This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of change from the real IELTS recent exam.
IELTS Essay: Change
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.
Many people feel that change should be embraced without qualification while others believe it is better to avoid new situations. In my opinion, though change can be positive in certain contexts, it should not be pursued as valuable in itself.
Those in favor of change argue it is nearly always positive. Examples of good changes might include moving to a new city, starting a new job, finding a new life companion, or even something as simple as getting a pet. Each of these decisions is a means of addressing a desire or feeling of dissatisfaction. One change that has become prevalent in recent decades relates to nutrition and exercise. Such lifestyle changes are based on research that has definitively shown the importance of a healthy diet and identified foods low in certain kinds of fats and carbohydrates. Combined with weekly exercise, the results are superior fitness and improved longevity.
However, change is, more often than not, a means of disregarding one’s responsibilities. Many individuals change jobs or leave relationships simply because they feel they have lost their passion. This effort to re-energize is typically unsuccessful because outward changes do little to alleviate internal problems. Therefore, in the majority of cases, change is either an excuse to justify selfish behavior or a temporary and superficial solution. The best-known example of this would be the classic ‘mid-life crisis’ that particularly affects men as they age and decide their life is not fulfilling their most basic desires. Ultimately, most people would be better served by focusing on improving their current situation rather than seeking transitory and exaggerated new experiences.
In conclusion, change should not be sought as a means of escaping one’s primary duties. Change should be an organic process and it is therefore advisable individuals do not pursue it as a goal generally.
Analysis
1. Many people feel that change should be embraced without qualification while others believe it is better to avoid new situations. 2. In my opinion, though change can be positive in certain contexts, it should not be pursued as valuable in itself.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Those in favor of change argue it is nearly always positive. 2. Examples of good changes might include moving to a new city, starting a new job, finding a new life companion, or even something as simple as getting a pet. 3. Each of these decisions is a means of addressing a desire or feeling of dissatisfaction. 4. One change that has become prevalent in recent decades relates to nutrition and exercise. 5. Such lifestyle changes are based on research that has definitively shown the importance of a healthy diet and identified foods low in certain kinds of fats and carbohydrates. 6. Combined with weekly exercise, the results are superior fitness and improved longevity.
- 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.
- Vary long and short sentences.
- Finish the paragraph.
1. However, change is, more often than not, a means of disregarding one’s responsibilities. 2. Many individuals change jobs or leave relationships simply because they feel they have lost their passion. 3. This effort to re-energize is typically unsuccessful because outward changes do little to alleviate internal problems. 4. Therefore, in the majority of cases, change is either an excuse to justify selfish behavior or a temporary and superficial solution. 5. The best-known example of this would be the classic ‘mid-life crisis’ that particularly affects men as they age and decide their life is not fulfilling their most basic desires. 6. Ultimately, most people would be better served by focusing on improving their current situation rather than seeking transitory and exaggerated new experiences.
- 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.
- State the results as well.
1. In conclusion, change should not be sought as a means of escaping one’s primary duties. 2. Change should be an organic process and it is therefore advisable individuals do not pursue it as a goal generally.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
Many people feel that change should be embraced without qualification while others believe it is better to avoid new situations. In my opinion, though change can be positive in certain contexts, it should not be pursued as valuable in itself.
Those in favor of change argue it is nearly always positive. Examples of good changes might include moving to a new city, starting a new job, finding a new life companion, or even something as simple as getting a pet. Each of these decisions is a means of addressing a desire or feeling of dissatisfaction. One change that has become prevalent in recent decades relates to nutrition and exercise. Such lifestyle changes are based on research that has definitively shown the importance of a healthy diet and identified foods low in certain kinds of fats and carbohydrates. Combined with weekly exercise, the results are superior fitness and improved longevity.
However, change is, more often than not, a means of disregarding one’s responsibilities. Many individuals change jobs or leave relationships simply because they feel they have lost their passion. This effort to re-energize is typically unsuccessful because outward changes do little to alleviate internal problems. Therefore, in the majority of cases, change is either an excuse to justify selfish behavior or a temporary and superficial solution. The best-known example of this would be the classic ‘mid-life crisis’ that particularly affects men as they age and decide their life is not fulfilling their most basic desires. Ultimately, most people would be better served by focusing on improving their current situation rather than seeking transitory and exaggerated new experiences.
