Below you will find a model essay for an IELTS Academic or General Writing Task 2 question.
It is a slightly edited version of an essay written by one of our students. This is the standard you can achieve when you take lessons with us.
This essay is likely to score from 8.5-9.0 on test day. This is a two-part question, and we have used the following template…
Introduction: with our position
Body Paragraph 1: answering the first question
Body Paragraph 2: answering the second question
Conclusion: repeating our position
You can see a more general and detailed template for Task 2 questions on this page. We have also written a more detailed analysis of how to answer the different Task 2 question types here.
The Question
There are many different types of music in the world today.
Why do we need music?
Is the traditional music of a country more important than the international music that is heard everywhere nowadays?
The Answer
Humans have long sought to harness the expressive power of music to convey their feelings. It is inconceivable to imagine a human civilisation without its own traditional musical instruments. However, due to globalisation, many people fear that national and traditional music will be eroded by the international industry. I agree with this stance, and I believe that more efforts should be made to maintain the musical heritage of diverse cultural groups.
Music has played a central role in shaping people’s cultural identity. For this reason, music is deemed to be an indispensable tool, through which a sense of belonging can be developed among younger generations. An excellent example of this role is national anthems which are played at national events. Additionally, music is a repository of the collective memory of people, and this is why composers have deployed their musical prowess to narrate and record history. If we allow international music to be embedded within our culture, we will dilute our sense of belonging.
It might be argued that younger generations should be acquainted with different musical traditions to develop tolerance towards other cultures. Others think that broadening our musical horizons can enrich our traditional music by infusing it with various genres of music. I agree with these views; however, a priority should be given to local musical traditions in our national curriculum. To maintain the diversity of humanity’s musical heritage, children should be taught how to play their own inherited musical instruments.
In conclusion, over the span of our history, music has played a pivotal role in developing a sense of belonging among the young. However, the changes that are wrought by the globalised music industry can weaken our traditions and heritage. As such, greater space should be given to local music in education systems worldwide.
What Next?
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If you would like to watch a video about how to write IELTS General Task 2 essays, visit this page.
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