Plan this two-part essay about language 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:
Many adults want to learn a foreign language but give up. Why is this the case? What can be done to make language learning more effective?
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.
Many adults start learning a foreign language with enthusiasm but stop after a few months. This essay will look at the reasons and suggest how the process could be made more effective.
The first reason is lack of time. Adults have jobs, families and other responsibilities, and language study often falls to the bottom of the list when they feel tired. The second is fear of making mistakes. Unlike children, adults worry about sounding foolish, so they avoid speaking, and without speaking they do not improve. Finally, many learners have no chance to practise. If they live in a country where the language is not used, they might attend a weekly class but have no conversation outside it, so progress is slow and they become discouraged.
There are various ways to improve the situation. Short daily practice is more effective than long sessions once a week; ten or fifteen minutes with a vocabulary app or podcast during a commute fits easily into a busy schedule and builds a habit. Learners should also look for conversation partners, through language exchange websites or local clubs, and make an effort to experience the language in real life by watching films, reading news or travelling. Immersion of this kind gives practice and makes mistakes seem normal. Apps and courses that set clear, achievable goals, such as being able to order a meal or write a short email within a month, give a sense of progress that maintains motivation. Teachers can contribute by creating a supportive atmosphere where errors are treated as part of learning.
In conclusion, adults give up learning languages because of limited time, embarrassment and few opportunities to speak. Regular short study, conversation practice and realistic goals can help them to keep going and succeed.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| language learner | person studying a language |
| lose motivation | stop feeling like continuing |
| make mistakes | do things wrongly |
| practise speaking | use speech |
| vocabulary | words you know |
| stay consistent | keep doing it regularly |
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.