IELTS Academic Writing

12 sujets originaux d'Academic Writing au format de l'IELTS : six tâches 1 (courbe, histogramme, tableau, diagrammes circulaires, processus et plans, décrits sous forme de texte) et six essais de la tâche 2. Chaque sujet a un compteur de mots, un exemple de réponse, une liste de vérification et des expressions utiles ; consignes en anglais, comme à l'examen.

À propos de ces questions

Tous les textes, personnes, lieux, chiffres et prix sont inventés pour l'entraînement. IELTS est une marque d'IDP Education, du British Council et de Cambridge University Press & Assessment. FreeExamPath est indépendant : il n'est ni affilié à ces organismes ni approuvé par eux. Ces exercices ne sont pas des documents officiels de l'IELTS : votre résultat est un nombre de bonnes réponses, pas une bande IELTS, et les exemples de réponses ne sont pas notés par un examinateur.

Le Writing et le Speaking ne sont pas corrigés automatiquement : comparez votre réponse avec la liste de vérification et l'exemple de réponse. Rien de ce que vous tapez n'est envoyé ni enregistré.

Expression écrite, tâche 1 (Academic) : décrire des données visuelles

Expression écrite

Line graph: renewable electricity in two regions, 2000–2020

Academic Task 1: describe the information in the chart, table, diagram or map in your own words. Write at least 150 words (about 20 minutes).Tâche 1 (Academic) : décrivez avec vos propres mots les informations du graphique, du tableau, du schéma ou des plans. Écrivez au moins 150 mots (environ 20 minutes).

The line graph shows the percentage of electricity generated from renewable sources in two regions, Region A and Region B, between 2000 and 2020. The site cannot show the chart, so its figures are given here as text. Use only these figures. Describe the main features of the data and compare figures where it helps. Write at least 150 words.

Graphique linéaire : part de l'électricité d'origine renouvelable dans deux régions de 2000 à 2020. Les chiffres sont donnés sous forme de liste. Décrivez les grandes tendances et comparez (au moins 150 mots).

Renewable electricity as a percentage of all electricity generated (fictional data)
• 2000: Region A 20%, Region B 10%
• 2005: Region A 25%, Region B 15%
• 2010: Region A 40%, Region B 20%
• 2015: Region A 45%, Region B 35%
• 2020: Region A 50%, Region B 45%

au moins 150 mots · environ 20 minutes

Votre texte

Vérifiez votre texte

I start with one sentence that says what the data shows, in my own words (I do not copy the task).Je commence par une phrase qui dit ce que montrent les données, avec mes propres mots (je ne recopie pas le sujet).
I write a clear overview of the main trends or differences, without detailed figures.J'écris une vue d'ensemble claire des grandes tendances ou différences, sans chiffres détaillés.
I describe how the gap between the two lines changes over time, not only each line separately.Je décris comment l'écart entre les deux courbes évolue, pas seulement chaque courbe séparément.
I support the main features with accurate figures, units and years taken from the data.J'appuie les points principaux sur des chiffres, des unités et des années exacts tirés des données.
I compare figures (twice as many, the gap narrowed, the largest share) instead of listing them one by one.Je compare les chiffres (deux fois plus, l'écart s'est réduit, la plus grande part) au lieu de les énumérer un par un.
I do not give opinions or reasons that the data cannot show.Je ne donne ni opinion ni cause que les données ne montrent pas.
My report has at least 150 words (the official minimum) and is written in paragraphs, not notes.Mon rapport compte au moins 150 mots (minimum officiel) et il est rédigé en paragraphes, pas en notes.

Expressions utiles

Overall, … / In general, …Dans l'ensemble, … / En général, …
… compared with … / whereas …… par rapport à … / alors que …
an increase of ten percentage pointsune hausse de dix points de pourcentage
… rose more gradually / recorded its sharpest increase… a progressé plus lentement / a connu sa plus forte hausse
The gap widened / narrowed to …L'écart s'est creusé / s'est réduit à …
… accounted for 20% of …… représentait 20 % de …

Afficher l'exemple de réponse

The line graph compares the proportion of electricity generated from renewable sources in two regions between 2000 and 2020, with figures shown at five-year intervals.

Overall, both regions increased their reliance on renewable electricity. Region A had the higher share throughout, although B experienced the larger proportional increase from a much lower starting point. The gap between them widened during the first decade before narrowing in the second.

In 2000, renewable sources accounted for 20% of electricity generation in A, twice the figure for B. By 2005, the shares had risen to 25% and 15% respectively, leaving the difference unchanged at ten percentage points. A then recorded its sharpest increase, reaching 40% in 2010, while B rose more gradually to 20%. This produced the largest gap shown, at twenty points.

Over the remaining ten years, A continued to grow, reaching 45% in 2015 and 50% in 2020. B increased more rapidly during this period, moving first to 35% and then to 45%. Consequently, A ended only five points ahead. Across the full period, A gained thirty percentage points, whereas B gained thirty-five.

Exemple de réponse : 182 mots

Expression écrite

Bar chart: how students chose to study at a college, 2015 and 2025

The bar chart shows the percentage of students at a college who chose each of three course options in 2015 and 2025. Every student chose only one option. The site cannot show the chart, so its figures are given here as text. Use only these figures. Describe the main features of the data and compare figures where it helps. Write at least 150 words.

