IELTS Essay: Standards of Living
This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of standards of living from the real IELTS exam.
Be sure to check out some of my other resources here:
IELTS Problem Solution Questions
IELTS Discuss both Sides Questions
Dave
IELTS Essay: Standards of Living
A rise in the standard of living in a country often only seems to benefit cities rather than rural areas.
What problems can this cause?
How might these problems be reduced?
When standards of living increase, it is primarily urban residents, not those in the countryside, who benefit. In my opinion, this can lead to opposite problems related to population density and is best mitigated by governmental action.
Inequality in terms of standard of living engenders population problems for cities and rural regions. Cities have become over-populated in the last century as they offer a wider range of educational, occupational, and recreational options. Elevated population density means that although residents can enjoy a higher standard of living generally, they must also overcome concomitant effects from overcrowding such as more traffic, less sanitary conditions, and higher crime rates. The inverse problem exists outside cities as residents leave and locals struggle to earn a living in sparsely populated towns and villages.
These related problems can best be countered by the authorities. There are various initiatives that could be implemented. One real-world example of this would be in Japan where the government in recent years has addressed dwindling population numbers in the countryside by auctioning off country homes cheaply. Prospective home-owners are often able to buy houses nearly for free if they agree to live and work in a town with few residents. Another possible measure would be for governments to invest more in urban infrastructure. Since migrations to cities are likely inevitable, this is a more pragmatic tactic.
In conclusion, the inverse issues created for rural and urban areas by rising standards of living can be effectively controlled if governments intervene. This issue will only become more pressing as the global middle class continues to grow.
Analysis
1. When standards of living increase, it is primarily urban residents, not those in the countryside, who benefit. 2. In my opinion, this can lead to opposite problems related to population density and is best mitigated by governmental action.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Inequality in terms of standard of living engenders population problems for cities and rural regions. 2. Cities have become over-populated in the last century as they offer a wider range of educational, occupational, and recreational options. 3. Elevated population density means that although residents can enjoy a higher standard of living generally, they must also overcome concomitant effects from overcrowding such as more traffic, less sanitary conditions, and higher crime rates. 4. The inverse problem exists outside cities as residents leave and locals struggle to earn a living in sparsely populated towns and villages.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
- Keep developing it fully.
1. These related problems can best be countered by the authorities. 2. There are various initiatives that could be implemented. 3. One real-world example of this would be in Japan where the government in recent years has addressed dwindling population numbers in the countryside by auctioning off country homes cheaply. 4. Prospective home-owners are often able to buy houses nearly for free if they agree to live and work in a town with few residents. 5. Another possible measure would be for governments to invest more in urban infrastructure. 6. Since migrations to cities are likely inevitable, this is a more pragmatic tactic.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
- Develop the example fully.
- This paragraph can be longer than the other one.
1. In conclusion, the inverse issues created for rural and urban areas by rising standards of living can be effectively controlled if governments intervene. 2. This issue will only become more pressing as the global middle class continues to grow.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.
When standards of living increase, it is primarily urban residents, not those in the countryside, who benefit. In my opinion, this can lead to opposite problems related to population density and is best mitigated by governmental action.
Inequality in terms of standard of living engenders population problems for cities and rural regions. Cities have become over-populated in the last century as they offer a wider range of educational, occupational, and recreational options. Elevated population density means that although residents can enjoy a higher standard of living generally, they must also overcome concomitant effects from overcrowding such as more traffic, less sanitary conditions, and higher crime rates. The inverse problem exists outside cities as residents leave and locals struggle to earn a living in sparsely populated towns and villages.
These related problems can best be countered by the authorities. There are various initiatives that could be implemented. One real-world example of this would be in Japan where the government in recent years has addressed dwindling population numbers in the countryside by auctioning off country homes cheaply. Prospective home-owners are often able to buy houses nearly for free if they agree to live and work in a town with few residents. Another possible measure would be for governments to invest more in urban infrastructure. Since migrations to cities are likely inevitable, this is a more pragmatic tactic.
In conclusion, the inverse issues created for rural and urban areas by rising standards of living can be effectively controlled if governments intervene. This issue will only become more pressing as the global middle class continues to grow.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
standards of living how well people live, quality of life
primarily urban residents mostly people living in cities
countryside rural areas, outside cities
benefit aid
lead to opposite problems create inverse issues
related to concerning
population density how many people in an area
best mitigated best dealt with
governmental action nations taking steps
inequality not being equal
in terms of standard of living when it comes to quality of life
engenders creates
rural regions the countryside
over-populated too many people living there
century 100 years
offer allow for
wider range more kinds of
educational related to learning
occupational related to work
recreational options related to free time
elevated population density more people living there
higher standard of living generally living better overall
overcome stronger than
concomitant related, caused by
traffic cars and bikes
less sanitary conditions not clean
higher crime rates more crime
inverse opposite
exists outside cities is in the countryside
locals struggle people living there have a tough time
earn a living make money
sparsely populated towns and villages
countered by fixed by
authorities people in charge
various initiatives different efforts
implemented put into place
one real-world example of this would be an actual instance is
in recent years recently
addressed dwindling population numbers deal with fewer people there
auctioning off selling
cheaply not expensively
prospective home-owners people who want to own homes
agree feel the same way
another possible measure would be for a different fix is
invest put money into
urban infrastructure city roads, buildings, sewage, etc.
