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IELTS opinion essay topics (agree or disagree)
An opinion question asks how far you agree with a statement. Give one clear position in the introduction, keep it in every paragraph, and repeat it in the conclusion.
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- EducationOnline courses vs classroomsSome people believe that online courses will eventually replace traditional classroom teaching at all levels of education.
- TechnologyAI replacing human workersArtificial intelligence will make many human workers unnecessary, so governments should limit its use in the workplace.
- EnvironmentPlastic in the oceansPlastic pollution in the oceans can only be solved by governments, not by individuals.
- HealthTax on unhealthy foodThe government should put a tax on unhealthy food and drinks to improve public health.
- HealthCompulsory weekly exerciseEveryone should be required to do a minimum amount of exercise each week, either at school or at work.
- CitiesBanning cars from city centresCars should be banned from city centres to reduce pollution and congestion.
- ScienceSpending on space explorationGovernments should spend money on space exploration instead of solving problems on Earth.
- TransportFree public transportPublic transport should be free for everyone in order to reduce traffic and pollution.
- EconomyTeaching money skillsSchools should teach children how to manage money, including saving, budgeting and investing.
- EducationBanning homeworkSome teachers believe that homework should be banned for primary and secondary school students because it adds unnecessary pressure.
- EducationCompulsory foreign languagesAll students should be required to learn a foreign language throughout their time at school.
- EnvironmentOnly renewable energyGovernments should invest only in renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, and stop using fossil fuels completely.
- HealthMental health at schoolMental health should be given as much attention as physical health in schools and workplaces.
- WorkRaising the retirement ageThe retirement age should be raised because people are living longer and healthier lives.
- CitiesGreen spaces in citiesEvery city should set aside a large part of its land for parks and green spaces, even if this means fewer buildings.
- ScienceAI replacing human scientistsComputers and artificial intelligence will soon make human scientists unnecessary because machines will make all important discoveries.
- TransportBanning petrol and diesel carsGovernments should ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars within the next ten years and encourage electric vehicles instead.
- EconomyCashless societyCash will soon disappear because everyone will pay by card or phone.
- CitiesSurveillance cameras and crimeInstalling surveillance cameras in all public places is the best way to reduce crime in cities.
- CitiesDo we still need librariesPublic libraries are no longer needed in cities because people can find all the information they need online.
- TechnologySocial media and user dataSocial media companies should be legally responsible for protecting the personal information of their users.
- TransportDriverless trains and busesPublic transport systems, such as trains and buses, should be run by computers rather than human drivers.
- ScienceScientists' responsibilityScientists should be responsible for the way their discoveries and inventions are used.
- EconomyFunding young entrepreneursGovernments should provide financial support to encourage young people to start their own businesses.
- EnvironmentCompulsory household recyclingGovernments should make recycling compulsory for all households and punish those who do not comply.
- WorkHiring on attitude not degreesEmployers should choose new staff mainly on the basis of attitude and personality rather than qualifications.
- WorkGender quotas in senior jobsCompanies should be required by law to employ equal numbers of men and women in senior positions.
- EnvironmentHeavy taxes on pollutersCompanies that pollute the environment should be heavily taxed, and the money used to protect nature.
- EnvironmentEating less meatEveryone should eat less meat in order to protect the environment.
- HealthBanning junk food advertisingAdvertising of unhealthy food and sugary drinks should be banned completely, especially in media aimed at young people.
- HealthLater school start timesSchools should start later in the morning so that teenagers can get enough sleep.
- TransportLimiting car ownership by lawThe number of cars owned by each household in cities should be limited by law.
- TechnologyTech making us less capableCalculators, spell-checkers and navigation apps are making people less capable of doing basic tasks for themselves.
- EconomyRaising the minimum wageThe minimum wage should be raised so that all workers can earn enough to live comfortably.
- EducationFree university educationUniversity education should be free for all students, paid for by taxes.
- EducationEarly formal educationChildren should begin formal education, such as reading and writing lessons, at a very young age.
- EducationCreativity over memorisingSchools should spend less time on memorising facts and more time teaching creative and critical thinking.
- ScienceIs scientific progress goodScientific progress always makes people's lives better.
- CitiesCharging tourists moreForeign tourists should be charged more than local residents for entry to museums, parks and historic sites.
- CitiesArts venues vs sports stadiumsGovernments should spend city funds on theatres, museums and public art rather than on sports stadiums.
- Cities24-hour shops and venuesShops, restaurants and entertainment venues in cities should be allowed to stay open twenty-four hours a day.
- TransportHeavier fines for driversThe best way to improve road safety is to impose heavier fines and tougher punishments on drivers who break traffic laws.
- TransportBanning short-haul flightsShort-distance flights should be banned in favour of trains where a rail route exists.
- EnvironmentEnvironmental educationEnvironmental education should be a compulsory subject in all schools.
- EnvironmentWildlife documentaries vs lawsWildlife documentaries and nature programmes do more to protect the environment than government laws.
- WorkCompulsory work experienceAll university students should be required to complete a period of work experience before graduating.
- WorkMonitoring employees onlineEmployers should be allowed to monitor their employees' computer use and online activity during working hours.
- TechnologyAI tutors vs human teachersArtificial intelligence tutors and language apps are better at teaching students than human teachers.
- ScienceExtending the human lifespanScientists should focus on extending the human lifespan as much as possible.
- SocietyCompulsory community workSome people think that all young people should be required to do unpaid community work for a few months. Others disagree.
