IELTS Essay On Historical Places : Perfect Samples & Tips

The IELTS or International English language Testing System is a standardized test that measures the English language proficiency of non-native English speakers. The IELTS writing section has two tasks. For task 2, applicants need to write an essay on topics of general interest. An IELTS essay on historical places is an example of a common topic like history.

A question is usually given with a view or argument. Test takers need to write a formal response to the question in the format of an essay. It is important for the test takers who are preparing for an upcoming IELTS test to practice the common topics. Find below some of the samples along with the necessary tips to write an 8 band essay on historical places.

IELTS Essay On Historical Places: Sample 1

The museums and ancient sites are visited by tourists rather than the localities. 

What are the reasons? What measures can be taken to encourage local people to visit the historical sites? 

Historical places connect us to the past. We find our roots through historical sites and museums and relate with the past cultures. Several cities and countries are known today for their historical sites, and their former glory. These entities depict the ancient way of living and the traditions practiced in the previous years. However, the historical places and museums are mainly visited by tourists from other cities and countries. They do not draw a lot of interest from local communities. Let us take a look at all the reasons why we cannot find locals visiting ancient sites near their homes.

Locals find nothing new or particularly interesting about historical sites and the artifacts present in the museums in their vicinity. They have been living around them for so long that these locations have turned into blind spots.

Sadly, we travel to witness the historic beauty of other countries and cities and show little interest in historical places around us. We often pass by the historical places and the appeal of visiting them is lost. Over that, we also spend most of our lives in that particular area and do not consider it as a source of recreation or knowledge. For us, the historical sites located in our areas are similar to regular places that we see daily. The tourists are interested to learn about the cultural heritage and historical remains of various cities and states. They take out time and arrange money to explore the ancient sites and museums. On the other hand, the locals are busy making plans to visit places in other cities and countries. The basic reason is the site that you witness every day does not attract you as much. 

On many occasions, the locals are already aware of the culture and historic significance of a place and there is nothing new to discover. They consider it to be a waste of money and time, instead, they consider traveling to a new place. After all, no one is willing to spend on the same experiences. A tourist, on the other hand, finds it interesting to explore new places, cultures, food habits, shopping destinations, and ancient museums. 

As of now, the local people hardly visit the historical sites and museums around them. However, the situation should not remain the same. The government needs to take measures to rekindle interest among the local people and urge them to visit the historic areas in their vicinity.

Firstly, the tickets for entering the historic sites for locals should either be free or minimally priced. Free tickets will attract the masses. Local people must have full means to pay for visiting a local heritage site. 

Secondly, the historical sites and museums can portray new work and amusement activities that create interest among the local people. A museum can conduct various cultural shows, interactive sessions, and exhibitions for the local people so that the bond with the local communities stays alive. If the local people are allowed to participate and display their talent and artwork in the museums, we may see a rise in the number of locals visiting these places. 

Thirdly, festivals can be held in these historical sites. People usually love to celebrate festivals within their communities. So, if festivals are celebrated in the museums and historical sites we should see the sites filled with locals enjoying their hearts out. 

That being said, if implemented well, these measures can be effective in gaining a good amount of attention from the local people. Tourists have their reasons to visit a new place but to increase the attendance of local people, the government needs to take some of these special measures. 

IELTS Essay On Historical Places: Sample 2

Many historical buildings and sites protected by law are part of a nation’s history. Some people think they should be knocked down and others think they should be preserved. Give your opinion. 

Sites of historical relevance are particularly important because they connect people with their roots. The ancient connections with modern civilization shine bright in many famous historical and archaeological sites all around the world – from the everlasting pyramids of Egypt to the majestic Taj Mahal in India.

The order of things has changed with urbanization and modernization. Today, many people argue that historical sites should be knocked down, reducing them to worn-out ugly buildings in front of modern infrastructure. They argue that the past is a good place to relate, but not good for development and growth. It incurs high costs for preservation and does not contribute towards development. I strongly feel that historical sites are beautiful and they must be preserved. 

Firstly, historical sites are the key remains of our ancestors. It helps modern society to learn about different faiths, cultures, developments, civilizations, and a lot more. Historical sites also promote cultural diversity and uphold the values, traditions, and culture of a particular country or city. Demolishing a piece of history to build modern infrastructure is not the value we are trying to achieve. With history being erased we will lose out on the roots to which we belong. 

Secondly, many parts of the world largely depend on the tourism industry for generating revenue and employment. The money generated by tourism accounts for more than 5% of global GDP. Historical places are among the main attractions and pull factors for tourism. How can developing countries afford to lose this source of revenue? Many states and cities completely sustain themselves based on the tourism industry. This, in turn, calls for the better preservation of our cultural heritage. 

Thirdly, a small city or country gets recognition on the global map due to its famous historical sites that attract tourists from all over the world. Historical sites have helped many hidden places gain recognition and fame.

Lastly, historical buildings are the nation’s pride. For example, the ‘Taj Mahal’ of India, and the ‘Great Wall of China’, represent the respective countries themselves. These sites have both cultural and economic value for the countries they are located in.

Summing up, I strongly believe that historical sites should be preserved. A country’s ancient architecture speaks a lot about its beautiful timeless past and glory. Historical sites bind one generation to another and they help string together memories of the past.

Tips to Write an IELTS Winning Essay

• The minimum word limit for the task 2 essay is 250. There is no upper word limit. 
• You have 40 minutes to complete the essay.
• Answer all parts of the questions. There can be more than one part. For example, in sample 1, there are two parts – the reasons why the local people do not visit the historic places and the measures to encourage local people to visit the historic sites.
• Use related common vocabulary – some words for an essay on ‘historical places’ are ancient, culture, historic, contemporary, famous, roots, past, values, heritage, tradition, and tourism.
• Use the relevant synonyms to write an essay after brainstorming your ideas. 
• Do not use bullet points or numbers to write advantages and disadvantages or discuss the arguments. It is recommended to write 3-4 ideas and explain them with relevant information and examples. 
• Spellings are important. Do not make spelling mistakes. Avoid using complicated and long ones to avoid mistakes. 
• Do not miss your conclusion. It is important. Take time to summarize the key information in the essay. 
• There are various kinds of essays and each of them needs to be written differently. Some of the common ones are agree-disagree, advantages-disadvantages, opinion essays, and problem-solution essays. 
• You need to give your opinion in an opinion essay and it should have relevant reasons and ideas. 
• In an ‘advantage and disadvantage’ essay, you need to focus on both advantages and disadvantages of a particular topic.
• In an ‘agree and disagree’ essay, you need to speak for both sides and mention if you ‘agree’ or ‘disagree’ with valid reasons.
• If you are using facts and numbers, they should match with the official sources.
• Organize your essay in short paragraphs. Do not write long paragraphs. 
• Practice the topics that are frequently used in task 2. Some of the common topics are art, crime, education, modern technology, globalization, historical places, and social problems.
• Marks in Task 2 are awarded based on lexical resources, vocabulary, grammar, and coherence. So, focus on all the aspects while writing.
• The essay should be written in a formal or semi-formal tone. Be careful with the words that you choose to express ideas and concepts. 

Do you need more help with writing a winning essay on ‘historical places’? Get in touch with the academic counselors of upGrad Abroad for additional guidance.