and cool urban areas, which reduces flooding and the heat that builds up in concrete cities. They also support wildlife and make cities more pleasant. For people, green areas provide space for exercise and relaxation, which improves physical and mental health; studies show that residents with access to parks report lower stress. Parks are also social places where neighbours, children and elderly people meet, helping to build community. In Singapore, for example, extensive planting has made a dense city more liveable and attractive to visitors and investors.
On the other hand, land in cities is scarce and expensive, and many people struggle to find affordable homes. If a large amount of land is reserved for parks, housing and business space may be limited, pushing prices up and driving people to the outskirts, which increases commuting. Parks also cost money to maintain, and poorly designed or unsafe ones may be little used.
These pressures can be managed with creative planning. Cities can build taller housing on smaller plots, leaving more land open, and they can add green roofs, vertical gardens and tree-lined streets so that nature is spread throughout the city. Neighbourhood pocket parks need little space, and unused or industrial land can be converted.
In conclusion, green spaces improve health, the environment and community life, so I agree that cities should protect them generously, while planning carefully to ensure that people can still afford to live there.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| urban green space | parks and gardens in cities |
| heat island effect | city warmth caused by concrete |
| recreational area | place for leisure |
| quality of life | how good daily life is |
| city planner | person who designs urban areas |
| residential development | housing construction |
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