How often does society & culture come up in IELTS Writing Task 2?

It's one of the most-tested themes. Examiners draw on it because it generates strong opinions while remaining accessible to candidates from any background. You can reasonably expect to encounter a society & culture question in practice tests and on the real exam.

What question types should I expect on society & culture?

All five Task 2 shapes are fair game: opinion (agree/disagree), discuss both views, problem-solution, two-part, and advantages-and-disadvantages. The same theme can appear in any of these shapes, so practise the same idea across multiple question types rather than memorising essays.

How specific do my examples need to be?

Specific enough to be falsifiable. "Many studies show X" is empty; "a 2019 OECD report on X found Y in Z country" is concrete. You don't need a real citation. Examiners reward the specificity of the claim, not the accuracy of the source. Naming a country, a year, or an industry counts.

Can I use the same vocabulary across all society & culture essays?

Topic-specific lexis matters. Each of the 22 questions below hides a slightly different angle, and Band 7+ vocabulary depends on naming the precise mechanism: "carbon-intensive industries" beats "polluters", "screen-mediated communication" beats "talking online".

🌍 Society & Culture22 questionsReal reported + Cambridge

IELTS society & culture
essay questions.

22 Task 2 questions on society & culture. Click any question to open the full breakdown, examiner watch-outs, and a 40-minute mock.

About this theme

Tradition vs modernity, art and museums, public space, religion, multiculturalism, equality, generational values. Society & Culture prompts ask you to defend a value judgment with evidence rather than assertion. The best essays anchor abstract claims ("communities are weaker") in concrete observation (declining bowling-league membership, reduced neighbour interaction in dense apartments).

Task 2🤝 Society & CultureDiscuss both views

IELTS society & cultureessay questions.

“Some people think that competition at work, at school and in daily life is a good thing. Others believe that we should try to cooperate more, rather than competing against each other. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.”

“In some countries, more and more people are becoming interested in finding out about the history of the house or building they live in. What are the reasons for this? How can people research this?”

“Some people say that music is a good way of bringing people of different cultures and ages together. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?”

“Some believe public protests are an essential part of democracy; others say they cause too much disruption. Discuss both views.”

“In many countries, the gap between rich and poor is growing. What are the causes, and what can be done?”

“In modern cities, many people feel isolated despite being surrounded by others. What are the causes, and what can be done?”

“People spend less time with extended family. Why is this happening, and is it a positive or negative change?”

“Some argue testing products on animals is necessary, while others believe it is unethical. Discuss both views.”

“Youth crime is rising in many cities. What are the causes, and what can be done?”

“Traditional gender roles are changing rapidly. Is this a positive or negative development?”

“Some argue that multicultural societies are stronger; others say cultural differences cause conflict. Discuss both views.”

“Some governments censor films and books that they consider offensive. Is this ever justified?”

“Some say young people should be required to do volunteer work in their community. To what extent do you agree?”

“Some believe celebrities are poor role models for young people. To what extent do you agree or disagree?”

“Modern life is destroying traditional cultures. To what extent do you agree?”

“It is important for people to take risks, both in their professional lives and their personal lives. Do you think the advantages of taking risks outweigh the disadvantages?”

“The diagram shows the stages in the production of chocolate.”

“The table shows the five most spoken languages in the world by number of speakers in 2020.”

“The pie chart shows the distribution of the world's population by region in 2020.”

“The bar chart shows meat consumption per person per year in five countries in 2020.”

“The diagram shows the stages involved in commercial bread production.”

“The table shows population, growth rate and median age in five countries in 2020.”

About society & culture in IELTS

IELTS society & culture
essay questions.