Task 2

Money should be spent on creating new public buildings such as museums or conference halls rather than repairing existing ones. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

275 words, 30 minutes (after self corrections)

Nowadays, in developed counties wide range of national budget is used fixing ancient museums, theaters and others art places which most of them are part of the humanity history, built very long ago; some people believe that governments should build new ones instead of continuing repairing the older ones, while others support the idea that they are very important to societies. That is why, it is a complicated issue that deserves a deep evaluation before offering an opinion.

Along history many beautiful buildings have been built, some of them are still in use; they are live part of our evolution, and having the option to visit them is an opportunity to be inside the olden times and learn about them with a personal experience and not just reading or listening a story. However, to keep them in shape is very expensive; what is more, they are using spaces in which are impossible to build new and modern ones.

Furthermore, present artists should have a chance to demonstrate their skills; so, it is quite possible that some of them could develop creative buildings using update technologies which may be cheaper, more useful and a way to leave part of our contemporaneous art to future generations as well. Anyway, both destroy the older ones and abandon them may be a horrible loss to our time gone by. Then, the better idea is keeping the ancients as museum which tell our history and find new places for moderns ones.

In conclusion, from my point of view, it is not a matter of having old or new buildings, it is necessary to find places for both of them in our budget, cities and history.

Task 2

Nowadays people becoming parents later in life. Some think it is not a good development for the family and for the country. Do you agree or disagree with it? Give your own opinion.

275 words, 30 minutes (after self corrections)

Presently, some people get used to having children older than in the past; there are different opinions about this situation, a group support the idea that it has more downside than positive effects for families and consequently, for societies, while other disagree with this point of view. That is why, it is an essential issue which deserves a deep down evaluation before offering an opinion.

Ancient societies tended to have younger parents for many reasons, such as in the past people lived shorter than nowadays and there were not contra conceptive methods. So, those cultures were very young and frequently parents and children were adults at the same time, having a chance to share some good experiences. Moreover, some experts believe that it is better to have children in the 20s decade because people are more energetic and healthier.

On the other hand, these days people live longer, and they have more time to become economic stable, reach professional satisfactory and start a family. Even if, it may be very funny to be 27 and have a 10 years old child, it is very complicated to be a teen parent and teach the ropes to a baby when father or mother is still a child. So, in modern societies, it is quite common that partners make the decision to become parents when they have a wide range of needs solve and they feel ready to take care of someone else.

In conclusion, from my point of view, it is natural that now people have children older than in the past, and it is not necessarily better or wrong, it is a result of our new lifestyle.

Task 2

All children should study a foreign language in school starting in the earliest grades.

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.

290 words, 30 minutes (after self corrections)

Everyday globalization is nearer people; consequently, it is quite common that children get used to studying a second language at school in order to offer them more tools to face the modern world. However, it may carry some downside. That is why, it is an essential issue which deserves a deep evaluation before offering an opinion.

Young people are more able to learn new languages than older ones because they mind are wider flexible. However, some relatives believe that it is not a good idea to teach their small children a new tongue, because they are just learning their mother languages, and introduce a new one might confuse them, becoming harder to achieve a good comprehension of both tongues; they support the idea that younger kids could make many grammar mistakes as consequence of the mix of languages. For instance, in New Zealand, a couple of parent showed disagree when their toddler was learning a Maori language when she was 2, they said that they wanted that she know it, but she was so young yet.

On the other hand, lots of researches have demonstrated that bilingual children tend to be more intelligent than the monolingual ones; even if children who speak more than one language spend more time learning to talk and write, they have more advantages in future. Researchers suggest that it is a good idea to teach more than one tongue at school to become them familiar and easy to learn for students.

In conclusion, from my point of view, although it is harder to learn two languages for children, it has more good points than negative effects in them. So it is fundamental to teach them another tongue to open the door for more opportunities. 

Task 1

162 words, 19 minutes (after self correction)

The pie graphs below illustrate the percentage of career studied at the National University in the year 1990, 2000 and after a decade.

