New IELTS Writing questions from Canada - April 2025 (Academic)

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a report)

The bar charts below provide information about the salaries and tuition fees of Law and Business students from three Australian universities.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

* Note: this is not the original chart given in the test, it was recreated for the purpose of demonstration.

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Writing task 2 (an essay)

Working from home offers numerous advantages. However, some argue that these benefits primarily favour workers rather than employers.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

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Model answer for writing task one:

IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Sample Answer

The two bar charts provide information about the annual tuition fees and average graduate salaries for Law and Business students at three Australian universities: the University of Sydney, the University of Melbourne, and the Australian National University (ANU).

Overall, it is evident that Law programs are more expensive and lead to higher graduate salaries compared to Business programs across all three institutions. Additionally, the University of Sydney has the highest fees and salaries, while ANU offers the lowest figures in both categories.

In terms of tuition fees, Law students at the University of Sydney pay the most, with an average of AUD 45,000 per year, followed closely by the University of Melbourne (AUD 44,000) and ANU (AUD 43,000). Business programs are slightly more affordable, with annual fees of AUD 42,000, AUD 40,000, and AUD 38,000 at the same respective universities.

When it comes to graduate salaries, Law students again lead, earning AUD 75,000 per year on average from the University of Sydney, AUD 72,000 from Melbourne, and AUD 70,000 from ANU. Business graduates earn less in comparison, with average salaries of AUD 65,000, AUD 63,000, and AUD 60,000 at the three universities, respectively.

In conclusion, the data suggests a consistent pattern where Law degrees demand higher tuition fees but also offer greater financial returns in terms of graduate salaries across all three Australian institutions.

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Band 8–9 model essay for IELTS Writing Task 2

In recent years, the trend of working from home has gained significant momentum, particularly accelerated by advances in technology and the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. While it is undeniable that remote work provides substantial advantages for employees, I strongly believe that employers also benefit in numerous ways. Therefore, I partially disagree with the statement, as the benefits of working from home are mutually advantageous to both parties.

From the employee’s perspective, the perks of working remotely are quite evident. Firstly, it eliminates commuting time and expenses, allowing workers to enjoy greater flexibility and achieve a better work-life balance. Secondly, employees often experience increased autonomy, which can lead to higher job satisfaction and improved mental well-being. Moreover, for parents or caregivers, remote work offers a convenient way to manage professional and personal responsibilities simultaneously.

However, the argument that these benefits are exclusive to workers overlooks the strategic advantages for employers. Companies can significantly reduce overhead costs, such as office rent, utilities, and maintenance. Additionally, by allowing remote work, firms can tap into a wider talent pool unconstrained by geographical boundaries, thereby improving recruitment opportunities. Many studies have also shown that remote workers, when properly managed, tend to be more productive due to fewer office distractions and more personalized work environments.

That said, the success of remote work depends on how effectively it is implemented. Challenges such as communication gaps, reduced team cohesion, and cybersecurity risks must be addressed to ensure both employers and employees benefit equally. With the right tools and policies in place—such as video conferencing, regular check-ins, and performance monitoring—these issues can be mitigated.

In conclusion, although the immediate advantages of working from home may seem to favour employees, a deeper analysis reveals that employers can equally benefit. Remote work, when well-executed, has the potential to create a win-win scenario, enhancing productivity, reducing costs, and improving satisfaction on both sides.

Vocabulary and Phrases Used:

Vocabulary/Phrase	Use/Meaning
gained significant momentum	become increasingly popular
accelerated by	made faster by
undeniable	cannot be denied; obvious
substantial advantages	major benefits
strongly believe	express a firm opinion
mutually advantageous	beneficial to both sides
perks	informal word for benefits
greater flexibility	more freedom in managing time
improved mental well-being	better mental health
exclusive to	limited to only one party
strategic advantages	benefits from a business strategy perspective
overhead costs	recurring business expenses
wider talent pool	larger group of potential employees
unconstrained by geographical boundaries	not limited by location
productivity	output or efficiency
properly managed	effectively controlled
communication gaps	lack of clear communication
reduced team cohesion	weaker team connection or collaboration
cybersecurity risks	threats to digital safety
video conferencing	online meetings via video
performance monitoring	tracking employees’ work
win-win scenario	a situation where all parties benefit

Band 5 Sample Essay for IELTS Writing Task 2

Writing Task 2 Question:

Working from home offers numerous advantages. However, some argue that these benefits primarily favour workers rather than employers.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Working from home is a very popular thing now . Many people like to work at home. It is easy and more comfortable for them. I agree that working from home is good for workers. But I think it is also okay for companies.

First, workers do not need to travel. They can stay at home and save time. They can also take care of family. For example, mothers can work and look after their children. They feel happy and can do their job better.

Second, companies also get help. They do not need to pay rent for big offices. They can save money. Also, workers who stay home are sometimes doing more work. They don’t waste time in office.

But sometimes there are problems. If people work at home, they don’t talk much with team. Also, it is hard to check if they are really working or not. So it is good for some people but not for all.

In conclusion, working from home is good for workers and companies. It helps many people, but it is not perfect. Both sides can get good things.

Band 5 Score Justification (IELTS Official Band Descriptors):

Criterion	Band 5 Characteristics
Task Response	Attempts to answer the question; may be unclear or repetitive. The essay does answer the prompt but lacks depth in argument and support.
Coherence and Cohesion	Ideas are connected but with poor progression; linking words are basic or repetitive (e.g., “also,” “but”).
Lexical Resource	Limited vocabulary with frequent repetition (e.g., “good,” “help,” “work”). Errors with word choice and limited range.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy	Simple sentence structures used; errors are present and sometimes affect meaning. Very few complex structures attempted.

💡 Tips to Improve to Band 6 or Above:

1. Expand ideas – Give deeper explanations or examples.

2. Use varied vocabulary – Replace basic words with more academic or formal alternatives (e.g., "help" → "benefit").

3. Improve grammar – Start using compound and complex sentences.

4. Use better linking words – Such as moreover, however, therefore, in contrast, etc.

5. Clear structure – Use a more organized paragraph format (Introduction – Body – Conclusion).