Formal or Too Casual? - IELTS 5.0 W T2

Question 1

In an essay about student housing, which sentence is more suitable?

Accepted Answer

Many students find the cost of accommodation difficult to meet.

Answer

Loads of students can't afford a place to live.

Answer

You know how hard it is to find somewhere cheap to live.

Answer

A lot of students have a bit of trouble with rent and stuff.

Question 2

In an essay about city traffic, which sentence is more suitable?

Accepted Answer

The volume of traffic on urban roads has risen steadily.

Answer

There's tons of cars on the road these days.

Answer

Have you ever wondered why the roads are so busy?

Answer

A lot of people drive a lot more than they used to.

Question 3

In an essay about school meals, which sentence is more suitable?

Accepted Answer

The nutritional quality of school meals varies considerably between schools.

Answer

Kids don't get enough decent food at school.

Answer

You can see for yourself that school dinners aren't great.

Answer

Quite a lot of schools serve stuff that isn't very healthy.

Question 4

In an essay about remote work, which sentence is more suitable?

Accepted Answer

Home working suits some occupations considerably better than others.

Answer

Working from home isn't for everyone, is it?

Answer

Lots of people reckon working from home is better.

Answer

You'll find that working at home suits some folks and not others.

Question 5

In an essay about plastic waste, which sentence is more suitable?

Accepted Answer

The quantity of plastic packaging entering household waste continues to grow.

Answer

There's loads more plastic in the bin than there used to be.

Answer

Just look in your own bin and you'll see the problem.

Answer

A lot of shops wrap a lot of things in plastic and stuff.

Question 6

In an essay about exercise habits, which sentence is more suitable?

Accepted Answer

A substantial proportion of adults take less exercise than is recommended.

Answer

Most folks don't do anywhere near enough exercise.

Answer

How much exercise did you take last week?

Answer

Loads of adults hardly move about at all these days.

Question 7

In an essay about online news, which sentence is more suitable?

Accepted Answer

Readers cannot always establish whether an online report is reliable.

Answer

You can't always tell if what you read online is true.

Answer

There's a lot of stuff online that simply isn't accurate.

Answer

Loads of news sites don't check their facts properly.

Question 8

In an essay about public transport fares, which sentence is more suitable?

Accepted Answer

Fare increases have placed a heavier burden on low-income passengers.

Answer

Bus tickets have got really pricey lately.

Answer

You've probably noticed that fares keep going up.

Answer

Fares have gone up quite a bit and lots of people aren't happy.

Question 9

In an essay about household saving, which sentence is more suitable?

Accepted Answer

Few households maintain enough savings to absorb an unexpected expense.

Answer

Most people haven't got much put by for emergencies.

Answer

Could you cover a large bill tomorrow if you had to?

Answer

A lot of families have a lot of trouble saving anything.

Question 10

In an essay about tablets in the classroom, which sentence is more suitable?

Accepted Answer

Pupils are easily distracted when a screen is available during a lesson.

Answer

Kids get distracted the minute you give them a tablet.

Answer

You know what happens when children get a screen in a lesson.

Answer

Loads of pupils just mess about with the things.

Question 11

In an essay, "Kids don't do enough sport." is better written as ___.

Accepted Answer

Children do not take part in enough sport.

Answer

Kids do not do enough sport.

Answer

Children don't take part in enough sport.

Answer

Don't you think children should do more sport?

Question 12

In an essay, "A lot of people think fees are too high." is better written as ___.

Accepted Answer

Many people believe that fees are too high.

Answer

A lot of people believe fees are too high.

Answer

You probably think fees are too high as well.

Answer

Lots of people think fees are far too high.

Question 13

In an essay, "You can't get a job without experience." is better written as ___.

Accepted Answer

Applicants without experience find it difficult to obtain work.

Answer

You cannot get a job without experience.

Answer

It's impossible to get a job without experience.

Answer

Can anyone really get a job without experience?

Question 14

In an essay, "Loads of stuff gets thrown away." is better written as ___.

Accepted Answer

A considerable quantity of usable material is discarded.

Answer

Loads of material gets thrown away.

Answer

A lot of stuff is thrown away every day.

Answer

Have you seen how much gets thrown away?

Question 15

In an essay, "Trains are always late, aren't they?" is better written as ___.

Accepted Answer

Delays on the rail network are frequent.

Answer

Trains are always late, as you know.