In 1990, 30% of people there had their degrees in both computer science and business; however, those careers took different ways, and while the first one was increasing the next 20 years, the amount of proportion of people who got their degrees in business showed a slow decline.

Otherwise, in 1990 and 2010 25% of people who attended to National University had their degrees in Medicine, while in 2000 they were 5% more. In contrast, 15% of people there studied law at the first stage and the end of the period, but only 10% got their degrees in this area in the middle of the time.

Summarizing, there people studied similar percentage each career with slight fluctuations, it is possible to say that only in Computer science and Business were possible to find important differences in the last measurement. 

Task 2

Compare modern shopping centers to local markets and shops. What way of shopping has more advantages for the people and the society?

288 words, 34 minutes (after self corrections)

Nowadays shopping centers have been changing and we have different types of them, since the most modern ones to the oldest such as local markets.  These shops’ diversity brings wide range of both obvious benefit and downside. That is why, it is essential to analyze this point deeply before offering an opinion.

Local and small markets have existed long ago, and they offer people close relationships with their sellers in order to allow them to know very well what kind of consumer likes everyone; consequently, some people prefer to go to small shops, find some items there and enjoy a good time as well. Moreover, most of those shops tend to receive neighbors who live around and are used to going walking and spending short time in their shopping.

On the other hand, these days, it is quite common that update markets have almost everything, so people can buy there a kilogram of onion, a refrigerator, and some cadies; this modern situation have many positive aspects, because the biggest shops can buy higher amount of things paying less for them; so they are able to sell cheaper. Furthermore, people find there a lot of stuffs, so they do not need to visit different places so that buy what they want. Then, small and big shops have some argument in favor; saying that one is better than the other depend on what someone is looking for.

In conclusion, from my point of view, it is hard to say that bigger markets or local ones have more good points, because it has always a close relationship to what everybody needs and wants in a specific moment; all of them might help to improve people’ lives as well as social development.

Task 2

Some ex-prisoners commit crimes after being released from the prison. What do you think is the cause? How can it be solved?

269 words, 33 minutes (after self corrections)

Ex-convicts are very big social problems, because some of them tend to continue having illegal behaviors after leave jails. It does not only affect their victims, it has consequences in the whole society, becoming them in a public trouble which needs facing. That is why, it is essential analyze this point deeply before offering an opinion.

Every society has criminal people who disturb the daily life in their environment.  Moreover, it is quite common that after antisocial ones go out to prison, they are used to making crimes again, in most of cases they are worse than the previous ones. Many countries are looking for solving this issue; they have tried to teach them new activities in order to help ex-prisoners to become part of the workforce and more productive in general. However, even if some of them have achieved in this goal, others do not.

From my point of view, it is because of criminal people are not just bad persons, they are mental illness ones, they have problems in both to follow rules and feel interest in others; so they do not only need to learn a new kind of job, they need to have mental help as well. Governments should treat them as sick people and offer them global interventions.

In conclusion, it is a very serious social problem; because nobody has the correct answer neither the complete solution, but it is possible that giving to ex-convicts general help such as medical, mental and labor tools, they may be better people in the future and have wider range of option to become productive parts of society.

Task 2

Some people believe that teenagers should be required to do unpaid work in their free time. This can benefit the teenagers and the community as well. Do you agree or disagree? Give your own opinion.

276 words, 32 minutes (after selfcorrections)

There is an interesting argument about whether adolescents must do some free works in their communities because it may be a good experience to them, while they are improving their environment. It is an essential issue which deserves a deep down evaluation before offering an opinion.

Young people need to study so that learn every important element that will be useful for their future; that is why some adults support the opinion that none one teen should work, and they ought to be focus on study and do some leisure activities to explore what kind of things are really important to them to be able to make better decisions when the time to chose a career comes. However, those adults are forgetting an essential element in this subjects, such as doing some works paid or unpaid might have a great experience too in order to discover their our skills and interests.

