IELTS Writing & Speaking: 5 mind maps / brainstorming ideas on traffic accidents, drug addiction, global warming, brain drain & culture shock; for task 2 essays, speaking part 2 & 3

July 14, 2019May 16, 2023

This post on mind maps or brainstorming is for candidates who find it difficult to arrange / find out ideas for IELTS Writing Task 2 and Speaking part 2 / cue card and part 3 questions. Hopefully, these 5 mind-maps on drug addiction, traffic accidents, global warming, brain drain & culture shock will help you gather ideas quickly to write essays or speak on a topic card or more complex questions for sometime.

It is quite common that IELTS candidates often find it difficult to put together some ideas on different topics and it becomes fairly difficult for them to write an IELTS Writing Task 2 essay or speak on a topic/cue/task card in IELTS Speaking part 2.

Keeping this in mind, here I’ve arranged 5 mind-maps or brainstorming ideas on 5 basic IELTS topics. You will find these topics in almost all the IELTS books, hand-notes, blogs etc. Let’s have a look.

1. Drug Addiction

Here is a mind map on drug addiction.

You can use this mind-map to generate your ideas for the following IELTS Writing Task 2 essays.

Clear evidence on the use of drugs prevails in modern societies. However, today’s teenagers and youths are doing both legal and illegal researches on drugs. Some social experts maintain that parents and other legal guardians of society can barely do anything to control them. Discuss the reasons and effects of this extensive drug abuse by young generation. Propose any suggestions that you believe are necessary to help combat drug abuse among youths.
Teenagers are progressively becoming drug addicts in nearly every country of the world. What are the outcomes of this social problem? Suggest some preventive measures to fight this hazard.
Some experts consider that the trouble of illegal drugs can be solved by just making all drugs legal. Others, however, feel that this issue can only be solved by educating everyone in the society about it. Discuss both the views and offer your own opinions on the matter.
Drug addiction in the society spreads only because of careless guardians. How far do you agree or disagree?

You can also use the mind-map to generate your ideas for the following IELTS Speaking part 2- cue cards.

Describe a time when you had to help someone in danger.

You should say:

When it happened
Who you helped
Why you helped him/her
And how you felt after helping him/her

Describe a social problem that is affecting your locality seriously.

You should say:

What the problem is
How it is affecting your locality
What the present condition is
And how this problem can be solved

You can also use the mind-map to generate your ideas for the following IELTS Speaking part 3 questions.

Do you think addiction should be considered as a disease?
Why do you think youths are so interested in drugs?
Do you think the government can solve the problem?
How was the situation of drug abuse 20 years ago?
Why is this problem spreading so rapidly?

2.Traffic accidents

Here is a mind map on traffic accidents.

You can use this mind-map to generate your ideas for the following IELTS Writing Task 2 essays.

A big number of deaths are caused by road accidents every year. Why do so many accidents occur? Make recommendations which may help reduce the number of road accidents.
The best way to decrease the number of traffic accidents is to raise the age limit for younger drivers and to lower the age limit for aged drivers. Do you agree or disagree?
Some experts claim that the best way to reduce traffic accidents is individual awareness. Others are of the opinion that only tougher rules and regulations can only solve this problem. What is your opinion about this?
Lately there has been a rapid boost in the number of public deaths on the highways. Traffic designers blame drivers for driving aggressively while drivers articulate that the roads are terrible for traffic use. Who, in your opinion, is to be blamed for the mishaps that are responsible for tragic deaths caused on roads?

You can also use the mind-map to generate your ideas for the following IELTS Speaking part 2- cue cards.

Describe a tragic road accident you saw.

You should say:

Where the accident occurred
Where you were at that time
How the accident affected you
And give details about the accident.

You can also use the mind-map to generate your ideas for the following IELTS Speaking part 3 questions.

Do you think traffic accidents can be avoided by installing technology?
How should be the law against road accidents?
How do you think traffic accidents can be solved immediately?
Who are to blame for the problem?

3. Global warming

You can use this mind-map to generate your ideas for the following IELTS Writing Task 2 essays.

Global warming is now one of the hot topics around the world now. It is affecting both the environment and the biodiversity. Discuss the reasons behind this problem and suggest some preventive measures to tackle this problem.
Many experts are worried about global warming as latest researches show that the worldwide boost in temperature is becoming worse. In addition, research suggests that global warming the levels of pollution in the atmosphere degenerate the overall temperature of the earth. Discuss the effects of global warming and probable solutions to the problem.
Global warming is the ultimate result of human activities the negatively affect our environment. How far do you agree or disagree? Is there a way to slow down the effects of global warming?
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The only way to reduce the effects of global warming quickly is planting more and more trees.

You can also use the mind-map to generate your ideas for the following IELTS Speaking part 2- cue cards.

Describe a great problem that is affecting the whole world.

You should say:

What the problem is
Since when it has come to our attention
How big the damage is
And suggest some solutions for this problem.

You can also use the mind-map to generate your ideas for the following IELTS Speaking part 3 questions.

Discuss how global warming can be solved.
What kind of affects of global warming have you observed in your country?
In what ways global warming damage the ecosystem?
Is global warming preventable? If so, how?

4. Brain drain

You can use this mind-map to generate your ideas for the following IELTS Writing Task 2 essays.

A rising number of experts, such as doctors, engineers and teachers, are leaving their native countries to give their labour in first-world countries. What are the reasons behind this tendency? What recommendations can you provide to deal with this situation?
The main reason behind the rapid migration of professionals in developed nations is job and financial insecurity. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Some experts claim that brain drain can only be solved if government comes forward to support the professionals. Others say that individual love and responsibility for native country is important to stop this trend. What is your opinion about it?

You can also use the mind-map to generate your ideas for the following IELTS Speaking part 3 questions.

What is a brain drain? Do you think it is helpful for maintaining good relation between nations?
In what ways can the rich nations help poor nations?
What are the social and cultural effects of brain drain?
Can brain drain be beneficial for a country?
When do you think brain drain occurs?

5. Culture Shock

You can use this mind-map to generate your ideas for the following IELTS Writing Task 2 essays.

Settling into new customs and cultures can be extremely difficult. Although some ‘culture shock’ is unavoidable, there are numerous ways to make living abroad much easier. Do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Going overseas for university study is an exciting experience for many students. However, it may offer some advantages but it is almost certainly better to stay home because of the complexities a student inescapably faces living and studying in a different society. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Offer your personal opinion.
It is often believed by many people that the best way to understand a culture is by learning the language used in that particular culture. Do you agree or disagree?

You can also use the mind-map to generate your ideas for the following IELTS Speaking part 2- cue cards.