Diagramme en barres : part des étudiants d'une école qui ont choisi des cours en ligne, du soir ou du week-end en 2015 et en 2025. Décrivez les changements principaux (au moins 150 mots).

Students choosing each course option (% of all students; fictional college)
• Online courses: 2015 – 20%, 2025 – 45%
• Evening classes on campus: 2015 – 50%, 2025 – 35%
• Weekend classes on campus: 2015 – 30%, 2025 – 20%

au moins 150 mots · environ 20 minutes

Votre texte

Vérifiez votre texte

I start with one sentence that says what the data shows, in my own words (I do not copy the task).Je commence par une phrase qui dit ce que montrent les données, avec mes propres mots (je ne recopie pas le sujet).
I write a clear overview of the main trends or differences, without detailed figures.J'écris une vue d'ensemble claire des grandes tendances ou différences, sans chiffres détaillés.
I say how the ranking of the options changed (which became the most popular).Je dis comment le classement des options a changé (laquelle est devenue la plus populaire).
I support the main features with accurate figures, units and years taken from the data.J'appuie les points principaux sur des chiffres, des unités et des années exacts tirés des données.
I compare figures (twice as many, the gap narrowed, the largest share) instead of listing them one by one.Je compare les chiffres (deux fois plus, l'écart s'est réduit, la plus grande part) au lieu de les énumérer un par un.
I do not give opinions or reasons that the data cannot show.Je ne donne ni opinion ni cause que les données ne montrent pas.
My report has at least 150 words (the official minimum) and is written in paragraphs, not notes.Mon rapport compte au moins 150 mots (minimum officiel) et il est rédigé en paragraphes, pas en notes.

Expressions utiles

Overall, … / In general, …Dans l'ensemble, … / En général, …
… compared with … / whereas …… par rapport à … / alors que …
an increase of ten percentage pointsune hausse de dix points de pourcentage
half of the students / the largest proportionla moitié des étudiants / la plus grande proportion
By 2025, … had risen to …En 2025, … était passé à …
Together, … attracted 80% of …Ensemble, … ont attiré 80 % de …

Afficher l'exemple de réponse

The bar chart compares the percentages of students choosing online courses, evening classes and weekend classes at a college in 2015 and 2025.

Overall, online courses became the most popular choice, replacing evening classes. Both classroom options lost a share of students, although evening classes remained more popular than weekend classes in both years.

In 2015, half of the students chose evening classes. This was the largest proportion, followed by weekend classes at 30%. Online courses accounted for only 20%, so their share was 30 percentage points lower than that of evening classes. Together, the two classroom options attracted 80% of students.

By 2025, the proportion choosing online courses had risen to 45%, an increase of 25 percentage points. In contrast, evening classes fell to 35% and weekend classes dropped to 20%. The decline was greater for evening classes, at 15 percentage points, compared with 10 for weekend classes. Online courses therefore finished 10 percentage points ahead of evening classes, while the combined share of the two classroom options fell to 55%.

Exemple de réponse : 172 mots

Expression écrite

Table: household waste in 2018 and 2025

The table shows the average amount of waste produced by a household each week in a town, in four categories, in 2018 and 2025. The site cannot show the chart, so its figures are given here as text. Use only these figures. Describe the main features of the data and compare figures where it helps. Write at least 150 words.

Tableau : déchets moyens d'un foyer par semaine (papier, nourriture, plastique, verre) en 2018 et en 2025, en kilos. Décrivez et comparez (au moins 150 mots).

Average household waste (kilograms per household per week; fictional town)
Material: 2018 → 2025
• Paper: 4 kg → 2 kg
• Food: 6 kg → 5 kg
• Plastic: 3 kg → 3 kg
• Glass: 2 kg → 1 kg

au moins 150 mots · environ 20 minutes

Votre texte

Vérifiez votre texte

I start with one sentence that says what the data shows, in my own words (I do not copy the task).Je commence par une phrase qui dit ce que montrent les données, avec mes propres mots (je ne recopie pas le sujet).
I write a clear overview of the main trends or differences, without detailed figures.J'écris une vue d'ensemble claire des grandes tendances ou différences, sans chiffres détaillés.
I group categories that changed in a similar way instead of describing each row separately.Je regroupe les catégories qui ont évolué de la même façon au lieu de décrire chaque ligne séparément.
I support the main features with accurate figures, units and years taken from the data.J'appuie les points principaux sur des chiffres, des unités et des années exacts tirés des données.
I compare figures (twice as many, the gap narrowed, the largest share) instead of listing them one by one.Je compare les chiffres (deux fois plus, l'écart s'est réduit, la plus grande part) au lieu de les énumérer un par un.
I do not give opinions or reasons that the data cannot show.Je ne donne ni opinion ni cause que les données ne montrent pas.
My report has at least 150 words (the official minimum) and is written in paragraphs, not notes.Mon rapport compte au moins 150 mots (minimum officiel) et il est rédigé en paragraphes, pas en notes.

Expressions utiles

Overall, … / In general, …Dans l'ensemble, … / En général, …
… compared with … / whereas …… par rapport à … / alors que …
… halved / remained unchanged at …… a été divisé par deux / est resté stable à …
… declined less sharply, from … to …… a baissé moins fortement, de … à …
… overtook … to become the second-largest category… a dépassé … pour devenir la deuxième catégorie
… accounting for half of the overall decline… ce qui représente la moitié de la baisse totale

Afficher l'exemple de réponse

The table compares average weekly household waste in four categories in 2018 and 2025, measured in kilograms per household.