Answer

Trains aren't ever on time these days.

Answer

A lot of trains are late a lot of the time.

Question 16

In an essay, "Teachers don't get paid enough." is better written as ___.

Accepted Answer

Teachers are not paid enough for the work they do.

Answer

Teachers don't receive enough pay.

Answer

You'd agree that teachers deserve better pay.

Answer

Loads of teachers are on poor salaries.

Question 17

In an essay, "Cities are getting way too crowded." is better written as ___.

Accepted Answer

Urban areas are becoming increasingly overcrowded.

Answer

Cities are getting far too crowded, aren't they?

Answer

Cities are becoming way too crowded.

Answer

A lot of cities are a lot more crowded than before.

Question 18

In an essay, "People waste tons of food." is better written as ___.

Accepted Answer

A significant amount of food is wasted in the home.

Answer

People waste tons of food every week.

Answer

You waste more food than you realise.

Answer

A lot of people waste a lot of food.

Question 19

In an essay, "It's really hard to find a doctor." is better written as ___.

Accepted Answer

Access to a doctor has become increasingly difficult.

Answer

It is really hard to find a doctor.

Answer

It's not easy to get an appointment, is it?

Answer

Loads of people can't get in to see a doctor.

Question 20

In an essay, "Adverts trick kids into wanting stuff." is better written as ___.

Accepted Answer

Advertising encourages children to want products they do not need.

Answer

Adverts trick children into wanting things.

Answer

You've seen how adverts work on children.

Answer

A lot of adverts push a lot of products at kids.

Question 21

In a body paragraph about the cost of staff training, which opening is appropriate?

Accepted Answer

A second consideration is the cost of training staff.

Answer

So what about the cost of all this training?

Answer

Anyway, training isn't cheap, as you'd expect.

Answer

Now, let's have a look at how much this costs.

Question 22

In a body paragraph about the shortage of housing, which opening is appropriate?

Accepted Answer

A further factor is the shortage of affordable housing.

Answer

But what about all the people with nowhere to live?

Answer

Right, so housing is the next thing to talk about.

Answer

You also have to think about where people are going to live.

Question 23

In a body paragraph about exam stress, which opening is appropriate?

Accepted Answer

The pressure created by examinations deserves closer attention.

Answer

Well, exams are stressful and everyone knows it.

Answer

Have you ever sat an exam and felt sick with nerves?

Answer

Let me tell you about how stressful exams can be.

Question 24

In a body paragraph about the cost of air travel, which opening is appropriate?

Accepted Answer

The falling price of air travel is a second important factor.

Answer

So, flying is cheap now, isn't it?

Answer

Next up is the price of a plane ticket.

Answer

You've probably flown somewhere cheaply yourself.

Question 25

In a body paragraph about children's screen time, which opening is appropriate?

Accepted Answer

A related concern is the number of hours children spend on screens.

Answer

Okay, so how much screen time is too much?

Answer

Another thing is that kids are on screens all day.

Answer

Think about how long your own children look at a screen.

Question 26

In a body paragraph about rising food prices, which opening is appropriate?

Accepted Answer

The rising cost of basic food is a second consideration.

Answer

And then there's the price of food, which is mad.

Answer

Have you looked at the price of bread lately?

Answer

You'll have noticed that your shopping costs more.

Question 27

A student's essay on recycling contains these sentences. Which one would a marker flag as too casual?

Accepted Answer

Most people can't be bothered to sort their rubbish properly.

Answer

Councils could collect recyclable material more frequently.

Answer

Households are more likely to sort waste when collection is regular.

Answer

The cost of separate collection is met from local taxation.

Question 28

A student's essay on university funding contains these sentences. Which one would a marker flag as too casual?

Accepted Answer

Loads of students end up with a massive debt and nothing to show for it.

Answer

Graduates repay part of the cost through higher taxation.

Answer

Tuition fees have risen faster than average earnings.

Answer

Some courses are considerably more expensive to teach than others.

Question 29

A student's essay on school sport contains these sentences. Which one would a marker flag as too casual?

Accepted Answer

You'd think schools would make kids do more sport, wouldn't you?

Answer

Physical education receives less timetable space than it once did.

Answer

Regular sport is associated with better concentration in class.

Answer

Facilities differ widely between schools in the same district.

Question 30

A student's essay on rural transport contains these sentences. Which one would a marker flag as too casual?