- SocietyCelebrity influence on youthFamous people have a strong influence on the way young people dress, speak and behave, and this influence is mostly harmful.
- SocietyPublic shaming onlinePublicly criticising people online for their mistakes is a good way to change behaviour in society.
- SocietyLess trust in strangersPeople today are less willing to trust strangers or help them than in the past. This is a positive development.
- SocietyOnline vs face-to-face friendsFriendships made online can be just as meaningful as friendships made face to face.
- SocietySpending too much on giftsPeople spend too much money on gifts for birthdays and festivals, and this tradition should be reduced.
- FamilyPaying children for choresChildren should be paid for doing household jobs in order to learn the value of money.
- FamilyChildren's own bedroomsEvery child should have their own bedroom in order to develop properly.
- FamilyAdults living with parentsIn many countries, more young adults are staying in their parents' home well into their twenties and thirties. This is a positive development.
- FamilyDuty to care for old parentsAdult children have a duty to look after their elderly parents, and this should not be left to the state.
- FamilyExpensive weddingsWeddings and other family celebrations have become too extravagant and expensive, and families should spend less on them.
- CrimeLonger prison sentencesThe best way to reduce crime is to introduce longer prison sentences.
- CrimeNo early release for murderSerious crimes such as murder should always be punished with the longest possible prison sentence, with no chance of early release.
- CrimeFines for shopliftingMinor crimes such as shoplifting should be punished with fines rather than prison.
- CrimeViolent films and gamesViolent films and video games cause young people to commit violent crimes.
- CrimeLenient white-collar crimeFraud, bribery and other financial crimes by powerful people are, in many countries, punished less severely than street crime. This is a positive development.
- GovernmentCompulsory votingVoting in national elections should be compulsory for all adult citizens.
- GovernmentYoung people in governmentMost political leaders are older people, but younger people should be given more positions in government.
- GovernmentFood ads aimed at childrenGovernments should ban advertisements for unhealthy food and drinks aimed at children.
- GovernmentStrict environmental lawsGovernments should pass strict laws to protect the environment, because individuals cannot be relied on to change their behaviour.
- GovernmentCompulsory military serviceIn some countries, young people must spend a period in military service. This is a positive development.
- MediaCelebrities' private livesThe media should not report on the private lives of famous people.
- MediaStreaming vs traditional TVFewer people now watch traditional television; instead they use streaming services to choose what and when to watch. This is a positive development.
- MediaAdvertising to childrenAdvertising aimed at children should be banned, because it encourages unnecessary spending.
- MediaEducational value of TVTelevision can be an effective educational tool for both children and adults.
- MediaFuture of print mediaPrint magazines and newspapers will disappear in the next twenty years because of online media.
- CultureFree museums and galleriesMuseums and art galleries should be free for everyone, funded entirely by the government.
- CultureTraditional vs Western clothesPeople should wear traditional clothes more often rather than following Western fashion.
- CultureMusic as a universal languageMusic is a universal language that can bring people from different cultures together.
- CultureCommercialised festivalsMany traditional festivals have become commercial events focused on shopping and tourism. This is a positive development.
- CultureBooks vs film adaptationsReading literature is more valuable than watching film adaptations of the same stories.
- GlobalisationEnglish as a global languageEnglish has become the global language, and this is mostly a positive development.
- GlobalisationMoving jobs abroadMany companies have moved factories and jobs to countries where labour is cheaper. This is a positive development.
- GlobalisationCultures becoming too similarAs countries become more connected, cultures around the world are becoming too similar, and this is a loss for humanity.
- GlobalisationInternational cooperationProblems such as climate change and pandemics can only be solved by countries working together.
- Globalisation24/7 business cultureBecause of globalisation, businesses now work around the clock, and people have to be available at any time. This is bad for individuals.
- SportAthletes' high salariesProfessional sportspeople are paid far too much compared with people in other jobs such as nurses and teachers.
- SportWatching vs playing sportWatching sport on television or in stadiums is a waste of time; people should play sport themselves.
- SportBanning dangerous sportsDangerous sports such as skydiving and mountain climbing should be banned because they put lives at risk.
- SportFree sports facilitiesGovernments should provide free sports facilities such as pools, tracks and courts for all citizens.
- SportInternational sporting successSuccess in international sport brings a country more benefits than any other kind of achievement.
- FoodOnly organic farmingOrganic food is healthier and better for the environment, so governments should encourage farmers to produce only organic food.
- FoodSchools and healthy eatingSchools should be responsible for teaching children how to cook and eat healthily.
- FoodGoing vegetarianThe best way to help the environment is for everyone to eat less meat or become vegetarian.
- FoodSugar taxTaxing sugary drinks and snacks is an effective way to improve public health.
- LanguageLanguages from the first yearChildren should start learning a foreign language as soon as they begin school.
- LanguageTranslation appsTranslation apps are so good that learning a foreign language is no longer necessary.
- LanguageSign language in schoolsSign language should be taught in all schools.
- LanguageSlang, texting and emojisSlang, abbreviations and emojis used in messaging are damaging young people's ability to use their language properly.
- LanguageGrammar vs speaking in lessonsForeign language lessons at school focus too much on grammar and writing and not enough on speaking.
- LanguageBody language vs wordsBody language is more important than words in communication.
- TourismLearning the local languageTourists should learn some of the local language and customs before they visit another country.
- TourismVirtual travel vs real tripsWith the internet, virtual tours and video, people no longer need to travel abroad to learn about other places.
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