This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay from IELTS Cambridge 19 on the topic of whether all people, including young people, should save money for the future.

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Here are the other Cambridge 19 essays:

Task 1:

Line Chart

Porth Harbor

Task 2:

Competition

Working Week

Supermarkets

IELTS Essay: Save Money for the Future

It is important for everyone, including young people, to save money for their future.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Many contend that securing financial stability is essential for individuals of all ages. I am generally in agreement with this contention though I would concede that saving money can be taken to illogical excesses.

Undue emphasis on saving prioritizes satisfaction in a possible future over enjoyment of the present moment. In most countries, individuals begin to save and plan for retirement as young adults. This approach means that by the time they have enough time to enjoy themselves, they are likely older, unhealthy, and less capable of living an active life. A person who saves for a comfortable retirement by abstaining from travel, going out with friends regularly, and spending on luxuries might discover later in life that a sizeable savings account is no substitute for a full life. However, this assumes an extreme approach to saving that is rare for the vast majority of people who can typically balance basic fiscal responsibility with freer spending habits.

Moreover, saving money allows individuals of all ages to safeguard the flexibility to pursue a variety of passions in life. Those who have not inherited generational wealth and do not commit themselves to saving, will almost undoubtedly have to work long hours for many years. Yet, if a worker slowly accumulates savings then that allows them to make investments and generate passive income streams. These alternative ways of earning money can give them options in life. They might decide to quit or work fewer hours and pursue a passion project. They might also be more inclined to be entrepreneurial or adventurous in their choice of vocation. All these options lead to a richer and more varied life that contrasts markedly with working diligently towards retirement.

In conclusion, despite the possible risks of fixating on savings to the detriment of quality of life, there is value in saving wisely for all individuals. These savings will likely vary in size depending on the needs and circumstances of each person.

Analysis

1. Many contend that securing financial stability is essential for individuals of all ages. 2. I am generally in agreement with this contention though I would concede that saving money can be taken to illogical excesses.

1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. Undue emphasis on saving prioritizes satisfaction in a possible future over enjoyment of the present moment. 2. In most countries, individuals begin to save and plan for retirement as young adults. 3. This approach means that by the time they have enough time to enjoy themselves, they are likely older, unhealthy, and less capable of living an active life. 4. A person who saves for a comfortable retirement by abstaining from travel, going out with friends regularly, and spending on luxuries might discover later in life that a sizeable savings account is no substitute for a full life. 5. However, this assumes an extreme approach to saving that is rare for the vast majority of people who can typically balance basic fiscal responsibility with freer spending habits.

1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
4. Keep developing it fully.
5. Better to have more detail.

1. Moreover, saving money allows individuals of all ages to safeguard the flexibility to pursue a variety of passions in life. 2. Those who have not inherited generational wealth and do not commit themselves to saving, will almost undoubtedly have to work long hours for many years. 3. Yet, if a worker slowly accumulates savings then that allows them to make investments and generate passive income streams. 4. These alternative ways of earning money can give them options in life. 5. They might decide to quit or work fewer hours and pursue a passion project. 6. They might also be more inclined to be entrepreneurial or adventurous in their choice of vocation. 7. All these options lead to a richer and more varied life that contrasts markedly with working diligently towards retirement.

1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
2. Explain your new main idea.
3. Include specific details and examples.
4. Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
5. Keep adding more detail.
6. Include long and short sentences.
7. This essay is a bit long – aim for about 275 words.

1. In conclusion, despite the possible risks of fixating on savings to the detriment of quality of life, there is value in saving wisely for all individuals. 2. These savings will likely vary in size depending on the needs and circumstances of each person.

1. Summarise your main ideas.
2. 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.

Many contend that securing financial stability is essential for individuals of all ages. I am generally in agreement with this contention though I would concede that saving money can be taken to illogical excesses.

Undue emphasis on saving prioritizes satisfaction in a possible future over enjoyment of the present moment. In most countries, individuals begin to save and plan for retirement as young adults. This approach means that by the time they have enough time to enjoy themselves, they are likely older, unhealthy, and less capable of living an active life. A person who saves for a comfortable retirement by abstaining from travel, going out with friends regularly, and spending on luxuries might discover later in life that a sizeable savings account is no substitute for a full life. However, this assumes an extreme approach to saving that is rare for the vast majority of people who can typically balance basic fiscal responsibility with freer spending habits.

