This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of change from the real IELTS exam.
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Dave
IELTS Essay: Change
Some people prefer to spend their lives doing the same things and avoiding change. Others, however, think that change is always a good thing.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
While many people are justifiably resistant to the idea of change, others embrace it as a driving force for growth. In my opinion, change is not inherently progress and should not be pursued in all situations.
Those who argue in favor of change point out that when a person changes, they are likely to grow in a positive direction. This is evident as a person grows through stages of childhood and adolescence and becomes more mature and intelligent. The same fact applies when a person is an adult as reconsidering one’s biases, opinions, and habits can lead to healthy, upward personal development. One further instance of this relates to relationships. A person who has experience with multiple relationships will likely have developed their emotional intelligence and ability to be a healthy partner to someone else.
However, change is not necessarily related to personal growth. This fact is best illustrated through the everyday examples. A person who changes jobs is not guaranteed to learn more in a new position or company and may even come to regret moving on. It is more likely that someone who remains at a single job will be able to progress at that company into a variety or roles and grow. This is also the case when it comes to travel or moving to a new home. Individuals who travel learn more about the world but may neglect their own personal growth as a consequence. By staying in one city or country, a person can better understand themselves and their neighbors and make deeper and longer-lasting personal progress.
In conclusion, despite the fact that change can be a catalyst for healthy personal growth, it should not be regarded as intrinsically positive. Individuals should seek to grow as people but not always alter the material circumstances around them.
Analysis
1. While many people are justifiably resistant to the idea of change, others embrace it as a driving force for growth. 2. In my opinion, change is not inherently progress and should not be pursued in all situations.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Those who argue in favor of change point out that when a person changes, they are likely to grow in a positive direction. 2. This is evident as a person grows through stages of childhood and adolescence and becomes more mature and intelligent. 3. The same fact applies when a person is an adult as reconsidering one’s biases, opinions, and habits can lead to healthy, upward personal development. 4. One further instance of this relates to relationships. 5. A person who has experience with multiple relationships will likely have developed their emotional intelligence and ability to be a healthy partner to someone else.
- 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.
- The more detail, the better!
1. However, change is not necessarily related to personal growth. 2. This fact is best illustrated through the everyday examples. 3. A person who changes jobs is not guaranteed to learn more in a new position or company and may even come to regret moving on. 4. It is more likely that someone who remains at a single job will be able to progress at that company into a variety or roles and grow. 5. This is also the case when it comes to travel or moving to a new home. 6. Individuals who travel learn more about the world but may neglect their own personal growth as a consequence. 7. By staying in one city or country, a person can better understand themselves and their neighbors and make deeper and longer-lasting personal progress.
- 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.
- Keep adding in the result to develop your ideas more.
- This paragraph can be longer.
- Finish the paragraph strong.
1. In conclusion, despite the fact that change can be a catalyst for healthy personal growth, it should not be regarded as intrinsically positive. 2. Individuals should seek to grow as people but not always alter the material circumstances around them.
- 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.
While many people are justifiably resistant to the idea of change, others embrace it as a driving force for growth. In my opinion, change is not inherently progress and should not be pursued in all situations.
Those who argue in favor of change point out that when a person changes, they are likely to grow in a positive direction. This is evident as a person grows through stages of childhood and adolescence and becomes more mature and intelligent. The same fact applies when a person is an adult as reconsidering one’s biases, opinions, and habits can lead to healthy, upward personal development. One further instance of this relates to relationships. A person who has experience with multiple relationships will likely have developed their emotional intelligence and ability to be a healthy partner to someone else.
However, change is not necessarily related to personal growth. This fact is best illustrated through the everyday examples. A person who changes jobs is not guaranteed to learn more in a new position or company and may even come to regret moving on. It is more likely that someone who remains at a single job will be able to progress at that company into a variety or roles and grow. This is also the case when it comes to travel or moving to a new home. Individuals who travel learn more about the world but may neglect their own personal growth as a consequence. By staying in one city or country, a person can better understand themselves and their neighbors and make deeper and longer-lasting personal progress.
In conclusion, despite the fact that change can be a catalyst for healthy personal growth, it should not be regarded as intrinsically positive. Individuals should seek to grow as people but not always alter the material circumstances around them.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
justifiably resistant to the idea of change good reason to not want to do things differently
embrace accept
driving force for growth the motivation behind change/progress
not inherently progress doesn’t necessarily mean you are improving
not be pursued in all situations not a goal all the time
Those who argue in favor of people who support
grow in a positive direction progress
evident clear
through stages of childhood and adolescence as you get older
mature smarter, wiser, older
intelligent smarter
The same fact applies when it is also true as
adult older person
reconsidering thinking about again
biases opinions
healthy, upward personal development growing
One further instance of this relates to another example is
multiple relationships going out with lots of people
emotional intelligence understanding others well
healthy partner good person in a relationship
not necessarily related to doesn’t always have anything to do with
This fact is best illustrated through the everyday examples this truth can be supported by normal instances in life
not guaranteed to not for sure going to happen
position job
come to regret moving on will eventually not feel good about changing
remains at a single job stays at one occupation
into a variety or roles and grow in different positions and get better
neglect not pay attention to
personal growth as a consequence grow as a person because of that
make deeper and longer-lasting personal progress grow more personally
despite the fact that regardless of the truth that
catalyst cause of
intrinsically positive definitely good
alter the material circumstances around them change your job, home, etc.