Furthermore, having a free job which is an opportunity to help someone community, it I a big chance to learn very important lessons about daily life, cooperativity, responsibility, etc. It is fundamental to remember that even if studying is a safe way to learn pivotal stuff in a wide range of elements, it is not the only way; what is more, no one can find all necessary things for life just studying. So, commentary works could offer benefits for both teenagers and their environment.

In conclusion, from my point of view, it is nothing wrong to encourage young people to work for free in their communities few hours per week; on the contrary, it I an excellent idea with long-term advantages for all involved ones.

Coming Back

Hi, long time without come her. Let me explain, I was preparing me to take the test and then I was resting. I did not have enough score this time, but I achieve 7 in speaking band, it is amazing! I hope to do a better job the next test date.

On the other hand, I can’t bear living in the murder capital anymore; so I am living in a quieter place while I can go to live to NZ; I am looking for jobs here. However, it is time to go back to the salt mines, that’s why, I am in process to organize a new study routine. It is hard, because I don’t have any job yet, but study English in order to have enough score in the IETLS is my pivotal goal.

Task 2

There are many different reasons that can keep a person in their workplace. Some believe that money is the main reason. To what extent do you agree with this statement?

178 words, 30 minutes.

People need money to live, and it is usual that they find a job in order to be able to cover all for their expenses; however, it is hard to say that the only reason to work is becoming rich; it is a deep issue which deserves an evaluation before offering an opinion.

It is common to hear some people saying that if they have enough money, they will never come back to their jobs, because they want to enjoy life, play sports, travel around the world and share more time with family and friends. These groups of people have the firm idea that the only reason of working is money. Nevertheless, most of them fall depressed after their retirements, because they are bored or feeling alone. To make things worse, it is usual that after long time dreaming with leaving work, when they can finally do that, they want to do some free jobs because they do not how to use their time.

On the other hand, some workers love their jobs, because it is an opportunity to develop their skills, find social recognition and enjoy their productive ages. Many people enjoy working and studying as way to feel better and to discover new things. I take my hat off to people who are able to appreciate their labor activities and being part of the workforce because they like to do whatever they do.

In conclusion, everyone has a special way to see life and in consequence they have different reasons to work, but from my point of view, the really important subject is to feel happy about personal daily activities and to use time in a satisfactory way.

Task 2

The traditional lifestyle of developing countries has been attracting an increasing number of tourists. As a side-effect this has been preventing the people in developing countries from adopting modern ways of living. Do you agree or disagree with the statement? Give your opinion and examples from personal experience.

269 words, 30 minutes.

Lifestyle has been changing day after day, and people who live in modern ways get used to visiting developing nations and places which have had traditional standard of living, consequently those places have started to be more modern, but it is not necessarily the whole true. That is why, it is an important issue which deserves a deep down evaluation before offering an opinion.

Traditional cultures which are still alive in the world are opportunities to know part of both our history and root. So people like to travel to know them, it is a culture exchanged because tourists learn about old cultures and people there discover other ways to live and think, Those new knowledge change all involved people and bring consequences in them. Some of them might believe that another culture is better or worse than their one, and start to have different behavior as result of it.

Nevertheless, everyone has different ideas about things. Some people would want to have better living condition and try to move to a big city, while others could think that nothing is better than their present place and make an effort to keep it alive. However, world and people are always changing as well as their cultures. But, every cloud has a silver lining and even if things become different people will always have special ways to see life and we will be able to share them each other.

In conclusion, from my point of view, it is possible that tourists make a high impact in traditional cultures, but some people there will want to change and others will not. 

Task 1

172 words, 21 minutes.

The chart below illustrates how nowadays environmental matters has been increased in life cycle of production. It shows seven steps in the process to create industrialized things.

In the first stage, there is time to develop ideas about the item and plan how it will be made and sold. Then, it is the moment to find all necessary materials, infrastructure and resources such as energy, human tools, etc.

