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Just as in introductions, so many students get stuck when it comes to conclusions. The result? Well, sometimes the ending is rushed, other times it is extremely short and poor. Even worse, there are times when it is not a conclusion at all. Instead, it is yet another paragraph which introduces new and even interesting  information; information which should not be in a conclusion. So, remember! In a conclusion you are meant to conclude, to sum up, to recapitulate and so on. Under no circumstances are you to write about anything that has not been elaborated on in the main body of your essay. In addition, make your conclusions interesting, show the examiner you have enjoyed completing your task and the time has now come for the grand finale! For, despite what you may think, conclusions are just as important as introductions. They are the last impression the examiner is left with and it should, by all means, be a lasting one! :)  

​The issue of whether it is our upbringing or our genes which form our personality and abilities has always been a controversial one. While some maintain that it is the parents who determine a child’s development, others believe it is a matter of genetic inheritance.
 
It is true that genes play a primary role in the abilities or talents a young person may manifest while they are growing up. We often hear of prodigy children who are born by highly accomplished and intelligent parents. These children may demonstrate a particular inclination or innate talent such as reading or adding at a pre-school age. In such cases it is undeniable that their skills have been the product of genes not their environment.
 
However, one cannot ignore the fact that a person’s development is also determined by the environment in which they are being raised. A talent alone cannot flourish or even become evident unless it is encouraged and nurtured. If, for example, someone has an aptitude for music but has never had the opportunity to attend music lessons, there is little chance they will ever discover what that aptitude is. It is, therefore, up to the parents to help their offspring explore and expand any inclination they may have.
 
In conclusion, there is no clear-cut answer as to whether it is genes or indeed their upbringing which mold a young person’s tendencies. It is rather a balanced combination of the two which leads to the very discovery and development of their talents. 

Remember! When you write your introduction do not copy phrases from the task. Sometimes students can't think of a better way to express what they want or simply find it easier to copy part of the task. Copying an exact phrase is not the solution, however! You will be penalized for doing so.... so please, please, avoid it at all costs.

Let's take for example the beginning of the previous task: "Online shopping has been growing exponentially...." Copying 'online shopping' is acceptable but the rest should be rephrased. There are numerous ways of doing this: Online shopping 'has increased dramatically', 'has doubled in the last decade', 'is becoming more and more frequent' etc.
Under no circumstances do we repeat 'growing exponentially' no matter how 'perfect' it sounds.
Post a comment if you have any questions and I hope this is helpful! :)  

​Most of us know that a baby dog is called a PUPPY and a baby cat is a KITTEN. Maybe we even know that a baby bear is a CUB but what do we call a baby owl? Or a baby spider? Or even a baby swan? :) So a baby owl is called an OWLET and a baby spider is a SPIDERLING. Can you tell me the last one, the baby swan? And if you can think of any other baby animals that you know write a comment! :)