IELTS General Training Writing Practice Test 2 - IELTS Writing Past Questions and Answers - page 1

Dear Ms Thornton,

I am writing to thank you for organising last Saturday's volunteer day at Riverside Food Bank and to share a few thoughts about the experience. I was assigned to the packing team, where I spent most of the morning assembling food parcels for families and checking expiry dates on tinned goods before they were placed in boxes.

Although the work itself was rewarding, one difficulty I encountered was the shortage of clear labelling on donated items. Several packets arrived without ingredient lists, which slowed the packing process because we had to set them aside for review. This meant that the team waiting to load deliveries was left idle for nearly half an hour.

I believe future volunteer days could run more smoothly if donors were given simple guidance in advance about what items are most useful and how they should be labelled. It might also help to divide newcomers into smaller groups with an experienced volunteer leading each one.

Thank you again for coordinating such a worthwhile event. I would be happy to take part again.

Kind regards,

Elena Vasquez

Skilled trades have long formed the backbone of housing, transport, and public infrastructure, yet in numerous countries fewer school leavers are training as electricians, plumbers, or carpenters. This trend may create serious practical problems unless governments and employers take deliberate steps to attract new recruits.

One major consequence is a growing shortage of qualified workers to maintain essential services. When experienced tradespeople retire, there are often insufficient replacements to carry out repairs, install renewable energy systems, or build affordable housing. As a result, waiting times increase and labour costs rise, which affects both households and businesses. In addition, communities that lack local apprentices may become dependent on contractors from other regions, weakening regional economies.

Several measures could help reverse the decline. Schools could present trades as respected career paths by inviting apprentices to speak about their training and earnings, rather than treating university entry as the only measure of success. Governments might also fund shorter, employer-linked training programmes and offer tax incentives to companies that hire apprentices. Practical experience matters: when I was at school, a one-week placement with a local builder showed me how varied and skilled the work could be, and similar schemes could change perceptions among teenagers.

In conclusion, a continued fall in trade apprenticeships threatens everyday infrastructure and economic stability. By improving careers guidance and making vocational training more accessible, societies can ensure that essential skills are not lost.