After that, the production process starts, followed by packaging stuffs to distribute them in shops, markets, etc.

When they are in commercial places, they are sold to people who are interested in them.

The sixth step is when people use the product in the way they want to. In the last stage, the cycle may take either two ways, has a feedback and starts the process in step one or be recycled and go to the second phase.

It is a long process, which involve the whole production life, since the first idea until the moment when customers are not using it any more.

Task 2

Air traffic is increasingly leading to more noise, pollution and airport construction. One reason for this is the growth in low-cost passenger flights, often to holiday destination.

Some people say that government should try to reduce air traffic by taxing it more heavily.

Do you agree or disagree?

268 words, 31 minutes (after self corrections)

There is an interesting debate whether governments should increase air tickets taxes in order to reduce the amount of passengers who use airplanes to travel in both holidays and work, because the great rise of air traffic is generating lots of environmental problems. Some people support the idea that it cannot be the solution. It is a complicated issue which deserves a deep evaluation before offering an opinion.

In the last 20 years air traffic has greatly raise as well as its consequences, such as pollution noises and many natural changes. It is necessary to control this trouble before having more hazardous situations. One idea to face it has been increase the tickets cost; so that less people can buy them, and they would avoid some air travels which can be done using other transportation ways like bus or boat. This approach might has a direct impact on these problems and solve wide range of them.

On the other hand, other group of people believes that common people must not pay for those consequences and world leaders should look for different solutions to think out this trouble, such as deny using no environmental friendly aircraft or force companies to develop new more efficient machines which carry fewer problems on environment.

In conclusion, from my point of view, the easiest solution for those problems would be increase taxes on fly tickets, but it is not a good answer for them, because people ought not to be charged with the whole trouble, it may be more useful that governments look for global solutions forcing companies to offer more environmental service.

Task 1

158 words, 23 minutes (after self corrections)

The chart below illustrates the amount of overseas students in Australia who were from four countries (Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore), during 18 years between 1982 to 2000.

In the first stage, most of foreigners students were from Malaysia (around 5 thousand), while there was almost none student from other nations.

In 1984, there was some Indonesian students, and step by step all of those countries had students in Australia.

In 1990, there was higher range of overseas students, and in 1994 there was 10 thousand of students from Hong Kong and Singapore, around 12 thousand from Malaysia and almost 20 thousand from Indonesia.

At the end of the period, the sum of foreigner students from each country was between 18 thousand to 22 thousand.

Summarizing, during this period there was a great rose of overseas students in Australia which had the major increased between 1992 to 2000 though there was some fluctuation during the whole time.

Task 2

It is generally believed that some people are born with certain talents, for instance for sport or music, and others are not. However, it is sometimes claimed that any child can be taught to become a good sports person or musician.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

271 words, 32 minutes (after self corrections)

There are an interesting exchanged of arguments whether innate talents are the most important element in the success or any young people can become in a great musician or sports person with practice. It is a complicated issue which deserves a deep evaluation before offering an opinion.

Many researchers have demonstrated that some people were born with special abilities such as better music understanding and facility to play an instrument, or higher sport skills. Scientists have found that in most cases these particular capabilities are inherited from parents who have practiced those activities; in fewest people there are not relationship between ancestors’ skills and special abilities which someone has when he/she was born. However, it is wide known that some people have “a special gift” since they were babies.

On the other hand, it is proved that even if a person has the greatest innate skill, it will not be really special without practice and hard work. For example, a child who has good soccer abilities but no interests to practice it, he/she will not develop it; otherwise, a boy who loves playing soccer and spend three hours per day practicing it will be a good player; maybe this one will be less successful than other who have “a special gift” and practice at the same time, but both of them have a chance to become great athletes.

In conclusion, from my point of view, both natural talents and effort are important in the process to develop skills, but it is not necessary to have been born with “a special gift” to reach success, it is only essential to make an effort.

Task 1

156 words, 23 minutes (after self correction)

The chart below illustrates the percentage spent in three consumer categories in five countries (Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Turkey) in 2002.