Accepted Answer

There's hardly any buses out in the countryside any more.

Answer

Bus services in rural areas have been reduced considerably.

Answer

Residents without a car depend on a service that no longer runs.

Answer

Subsidising a rural route costs more for each passenger carried.

Question 31

A student's essay on hospital waiting times contains these sentences. Which one would a marker flag as too casual?

Accepted Answer

You can wait ages for an operation and there's nothing you can do.

Answer

Waiting times for routine operations have lengthened.

Answer

Additional staff would reduce the delay for routine procedures.

Answer

Preventive care lowers the number of patients requiring surgery.

Question 32

A student's essay on television advertising contains these sentences. Which one would a marker flag as too casual?

Accepted Answer

A lot of adverts are just annoying and nobody watches them anyway.

Answer

Advertising provides a substantial part of a channel's income.

Answer

Younger viewers cannot always distinguish an advert from a programme.

Answer

Restrictions on advertising differ from one country to another.

Question 33

An essay contains: "The government hasn't funded the scheme properly." What makes this too casual for an essay?

Accepted Answer

It uses a contraction.

Answer

It addresses the reader directly.

Answer

It uses a vague quantifier.

Answer

It asks the reader a question.

Question 34

An essay contains: "A lot of families rely on the service." What makes this too casual for an essay?

Accepted Answer

It uses a vague quantifier.

Answer

It uses a contraction.

Answer

It addresses the reader directly.

Answer

It asks the reader a question.

Question 35

An essay contains: "You will find that the scheme saves money." What makes this too casual for an essay?

Accepted Answer

It addresses the reader directly.

Answer

It uses a contraction.

Answer

It uses a vague quantifier.

Answer

It asks the reader a question.

Question 36

An essay contains: "Why should taxpayers fund this at all?" What makes this too casual for an essay?

Accepted Answer

It asks the reader a question.

Answer

It uses a contraction.

Answer

It addresses the reader directly.

Answer

It uses a vague quantifier.

Question 37

An essay contains: "Loads of teenagers use the app every day." What makes this too casual for an essay?

Accepted Answer

It uses a vague quantifier.

Answer

It uses a contraction.

Answer

It asks the reader a question.

Answer

It addresses the reader directly.

Question 38

An essay contains: "Schools don't teach this subject at all." What makes this too casual for an essay?

Accepted Answer

It uses a contraction.

Answer

It uses a vague quantifier.

Answer

It addresses the reader directly.

Answer

It asks the reader a question.

Question 39

An essay contains: "Imagine you had to walk to work every morning." What makes this too casual for an essay?

Accepted Answer

It addresses the reader directly.

Answer

It uses a contraction.

Answer

It uses a vague quantifier.

Answer

It asks the reader a question.

Question 40

An essay contains: "Is it fair to ask parents to pay twice?" What makes this too casual for an essay?

Accepted Answer

It asks the reader a question.

Answer

It uses a vague quantifier.

Answer

It uses a contraction.

Answer

It addresses the reader directly.

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Formal or Too Casual? - IELTS 5.0 W T2

Ways to Play

Device Games: Students play on their phones

Blast Go

Zombie Escape

Avalanche

Maze Blast

Cave Climb

Blast Out

Mystery Auction

Tour Guide

Food Truck Rush

Tug of War

Alien Blast

Glacier Rush

Board Games: Teacher-led, projected to the class

Like what you see?

Bug Blast

BlastRace

BlastQuiz

BlastBoard

Seek & Destroy

Mystery Blast

Checkers

Texas Hold 'Em

Da Bomb

Castle Siege

Hot Potato

Market Mayhem

King of the Hill

Bank Heist

Top Corner

Formal or Too Casual? - IELTS 5.0 W T2

Ways to Play

Device Games: Students play on their phones

Blast Go

Zombie Escape

Avalanche

Maze Blast

Cave Climb

Blast Out

Mystery Auction

Tour Guide

Food Truck Rush

Tug of War

Alien Blast

Glacier Rush

Board Games: Teacher-led, projected to the class

Like what you see?

More like this

Bug Blast

BlastRace

BlastQuiz

BlastBoard

Seek & Destroy

Mystery Blast

Checkers

Texas Hold 'Em

Da Bomb

Castle Siege

Hot Potato

Market Mayhem

King of the Hill

Bank Heist

Top Corner