Overall, total waste decreased, with reductions in every category except plastic. Food remained the largest component, while paper and glass recorded the greatest proportional falls, both halving over the period.

Paper and glass followed similar patterns but differed in the size of their reductions. Paper waste dropped from 4 to 2 kilograms per week, accounting for half of the overall four-kilogram decline. Glass fell from 2 to 1 kilogram and remained the smallest category. Together, these two materials decreased from 6 to 3 kilograms per household.

Food waste declined less sharply, from 6 to 5 kilograms. Despite this reduction, it still exceeded every other category in 2025 and represented nearly half of the final total of 11 kilograms. Plastic, by contrast, was unchanged at 3 kilograms. As a result, it overtook paper to become the second-largest category, even though its own amount did not rise. Across all four materials, weekly waste fell from 15 to 11 kilograms.

Exemple de réponse : 176 mots

Expression écrite

Two pie charts: how a household divided its monthly budget, 2010 and 2025

The two pie charts show how one household divided its monthly budget between four types of spending in 2010 and 2025. The site cannot show the chart, so its figures are given here as text. Use only these figures. Describe the main features of the data and compare figures where it helps. Write at least 150 words.

Deux diagrammes circulaires : répartition du budget mensuel d'un foyer (logement, nourriture, transport, autres) en 2010 et en 2025. Attention : ce sont des parts, pas des montants (au moins 150 mots).

Share of the monthly budget (% of the total; fictional household)
Category: 2010 → 2025
• Housing: 35% → 50%
• Food: 30% → 20%
• Transport: 20% → 15%
• Other spending: 15% → 15%
The charts give no information about the total amount of money.

au moins 150 mots · environ 20 minutes

Votre texte

Vérifiez votre texte

I start with one sentence that says what the data shows, in my own words (I do not copy the task).Je commence par une phrase qui dit ce que montrent les données, avec mes propres mots (je ne recopie pas le sujet).
I write a clear overview of the main trends or differences, without detailed figures.J'écris une vue d'ensemble claire des grandes tendances ou différences, sans chiffres détaillés.
I describe shares (a smaller proportion) and do not claim that the household spent less money.Je décris des parts (une proportion plus faible) et je n'affirme pas que le foyer a dépensé moins d'argent.
I support the main features with accurate figures, units and years taken from the data.J'appuie les points principaux sur des chiffres, des unités et des années exacts tirés des données.
I compare figures (twice as many, the gap narrowed, the largest share) instead of listing them one by one.Je compare les chiffres (deux fois plus, l'écart s'est réduit, la plus grande part) au lieu de les énumérer un par un.
I do not give opinions or reasons that the data cannot show.Je ne donne ni opinion ni cause que les données ne montrent pas.
My report has at least 150 words (the official minimum) and is written in paragraphs, not notes.Mon rapport compte au moins 150 mots (minimum officiel) et il est rédigé en paragraphes, pas en notes.

Expressions utiles

Overall, … / In general, …Dans l'ensemble, … / En général, …
… compared with … / whereas …… par rapport à … / alors que …
an increase of ten percentage pointsune hausse de dix points de pourcentage
… represented 35% of the budget… représentait 35 % du budget
declines of ten and five points respectivelydes baisses de dix et cinq points respectivement
… matched all the other categories combined… égalait toutes les autres catégories réunies

Afficher l'exemple de réponse

The pie charts compare the distribution of a household's monthly budget across housing, food, transport and other spending in 2010 and 2025.

Overall, housing took the largest share in both years and became considerably more dominant by 2025. Food and transport each accounted for a smaller proportion, while the share assigned to other expenditure remained unchanged. Together, the reductions in food and transport exactly matched the increase in housing.

In 2010, housing represented 35% of the budget, followed by food at 30%. Transport accounted for a further 20%, and the remaining 15% was allocated to other items. Food and transport together therefore absorbed half of the total, fifteen percentage points more than housing alone.

By 2025, the housing share had risen to 50%, an increase of fifteen percentage points. Food fell to 20% and transport to 15%, declines of ten and five points respectively. Other spending stayed at 15%, equal to transport in the later year. Housing consequently matched all the other categories combined. These charts describe proportions only: without the total budget in either year, they do not show whether the amount of money spent on food or transport actually decreased.

Exemple de réponse : 192 mots

Expression écrite

Process diagram: how a clinic handles an appointment request

The diagram shows how a clinic deals with a patient's request for an appointment. The site cannot show the diagram, so its stages are listed here in order. Describe the process in your own words. Write at least 150 words.

Schéma d'un processus : comment une clinique traite une demande de rendez-vous (deux chemins selon que l'horaire est libre ou non). Décrivez les étapes dans l'ordre (au moins 150 mots).

