IELTS Writing Task 2 topics: Globalisation and culture, with practice questions and ideas
Quick answer
IELTS publishes no list of Task 2 topics. Globalisation and culture is one of the themes candidates commonly report from practice material, usually through the loss of traditions and languages, international tourism, global brands, studying abroad and a shared global language. Prepare ideas and vocabulary for each angle, and practise each essay shape, but do not memorise an essay: content unrelated to the question is penalised.
The app marks a Task 2 essay on all four criteria and gives an Examiner's Summary, so you can check that your essay on culture answers the question you were given.
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On this page
Questions on globalisation and culture ask what happens to local ways of life as people, products and ideas move across borders. They are often phrased with big words, such as heritage or identity, so the skill is to turn them into concrete, limited points. IELTS publishes no list of Task 2 topics, and the themes here are candidate-reported from practice material, so prepare by theme and by essay shape, not by guessing the exact question.
The angles this theme comes up with
Traditions and languages. A question may ask whether traditional customs, crafts or minority languages are disappearing, and whether this matters. You weigh preserving heritage against the way societies naturally change.
International tourism. Practice material often reports questions on the effects of tourism on local places. You weigh the contact and opportunity it brings against crowding and changes to local life.
Global brands and shared tastes. A question may ask whether the same shops, food and entertainment are appearing everywhere. You weigh wider choice against growing sameness.
Studying and working abroad. Questions may ask whether young people should spend time in another country. You weigh the experience gained against the risk of losing links with home.
A global language. A question may ask whether one international language, usually English, is helpful or harmful. You weigh easier communication against pressure on other languages.
Practice questions
These ten questions are invented for practice, in our own words. They are not copied from any list or past paper. Each is labelled with its shape; the first of each shape links to that shape’s guide.
- Traditional customs are disappearing because young people prefer modern ways of life. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Agree or disagree
- Some people think the spread of international food and fashion brands harms local culture. Others believe it gives people more choice. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. Discuss both views
- More young people are choosing to study in another country. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend? Advantages and disadvantages
- Many minority languages are disappearing as younger generations speak a more widely used language. What problems does this cause, and what can be done to protect them? Problem and solution
- International tourism is increasing in many historic towns. Why is this happening? Is it a positive or negative development? Two-part question
- Governments should do more to protect traditional crafts and festivals, even if few people are interested in them. Do you agree or disagree? Agree or disagree
- Some people believe that one global language would bring the world closer together. Others think it would damage cultural diversity. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. Discuss both views
- Many people now watch films and programmes made in other countries. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages? Advantages and disadvantages
- Local shops and restaurants in many towns are being replaced by international chains. What problems does this cause, and what could be done about it? Problem and solution
- Some people feel less connected to their national culture than previous generations did. What are the reasons for this? What can be done to encourage young people to value their heritage? Two-part question
Ideas for and against
Traditions and languages
- For protecting them: customs and crafts carry a community’s history, and once the last practitioner dies the knowledge is hard to recover.
- For protecting them: a shared festival brings generations together, which gives young people a sense of belonging.
- Against heavy protection: cultures have always changed, and forcing young people to keep customs they find meaningless may turn them away from heritage altogether.
- Against: a tradition kept alive only for visitors may become a performance, losing its original meaning.
International tourism
- For: visitors create work for guides, drivers and craftspeople, so younger residents are more likely to stay in their home town.
- For: meeting people from other countries breaks down stereotypes, and residents may take new pride in their own heritage.
- Against: crowds can make historic streets unpleasant for those who live there, and local people may feel like strangers in their own town.
- Against: when a district is built around visitors, ordinary shops are replaced by souvenir stands and daily life changes.
Global brands and shared tastes
- For: a wider range of food, music and clothing lets people try something new, and local producers may learn from foreign methods.
- For: international companies often bring training and jobs to towns that would otherwise have few.
- Against: identical shops and menus make cities look alike, so a place loses what made it distinctive.
- Against: small family businesses may find it hard to compete with large chains, and a local recipe or skill may disappear when they close.
Studying and working abroad
- For: living abroad teaches independence and adaptability, which employers value on return.
- For: students bring back new ideas and contacts that can benefit their home country.
- Against: some graduates settle abroad, so their country loses skilled people it trained.
