Scorify.uzThe question
Cities that host the Olympic Games spend enormous amounts of public money on stadiums and infrastructure. Some people believe that hosting the Games brings lasting benefits, while others think the money should be spent on other things. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Write at least 250 words.
What the question asks
Discuss the lasting benefits of hosting and the argument that the cost is better used elsewhere, then give a clear opinion. Concrete areas such as transport, tourism, debt and unused stadiums will make both views believable.
Essay plan
- Introduction: Describe the debate over cost and benefit and signal that you take a cautious view.
- Body 1: benefits of hosting: Improved transport and housing, tourism, international reputation, national pride and inspiration for young athletes.
- Body 2: arguments against: Overspending, debt, empty stadiums afterwards and neglected schools or hospitals.
- Conclusion: Give your opinion, for instance that hosting is worthwhile only with careful planning and reuse of venues.
Band 7+ sample essay
Every few years, cities compete eagerly for the right to host the Olympic Games, yet the final bill is often far higher than predicted. Some people see the event as a long-term investment, while others regard it as an expensive show. In my opinion, hosting can be worthwhile, but only if the plan is realistic.
Supporters make several fair points. The Games force a city to modernise quickly, so new metro lines, airports and apartments are completed years earlier than they otherwise would be. Visitors from around the world bring income to hotels and restaurants, and a successful event can improve the international image of the host country. Watching champions compete at home may also encourage children to take up sport, which has health benefits for the whole community.
Critics, however, have strong evidence on their side. Budgets are regularly exceeded, and the taxpayers who did not choose the project are left with the debt. Some stadiums built for a single month become empty and costly to maintain once the athletes leave. When a city spends billions on a sports festival, parents may reasonably ask why local hospitals and schools are still short of funds.
On balance, I think hosting is justified only when a city already needs the infrastructure and plans to reuse existing venues or convert new ones into housing and public sports centres. Without this discipline, the costs will probably outweigh the benefits.
To conclude, the Olympic Games can leave a positive legacy, but governments must treat them as a carefully limited project, not a matter of prestige at any price.
264 words.
Why this essay scores well
- Task Response: every part of the question is answered and the position stays consistent from the introduction to the conclusion.
- Coherence and Cohesion: each paragraph has one clear idea, linked with natural connectors rather than a list of memorised phrases.
- Lexical Resource: topic vocabulary is precise and varied, without forcing rare words.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: a mix of simple and complex sentences, with conditionals and relative clauses used accurately.
Useful vocabulary
- infrastructure — basic systems such as roads and railways
- long-term investment — spending that pays back over many years
- exceed a budget — spend more than planned
- taxpayer — a person who pays taxes
- maintain — keep in good condition
- legacy — lasting result left behind
- prestige — high status and respect
- on balance — after considering all sides
Common mistakes on this question
- Describing the sports events instead of discussing public money and city planning.
- Making claims about specific past Games with invented figures; keep examples general if you are unsure.
- Choosing a side in the body paragraphs but forgetting to present the opposite view fairly.
Study guides
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Frequently asked questions
What type of essay is this IELTS Task 2 question?
It is a discussion + opinion question. Discuss the lasting benefits of hosting and the argument that the cost is better used elsewhere, then give a clear opinion. Concrete areas such as transport, tourism, debt and unused stadiums will make both views believable.
How many words should the essay be?
Write at least 250 words. Most strong answers are 260–290 words, planned in about five minutes and completed in 40 minutes.
How many paragraphs should I write?
Four paragraphs work well: an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. Each body paragraph needs one main idea, an explanation and an example.