Booking an appointment at a clinic (fictional clinic)
Stage 1: The patient sends a request for an appointment at a preferred time.
Stage 2: Clinic staff check whether the preferred time is available.
If the time is available:
• Stage 3: Staff send the patient a confirmation.
If the time is not available:
• Stage 3: Staff offer the patient a different time.
• Stage 4: The patient accepts the different time.
• Stage 5: Staff send the patient a confirmation.
The diagram shows no stage for a patient who refuses the different time.

au moins 150 mots · environ 20 minutes

Votre texte

Vérifiez votre texte

I start with one sentence that says what the data shows, in my own words (I do not copy the task).Je commence par une phrase qui dit ce que montrent les données, avec mes propres mots (je ne recopie pas le sujet).
I write an overview that names the start, the two routes and the shared final stage.J'écris une vue d'ensemble qui nomme le début, les deux chemins et l'étape finale commune.
I describe the stages in the right order and make the two branches clear (if … / otherwise …).Je décris les étapes dans le bon ordre et je rends les deux branches claires (if … / otherwise …).
I use every stage in the diagram and add none of my own.J'utilise toutes les étapes du schéma et je n'en ajoute aucune.
I use sequence words and the passive where the person doing the action is not important.J'utilise des mots de séquence et la voix passive quand la personne qui agit n'est pas importante.
I do not give opinions or reasons that the data cannot show.Je ne donne ni opinion ni cause que les données ne montrent pas.
My report has at least 150 words (the official minimum) and is written in paragraphs, not notes.Mon rapport compte au moins 150 mots (minimum officiel) et il est rédigé en paragraphes, pas en notes.

Expressions utiles

Overall, … / In general, …Dans l'ensemble, … / En général, …
… compared with … / whereas …… par rapport à … / alors que …
The process begins when …Le processus commence quand …
… then … / after that …… ensuite … / après cela …
Where the time is free, … ; otherwise, …Si l'horaire est libre, … ; sinon, …
… before confirmation is sent (passive)… avant que la confirmation soit envoyée (voix passive)

Afficher l'exemple de réponse

The diagram outlines a clinic's appointment-booking procedure, showing how an initial request is processed according to whether the patient's preferred time is available.

Overall, the procedure has a common starting stage followed by two possible routes to confirmation. The requested appointment can be confirmed immediately if it is available; otherwise, confirmation depends on the patient's acceptance of an alternative.

The process begins when a patient submits a request. Clinic staff then check availability, which determines the next step. Where the preferred time is free, staff send confirmation directly, and the procedure ends after only three stages. No further response from the patient is required on this branch.

Where the requested time is unavailable, the clinic first offers a different appointment. Unlike the direct route, this branch includes an acceptance stage: the patient must agree to the proposed alternative before confirmation is sent. Both branches therefore reach the same final action, but the second takes five stages and requires an additional exchange between clinic and patient. The diagram describes only the route in which the alternative is accepted; it shows no procedure for a patient who refuses the new time.

Exemple de réponse : 189 mots

Expression écrite

Two maps: a park in 2010 and 2025

The two maps show the same park in 2010 and in 2025. The site cannot show the maps, so what each part of the park contained is listed here. Describe the main changes. Write at least 150 words.

Deux plans : le même parc en 2010 et en 2025 (contenu de chaque zone donné en liste). Décrivez les changements principaux et ce qui n'a pas changé (au moins 150 mots).

Plans of a park, 2010 and 2025 (fictional park; north at the top; the park is rectangular and its boundary and size did not change)
• North-west corner: car park (2010) → garden (2025)
• North-east corner: pond (2010) → pond, unchanged (2025)
• South-west: open lawn (2010) → playground (2025)
• South-east: trees (2010) → café (2025)
• Centre: a straight path from the entrance to the northern boundary (both years)
• Southern boundary: the only entrance (both years)
No other facilities are shown on either map.

au moins 150 mots · environ 20 minutes

Votre texte

Vérifiez votre texte

I start with one sentence that says what the data shows, in my own words (I do not copy the task).Je commence par une phrase qui dit ce que montrent les données, avec mes propres mots (je ne recopie pas le sujet).
I write a clear overview of the main trends or differences, without detailed figures.J'écris une vue d'ensemble claire des grandes tendances ou différences, sans chiffres détaillés.
I say where each feature is (in the north-west corner, opposite …) and what replaced what.Je dis où se trouve chaque élément (dans l'angle nord-ouest, en face de …) et ce qui a remplacé quoi.
I support the main features with accurate locations, features and years taken from the maps.J'appuie les points principaux sur des lieux, des éléments et des années exacts tirés des cartes.
I use past tenses and the past perfect for completed changes (had replaced, had been built).J'utilise les temps du passé et le past perfect pour les changements terminés (had replaced, had been built).
I mention what did not change as well as what changed.Je mentionne ce qui n'a pas changé autant que ce qui a changé.
My report has at least 150 words (the official minimum) and is written in paragraphs, not notes.Mon rapport compte au moins 150 mots (minimum officiel) et il est rédigé en paragraphes, pas en notes.

Expressions utiles

Overall, … / In general, …Dans l'ensemble, … / En général, …
… compared with … / whereas …… par rapport à … / alors que …
in the north-west corner / opposite … / along …dans l'angle nord-ouest / en face de … / le long de …
… was replaced by … / … gave way to …… a été remplacé par … / … a laissé place à …
By 2025, … had been builtEn 2025, … avait été construit
… remained in its original position… est resté à sa place d'origine

Afficher l'exemple de réponse

The maps illustrate changes to a park between 2010 and 2025. The park kept its rectangular boundary and southern entrance, but several features inside it were replaced.