migrations people moving
inevitable will of course happen
more pragmatic tactic more realistic strategy
rising standards of living better quality of life
effectively controlled well handled
intervene step in
pressing important
global middle class people earning more money all around the world
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ˈstændədz ɒv ˈlɪvɪŋ
ˈpraɪmərɪli ˈɜːbən ˈrɛzɪdənts
ˈkʌntrɪˌsaɪd,
ˈbɛnɪfɪt
liːd tuː ˈɒpəzɪt ˈprɒbləmz
rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː
ˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃən ˈdɛnsɪti
bɛst ˈmɪtɪgeɪtɪd
ˌgʌvənˈmɛntl ˈækʃ(ə)n
ˌɪni(ː)ˈkwɒlɪti
ɪn tɜːmz ɒv ˈstændəd ɒv ˈlɪvɪŋ
ɪnˈʤɛndəz
ˈrʊərəl ˈriːʤənz
ˈəʊvə-ˈpɒpjʊleɪtɪd
ˈsɛnʧʊri
ˈɒfə
ˈwaɪdə reɪnʤ
ˌɛdju(ː)ˈkeɪʃənl
ˌɒkju(ː)ˈpeɪʃənl
ˌrɛkrɪˈeɪʃənl ˈɒpʃənz
ˈɛlɪveɪtɪd ˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃən ˈdɛnsɪti
ˈhaɪə ˈstændəd ɒv ˈlɪvɪŋ ˈʤɛnərəli
ˌəʊvəˈkʌm
kənˈkɒmɪtənt
ˈtræfɪk
lɛs ˈsænɪtəri kənˈdɪʃənz
ˈhaɪə kraɪm reɪts
ɪnˈvɜːs
ɪgˈzɪsts ˌaʊtˈsaɪd ˈsɪtiz
ˈləʊkəlz ˈstrʌgl
ɜːn ə ˈlɪvɪŋ
ˈspɑːsli ˈpɒpjʊleɪtɪd taʊnz ænd ˈvɪlɪʤɪz
ˈkaʊntəd baɪ
ɔːˈθɒrɪtiz
ˈveərɪəs ɪˈnɪʃɪətɪvz
ˈɪmplɪmɛntɪd
wʌn rɪəl-wɜːld ɪgˈzɑːmpl ɒv ðɪs wʊd biː
ɪn ˈriːsnt jɪəz
əˈdrɛst ˈdwɪndlɪŋ ˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃən ˈnʌmbəz
ˈɔːkʃ(ə)nɪŋ ɒf
ˈʧiːpli
prəsˈpɛktɪv həʊm-ˈəʊnəz
əˈgriː
əˈnʌðə ˈpɒsəbl ˈmɛʒə wʊd biː fɔː
ɪnˈvɛst
ˈɜːbən ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌkʧə
maɪˈgreɪʃənz
ɪnˈɛvɪtəbl
mɔː prægˈmætɪk ˈtæktɪk
ˈraɪzɪŋ ˈstændədz ɒv ˈlɪvɪŋ
ɪˈfɛktɪvli kənˈtrəʊld
ˌɪntə(ː)ˈviːn
ˈprɛsɪŋ
ˈgləʊbəl ˈmɪdl klɑːs
Vocabulary Practice
When s_____________________g increase, it is p_____________________s, not those in the c_____________e, who b________t. In my opinion, this can l_______o o_______________________________o p________________y and is b________________d by g__________________n.
I_____________y i_____________f s____________________g e____________s population problems for cities and r______________s. Cities have become o_____________d in the last c_________y as they o______r a w________________e of e____________l, o______________l, and r____________________s. E________________________y means that although residents can enjoy a h_________________________y, they must also o__________e c___________t effects from overcrowding such as more t_______c, l_____________________________s, and h__________________s. The i_________e problem e______________________s as residents leave and l__________________e to e_______________g in s__________________________________s.
These related problems can best be c______________y the a_____________s. There are v_____________________s that could be i_______________d. O___________________________________e in Japan where the government i___________________s has a_____________________________________s in the countryside by a_______________f country homes c_________y. P_______________________s are often able to buy houses nearly for free if they a_____e to live and work in a town with few residents. A_______________________________r governments to i______t more in u_____________________e. Since m______________s to cities are likely i_____________e, this is a m____________________c.
In conclusion, the inverse issues created for rural and urban areas by r_______________________g can be e_______________________d if governments i____________e. This issue will only become more p________g as the g____________________s continues to grow.
Listening Practice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqklxAy9yos
Reading Practice
Speaking Practice
Cities
- Have you ever lived in a city?
- What do you enjoy most about living in the city?
- Which city would you like to live in in the future?
- Do most people in your country live in cities?
Writing Practice
In many cities, problems related to overpopulation are becoming more common. Some governments are now encouraging businesses and individuals to move out of cities to rural areas.
Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?
