IELTS Writing Lesson 9Â For IELTS Writing Task 1, 2 & Sample Answers
TIME ALLOWED: 1 hour
WRITING TASK 1
You should spend no more titan 20 minutes on this task.
      You have lost your credit card.
     Write to the manager of your bank. Explain where and how you lost the card and any other relevant details. Ask the manager to cancel the old card and to send you a replacement.
You should write at least 150 words.
WRITING TASK 2
You should spend no more than 40 minutes on this task.
 As part of a class assignment you have been asked to write about the following topic.
    Last year many famous pop and sports stars earned millions of dollars each. Many other entertainment and sports personalities also have very high incomes. On the other hand, most people in ‘ordinary’ professions like nurses, doctors and teachers earn only a small fraction of the incomes of these ‘stars’.
     What do you think about stars receiving very high salaries? Is it fair that people with jobs that directly help people are paid much less?
     Give reasons for your answer.
You should write at least 250 words.
ANSWER KEYÂ
TASK 1:Â This letter makes a request.
Dear Sir,
     I am writing to confirm the loss of my credit card. I telephoned your office earlier today
    The details of my card are as follows. It is an Apex Silver card in the name Jorge Luis Banderas. The credit card number is 4531 7602 2597 8413. I have had an Apex card since 1994. This card is valid from August 1995 to August 1996.
     I lost the card yesterday at about 10:30 in the evening. The only time I used the card yesterday was to buy three bottles of wine at the Sharp Price Liquor Store in Oxford Street. By accident, I left the card at the drop. When I realized I had done this, I telephoned the shop, but the shop assistants there could not find the card.
    Could you please cancel my card immediately and make the necessary arrangements to issue me with a replacement card? I can be contacted at the above address.
      Thank you for your assistance.
Yours faithfully,
Jorge Banderas
TASK 2
To answer this question in a relevant way you have to:
• explain your opinion about stars earning a lot of money
• give an opinion about people like nurses and teachers who have more useful jobs but who cam much less money, and explain your opinion
It seems that salaries often do not relate to skill, education or the value of the employee to society. In my opinion this is wrong, and I feel changes should be made to ensure that people such as pop stars do not cam such huge amounts of money.
If we take the example of a pop star such as Madonna, it is hard to see in what way she benefits society. In fact, her behavior could even have a negative effect on young people and entourage than to experiment with sex and drugs, and develop a materialistic attitude. In addition, her job does not require special skills or years of training and education. Therefore, there is no justification for her receiving so much money. Although she provides entertainment for people, I do not think this can lie considered essential.
On the other hand, there are many professions which not only require high skills and years of education but also help other people and the community in general. Clearly doctors, nurses and teachers are much more useful, in fact, essential to society than entertainment and sports figures. Their salaries should reflect their dedication, and the heavy responsibilities they face in their jobs.
However, even if we accept this idea, the problem of how we could make salaries fairer remains. Pop stars receive royalties from sales of their records or concert tickets. How could this money be taken away and given to more deserving people? Perhaps the only solution is through much higher taxes for people who cam excessively high salaries.