Overall, the redevelopment introduced facilities for visitors while preserving the pond and the main north–south path. The most substantial changes were in the western half, where a car park became a garden and a previously open lawn was occupied by a playground.

In 2010, the car park stood in the north-west corner, opposite a pond in the north-east. A lawn occupied the south-west, while trees covered the south-east. Visitors entered from the south and could follow a straight central path towards the northern boundary. No other facilities are shown on the earlier map.

By 2025, a garden had replaced the car park, and a playground had been built on the former lawn. The trees in the south-east had given way to a café, whereas the pond remained in its original position. The entrance and central path were also unchanged. Thus, the later layout offered three new amenities without expanding the park or moving its main entrance.

Exemple de réponse : 183 mots

Expression écrite, tâche 2 : essai (Academic et General Training)

Expression écrite

Essay: studying online instead of in a classroom

Task 2: write an essay that answers the question, with reasons and examples. Write at least 250 words (about 40 minutes).Tâche 2 : écrivez un essai qui répond à la question, avec des arguments et des exemples. Écrivez au moins 250 mots (environ 40 minutes).

Write about the following topic. Support your answer with reasons and with examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.

Essai : de plus en plus d'étudiants suivent leurs cours en ligne. Quels sont les avantages et les inconvénients ? (au moins 250 mots)

In many countries, more and more students now take their courses online instead of attending classes in person.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of studying online?

explain the main advantages
explain the main disadvantages
support each point with an example

au moins 250 mots · environ 40 minutes

Votre texte

Vérifiez votre texte

My introduction answers the question and makes my position (or the plan of the essay) clear.Mon introduction répond à la question et rend ma position (ou le plan de l'essai) claire.
I answer every part of the question, not just the topic in general.Je réponds à toutes les parties de la question, pas seulement au thème en général.
I give both advantages and disadvantages a full paragraph each.Je consacre un paragraphe complet aux avantages et un autre aux inconvénients.
Each body paragraph has one main idea, explained and supported by an example.Chaque paragraphe de développement a une idée principale, expliquée et illustrée par un exemple.
I link ideas clearly (however, therefore, for example) without starting every sentence with a linking word.Je relie clairement mes idées (however, therefore, for example) sans commencer chaque phrase par un connecteur.
My conclusion sums up my position; it does not add a new argument.Ma conclusion résume ma position ; elle n'ajoute pas de nouvel argument.
My essay has at least 250 words (the official minimum).Mon essai compte au moins 250 mots (minimum officiel).

Expressions utiles

One main advantage is that …L'un des principaux avantages est que …
Another benefit is …Un autre avantage est …
A disadvantage is that …Un inconvénient est que …
This is particularly useful for …C'est particulièrement utile pour …
… can reduce this problem, but …… peut atténuer ce problème, mais …
In conclusion, … ; it is therefore most useful when …En conclusion, … ; c'est donc surtout utile quand …

Afficher l'exemple de réponse

Online courses allow students to learn without attending a classroom. This can make education easier to access, especially for people with jobs or family commitments. However, studying away from a college can also make it harder to stay focused and to communicate with other learners.

One main advantage is the time and money saved on travel. A student who lives far from a college can use the time normally spent on a bus to complete an assignment, and they also avoid the cost of daily tickets. Recorded lessons offer another benefit, because students can watch them when they are free. For example, someone with an evening job could watch a lecture in the morning and pause it to take notes. This flexibility is particularly useful for students who cannot follow a fixed timetable, although live online classes still require attendance at set times.

A disadvantage is that learners need to manage their own attention. At home, messages, games or family activities may interrupt a lesson, and without a teacher nearby, a student might put off difficult work until an assignment is due. Online study can also reduce informal contact with classmates. A learner watching recordings alone cannot simply turn to the person sitting beside them and ask for help. Discussion groups and regular online meetings can reduce this problem, but students must make an effort to join them.

In conclusion, online education can reduce travel costs and fit around work, but it also demands self-discipline and planned communication. It is therefore most useful when learners have a suitable place to study and the course offers regular opportunities to ask questions.

Exemple de réponse : 270 mots

Expression écrite

Essay: public transport or wider roads?

Write about the following topic. Support your answer with reasons and with examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.

Essai d'opinion : les villes devraient-elles dépenser plus pour les transports en commun que pour construire et élargir des routes ? Dans quelle mesure êtes-vous d'accord ? (au moins 250 mots)

Some people think that city governments should spend more money on public transport than on building new roads and widening existing ones.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

say how far you agree
give reasons for your view
consider the other side briefly

au moins 250 mots · environ 40 minutes

Votre texte

Vérifiez votre texte

My introduction answers the question and makes my position (or the plan of the essay) clear.Mon introduction répond à la question et rend ma position (ou le plan de l'essai) claire.
I answer every part of the question, not just the topic in general.Je réponds à toutes les parties de la question, pas seulement au thème en général.
My position is the same in the introduction, the body and the conclusion.Ma position est la même dans l'introduction, le développement et la conclusion.
Each body paragraph has one main idea, explained and supported by an example.Chaque paragraphe de développement a une idée principale, expliquée et illustrée par un exemple.
I link ideas clearly (however, therefore, for example) without starting every sentence with a linking word.Je relie clairement mes idées (however, therefore, for example) sans commencer chaque phrase par un connecteur.
My conclusion sums up my position; it does not add a new argument.Ma conclusion résume ma position ; elle n'ajoute pas de nouvel argument.
My essay has at least 250 words (the official minimum).Mon essai compte au moins 250 mots (minimum officiel).

