Plan this positive or negative essay about sport 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:
Women's sports now receive more media coverage and prize money than in the past.
Is this a positive or negative development?
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.
Women's sport now attracts more broadcast time and larger prizes than it did a generation ago. I believe this is a positive development, although there is still progress to be made.
The main benefit is fairness. Female athletes train as hard as their male counterparts, and until recently they were rewarded with far less attention and money. Better coverage and pay mean that more women can pursue sport as a profession instead of a hobby, and the opportunities they receive are closer to those given to men. Such visibility also creates role models. A girl who watches the Women's World Cup or sees Serena Williams win a title is likely to imagine a sporting future for herself, and more girls taking part brings health and confidence benefits. Furthermore, interest from broader audiences, including families and younger fans, has increased overall attendance and sponsorship.
It would be wrong, though, to claim that equality has been reached. In most sports, there is still a large gap in pay and in the amount of television coverage, and in some leagues players have to take second jobs. In addition, with greater money comes commercial pressure. Women athletes are sometimes expected to promote products or to match a particular image, and attention may focus on appearance instead of performance. There are also unhelpful comparisons with men's sport, which can lead to the unfair conclusion that women's competitions are less exciting.
Governments, broadcasters and sports federations should continue to close the gap, for example by equalising prize money, as Wimbledon and the US Open have done, and by showing women's events in popular time slots.
In conclusion, the growth in coverage and prizes is a welcome step that promotes equality and inspires girls, and the remaining challenges are reasons to continue the progress rather than to doubt it.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| gender equality | equal treatment of men and women |
| media coverage | reporting on TV and press |
| role model | example to follow |
| pay gap | difference in earnings |
| female athletes | women who play sports |
| level playing field | fair conditions |
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