In conclusion, change should not be sought as a means of escaping one’s primary duties. Change should be an organic process and it is therefore advisable individuals do not pursue it as a goal generally.
Answers
change embraced without qualification new experiences and differences accepted without challenging their value
avoid not do
situations contexts
positive good
contexts situations
pursued sought
valuable in itself good on its own
those in favor of supporters
argue say
nearly always usually
life companion husband/wife
even something as simple as even for a minor area like
decisions choices
means ways
addressing fixing
desire need
dissatisfaction unhappy with
prevalent common
recent decades last 20 or so years
relates to concerns
nutrition diet
exercise working out
lifestyle how you live your life
based on research studies show
definitively shown 100% indicate
healthy diet eating good foods
identified recognized
certain kinds of particular types of
fats foods high in fat
carbohydrates breads, pasta, rice, etc.
Combined with in conjunction with
results what comes out of it
superior fitness in better shape
improved longevity living longer
more often than not usually
a means of a way of
disregarding ignoring
lost their passion not caring about anymore
effort try
re-energize get energy back
unsuccessful doesn’t work
outward changes superficial differences
alleviate internal problems fix mental issues
in the majority of cases usually
excuse justification
justify selfish behavior make you feel good about acting badly
temporary not permanent
superficial solution bad fix
best-known most well-known
classic ‘mid-life crisis’ well-known instance of wanting change in your 40s
particularly affects especially impacts
fulfilling satisfying
most basic desires fundamental wants
ultimately in the end
better served best met
focusing on caring more about
current situation how things are now
rather than instead of
seeking transitory looking for temporary
exaggerated out of control
sought looked for
escaping getting away from
primary duties main responsibilities
organic process natural way
advisable should happen
generally for all people
Pronunciation
ʧeɪnʤ ɪmˈbreɪst wɪˈðaʊt ˌkwɒlɪfɪˈkeɪʃən
əˈvɔɪd
ˌsɪtjʊˈeɪʃənz
ˈpɒzətɪv
ˈkɒntɛksts
pəˈsjuːd
ˈvæljʊəbl ɪn ɪtˈsɛlf
ðəʊz ɪn ˈfeɪvər ɒv
ˈɑːgjuː
ˈnɪəli ˈɔːlweɪz
laɪf kəmˈpænjən
ˈiːvən ˈsʌmθɪŋ æz ˈsɪmpl æz
dɪˈsɪʒənz
miːnz
əˈdrɛsɪŋ
dɪˈzaɪə
dɪsˌsætɪsˈfækʃən
ˈprɛvələnt
ˈriːsnt ˈdɛkeɪdz
rɪˈleɪts tuː
nju(ː)ˈtrɪʃən
ˈɛksəsaɪz
ˈlaɪfˌstaɪl
beɪst ɒn rɪˈsɜːʧ
dɪˈfɪnɪtɪvli ʃəʊn
ˈhɛlθi ˈdaɪət
aɪˈdɛntɪfaɪd
ˈsɜːtn kaɪndz ɒv
fæts
ˈkɑːbəʊˈhaɪdreɪts
kəmˈbaɪnd wɪð
rɪˈzʌlts
sju(ː)ˈpɪərɪə ˈfɪtnɪs
ɪmˈpruːvd lɒnˈʤɛvɪti
mɔːr ˈɒf(ə)n ðæn nɒt
ə miːnz ɒv
ˌdɪsrɪˈgɑːdɪŋ
lɒst ðeə ˈpæʃən
ˈɛfət
riː-ˈɛnəʤaɪz
ˌʌnsəkˈsɛsfʊl
ˈaʊtwəd ˈʧeɪnʤɪz
əˈliːvɪeɪt ɪnˈtɜːnl ˈprɒbləmz
ɪn ðə məˈʤɒrɪti ɒv ˈkeɪsɪz
ɪksˈkjuːs
ˈʤʌstɪfaɪ ˈsɛlfɪʃ bɪˈheɪvjə
ˈtɛmpərəri
ˌsjuːpəˈfɪʃəl səˈluːʃən
bɛst-nəʊn
ˈklæsɪk mɪd-laɪf ˈkraɪsɪs
pəˈtɪkjʊləli əˈfɛkts
fʊlˈfɪlɪŋ
məʊst ˈbeɪsɪk dɪˈzaɪəz
ˈʌltɪmɪtli
ˈbɛtə sɜːvd
ˈfəʊkəsɪŋ ɒn
ˈkʌrənt ˌsɪtjʊˈeɪʃən
ˈrɑːðə ðæn
ˈsiːkɪŋ ˈtrænsɪtəri
ɪgˈzæʤəreɪtɪd
sɔːt
ɪsˈkeɪpɪŋ
ˈpraɪməri ˈdjuːtiz
ɔːˈgænɪk ˈprəʊsɛs
ədˈvaɪzəbl
ˈʤɛnərəli
Vocabulary Practice
Many people feel that c_______e should be e___________________________n while others believe it is better to a______d new s___________s. In my opinion, though change can be p_________e in certain c________s, it should not be p________d as v__________________f.