Expressions utiles

Cities should usually give priority to …Les villes devraient en général donner la priorité à …
The strongest argument is …L'argument le plus fort est …
For instance, …Par exemple, …
… but only if …… mais seulement si …
Nevertheless, …Néanmoins, …
Overall, I largely agree that …, provided that …Globalement, je suis plutôt d'accord pour dire que …, à condition que …

Afficher l'exemple de réponse

When deciding between public transport and road expansion, cities should usually give priority to public transport. Better services can widen access to work and reduce dependence on cars, although investment must deal with the reasons why people currently avoid buses or trains.

The strongest argument is access. Residents who cannot afford a car or are unable to drive still need reliable routes to workplaces, colleges and essential services. Increasing frequency can be particularly valuable where a missed bus means a long wait. For instance, a worker finishing a late shift may be able to use a bus if services continue beyond normal office hours, whereas simply adding vehicles to an already frequent daytime route would do less for that worker. Spending should therefore target gaps in coverage and operating hours.

Public transport may also relieve congestion, but only if it offers a practical alternative to driving. A bus carrying fifty passengers uses road space far more efficiently than the same people travelling in separate cars. However, an unreliable bus stuck in traffic is unlikely to attract regular drivers, so dedicated bus lanes and dependable connections may be needed alongside extra services. These improvements give travellers a reason to change their habits rather than merely asking them to do so.

Spending on roads remains necessary for maintenance, emergency vehicles and deliveries, and a particular bottleneck may justify a limited expansion. Nevertheless, widening roads throughout a city is costly and takes space that could be used for homes or footpaths, without solving the lack of alternatives to driving.

Overall, I largely agree that public transport deserves more money than new roads, provided that essential road maintenance is protected. The aim should be reliable access for as many residents as possible, rather than expanding either network without considering how it will be used.

Exemple de réponse : 300 mots

Expression écrite

Essay: higher prices or better alternatives to plastic?

Write about the following topic. Support your answer with reasons and with examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.

Essai : pour réduire le plastique jetable, faut-il le rendre plus cher ou proposer des alternatives moins chères et pratiques ? Présentez les deux points de vue et donnez votre avis (au moins 250 mots).

Some people think the best way to reduce the amount of disposable plastic people use is to make it more expensive. Others believe it is better to offer cheaper and more convenient alternatives.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

discuss the first view
discuss the second view
give your own opinion clearly

au moins 250 mots · environ 40 minutes

Votre texte

Vérifiez votre texte

My introduction answers the question and makes my position (or the plan of the essay) clear.Mon introduction répond à la question et rend ma position (ou le plan de l'essai) claire.
I answer every part of the question, not just the topic in general.Je réponds à toutes les parties de la question, pas seulement au thème en général.
I discuss both views fairly before I give my own opinion, and my opinion is easy to find.Je présente les deux points de vue honnêtement avant de donner mon avis, et mon avis est facile à trouver.
Each body paragraph has one main idea, explained and supported by an example.Chaque paragraphe de développement a une idée principale, expliquée et illustrée par un exemple.
I link ideas clearly (however, therefore, for example) without starting every sentence with a linking word.Je relie clairement mes idées (however, therefore, for example) sans commencer chaque phrase par un connecteur.
My conclusion sums up my position; it does not add a new argument.Ma conclusion résume ma position ; elle n'ajoute pas de nouvel argument.
My essay has at least 250 words (the official minimum).Mon essai compte au moins 250 mots (minimum officiel).

Expressions utiles

Supporters of … argue that …Les partisans de … soutiennent que …
This can be effective where …Cela peut être efficace quand …
However, … is less convincing when …Cependant, … est moins convaincant quand …
Its success still depends on …Son succès dépend toutefois de …
In my view, … should come first.À mon avis, … devrait passer en premier.
… rather than replacing it… plutôt que de le remplacer

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One response to plastic waste is to make disposable products more expensive; another is to provide convenient substitutes. Higher prices can discourage wasteful purchases, but in my view affordable alternatives should come first, with charges used selectively once shoppers have a genuine choice.

Supporters of higher prices argue that people often use disposable plastic because its cost is barely noticeable. A separate charge makes that cost visible and may encourage people to reuse a bag or container they already own. This can be effective where avoiding the charge requires only a small change in habit. However, charging for essential packaging is less convincing when shoppers cannot buy the product in any other form. In that situation, the policy raises household costs without necessarily reducing plastic use.

Better alternatives address this weakness by making a different behaviour possible. A refill station, for example, allows customers to reuse a bottle instead of buying a new one each time. Its success still depends on practical details: it must be conveniently located, competitively priced and easy to use. An environmentally attractive option that requires an extra journey or costs considerably more is unlikely to become a routine choice for most people.

These points suggest a sequence rather than a choice between two separate policies. Businesses and public authorities could first improve access to reliable substitutes, and then introduce targeted charges for avoidable disposable products. This would keep the incentive created by prices while reducing the burden on people whose options are limited. It would also make the purpose of the charge easier to explain.