All these countries showed the biggest proportion of consume in Food/Drinks/Tobacco, but with important difference each others; for instance, Turkey which was the highest consumption spent 32,14% in those items, more than twice to Sweden that had at 15,77%.

The second more popular group of items was Clothing/Footwear, with a range between 5.40% in Sweden to 9% in Italy.

Otherwise, the fewest amount of spend in those countries was in Leisure/Education; again Turkey was the first one with 4,35% and the last one was Spain with around a quarter of the biggest percentage.

With this information at hand, it is possible to say that in those nations the major priority was related to feed and smoke, followed by dress, and then pleasure-education in which any of those countries spent less than the previous items.

Task 2

Research indicates that the characteristics we are born with have much more influence on our personality and development than any experiences we may have in our life.

Which do you consider to be the major influence?

271 words, 31 minutes.

There is an interesting debate whether what is more important in the personality, genetically features or daily experiences. Lots of researches have showed the first point as the stronger one, but it is possible to find different arguments for each position. This is an essential issue for human life;  that is why, it is necessary to evaluate it deeply before offering an opinion.

Neurological studies have indicated that babies arrive to the world without thought or knowledge, and step by step the brain I developing and giving humans new abilities. Our mind are building related to our experiences which are the key to understand the life. Moreover, people feelings can change depending on relationships with important persons. What is more, psychologists support the idea that most of people personality characteristics are linked to their earlier experiences.

On the other hand, each person has special reactions front same situations; with this information at hand, it is possible to think that experiences are not the only element in personality features. Furthermore, experiments with twins who have been separated in their first month of life have indicated that they have same interests and ideas in the adulthood. Then, it is evident that genetic charge is important too.

In conclusion, from my point of view, it is impossible to say that one of those is more important than the other. Humans are complex, so they are affected by many elements which are part of their physical, psychological and social development, and each one is a result of this combination in an special way, which make people different from others, even if they share some features.

Task 1

169 words, 19 minutes.

The graph below illustrates some essential dates about subway railway systems in six cities from developed countries (London, Paris, Tokyo, Washington DC, Kyoto and Los Angeles).

London underground is the oldest and largest, which was founded in 1863, and nowadays, it has a route of 394 kilometer; however, it is in the third place in number of passage per year; while Tokyo and Paris are the most popular respectively. Moreover, those two are older too; Paris metro was founded in 1900 (and the route is 199 kilometer), followed by Tokyo in 1927 (and a route of 155K).

Otherwise, Washington DC railway system is working since 1976 with an extension of 126 K, and it is visited by 144 million people per year.

Kyoto and Los Angeles subways are the newest, but with 20 years between each other (1981 and 2001 respectively). They are the shortest and less populated too.

Summarizing, there are important differences between all those railway systems, but in general the oldest are longer and more crowd.

Task 2

Some people think that a sense of competition in children should be encouraged. Others believe that children who are taught to co-operate rather than compete become more useful adults.

Discuss both views and give own opinion.

280 words, 33 minutes.

There are interesting exchanges of arguments whether it is better for children to be persuaded into the sense of competition or co-operability, in order to reach success in the adulthood. It is a complicated issue which deserves a deeply evaluation before offering an opinion.

We live in a competitive world in which the pace of life is faster every day; then it is essential to give to younger people the necessary tools to face this lifestyle. That is why, it is fundamental to help children to learn to do their best, and try to work better than others to find good works and wages when they become older. However, it has some drawback such as children might be stressed and have problems to make friendships because they are always in a competition that does not have a chance to feel confident with partners.

Nevertheless, most of works need a team to be done in a proper way, and people who do not know work with others will have troubles to do good tasks. For those reasons, it is pivotal to teach children to work together in a single aim, because it is the way for them to learn to deal with and support each other. Even if, it is an important element that young people learn to make as best work as possible, it is only possible for them who are able to work with a team.