T_________________f change a_____e it is n__________s positive. Examples of good changes might include moving to a new city, starting a new job, finding a new l______________n, or e______________________s getting a pet. Each of these d_________s is a m_____s of a_____________g a d______e or feeling of d_______________n. One change that has become p_______t in r_____________s r____________o n__________n and e______e. Such l______e changes are b______________h that has d_______________n the importance of a h_____________t and i_________d foods low in c____________________s and c____________s. C______________h weekly exercise, the r________s are s___________s and i_________________y.
However, change is, m_____________________t, a_________________________g one’s responsibilities. Many individuals change jobs or leave relationships simply because they feel they have l_____________n. This e_____t to r____________e is typically u_____________l because o_______________s do little to a______________________s. Therefore, i_________________________s, change is either an e______e to j_______________________r or a t_____________y and s__________________n. The b____________n example of this would be the c_______________________s’ that p__________________s men as they age and decide their life is not f____________g their m___________________s. U___________y, most people would be b_______________d by f____________n improving their c____________n r_______________n s__________________y and e____________d new experiences.
In conclusion, change should not be s________t as a means of e_________g one’s p___________s. Change should be an o_____________s and it is therefore a__________e individuals do not pursue it as a goal g_________y.
Listening Practice
Reading Practice
Speaking Practice
Talk about a goal that you want to achieve in the future. Include:
What the goal is
When you thought of it
How you will accomplish it
Writing Practice
The job market today is very competitive and it is best to choose a career or field of study early in order to get a good job later in life.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
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.
It is argued by some that people should not change the way of their lives and keep doing the same thing as they always do; however, others feel that there should be some alterations in one’s life since changing is a positive phenomenon overall. I believe that change is good for people’s mental health as it helps people to avoid the feeling of unhappiness.
On the one hand, some people are in favor of the same lifestyle and do not desire to distort their routes. This is mainly due to the fact that these people are risk-averse. In other words, they tend to avoid changing some parts of their life because they are uncertain what might be occurred later on in the future. By doing so, they would have zero risk since every step taken was planned and had certain consequences. Another factor is due to delight over their lifestyle. They are just as happy as what they are doing and what their contribution to the world, and simply would like to pursue it. A happy doctor, for instance, is not interested in changing his lifestyle because he has a sense of accomplishment and is in favor of practicing the same until his retirement.
Turning to the other part of the discussion, some believe that individuals should not spend their lives as they are accustomed to doing so. Their notion is that a bit of change would not hurt anyone and people should be open-minded to the new adjustments. Living at the same pace in this world and keep practicing the same things for a long time cause mental problems later on in life. People might feel the monotonous pace of lifestyle and this might develop to major depression after some time, and hence they realize that they cannot get any joy even from the small things. As a result, some feel that change is good and necessary for mental health.
To conclude, there is a hot debate on whether people should opt for some changes in their life or avoid them all the time. I believe that although some risks or unwanted events might occur as a result of alteration, people give it a try and should not live their lives the same.
VERY NICE
You’re welcome!
Good work, Melissa!
Some collocations are off though – like hot debate and delight.
Keep working hard!
This website covers each and every topic. When it comes to academic writing task 1 and 2 , Dave is just second to none! No need to go anywhere. Almost all ielts exam essays with high level vocabulary are available here!
Thanks so much for saying that, Sandra – appreciated!