IELTS Academic Writing — Practice Test 8
Task 1: mixed charts (bar + pie) · Task 2: a discussion essay. Write both answers, get an indicative band estimate, then compare with three model answers (Band 9, 7 and 5–6) — each explained in Bangla — and grade yourself on the four official criteria. টাস্ক ১: বার + পাই চার্ট · টাস্ক ২: আলোচনা রচনা।
How this works — কীভাবে দেবে
- You have 60 minutes: about 20 min on Task 1 (min. 150 words) and 40 min on Task 2 (min. 250 words). Task 2 counts double. টাস্ক ১-এ ~২০ মিনিট, টাস্ক ২-এ ~৪০ মিনিট।
- With two charts, cover both — one in each body paragraph. দুটি চার্টই আলাদা অনুচ্ছেদে বর্ণনা করো।
- The band estimate is a rough computer guide — use the model answers and checklist as your main guide. স্কোর আনুমানিক; মডেল উত্তর ও চেকলিস্টই মূল ভরসা।
- Hover the red-dashed words for meaning. Your writing is saved in this browser. লাল-ড্যাশ শব্দে মাউস রাখো; লেখা সেভ থাকে।
Writing Task 1
Spend about 20 minutes · Write at least 150 words · Mixed charts (bar + pie)
The charts below give information about employment in one country. The bar chart shows the number of people (in millions) working in three sectors of the economy in 2000 and 2020. The pie chart shows the main reasons unemployed people gave for being out of work in 2020.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Workers by sector, 2000 vs 2020 (millions)
Reasons for unemployment, 2020
💡 How to describe two charts + useful language · গঠন ও ভাষা
Plan: Introduction (paraphrase both charts) → Overview (the main message of each chart, no numbers) → Body 1 (the bar chart) → Body 2 (the pie chart). Give roughly equal space to each chart. দুটি চার্টকে প্রায় সমান গুরুত্ব দাও।
- Linking the charts:
Turning to the second chart,As for the pie chart,Meanwhile, - Bar chart:
the largest / smallest sector,more than doubled,fell sharply - Pie chart:
accounted for,a quarter / a fifth,the leading reason,the remaining X%
✅ Show 3 model answers (Band 9 / 7 / 5–6) + Bangla explanations try your own first!
See how both charts are covered and compared more skilfully from Band 5 to Band 9. দুটি চার্ট ব্যান্ড ৫ থেকে ৯-এ কীভাবে বর্ণিত হয় দেখো।
Band 9 186 words
The bar chart shows how many people, in millions, were employed in three sectors of a country’s economy in 2000 and 2020, while the pie chart shows the main reasons people gave for being unemployed in 2020.
Overall, employment shifted markedly away from agriculture and industry towards the service sector over the twenty-year period. Meanwhile, among those out of work in 2020, a lack of skills was by far the most common reason given.
In 2000, industry was the largest employer, with 10 million workers, followed by agriculture at 8 million and services at 6 million. By 2020, however, this pattern had reversed: the number employed in services had more than doubled to 14 million, making it easily the biggest sector, whereas agriculture had fallen sharply to just 3 million and industry had declined to 7 million.
Turning to the pie chart, 40% of unemployed people said they lacked the necessary skills, making this the leading cause. Poor health accounted for a quarter (25%), while a fifth reported that no jobs were available. The remaining 15% gave other reasons.
Band 7 159 words
The bar chart shows how many people (in millions) worked in three sectors of a country in 2000 and 2020, and the pie chart shows the main reasons people were unemployed in 2020.
Overall, the number of workers in services increased a lot, while agriculture and industry both decreased. Also, the most common reason for being unemployed was a lack of skills.
In 2000, industry had the most workers, with 10 million. Agriculture had 8 million and services had 6 million. But by 2020, this changed completely. Services became the biggest sector with 14 million workers, which was more than double. Agriculture fell to only 3 million, and industry fell to 7 million.
For the pie chart, 40% of unemployed people said they did not have the right skills, which was the biggest reason. 25% said they had poor health and 20% said there were no jobs. The last 15% gave other reasons.
Band 5–6 135 words
The bar chart show how many people work in three sector in the country in 2000 and 2020, and the pie chart show the reason of unemployment in 2020.
Overall the service worker increase a lot but the agriculture and industry decrease. And the main reason of unemployment is no skill.
In 2000 the industry have the most worker 10 million. The agriculture have 8 million and service have 6 million. But in 2020 it change. The service become the biggest 14 million which is more than double. The agriculture go down to 3 million and industry go down to 7 million.