Overall, higher prices have a useful supporting role, but they cannot make up for a lack of alternatives. Priority should go to making reuse practical, with financial incentives reinforcing that change rather than replacing it.

Exemple de réponse : 295 mots

Expression écrite

Essay: should employers encourage exercise during the working day?

Write about the following topic. Support your answer with reasons and with examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.

Essai d'opinion : les employeurs devraient-ils encourager leurs salariés à bouger pendant les heures de travail ? Dans quelle mesure êtes-vous d'accord ? (au moins 250 mots)

Many office workers spend most of the day sitting at a desk. Some people believe employers should encourage their staff to be physically active during working hours.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

say how far you agree
explain what employers could do
mention any limits or conditions

au moins 250 mots · environ 40 minutes

Votre texte

Vérifiez votre texte

My introduction answers the question and makes my position (or the plan of the essay) clear.Mon introduction répond à la question et rend ma position (ou le plan de l'essai) claire.
I answer every part of the question, not just the topic in general.Je réponds à toutes les parties de la question, pas seulement au thème en général.
I explain conditions or limits on my view instead of only saying 'yes' or 'no'.J'explique les conditions ou les limites de mon avis au lieu de dire seulement « oui » ou « non ».
Each body paragraph has one main idea, explained and supported by an example.Chaque paragraphe de développement a une idée principale, expliquée et illustrée par un exemple.
I link ideas clearly (however, therefore, for example) without starting every sentence with a linking word.Je relie clairement mes idées (however, therefore, for example) sans commencer chaque phrase par un connecteur.
My conclusion sums up my position; it does not add a new argument.Ma conclusion résume ma position ; elle n'ajoute pas de nouvel argument.
My essay has at least 250 words (the official minimum).Mon essai compte au moins 250 mots (minimum officiel).

Expressions utiles

Employers should make it easier to …Les employeurs devraient faciliter …
However, … is only valuable when …Cependant, … n'a de valeur que si …
The most useful measures …Les mesures les plus utiles …
Participation must therefore remain voluntary.La participation doit donc rester volontaire.
… matters just as much.… compte tout autant.
I therefore agree that …, as long as …Je suis donc d'accord pour dire que …, tant que …

Afficher l'exemple de réponse

Employers should make physical activity easier during the working day, especially for staff who sit at a desk for long periods. However, encouragement is only valuable when employees have the time and freedom to take part; an exercise scheme that ignores working conditions risks becoming yet another demand on them.

The most useful measures remove practical barriers. Many staff would like to move more but feel unable to leave their desks while colleagues remain visibly busy. A clearly permitted activity break, supported by managers who respect it, can solve that problem. For example, allowing a team to take a short walk during an existing break offers a simple option that requires no equipment or sporting ability. The point of the example is not that walking suits everyone, but that the employer makes a manageable activity compatible with ordinary work.

That opportunity should not become a test of commitment. Employees differ in health, mobility and personal preferences, and they should not have to explain private circumstances in order to opt out. Participation must therefore remain voluntary, with an ordinary rest break as an equally acceptable choice. Team competitions or public rankings of who exercises most would undermine this principle if they made non-participants feel less valued.

Workload matters just as much. Permission to exercise offers little benefit if an employee must then work through lunch to finish the same tasks. Managers need to consider staffing and deadlines so that the break is genuinely available. This may be less visible than launching a fitness challenge, but it decides whether the policy actually changes employees' working day.

I therefore agree that employers should encourage activity, as long as this means widening choice and removing barriers. Success should mean that staff can take a suitable activity break without any penalty, rather than that everyone joins the same programme.

Exemple de réponse : 304 mots

Expression écrite

Essay: should working from home become the norm?

Write about the following topic. Support your answer with reasons and with examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.

Essai d'opinion : le télétravail devrait-il devenir la règle pour les employés de bureau, et le bureau l'exception ? Dans quelle mesure êtes-vous d'accord ? (au moins 250 mots)

Some people think that working from home should become the normal arrangement for office staff, with going into the office the exception.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

say how far you agree
give reasons and examples
deal with the strongest argument against your view

au moins 250 mots · environ 40 minutes

Votre texte

Vérifiez votre texte

My introduction answers the question and makes my position (or the plan of the essay) clear.Mon introduction répond à la question et rend ma position (ou le plan de l'essai) claire.
I answer every part of the question, not just the topic in general.Je réponds à toutes les parties de la question, pas seulement au thème en général.
I deal with the strongest argument against my view and explain why it does not change my position.Je traite l'argument le plus fort contre mon avis et j'explique pourquoi il ne change pas ma position.
Each body paragraph has one main idea, explained and supported by an example.Chaque paragraphe de développement a une idée principale, expliquée et illustrée par un exemple.
I link ideas clearly (however, therefore, for example) without starting every sentence with a linking word.Je relie clairement mes idées (however, therefore, for example) sans commencer chaque phrase par un connecteur.
My conclusion sums up my position; it does not add a new argument.Ma conclusion résume ma position ; elle n'ajoute pas de nouvel argument.
My essay has at least 250 words (the official minimum).Mon essai compte au moins 250 mots (minimum officiel).

