IELTS Academic Writing Practice Test 2
Academic Writing in the official format: Task 1 describes a line graph of water use, and Task 2 is an essay on working from home. 60 minutes, with model answers.
How this practice matches real IELTS use
Writing is not marked automatically. After you submit, compare your answer with a model answer and tick a self-check list based on the public IELTS marking criteria.
How to use this practice set
1. Attempt seriously
Use realistic timing, avoid random guessing, and finish the set as one focused session.
2. Review by skill gap
Separate vocabulary gaps, concentration errors, weak task strategy, and careless mistakes instead of looking only at score.
3. Repeat with purpose
After review, move to the next related IELTS section or repeat weak-question types until your accuracy becomes stable.
Writing
Before you start
- Questions
- 2
- Time
- 60 minutes
- Parts
- 2
- The timer starts when you press Start. When it reaches zero, your answers are submitted automatically.
- Use the numbered navigator to move between questions, and flag any you want to come back to.
- For typed answers, keep within the word limit. Answers over the limit are marked wrong, as in the real test.
- You can submit early. Your score, the correct answers and explanations appear straight away.
IELTS Academic Writing Practice Test 2: all 2 questions with answers
Prefer to work through the test on paper? Answer the questions, then open “Show answer” to check.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
Q1.The graph below shows the average amount of water used per person per day in three cities between 1990 and 2020.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Average water use per person per day (litres) - City A
- City B
- City C
Show answer
Model answer
The line graph shows the average amount of water used per person each day in three cities between 1990 and 2020.
Overall, water use fell considerably in City A but rose steadily in City C, while it remained fairly stable in City B. By the end of the period, City C had overtaken City A as the highest user.
In 1990, residents of City A used by far the most water, at 320 litres per person per day, compared with 180 litres in City B and 140 litres in City C. Over the next thirty years, consumption in City A declined continuously, reaching 210 litres in 2020, a fall of around a third.
City C followed the opposite trend. Its water use increased by 30 to 40 litres each decade, from 140 litres in 1990 to 240 litres in 2020, overtaking City B in 2010 and City A by the end of the period. Meanwhile, consumption in City B rose slightly to a peak of 205 litres in 2010 before dipping to 200 litres in the final year.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Q2.Write about the following topic:
In many countries, people are working from home more often than in the past.
Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Show answer
Model answer
Over the past few years, working from home has changed from an unusual arrangement into a normal part of life for millions of employees. While this trend has some drawbacks, I believe its advantages clearly outweigh them.
The most obvious benefit is the time and money saved on commuting. An employee who previously spent an hour travelling each way gains ten hours a week, which can be used for rest, exercise or family. Fewer commuters also means less traffic and lower pollution in cities. Moreover, many people find they can concentrate better at home, away from the noise and interruptions of a busy office.
There are, however, genuine disadvantages. Some workers feel isolated without daily contact with colleagues, and this can affect both their wellbeing and their career development, since it is harder to learn informally from more experienced staff. In addition, the boundary between work and home life can become blurred, leading some people to work longer hours than before. Not everyone has a quiet space at home, either.
Nevertheless, most of these problems can be reduced with sensible policies rather than by abandoning remote work. Many companies now use a hybrid model, in which staff spend two or three days in the office for meetings and teamwork and work from home on the remaining days. Employers can also set clear expectations about working hours.
In conclusion, although working from home brings challenges such as isolation and longer hours, the benefits for individuals, employers and the environment are greater, especially when it is combined with regular time in the office.