Cambridge IELTS 2 · Task 1: about 20 minutes, at least 150 words · Task 2: about 40 minutes, at least 250 words
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The table below shows the consumer durables (telephone, refrigerator, etc.) owned in Britain from 1972 to 1983.
Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information shown below.
You should write at least 150 words.
| Consumer durables | 1972 | 1974 | 1976 | 1978 | 1979 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| central heating | 37 | 43 | 48 | 52 | 55 | 59 | 60 | 64 |
| television | 93 | 95 | 96 | 96 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 98 |
| video | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 |
| vacuum cleaner | 87 | 89 | 92 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | — |
| refrigerator | 73 | 81 | 88 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 93 | 94 |
| washing machine | 66 | 68 | 71 | 75 | 74 | 78 | 79 | 80 |
| dishwasher | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| telephone | 42 | 50 | 54 | 60 | 67 | 75 | 76 | 77 |
— means no figure was given.
The chart shows that the percentage of British households with a range of consumer durables steadily increased between 1972 and 1983. The greatest increase was in telephone ownership, rising from 42% in 1972 to 77% in 1983. Next came central heating ownership, rising from 37% of households in 1972 to 64% in 1983. The percentage of households with a refrigerator rose 21% over the same period and of those with a washing machine by 14%. Households with vacuum-cleaners, televisions and dishwashers increased by 8%, 5% and 2% respectively. In 1983, the year of their introduction, 18% of households had a video recorder.
The significant social changes reflected in the statistics are that over the period the proportion of British houses with central heating rose from one to two thirds, and of those with a phone from under a half to over three-quarters. Together with the big increases in the ownership of washing machines and refrigerators, they are evidence of both rising living standards and the trend to lifestyles based on comfort and convenience.
Length: 173 words.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the following topic.
“Fatherhood ought to be emphasised as much as motherhood ... The idea that women are solely responsible for deciding whether or not to have babies leads on to the idea that they are also responsible for bringing the children up.”
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
You should write at least 250 words.
You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence.
I believe that child-rearing should be the responsibility of both parents and that, whilst the roles within that partnership may be different, they are nevertheless equal in importance. In some societies, it has been made easier over the years for single parents to raise children on their own. However, this does not mean that the traditional family, with both parents providing emotional support and role-models for their children, is not the most satisfactory way of bringing up children.
Of crucial importance, in my opinion, is how we define 'responsible for bringing the children up'. At its simplest, it could mean giving the financial support necessary to provide a home, food and clothes and making sure the child is safe and receives an adequate education. This would be the basic definition.
There is, however, another possible way of defining that part of the quotation. That would say it is not just the father's responsibility to provide the basics for his children, while his wife involves herself in the everyday activity of bringing them up. Rather, he should share those daily duties, spend as much time as his job allows with his children, play with them, read to them, help directly with their education, participate very fully in their lives and encourage them to share his.
It is this second, fuller, concept of fatherhood that I am in favour of, although I also realise how difficult it is to achieve sometimes. The economic and employment situation in many countries means that jobs are getting more, not less, stressful, requiring long hours and perhaps long journeys to work as well. Therefore it may remain for many a desirable ideal rather than an achievable reality.
Length: 281 words.
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Two Academic Writing tasks with original source figures where applicable and device-local response saving.