Moreover, saving money allows individuals of all ages to safeguard the flexibility to pursue a variety of passions in life. Those who have not inherited generational wealth and do not commit themselves to saving, will almost undoubtedly have to work long hours for many years. Yet, if a worker slowly accumulates savings then that allows them to make investments and generate passive income streams. These alternative ways of earning money can give them options in life. They might decide to quit or work fewer hours and pursue a passion project. They might also be more inclined to be entrepreneurial or adventurous in their choice of vocation. All these options lead to a richer and more varied life that contrasts markedly with working diligently towards retirement.

In conclusion, despite the possible risks of fixating on savings to the detriment of quality of life, there is value in saving wisely for all individuals. These savings will likely vary in size depending on the needs and circumstances of each person.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

contend (argue)
securing financial stability (ensuring you have enough money)
essential (crucial)
of all ages (for all generations)
I am generally in agreement with this contention (I generally agree with this argument)
concede (admit)
taken to illogical excesses (taken to unreasonable extremes)
Undue emphasis on (Excessive focus on)
prioritizes satisfaction (prioritizes contentment)
a possible future (a potential future)
enjoyment of the present moment (appreciation of the present moment)
plan for retirement (prepare for old age)
young adults (young individuals)
approach (approach)
less capable of (less capable of)
active life (active lifestyle)
comfortable retirement (secure retirement)
abstaining from (refraining from)
regularly (regularly)
spending on luxuries (splurging on luxuries)
discover later in life (discover later in their lives)
sizeable savings account (substantial savings account)
no substitute for a full life (no replacement for a fulfilling life)
assumes (presumes)
extreme approach to (radical approach to)
rare (uncommon)
the vast majority of (the vast majority of)
typically balance basic fiscal responsibility (typically balance fundamental financial responsibility)
freer spending habits (more liberal spending habits)
safeguard (protect)
flexibility (adaptability)
pursue a variety of passions in life (pursue various interests in life)
inherited generational wealth (inherited family wealth)
undoubtedly (undoubtedly)
Yet (However)
accumulates savings (accumulates funds)
make investments (make investments)
generate passive income streams (generate passive income sources)
These alternative ways of earning money (These alternative methods of earning money)
options (choices)
work fewer hours (work fewer hours)
pursue a passion project (pursue a passion venture)
be more inclined to (be more inclined to)
entrepreneurial (entrepreneurial)
adventurous (adventurous)
choice of vocation (career choice)
richer (wealthier)
more varied life (more diverse life)
contrasts markedly (differs significantly)
working diligently towards retirement (despite)
possible risks (potential hazards)
fixating (obsessing over)
to the detriment of quality of life (to the detriment of quality of life)
value (appreciate)
saving wisely (saving prudently)
vary in size depending on (vary in magnitude depending on)
circumstances (conditions)

