The importance of investing in green technologies is a recurring theme in IELTS Writing Task 2 essays. Based on recent trends, this topic has appeared frequently in past exams and is likely to continue being a popular choice for future tests. Let’s examine a relevant question that has been featured in previous IELTS exams:
Some people believe that governments should invest heavily in green technologies to protect the environment, while others argue that this money could be better spent on other priorities. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Analyzing the Question
This question requires candidates to:
- Discuss the viewpoint supporting government investment in green technologies
- Explore the opposing argument that prioritizes other areas for spending
- Present and justify their own opinion on the matter
Let’s examine three sample essays addressing this topic, each targeting different band scores.
Sample Essay 1 (Band 8-9)
The debate over government spending on green technologies versus other priorities is a contentious issue in many countries. While both sides present valid arguments, I believe that substantial investment in environmentally friendly technologies is crucial for our planet’s future.
Proponents of investing heavily in green technologies argue that such investments are essential for combating climate change and ensuring a sustainable future. By allocating significant resources to developing and implementing eco-friendly solutions, governments can reduce carbon emissions, promote renewable energy sources, and mitigate the devastating effects of global warming. This approach not only protects the environment but also creates new job opportunities in the green sector, potentially stimulating economic growth. Moreover, early adoption of green technologies can position a country as a leader in the field, providing long-term economic benefits through exports and intellectual property rights.
On the other hand, those who oppose prioritizing green technology investments contend that there are more pressing issues that require immediate attention and funding. They argue that resources should be directed towards improving healthcare, education, infrastructure, or poverty alleviation. These critics maintain that addressing such fundamental societal needs will yield more tangible and immediate benefits for citizens, particularly in developing nations where basic necessities may be lacking.
In my opinion, while other priorities are undoubtedly important, investing in green technologies should be a top concern for governments worldwide. The importance of global cooperation in fighting climate change cannot be overstated, as the environmental challenges we face are global in nature and require collective action. By allocating substantial funds to green technologies, governments can address both environmental and economic concerns simultaneously. For instance, investing in renewable energy not only reduces reliance on fossil fuels but also creates jobs and promotes energy independence. Furthermore, the long-term costs of neglecting environmental issues far outweigh the short-term expenses of investing in green solutions.
In conclusion, while there are valid arguments for prioritizing other areas of spending, I firmly believe that governments should place a strong emphasis on investing in green technologies. The potential benefits of such investments extend beyond environmental protection to encompass economic growth, job creation, and long-term sustainability. By taking decisive action now, we can secure a cleaner, more prosperous future for generations to come.
(Word count: 377)
Essay Analysis (Band 8-9)
This essay demonstrates excellent writing skills and meets the criteria for a high band score (8-9) for the following reasons:
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Task Achievement: The essay fully addresses all parts of the task, discussing both viewpoints and clearly presenting the writer’s own opinion.
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Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is well-organized with clear paragraphing and logical progression of ideas. It uses a range of cohesive devices effectively.
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Lexical Resource: The essay employs a wide range of vocabulary with very natural and sophisticated control of lexical features. Key terms include “contentious issue,” “combating climate change,” “mitigate,” and “tangible and immediate benefits.”
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Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay demonstrates a wide range of grammatical structures used accurately and appropriately. It includes complex sentences and various grammatical features without noticeable errors.
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Development of Ideas: Each main point is well-developed with relevant examples and explanations, showcasing the writer’s ability to argue persuasively.
Sample Essay 2 (Band 6-7)
In recent years, there has been a growing debate about whether governments should spend a lot of money on green technologies or focus on other important areas. This essay will discuss both sides of the argument and give my personal opinion.
Many people believe that governments should invest heavily in green technologies to protect our environment. They argue that climate change is a serious problem that needs urgent action. By putting money into developing clean energy sources like solar and wind power, we can reduce pollution and slow down global warming. This investment could also create new jobs in the green sector, which would be good for the economy. Additionally, if a country becomes a leader in green technology, it might be able to sell its innovations to other nations, bringing in more money.
However, others think that there are more important things to spend money on. They say that issues like healthcare, education, and poverty are more urgent and deserve more attention. In many countries, especially developing ones, people need better hospitals, schools, and basic infrastructure. These critics argue that improving people’s living conditions should come first, before worrying about environmental issues.
In my opinion, while both arguments have merit, I believe that investing in green technologies is extremely important and should be a priority for governments. The challenges in transitioning to a green economy are significant, but the long-term benefits outweigh the costs. Climate change affects everyone, and if we don’t act now, the consequences could be severe. Moreover, I think that investing in green technologies can actually help solve other problems too. For example, creating jobs in the green sector can help reduce poverty, and developing cleaner energy sources can improve public health by reducing air pollution.
