Thank you I want to thank everyone here on Italki. I sat my IELTS exam on September 26 and I got the scores that I needed. Probably I wouldn't have managed without the help of those who bothered correcting my notes, essays and graph/chart descriptions, and without the extraordinary help and support of my wonderful language partners who encouraged me becoming more self-confident. This means so much to me. Thanks from the bottom of my heart!

IELTS Task 2 - Prevention is better than cure TITLE "Prevention is better than cure" Out of a country's health budget, a large proportion should be diverted from treatment to spending on health education and preventative measures. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?" Nowadays, a significant proportion of the world population is suffering from various diseases caused by a highly unhealthy lifestyle. Although it is important that governments destine a large amount of money for the treatment and the cure of such diseases, I am of the opinion that a considerable share of this sum should be invested in prevention. The vast majority of the modern diseases are due to bad eating habits, a sedentary lifestyle and vices such as smoking and overdrinking. Since people spend almost the entire day at the workplace, they have limited time to take care of their health. They do less exercise, tend not to walk and to rely on ready-made meals which are easier to cook and less time-consuming. Furthermore, smoking and drinking are extremely harmful to our bodies and induce governments to spend a conspicuous part of the health budget on curing their negative effects. Therefore, however important cure and treatment may be, a significant amount of the expenditure on health should be utilized for preventative measures. These include promoting an active lifestyle, educating individuals to be more responsible and aware of the beneficial effects of doing exercise regularly, and warning people against the risks of consuming certain types of food. Not only would this help citizens remain in good health, but it would also result in the possibility for the state to economize in the long run. In conclusion, being several diseases caused by a detrimental lifestyle, I tend to believe that the most effective solution to health problems could be investing a large sum of money in preventing and eradicating harmful habits.

IELTS Task 2 - News editors decide what to broadcast on television and what to print TITLE: "News editors decide what to broadcast on television and what to print in newspapers. What factors do you think influence these decisions? Do we become used to bad news? Would it be better if more good news was reported?" News editors hold a powerful position in deciding what news is to be delivered through means of communication such as television and the press. They generally opt for impressive content and dramatic events, which can represent a high risk for the public to become gradually less sensitive to bad news. However, I tend to believe that is the responsibility of the audience and the readership to remain critical and aware so as not to become used to other people's tragedies. Editors' choices are influenced by a variety of factors. One of these is certainly public's preferences, which are in turn influenced by the current trends. This means that editors decide what to broadcast and print according to what is most popular and impressive in a certain period. Another factor may consist in an underlying political propaganda. In these days, for instance, some television programmes and newspaper articles, with their huge coverage of news concerning both the migrants' tragedies and homicides committed by some of them, might be suspected of an alleged attemp to highlight the government's inefficiency so as to obtain votes for opposition parties. The coverage of news related to such unfortunate events is likely to affect the public in two different ways. Not only can it feed feelings of anger, but it could also result in an increasingly less sensitive attitude towards other individuals' suffering. Nevertheless, it is fundamental to stay informed about what is happening in one's own nation and around the world. Therefore, it is necessary that the media continue to give space to what is actually occurring around us, without attempting to hide it or make it more pleasant. In conclusion, although we would be delighted to hear and read of more positive stories and events, my opinion is that dramatic news should continue to be broadcast. It is our responsibility as viewers and readers to remain aware of the dramatic message that such news is conveying.

IELTS Task 2 - Allowance of jobs for skilled and knowledgeable employees from poor countries. GIVEN TASK: "Rich countries should allow jobs for skilled and knowledgeable employees who are from poor countries. To what extent do you agree or disagree?" Nowadays, a rising number of skilled and capable people from underdeveloped countries decide to move to developed nations to find a worthwhile job. Whether they should be granted availability of jobs is a controversial issue on which there are conflicting opinions. As far as I am concerned, qualified immigrants should be regarded as a resource; therefore, both state institutions and private companies should grant them the opportunity to work. As our societies are becoming increasingly multicultural, many are of the opinion that providing a high number of experts from poor countries with job opportunities could be counterproductive. However wealthy a nation may be, it does not mean it can grant employment to an unlimited number of individuals. This may result in negative consequences for domestic workers, who may suddenly find themselves unemployed, and for young graduates, who may not manage to find an occupation after having completed their higher education programme. Nevertheless, allowing jobs for specialists from developing nations may have several beneficial effects on the economy of rich countries, as well as on the quality of the services they offer. In facts, skilled workers who come from another social and working context may contribute to the profits of a company by bringing different perspectives, thus helping it remain vital and flexible. Furthermore, educated immigrants are undoubtedly essential to the wealthy nations' education systems. For instance, universities could not provide quality language courses without relying on native-speaker teachers who come from the target-language countries. To conclude, although employing people from poor economies may have some drawbacks, I am of the view that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages and that rich countries should commit to providing job opportunities to all of those who possess the required skills.

To run up an overdraft Some days ago I came across this phrase: "to run up an overdraft at the bank". I can perfectly understand its meaning, but I was wondering if the verb "run up" can be replaced with a more formal option. Any suggestions? Thank you so much.

