05 writing samples

1. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
The costs of medical health care are increasing all the time. Governments are finding it
difficult to balance the health care budget.
Should citizens be totally responsible for their own health costs and take out private health
insurance, or is it better to have a comprehensive health care system which provides free
health services for all? Discuss.
You should write at least 250 words.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.
SAMPLE
A much debated issue these days is whether citizens should take out private health insurance
or not. The cost of providing free medical care for both the wealthy and the poor is far too
great for any government, and most people agree that if you can pay for insurance, you should.
It is commonly argued that all who can afford it should be insured, but free medical care must
be made available for those too poor to do so.
The most important reason for encouraging people to take out private health insurance is the
cost to the government of health care. Free health cover for people who are able to pay for it is
a waste of public money. Definitely, people will only pay health insurance premiums if they
know that they are getting good value for their money. If they get sick, they should pay very
little or nothing at all. In addition, the privately insured are entitled to special benefits such as
having the choice of their own doctors, and being able to avoid long waiting lists for hospital
beds.
On the other hand, those who really cannot afford to pay private insurance premiums, which
are often very high, are still entitled as citizens to the best medical care available – they cannot
be expected to pay their own medical bills. However, if they are working, they should still pay a
percentage of their wage (say 1 to 2%) as a tax which pays towards the cost of providing "free"
medical services.
In conclusion, most people should privately insure their health, but it is unreasonable to
suppose that all citizens can afford it. Therefore, a safety net in the form of a basic free health

2. care systemmust exist for the very poor and the unemployed.
(300 words)
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
People have different job expectations for jobs. Some people prefer to do the same job for
the same company, whereas others prefer to change jobs frequently.
Write about the advantages and disadvantages of each viewpoint?
You should write at least 250 words.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.
SAMPLE
In the modern workplace there is no longer the attitude that ‘a job is for life’. Nowadays, many
people take the option to change jobs, while others prefer not to. It is, therefore, some good and
bad points of the above attitudes should be explored as followed.
One of the main benefits of staying in one job is security. Changing employer often means a
period of instability, where one may have to think about moving house, or temporarily losing a
steady source of income. Staying in one job means these problems are avoided.
Another benefit of not changing occupation is that one is able to gain a lot of experience and
expertise in his specific profession, thus enhancing job security. One’s company may recognize
their loyalty and reward their service. On the other hand, those who often change jobs may be
seen as unreliable, lacking in experience and employers might be reluctant to hire and invest
training in them.
However, there are arguments in favour of changing job frequently. One is that a worker
improves his employability. Working in several different jobs often means that the individual has
more skills. Such people are seen as more dynamic and versatile.
Another benefit of changing jobs frequently is that one never gets stuck in a rut. From my own
experience, I got bored when I spent too long in a job. Following this, the quality of my work
would suffer. I also believe that employers generally do not tend to greatly reward loyalty or
commitment. Increased wages and promotion are often easier to attain by changing jobs.

3. Overall, it can be said that the disadvantages of changing jobs are the advantages of staying put,
and vice versa... In my opinion, I feel that changing jobs every once in a while is of more benefit.
(299 words)
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Nowadays, international tourism is the biggest industry in the world. Unfortunately,
international tourism creates tension rather than understanding between people from
different cultures.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
You should write at least 250 words.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.
SAMPLE
The growth of tourism and the numbers of people travelling to other countries for their vacations
has led to debate as to whether this is beneficial. I believe that there are many problems which
arise out of the tourist industry, and will examine these in detail.
Many people argue that travel broadens the mind. However, this statement does not fully hold
water. It is doubtful whether spending a few weeks in another country is not long enough to gain
a proper understanding of an alien culture. A foreigner visiting Britain might be met with the
traditional British reserve, and mistakenly conclude that the British are unfriendly. Furthermore,
some people are unwilling to open their minds. A Western traveller to an Arab country is
unlikely to consider that the veiling of women is acceptable.
Being a tourist in a foreign country brings with it problems that can lead to dislike of the native
people. Firstly, a foreigner is vulnerable, and is often ripped off by locals. Secondly, the
language barrier can lead to misunderstandings. Thirdly, tourists are often hassled to buy goods,
which can ruin a holiday. When I went to Bali, people tried to sell me something every five
minutes, and this totally spoilt my sunbathing.
Local people also often end up disliking foreigners. Visitors may mistakenly act contrary to local

4. norms, or they may just be plain offensive, as many drunken British holidaymakers must seem to
the Spanish. Global tourism can lead to hostility from the native people, who may feel their
traditional way of life is under threat. Additionally, the relative wealth of the foreign visitors can
cause envy and resentment.
In conclusion, I would say that I largely agree with the argument that global tourism creates
misunderstanding between people from different cultures, and that the differences are often a
cause for conflict rather than celebration.
(308 words)
LETTER WRITING 1

5. LETTER WRITING 2

6. SAMPLE
Yours sincerely,
Susan