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:
While many people are j__________________________________________e, others e________e it as a d_________________________h. In my opinion, change is n_______________________________________s and should n_____________________________s.
T_________________________f change point out that when a person changes, they are likely to g________________________________n. This is e________t as a person grows t______________________________e and becomes more m_______e and i__________t. T_____________________________n a person is an a______t as r_______________g one’s b_____s, opinions, and habits can lead to h_________________________________________t. O_____________________________________o relationships. A person who has experience with m_______________s will likely have developed their e___________________________e and ability to be a h_______________r to someone else.
However, change is n_____________________________o personal growth. T_____________________________________________________________s. A person who changes jobs is n__________________o learn more in a new p__________n or company and may even c__________________________________n. It is more likely that someone who r______________________b will be able to progress at that company i_______________________________w. This is also the case when it comes to travel or moving to a new home. Individuals who travel learn more about the world but may n________t their own p_________________________________________e. By staying in one city or country, a person can better understand themselves and their neighbors and m____________________________________________s.
In conclusion, d____________________t change can be a c_________t for healthy personal growth, it should not be regarded as i_______________________________e. Individuals should seek to grow as people but not always a_______________________________________________m.
Pronunciation
ˈʤʌstɪfaɪəbᵊli rɪˈzɪstənt tuː ði aɪˈdɪə ɒv ʧeɪnʤ
ɪmˈbreɪs
ˈdraɪvɪŋ fɔːs fɔː ɡrəʊθ
nɒt ɪnˈhɪərəntli ˈprəʊɡrəs
nɒt biː pəˈsjuːd ɪn ɔːl ˌsɪtjʊˈeɪʃᵊnz
ðəʊz huː ˈɑːɡjuː ɪn ˈfeɪvər ɒv
ɡrəʊ ɪn ə ˈpɒzətɪv daɪˈrɛkʃᵊn
ˈɛvɪdənt
θruː ˈsteɪʤɪz ɒv ˈʧaɪldhʊd ænd ˌædəʊˈlɛsns
məˈʧʊə
ɪnˈtɛlɪʤənt
ðə seɪm fækt əˈplaɪz wɛn
ˈædʌlt
ˌriːkənˈsɪdərɪŋ
ˈbaɪəsɪz
ˈhɛlθi, ˈʌpwəd ˈpɜːsᵊnᵊl dɪˈvɛləpmənt
wʌn ˈfɜːðər ˈɪnstəns ɒv ðɪs rɪˈleɪts tuː
ˈmʌltɪpl rɪˈleɪʃənʃɪps
ɪˈməʊʃənl ɪnˈtɛlɪʤəns
ˈhɛlθi ˈpɑːtnə
nɒt ˈnɛsɪsərɪli rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː
ðɪs fækt ɪz bɛst ˈɪləstreɪtɪd θruː ði ˈɛvrɪdeɪ ɪɡˈzɑːmplz
nɒt ˌɡærənˈtiːd tuː
pəˈzɪʃᵊn
kʌm tuː rɪˈɡrɛt ˈmuːvɪŋ ɒn
rɪˈmeɪnz æt ə ˈsɪŋɡl ʤɒb
ˈɪntuː ə vəˈraɪəti ɔː rəʊlz ænd ɡrəʊ
nɪˈɡlɛkt
ˈpɜːsᵊnᵊl ɡrəʊθ æz ə ˈkɒnsɪkwəns
meɪk ˈdiːpər ænd ˈlɒŋɡə-ˈlɑːstɪŋ ˈpɜːsᵊnᵊl ˈprəʊɡrəs
dɪsˈpaɪt ðə fækt ðæt
ˈkætəlɪst
ɪnˈtrɪnsɪkᵊli ˈpɒzətɪv
ˈɔːltə ðə məˈtɪərɪəl ˈsɜːkəmstənsɪz əˈraʊnd ðɛm
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:
Speaking Practice
Work (Model answer available on my Patreon)
- Are you student or are you working now?
- What do you like about your job/school at the moment?
- What job would you like to do in the future?
Writing Practice
Some people prefer to spend their lives doing the same things and avoiding change. Others, however, think that change is always good.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
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