- Against: a young person far from home may feel lonely and struggle with the language, so the experience can affect study results.
A global language
- For: a common language lets scientists, businesses and travellers communicate directly, so ideas spread faster.
- For: learning it gives individuals access to more courses, jobs and information.
- Against: if children are taught mostly in the global language, the local language may be used less at home and gradually fade.
- Against: those who speak it as a first language gain an advantage in international settings, which can make the exchange unequal.
Vocabulary for this theme
| Word or phrase | What it means | In a sentence |
|---|---|---|
| cultural heritage | customs, buildings and traditions passed down from earlier generations | Protecting cultural heritage means more than preserving old buildings. |
| cultural identity | the sense of belonging to a particular culture | Language is a central part of cultural identity for many communities. |
| traditional values | long-held beliefs about how people should behave | Traditional values are often taught at home, not at school. |
| cultural diversity | the presence of many different cultures in one society | Cultural diversity makes a city’s food and festivals more varied. |
| globalisation | the growing connection of economies and cultures worldwide | Globalisation has made it easy to hear music from any country. |
| homogenisation | the process by which things become more alike | Critics fear the homogenisation of high streets in different countries. |
| mass tourism | travel by very large numbers of visitors | Mass tourism can overwhelm a small fishing village. |
| cultural exchange | the sharing of ideas and customs between cultures | A student exchange is a simple form of cultural exchange. |
| minority language | a language spoken by a small part of a population | A minority language may survive only if children are taught it. |
| local customs | the usual ways of behaving in a particular place | Visitors should learn local customs before they arrive. |
| die out | to disappear completely | Without regular use, some dialects will die out within a generation. |
| preserve | to protect something from being lost or damaged | The museum works to preserve traditional weaving techniques. |
A worked plan
Planned from question 1: Traditional customs are disappearing because young people prefer modern ways of life. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
- Position: I partly agree. Some customs are fading, but the cause is changing daily life, not young people simply rejecting them.
- Introduction: Rephrase the statement, then state the position and its limit in one sentence.
- Body paragraph one (agree): Reason: young people spend much of their time online and in cities, away from the settings where customs are passed on. Consequence: fewer of them learn the songs, recipes and crafts of their grandparents. Example: a village festival that once involved the whole community may attract only older residents because the young have moved away for work.
- Body paragraph two (limit): Reason: many young people value tradition when they are given a way to take part. Consequence: customs can adapt and continue in new forms. Example: a craft workshop shared on video platforms may reach young viewers who then learn the skill themselves.
- Conclusion: Restate the position in different words: some customs are declining because of how people now live, but they are not lost where young people can take part. No new argument.
How the app marks it
IELTS Mentor AI marks a Task 2 essay on all four criteria and gives an Examiner’s Summary, followed by what worked and how to improve for each criterion. For an essay on culture, read the Task Response comments first: they show whether your sweeping claims about “young people” or “tradition” were limited and supported by an example.
Where this fits
This page is one of the theme pages behind the general answer to what the common Task 2 topics are. Practise each theme in every shape: agree or disagree, discuss both views, problem and solution, advantages and disadvantages and two-part questions. To see how bands differ on one question, read the agree or disagree essay at Band 6, 7 and 8. When you have written an essay, use the essay checker.
Frequently asked questions
What are the common IELTS Writing Task 2 culture topics?
IELTS publishes no list, so no one can tell you which culture question you will get. Practice material commonly reports the loss of traditions, international tourism, global brands, studying abroad and the spread of English. Prepare them as angles with specific examples, not as a forecast.
Do I need to know other cultures to write about this theme?
No. IELTS marks how well you develop an argument, not how much you know about other countries. A clear general example, such as a local dish replaced by imported food in a town's restaurants, can support a point. Only name a country or custom when you are sure of it.
Is it safe to write about my own country's traditions?
Yes, if it answers the question and you explain it so that a reader who does not know your country can follow. Use it as one example inside an argument, not as a description. IELTS.org says content not related to the topic is penalised.
How do I avoid overgeneralising in this theme?
Questions in this theme invite sweeping claims such as "all young people ignore tradition". Limit them: use words like "many", "in some cases" or "often", and give one concrete example for each idea. A developed, careful point is stronger than a broad statement.
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