IELTS task 2 - Leadership qualities "Some people believe that good leaders are born, whereas others hold the opinion that the leadership qualities could be obtained during the life. Who represents the good leader qualities indeed?" It is often said that the qualities which make a great leader are innate and cannot be acquired and developed during a person's lifetime. However, some people are of the opinion that leaders are not necessarily born and that much can be done to achieve leadership skills. As far as I am concerned, almost everyone could potentially be a leader, as long as they are willing to work on themselves, both professionally and personally. Undoubtedly, someone who aspires to being a leader should possess some inborn traits, such as charisma. A charismatic person, indeed, is more likely to be regarded as a guide and a role model. In addition, individuals who have a natural ability of captivating their listeners or those with whom they work have more possibilities of being trusted and to achieve remarkable results. Nevertheless, there are additional features which play a significant role in making a good leader. Self confidence, for instance, is one of those, and it can be obtained through a hard work on oneself and a positive interaction with other people. Another indispensable requirement is to be an expert in the field in which one has the ambition of being a guide, and this also can be accomplished without the help of particular innate qualities. Despite the importance of factors such as inborn traits and acquired skills, there is an ingredient that should never be missing for making an effective leader. That is motivation. Martin Luther King, for example, was certainly a charismatic and experienced person, but he probably would not have managed to leave an idelible mark on the human rights history if he had not been motivated. To conclude, I would argue that although it is important for true leaders to have some natural qualities, it is also essential to be genuinely interested in developing themeselves, both from a personal and a professional point of view, as well as being motivated and firmy believing in their aims.

Use of "such as" Hi to everyone! I have a doubt about the use of "such as". I know that you can use this expression when introducing a list (when you don't want to mention all the items/qualities/etc. in the list, but just a few to make an example). This means that it has to be followed by two or more nouns. What about those cases in which you want to mention only one of the items/qualities/etc.? Here's an example in order for you to understand: "Undoubtedly, someone who aspires to being a good leader should possess some inborn traits such as charisma." Is it correct or is there a more appropriate way to construct this sentence? The style has to be formal. Thanks in advance :)

IELTS task 2 - Death Penalty "By punishing murders with the death penalty, society is also guilty of committing murder. Therefore, life in prison is a better punishment for murders. Discuss both these views and give your opinion." Whether to punish murderers with the capital punishment or not has always been a controversial issue with which judicial systems all over the world have to deal. Personally, I believe that imprisonment could be a more effective solution to reduce crime and promote a more fair and peaceful society. Although we live in a civilized society which spreads values such as peace, democracy and respect for life, many are still those who support the death penalty as a way to deter crime and promote justice. There are several reasons why this is the case. Many argue, indeed, that the capital punishment conveys the message that by no means can crime be tolerated. Moreover, it is regarded as an effective means to discourage murderers from killing, since it would be excessively counterproductive. Despite all the possible positive outcomes the death penalty may have, it is fundamental to consider the deep implications of such a means of punishment. By killing murderers, society reproduces the same action for which murderers are convicted and punished. Judicial systems should exist, instead, in order to help people understand that homicide is the most violent act towards someone and that it should never be committed, not to commit it themselves. Therefore, I am of the opinion that imprisonment could have more beneficial consequences than death penalty, both for people who commit murder and for the society as a whole. Not only do prisons mean a fair punishment, but they can also mean rehabilitation. This is a key point, since their aim should be mostly to rehabilitate violent people and give them the opportunity to learn values such as sharing and respect. In summary, I do not believe capital punishment to be an effective measure to eradicate violent attitudes, since it promotes the same violence it tries to eliminate.

IELTS task 2 - Over-reliance on public cars "More and more people are relying on the private car as their major means of transportation. Describe some of the problems over-reliance on cars can cause, and suggest at least one possible solution." Nowadays, the number of those who depend on their own car to travel or to commute to work is on the increase, both in developed and in developing countries. This dependence leads to a range of problems which simultaneously affect citizens, cities and the environment and that should, therefore, be properly addressed. One of the most evident negative consequences of car overuse is certainly congestion. At least one member of the modern family owns a private car, which means an excessive number of vehicles on city streets, especially during the rush hour. This often results in heavy traffic, which makes it difficult for cities inhabitants to arrive at work on time. Another important factor to consider with respect to over-reliance on private motor vehicles is the impact it can have on people's health, both psychologically and physically. Not only spending a huge amount of time on the streets can cause stress, anxiety and a deep sense of frustration, but it can also lead to respiratory diseases such as asthma and bronchitis, due to the exhaust emissions which inhabitants of cities are forced to inhale. Not less important is the danger that the dependence on cars can represent for the environment. The vast majority of vehicles are not environmentally friendly, since they rely on fossil fuel to work, and their emissions are a major cause of air pollution. This is likely to endanger wild animals and the survival of their natural habitats in the long run. Fortunately, there is more than one fiseable approach that may help reduce the usage of cars in our cities. An effective solution could be for the governments to charge congestion fees on drivers who enter the city centres, so as to discourage them from using prevalently their private conveyance. Furthermore, public transportation systems could be maximised, in order to become increasingly reliable and comfortable. To conclude, the extensive usage of means of private trasportation has several negative outcomes; nevertheless, it can be controlled and reduced, provided that institutions are willing to take responsibility and make major decisions to improve the quality of public services.