In conclusion, although there are other important areas that need government funding, I believe that investing in green technologies is crucial for our future. It’s not just about protecting the environment; it’s about creating a better, more sustainable world for everyone.
(Word count: 345)
Essay Analysis (Band 6-7)
This essay demonstrates good writing skills and meets the criteria for a band score of 6-7 for the following reasons:
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Task Achievement: The essay addresses all parts of the task, presenting both viewpoints and the writer’s opinion. However, the ideas could be more fully developed.
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Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is generally well-organized with clear paragraphing. It uses some cohesive devices, but not always with complete accuracy.
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Lexical Resource: The essay uses an adequate range of vocabulary, with some attempt at using less common lexical items. There are some errors in word choice, but they do not impede communication.
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Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay shows a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, but they do not significantly affect the overall meaning.
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Development of Ideas: The main points are relevant, but some ideas lack full development or supporting examples.
Sample Essay 3 (Band 5-6)
Nowadays, many people talk about if governments should spend lots of money on green technologies or other things. Some say yes, some say no. I will talk about both sides and give my idea.
Some people think governments should put a lot of money in green technologies. They say it’s good for the environment. If we use more solar power and wind power, we can make less pollution. This can help stop global warming. Also, making new green technologies can make new jobs for people. This is good for the economy.
But other people think there are more important things to spend money on. They say we need to fix problems like health care and education first. In some countries, people don’t have good hospitals or schools. These people think we should help make life better for people now, before we worry about the environment.
I think both sides have good points, but I agree more with spending money on green technologies. I believe that if we don’t take care of the environment now, we will have bigger problems in the future. Investing in renewable energy stocks and green technologies can help create a better future for everyone. It can help the environment and also make new jobs, which is good for people too.
In conclusion, I think governments should spend money on green technologies because it’s important for our future. We need to protect the environment and also help people at the same time.
(Word count: 252)
Essay Analysis (Band 5-6)
This essay demonstrates adequate writing skills and meets the criteria for a band score of 5-6 for the following reasons:
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Task Achievement: The essay addresses the task, presenting both viewpoints and the writer’s opinion. However, the ideas are not fully developed, and the response is somewhat limited.
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Coherence and Cohesion: The essay has a basic organizational structure, but the progression of ideas is not always clear. There is limited use of cohesive devices.
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Lexical Resource: The essay uses a limited range of vocabulary, with some repetition. There are attempts to use less common words, but not always accurately.
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Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay primarily uses simple sentence structures with limited complexity. There are frequent grammatical errors, but the meaning is generally clear.
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Development of Ideas: The main points are presented, but they lack depth and supporting details. The arguments are simplistic and not fully explored.
Key Vocabulary
Here are some important vocabulary words used in the essays, along with their definitions and parts of speech:
- Contentious (adjective) /kənˈtenʃəs/ – causing or likely to cause disagreement or argument
- Mitigate (verb) /ˈmɪtɪɡeɪt/ – to make something less harmful, severe, or bad
- Sustainable (adjective) /səˈsteɪnəbl/ – able to continue over a period of time without damaging the environment
- Prioritize (verb) /praɪˈɒrətaɪz/ – to decide which of a group of things are the most important so that you can deal with them first
- Infrastructure (noun) /ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃər/ – the basic systems and services that a country or organization needs to function properly
- Tangible (adjective) /ˈtændʒəbl/ – clear and definite; real
- Alleviation (noun) /əˌliːviˈeɪʃn/ – the act of making something bad less severe
- Prosperity (noun) /prɒˈsperəti/ – the state of being successful and having a lot of money
- Innovation (noun) /ˌɪnəˈveɪʃn/ – a new idea, method, or invention
- Urgent (adjective) /ˈɜːdʒənt/ – very important and needing immediate attention
In conclusion, the topic of investing in green technologies is likely to remain relevant in future IELTS Writing Task 2 exams. To prepare effectively, practice writing essays on similar environmental and economic themes, such as renewable energy policies, sustainable urban development, or the economic impacts of climate change. Remember to address all parts of the question, develop your ideas fully, and use a range of vocabulary and grammatical structures appropriate to your target band score.
We encourage you to practice writing your own essay on this topic and share it in the comments section below. This active approach to learning can significantly improve your writing skills and prepare you for success in the IELTS exam.