Simon’s ielts writing task 2

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Wednesday, March 23, 2016 
IELTS Writing Task 2: what makes a good paragraph? 
I asked my students to plan some ideas for the 'happiness' question that you can see in 
this 
lesson
(the students hadn't seen my full essay). We then wrote a band 9 paragraph together (see 
below). 
Paragraph answering the question 'why is happiness difficult to define?':
Happiness is almost impossible to explain because it is an abstract concept with no definite meaning. 
It can mean or represent something completely different depending on a person's age, culture or 
background. For some people, happiness is a feeling of pleasure in a particular moment, whereas for 
others, it is a state of mind. Children, for example, are happiest when playing, laughing and having 
fun, while adults usually equate happiness with health, security, financial stability or success. In other 

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Compiled by Diyorbek Hayitmurodov ielts-simon.com Page 144 
words, we all have different views or requirements, and so we seek contentment in our own individual 
ways. 
But what makes this a 'band 9' paragraph?
 
Can you analyse it in terms of the 
4 criteria
? 
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Saturday, March 26, 2016 
IELTS Vocabulary: band 7-9 phrases 
Did you note down these good phrases from Wednesday's 
lesson
? 

it is an abstract concept with no definite meaning 

it can mean or represent 

depending on a person's age, culture or background 

a feeling of pleasure in a particular moment 

a state of mind 

adults equate happiness with... 

health, security, financial stability or success 

we seek contentment 

in our own individual ways 
If you want to write at a band 7-9 level, vocabulary is the key!