Plan this opinion essay about environment 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:
Governments should invest only in renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, and stop using fossil fuels completely.
To what extent 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 argue that governments should invest only in renewable energy and stop using fossil fuels altogether. I agree with this goal in principle, but I do not think such a change can happen immediately.
The advantages of renewable sources are clear. Wind, solar and hydroelectric power produce little or no greenhouse gas, so they are essential for slowing climate change. They also reduce air pollution, which causes respiratory disease in cities, and the cost of solar panels and turbines has fallen so much that in many regions they are now the cheapest way of generating electricity. Because sun and wind are free and available domestically, countries that rely on them are less exposed to the price shocks and political tensions that affect oil and gas. Denmark, for example, produces a large share of its electricity from wind.
However, a sudden end to fossil fuels would create serious problems. Renewable output varies with the weather, and batteries and grids are not yet capable of storing enough energy to guarantee supply during calm, dark winter days. Entire industries, such as steel or aviation, are difficult to run on electricity, and millions of workers in coal and oil depend on them for a living. A rushed transition could therefore cause blackouts, higher prices and unemployment, which might lead the public to oppose climate action altogether.
A more sensible approach is a gradual transition. Governments should increase spending on renewables, storage and grid improvements, set clear dates for phasing out coal first, and retrain workers for new jobs, while using gas temporarily as a backup.
In conclusion, I support investing mainly in renewable energy and ending fossil fuel use eventually, but a phased plan is safer and fairer than an immediate stop.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| renewable energy | power from sources that do not run out |
| solar panel | device that makes electricity from sunlight |
| energy security | reliable energy supply |
| phase out | stop using gradually |
| power grid | national electricity network |
| green technology | tech that protects nature |
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