In the pie chart 40% people say they don’t have the skill which is the most. 25% say poor health and 20% say no job. The other 15% say other reason.
| Criterion | Band 5–6 | Band 7 | Band 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Both charts | covered, thin | both described | both described & compared |
| Overview | brief | clear | clear for each chart |
| Grammar | many errors | mostly correct | error-free, varied |
| Length | below 150 (penalised) | meets 150+ | ideal 160–190 |
Writing Task 2
Spend about 40 minutes · Write at least 250 words · Discussion (both views + your opinion)
Write about the following topic:
Some people think that schools should only teach academic subjects that help students get good jobs. Others believe that schools should also teach practical life skills, such as cooking and managing money. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
💡 How to structure Task 2 + useful language · গঠন ও ভাষা
Plan for a discussion essay: Introduction (paraphrase + say you will discuss both sides and give your opinion) → Body 1 (first view, fairly) → Body 2 (second view, fairly) → Conclusion (your opinion). Give both sides real attention, even the one you disagree with. যে মতের সাথে দ্বিমত, সেটিও ন্যায্যভাবে আলোচনা করো।
- Views:
On the one hand,On the other hand,Supporters of … argue that - Balancing:
Whereas,By contrast,While it is true that… - Opinion:
In my view,Personally, I believe,I am convinced that
✅ Show 3 model essays (Band 9 / 7 / 5–6) + Bangla explanations try your own first!
Notice how both views are covered fairly and the language becomes richer as the band rises. দুই পক্ষ কীভাবে ন্যায্যভাবে আলোচনা করা হয় দেখো।
Band 9 290 words
There is an ongoing debate about what schools should teach. While some people argue that education should concentrate on academic subjects that lead to good careers, others insist that practical life skills, such as cooking and managing money, are equally important. In my opinion, although academic knowledge is essential, schools should teach both.
Those who favour a purely academic curriculum have a reasonable case. Subjects such as mathematics, science and languages provide the qualifications that students need to enter university and secure well-paid jobs. Moreover, academic study develops the ability to think logically and solve problems, skills that are valuable in almost any profession. From this point of view, time spent teaching students to cook might be seen as time taken away from more important learning.
However, I strongly agree with those who believe that practical skills also deserve a place in schools. Many young people leave education able to solve complex equations yet unable to budget their income or prepare a healthy meal, and they struggle as a result. Teaching money management, for instance, could help prevent the debt problems that trouble so many adults, while basic cooking skills encourage a healthier lifestyle. These are lessons that benefit every student, whatever career they eventually choose.
In conclusion, while academic subjects must remain the foundation of education, I believe practical life skills are too important to ignore. A balanced curriculum that prepares young people both for the workplace and for everyday life would, in my view, serve students far better than one that focuses on academic knowledge alone.
Band 7 256 words
People have different opinions about what schools should teach. Some people think schools should teach only academic subjects that help students get good jobs, while others think schools should also teach practical skills like cooking and managing money. In my opinion, schools should teach both.
On the one hand, academic subjects are very important. Subjects like maths, science and English give students the qualifications they need to go to university and get a good job. Also, studying these subjects helps students to think and solve problems, which is useful in any job. So some people think that teaching cooking is a waste of study time.
On the other hand, I think practical skills are also very important. Many students finish school but they do not know how to manage their money or cook a healthy meal, so they have problems in their life. For example, if students learn how to manage money at school, they will not get into debt when they are older. And if they learn to cook, they can eat in a healthier way.
In my opinion, both types of skills are important. Academic subjects are necessary for a good career, but practical skills are necessary for a good life.
In conclusion, although academic subjects should be the main part of education, I believe schools should also teach practical life skills, because they help students in their everyday life.
Band 5–6 224 words
People have different opinion about what the school should teach. Some people think the school should teach only academic subject that help the student to get good job, and other people think the school should teach also practical skill like cooking and manage money. In my opinion the school should teach both.
In one hand the academic subject is very important. Subject like maths, science and english give the student the qualification to go university and get good job. Also this subject help the student to think and solve problem which is useful in any job. So some people think teaching cooking is a waste of time.
In other hand i think the practical skill is also important. Many student finish the school but they don’t know how to manage the money or cook the healthy food, so they have problem in the life. For example if the student learn to manage money in the school they will not go in debt in future. And if they learn cooking they can eat healthy.
In conclusion, although the academic subject should be the main part, i believe the school should teach the practical skill also, because it help the student in the daily life. Both is important for the student.
| Criterion | Band 5–6 | Band 7 | Band 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Both views | covered but thin | both explained | both explored in depth |
| Opinion | present, simple | clear | clear, nuanced, sustained |
| Grammar | frequent errors | mostly accurate | error-free, varied |
| Vocabulary | simple, repeated | good range | wide, precise |
Grade yourself — the 4 official criteria
Tick each statement that is true of your writing. Task 2 counts double. প্রতিটি সত্য বাক্যে টিক দাও।