In conclusion, from my point of view, both things are important, so children need to learn to be competitive but working in groups with the same goal; it is the way to be sure about they would be ready for future.

Task 1

The chart below is a Garlsdon Town’s map which offers a global vision of that place and where there are a couple of new supermarkets.

Garlsdon is a town with a population of 65,000 people which has two industrial areas; one in the north and the other one in the south of the housing zone in the Countryside.

There is possible to find the Town Centre just in the middle of the housing one area, but a little south the whole place. There is not allowed to use any kind of motor transportation; but the railway which crossover the town from west-north to east-south is over this part of Garlsdon. One of the supermarkets is close to the way of the Railway in the Town Center; while the other one is between the housing zone and the border of the Countryside.

There are two main roads, the first one run throughout the south, and the other one run from the west-north of the Town Center to out of the town.

Task 2

Universities should accept equal number of male and female students in every subject.

To what extend do you agree or disagree?

253 words, 30 minutes (after self corrections)

Presently, most of universities around the world are allowed to register women and men; however in the past and in some primitive countries it is still an important issue which may be difficult to understand for west population and developed world, but it is essential matter in some places as well as it is part of our history. That is why, I believe that it is necessary to evaluate this point deeply before offering an opinion.

Humanity history has been full of discrimination problems for natural situations such as people skin color and gender. For instance, there was only 100 years ago when women could neither go to universities nor study in high education levels in general. Nowadays, it is same as some countries in which people think that women are not as smart as men are, and they do not deserve to have similar right and opportunities.

On the other hand, these days, the majority of universities and colleges do not take care of people gender; they are only interested in students’ skills in order to receive them there. Moreover, those place are get to having more women than men, but it is not because the gender, it is a consequence of individual features and abilities.

In conclusion, from my point of view, people gender should not be related to be accepted them or not in any kind of study place. Requirements to study at university or colleges must be only the academic ones which make people able to have success there.

Task 1

164 words, 24 minutes (after self corrections)

The chart below illustrates a century projection (between 1994 to 2040) of percentage of elderly people in three developed nations (Japan, Sweden and the US).

In the first stage, there had between 5% to 9% of senior citizens, but the highest level was in USA and the lowest in Japan, where had predicted an important decrease until later 1980s, then a slow rise for around 30 years, to reach a peak between 2030 to 2040 when this country will have the biggest proportion of old people (over 26%).

Otherwise, in the United States the amount of elderly group show fluctuation with increase and slight drops, but in the last part of the period it is expected a great rise to finish with almost  at 25% of senior citizen there.

Meanwhile, in 1940, Sweden population had around 7% of them over 65 years old. This proportion has been continually increasing with some fluctuations, to close at 25% of them at the end of the stage.

Task 2

In some countries young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year between finishing high school and starting university studies.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for young people who decide to do this.

261 words, 30 minutes (after self corrections)

People are used to spending their first 25 years of life on study activities, in order to prepare themselves for adulthood. In different parts of the world parents persuade their children to travel or work a year before starting study at university or collage. This point has some arguments in favor and downside; that is why, it is necessary to evaluate it deeply before offering an opinion.

The surest way to reach success in adulthood is studying and learning all possible things related to the personal interested in each one during early years. So, school is the first stage on this road; but it is essential to continue receiving academic formation to learn specific skills for future. Moreover, people who get their degree earlier have more opportunities to find better jobs with good wages. For those reasons, it is fundamental that young people continue studying after high school.

On the other hand, school is not able to teach all important elements of the life, neither it is its aim or responsibility. Consequently, some parents want to give their children all possible chance to become as good people as they can. Some ways to do that are encouraging them to work a year after high school or to travel to know other cultures. Those experiences help them in both, to grow up and become more responsible.

In conclusion, from my point of view, taking a year either to travel or work has more positive aspect than drawback because they give people some knowledge that they cannot find into a classroom or reading.