Expressions utiles

I would nevertheless distinguish … from …Je distinguerais néanmoins … de …
The case rests on …, not on …L'argument repose sur …, et non sur …
The strongest objection concerns …L'objection la plus sérieuse concerne …
This supports …; it does not show that …Cela justifie … ; cela ne montre pas que …
A workable policy would …Une politique réaliste consisterait à …
I therefore largely agree that …Je suis donc largement d'accord pour dire que …

Afficher l'exemple de réponse

Working from home should be a normal right for office employees whose duties allow it, rather than a special favour. I would nevertheless distinguish a default from a requirement: staff should keep access to a workplace, and employers should be able to ask for shared attendance for particular tasks.

For work that depends on long periods of individual concentration, compulsory daily attendance can impose costs without improving the result. An analyst writing a report may gain little from commuting only to spend the day working alone at a desk. Allowing that work to be done remotely gives the employee more control over interruptions and removes unnecessary travel. The case rests on the nature of the task, however, not on an assumption that every home is quieter or better equipped than an office. Access to a suitable workplace must therefore remain available.

The strongest objection concerns activities in which colleagues need to solve problems together. A new team planning a project, for example, may have to revise several connected decisions quickly. Working in the same room can reduce the effort of arranging separate conversations and help newcomers understand how the team works. This supports regular occasions for working together; it does not show that everyone needs to attend every day regardless of their duties.

A workable policy would therefore give teams flexibility by default, together with a clear process for deciding when presence is useful. Managers should explain the purpose of shared days and judge employees by the work they complete, rather than treating visible attendance as evidence of productivity. Employees should also be able to work from the office without having to prove that their home is unsuitable.

I therefore largely agree that remote work should be the normal arrangement, with clear exceptions. Its value lies in matching working arrangements to tasks and circumstances, while keeping the cooperation that some activities require.

Exemple de réponse : 312 mots

Expression écrite

Essay: big festivals or small neighbourhood activities?

Write about the following topic. Support your answer with reasons and with examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.

Essai : les mairies devraient-elles financer surtout de grands événements (festivals, concerts) ou de petites activités régulières dans les quartiers ? Présentez les deux points de vue et donnez votre avis (au moins 250 mots).

Some people think local councils should spend their culture budget mainly on large events, such as festivals and concerts. Others think the money should go to smaller, regular activities in neighbourhoods.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

discuss the case for large events
discuss the case for neighbourhood activities
give your own opinion clearly

au moins 250 mots · environ 40 minutes

Votre texte

Vérifiez votre texte

My introduction answers the question and makes my position (or the plan of the essay) clear.Mon introduction répond à la question et rend ma position (ou le plan de l'essai) claire.
I answer every part of the question, not just the topic in general.Je réponds à toutes les parties de la question, pas seulement au thème en général.
I discuss both views fairly before I give my own opinion, and my opinion is easy to find.Je présente les deux points de vue honnêtement avant de donner mon avis, et mon avis est facile à trouver.
Each body paragraph has one main idea, explained and supported by an example.Chaque paragraphe de développement a une idée principale, expliquée et illustrée par un exemple.
I link ideas clearly (however, therefore, for example) without starting every sentence with a linking word.Je relie clairement mes idées (however, therefore, for example) sans commencer chaque phrase par un connecteur.
My conclusion sums up my position; it does not add a new argument.Ma conclusion résume ma position ; elle n'ajoute pas de nouvel argument.
My essay has at least 250 words (the official minimum).Mon essai compte au moins 250 mots (minimum officiel).

Expressions utiles

In my view, the choice should depend on …À mon avis, le choix devrait dépendre de …
Large events can give residents …Les grands événements peuvent offrir aux habitants …
At the same time, …En même temps, …
… offer a different advantage: …… présentent un autre avantage : …
I would therefore … before …Je choisirais donc de … avant de …
This approach gives … priority, while …Cette approche donne la priorité à …, tout en …

Afficher l'exemple de réponse

A council's culture budget should mainly support activities that residents can take part in regularly, while leaving room for larger events that offer a clear public benefit. In my view, the choice should depend on what each type of activity makes possible, rather than on audience size or neighbourhood scale alone.

Large events can give residents experiences that small groups cannot easily provide. A free festival might bring a professional performance to people who would otherwise face ticket and travel costs, while attracting audiences from across the town. The fact that it lasts only a weekend does not cancel out that benefit. At the same time, a high attendance figure says little about which residents were left out, or whether the event took money from more valuable year-round activities. The real question is what extra access the spending creates.

Regular neighbourhood activities offer a different advantage: participation can deepen over time. In a weekly music workshop, residents may progress from attending sessions to helping to organise them, developing both skills and friendships through repeated contact. That continuity is a strong reason to protect a basic level of local funding. Being small, however, does not guarantee being open to everyone. An established group can become closed to newcomers, so funded programmes should show how new people can join and stay involved.

I would therefore secure funding for accessible, ongoing activities before paying for a limited programme of larger events. Each proposed event should explain what audience or cultural opportunity it adds, rather than competing with local groups only on the number of people it attracts. Reviewing who takes part, and who does not, would help councils make this comparison fairly.

This approach gives neighbourhood activities priority because of their continuity, while keeping a justified place for major events. It recognises that the two make different contributions and asks both to show their value to the public.

Exemple de réponse : 315 mots

Informations officielles de l'IELTS

Consultez aussi le format officiel. Le site de l'IELTS propose des exemples de questions gratuits pour chaque épreuve (en anglais).

IELTS: IELTS sample test questions