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

kənˈtɛnd
sɪˈkjʊərɪŋ faɪˈnænʃᵊl stəˈbɪləti
ɪˈsɛnʃᵊl
ɒv ɔːl ˈeɪʤɪz
aɪ æm ˈʤɛnᵊrᵊli ɪn əˈɡriːmənt wɪð ðɪs kənˈtɛnʃᵊn
kənˈsiːd
ˈteɪkᵊn tuː ɪˈlɒʤɪkᵊl ɪkˈsɛsɪz
ʌnˈdjuː ˈɛmfəsɪs ɒn
praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪzɪz ˌsætɪsˈfækʃᵊn
ə ˈpɒsəbᵊl ˈfjuːʧə
ɪnˈʤɔɪmənt ɒv ðə ˈprɛzᵊnt ˈməʊmənt
plæn fɔː rɪˈtaɪəmənt
jʌŋ ˈædʌlts
əˈprəʊʧ
lɛs ˈkeɪpəbᵊl ɒv
ˈæktɪv laɪf
ˈkʌmfᵊtəbᵊl rɪˈtaɪəmənt
əbˈsteɪnɪŋ frɒm
ˈrɛɡjələli
ˈspɛndɪŋ ɒn ˈlʌkʃᵊriz
dɪˈskʌvə ˈleɪtər ɪn laɪf
ˈsaɪzəbᵊl ˈseɪvɪŋz əˈkaʊnt
nəʊ ˈsʌbstɪtjuːt fɔːr ə fʊl laɪf
əˈsjuːmz
ɪkˈstriːm əˈprəʊʧ tuː
reə
ðə vɑːst məˈʤɒrəti ɒv
ˈtɪpɪkᵊli ˈbælᵊns ˈbeɪsɪk ˈfɪskᵊl rɪˌspɒnsɪˈbɪləti
ˈfriːə ˈspɛndɪŋ ˈhæbɪts
ˈseɪfɡɑːd
ˌflɛksəˈbɪləti
pəˈsjuː ə vəˈraɪəti ɒv ˈpæʃᵊnz ɪn laɪf
ɪnˈhɛrɪtɪd ˌʤɛnəˈreɪʃᵊnᵊl wɛlθ
ʌnˈdaʊtɪdli
jɛt
əˈkjuːmjəleɪts ˈseɪvɪŋz
meɪk ɪnˈvɛstmənts
ˈʤɛnəreɪt ˈpæsɪv ˈɪnkʌm striːmz
ðiːz ɒlˈtɜːnətɪv weɪz ɒv ˈɜːnɪŋ ˈmʌni
ˈɒpʃᵊnz
wɜːk ˈfjuːər aʊəz
pəˈsjuː ə ˈpæʃᵊn ˈprɒʤɛkt
biː mɔːr ɪnˈklaɪnd tuː
ˌɒntrəprəˈnɜːriəl
ədˈvɛnʧərəs
ʧɔɪs ɒv vəʊˈkeɪʃᵊn
ˈrɪʧə
mɔː ˈveərɪd laɪf
ˈkɒntrɑːsts ˈmɑːkɪdli
ˈwɜːkɪŋ ˈdɪlɪʤᵊntli təˈwɔːdz rɪˈtaɪəmənt
dɪˈspaɪt
ˈpɒsəbᵊl rɪsks
fɪkˈseɪtɪŋ
tuː ðə ˈdɛtrɪmənt ɒv ˈkwɒləti ɒv laɪf
ˈvæljuː
ˈseɪvɪŋ ˈwaɪzli
ˈveəri ɪn saɪz dɪˈpɛndɪŋ ɒn
ˈsɜːkəmstɑːnsɪz

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

Many c_______d that s_________________y is e________l for individuals o__________s. I____________________________________________n though I would c_____________e that saving money can be t___________________________s.

U______________________n saving p______________________n in a_______________e over e____________________________________t. In most countries, individuals begin to save and p__________________t as y____________s. This a__________h means that by the time they have enough time to enjoy themselves, they are likely older, unhealthy, and l___________________f living an a__________e. A person who saves for a c__________________t by a____________m travel, going out with friends r___________y, and s___________________s might d___________________e that a s____________________________t is n_________________________e. However, this a__________s an e_________________________o saving that is r_____e for t_______________f people who can t________________________________________________y with f___________________s.

Moreover, saving money allows individuals of all ages to s_________d the f____________y to p__________________________________e. Those who have not i______________________________h and do not commit themselves to saving, will almost u____________y have to work long hours for many years. Y__t, if a worker slowly a_______________________s then that allows them to m__________________________s and g_______________________________s. T________________________________________y can give them o________s in life. They might decide to quit or w_____________s and p___________________t. They might also b__________________o be e_________________l or a____________s in their c___________________n. All these options lead to a r_____r and m________________e that c___________________y with w______________________________________t.

In conclusion, d__________e the p___________s of f______g on savings t________________________________________e, there is v________e in s_______________y for all individuals. These savings will likely v_________________________________n the needs and c____________s of each person.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://bettermoneyhabits.bankofamerica.com/en/saving-budgeting/ways-to-save-money

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Describe an interesting job.

You can say:

What the job is

How you learned about this job

What skills this job requires

And say if you would like to do this job

Careers & Jobs (IELTS Speaking Part 3)

Question 1: What kind of job do you think will be popular in the future? Why?

Question 2: What do you think are the benefits of having a steady job?

Question 3: Do you think it’s better to work for a big company or a small company? Why?

Question 4: What do you think are the most important skills for getting a good job?

Question 5: Do you think it’s important to have a job that you love or a job that pays well? Why?

Question 6: Do you think it’s better to work in the private sector or the public sector? Why?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic:

In many countries, people increasingly talk about money such as how much they earn or how much they pay for things in their daily conversations.

Why?

Is this a positive or negative trend?

IELTS Essay: Money