Task 1

179 words, 24 minutes (after self corrections)

The couple of bar graphs below illustrate different topics; the first one is about the motivation to study in some age groups, while the second one is related to the percentage of support that people receive according to how old they are.

Younger people tend to chose study because they like the career, and in people under 39 years old, it is the main reason. While people are younger this proportion are used to being higher. Otherwise, people who are between 40 to 49 years old have same proportion as both reasons to study (because he career and the interest). Only people who study when they are older than 49 take this decision in most cases because their interest and just fewer than 20% of them said that it decision was related to the career.

Finally, employers who are under 26 are used to receiving more support than any other age group (over 60%); followed by workers between 26 to 29 (50%), and over 49 (over 40%); meanwhile people in their middle age (30-49) receive less help than others.

Task 2

More people use their own cars rather than public transport, so it is up to the government to encourage people to use buses and trains instead. Do you agree or disagree with the statement?

262 words, 30 minutes (after self corrections)

It is a clear trend that people prefer using their vehicles in spite of public transportation such as subways or buses. This situation is bringing some consequences, and governments are trying to convince people change their transportation habits. It is not an easy issue; that is why, I think that it is necessary to evaluate the point deeply before offering an opinion.

Some people support the idea that everyone should have the option to choose if he/she wants to use his/her car or travel in other ways. They believe that it is part of the freedom which all citizens deserve, and none government or organization have to take part of how people go either to work or travel. Moreover, these groups tend to say that using a personal car is more comfortable and easier, because people save the time of waiting the bus or in long routes which get them tired.

On the other hand, around the world, environmentalists are complaining about high pollution levels as result of the biggest car amount in the last 20 years. Furthermore their common criticism is that in most of cases each car is used only by one or two people; then it increases smoke problems. For these reasons, green groups are asking governments to take care about it; and those ones have been developing some politicians in order to avoid or drop this trouble.

In conclusion, using personal cars have positive aspects and drawback, but from my point of view, nowadays, taking care about environmental matters is essential, and a fundamental task for world leaders.

Task 1

177 words, 25 minute (after self corrections)

The first chart below illustrates the amount of people who visited the UK from other countries and who travelled overseas from the UK during a couple of decades (between 1979 to 1999). While the bar graphs indicates the favorites countries visited by UK residents in 1999.

In the first stage of the period, less than 15 million people from the UK went to foreign countries; this proportion increased in low level till 1984 when started rising greatly to reach a top of more than 50 million in 1999. At the same time, in 1974 ten million people travelled to the UK; it remained steady for around 16 years, after that it increased quickly to finish at more than twice at the end of period.

Otherwise, the most visited place in 1999 by UK residents was France, more than 10 million people chose that place to travel; followed nearly by Spain (around 9 million). In a different way, only around 4 million went to the US, fewer went to Greece, and almost 2 million people travelled to Turkey.

Task 2

Creative artist should always be given the freedom to express their own ideas (in words, pictures, music or film) in whichever way they wish. There should be no government restrictions on what they do.

To what extend do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

265 words, 33 minutes (after self corrections)

In some countries, governments are used to making decisions related to some regulation about what kind of art is allowed to exist or not. While, some people believe that artist should be free as they want to. Those groups support the idea that the only limit for artists ought to be their creativity. It is a complicated issue which needs a deep down evaluation before offering an opinion.

Many people around the history have described art as a mirror of the culture. They have said that every society develops some specific types of artistry manifestations to illustrate that particular reality.

Consequently, it is common that governments do not want to permit showing everything which is happening in some historical moments. Most of people think that it is the only reason to censors art, and they could not accept that idea.

On the other hand, presently some artists get used to express their opinions and creativity in disrespectful ways, for instance on private walls or public structures. It is becoming usual that some people modify those things in name of the art. From my point of view, it is a wrong practice because the right of someone to express his/her artistic skills is not a reason to break the others rights.

In conclusion, art is an essential way to show situations and historical events, so it must be free; however, any kind of creative actions should affect either private or public structures or walls; because those forms of manifestations are in the limit between art and vandalism; then government need to take care and restrict them.

Task 1

150 words, 22 minutes (after self corrections)

The bards graph below illustrates how proportion of women and men studied in different levels of post-school qualifications in Australia and received their degrees in 1999.

The majority of people who were certificated as Skilled vocational diplomas were men (90%); while the most popular qualifications in women were Undergraduate diplomas (over 70%) and Bachelor’s degrees (over 50%).

People who studied Postgraduate diplomas were 70% men and 30% women. Otherwise, those who received Master’ degrees were 60% men and 40% women.

After this information, it is easy to understand that in Australia at the end of the last century men tended to study longer time than women. Meanwhile, female population looked for basic skills in order to achieve some qualification.

Moreover, there only 10% of women got the highest study level in 1999. Nevertheless, in any other qualification, the difference between women and men was too long as Skilled vocational diploma.

Task 2

Happiness is considered very important in life.

Why is it difficult to define?

What factors are important in achieving happiness?

258 words, 30 minutes (after self corrections)

Some people believe that reach happiness should be the aim of the life, others that it is a fast emotion that people only feel in few moments, or that it is a way to see and experience the life. However, it is a hard point to define because it is an issue which involves lots of elements. That is why I think that it is essential to evaluate deeply this point before offering an opinion.

Every person has an individual idea about what happiness mean; it is a very personal concept because each one attributes specific value to it, for instance that it is a feeling which people live after important moments such as graduations or awards. People who support this opinion say that happiness is short and quick.

On the other hand, there are people in favor that happiness is not just a feeling; they tell others that it is a form to live and it is not necessarily related to have good mood, because a happy person is someone who face the life with an inner satisfaction and optimism.

Furthermore, they say that when this kind of person is living a bad moment the internal idea about life and herself/himself ways to cross it are from happy elements which are strong inside him/her.

In conclusion, all those factors are linked to happiness definition and become it complicated to find a clear idea without leave out fundamental elements. From my point of view, happiness should continue being a personal concept even if dictionaries give a general idea.

Task 1

176 words, 29 minutes (after self corrections)

The couple of charts below are related to the use of electricity in England; the first one shows the amount of electric power used in winter and summer. Meanwhile, the pie graph informs about the percentage of electricity used in different needs into British houses.

People there spend around twice more electric power on winter than summer. The day’s hours when people use more electricity during cold days are between 9:00 p.m. to 10:00p.m., but it tends to have fluctuation; in the afternoon and around 2:00 a.m. there spend high electricity level. While, in warm time, people use more electric power between 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.; at night, it has a reach again at 10:00 p.m.

Otherwise, the main uses of this resource there are heat rooms and water (over 50%), followed by activities related to cook such as the use of oven, kettles and washing machines. People spend 15% of their electricity at home in leisure activities like watching TV or listening to radio (and lighting house); and the same proportion as other devices. 

Task 2

279 words, 31 minutes (after self correction)

Around the world, there are happening lots of important events every second, people need to know about those in order to develop opinions and have the opportunity to take care about some important issues to them. Nowadays, media is the main way to run information, but there are many different types of it; it is essential to evaluate which of those are better and why.

Television is maybe the most popular resource of convey news in these days; some obvious benefits of TV are that it is easy to use; people do not need to make any effort to utilize it. They just turn on and watch it; moreover, in general, information on TV is clear and with wide range of opinions. The downside is that TV’s news are about global information and people do not have a chance to find news related to their community.

On the other hand, radio has the same good points, but everybody can locate local information there. However, anything is perfect, and in this case, this kind of media face a big problem, because sometimes the signal works bad and it does not sound as well as people would like to listen to it.

Finally, comics are very interesting tool to offer news, because they tend to be very critic with events; they help people to think deeply in some trouble and encourage them to read more in order to build a clear opinion.

In brief, all forms of media give to people different types to have information and develop opinion over them; from my point of view, any of them is better than other, they are just distinct and for diverse situations.