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This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of childbirth and advantages and disadvantages of having children when older from the real IELTS exam.
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Dave
IELTS Essay: Childbirth
People nowadays tend to have children at older ages.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
There are growing numbers of men and women choosing to have children later in life these days. In my opinion, the financial advantages of this trend far outweigh any perceived downsides.
The most significant tradeoffs of this relate to opportunity and maturity. Many individuals decide early on in their career to wait until their mid to late 30s to have children. The natural risk here is that if the relationship ends before that point or they then have trouble conceiving, they may end up childless. This possibility is lower today due to advances in fertility science but still exists. Furthermore, having children is a maturing experience. If an individual waits until late in life to raise a child, then they delay the experience gained and may later regret their decision. Most parents would openly admit that parenthood is a life-altering milestone and defining moment of adulthood.
Nonetheless, the disadvantages detailed above pale in comparison to the economic merits of delaying childbirth. Firstly, most young parents are not in an ideal situation in their career. Many working parents earn low salaries and work long hours. Once they have a child that means the majority of their day is occupied and they may feel trapped and overburdened. It is then difficult to switch careers or move to a new location as well as afford all the expenses incumbent on parents. This often results in parents becoming resentful and projecting their animosity towards their children or significant other. In contrast, parents who are firmly established in their careers, earn decent salaries, and have savings set aside have both the time and energy to devote to raising their children well without having to stress about making ends meet.
In conclusion, despite marginal risks concerning the opportunity and experience, it is an overall positive for financial reasons that many prospective parents are putting off childbirth. Therefore, this trend should be welcomed and encouraged.
Analysis
1. There are growing numbers of men and women choosing to have children later in life these days. 2. In my opinion, the financial advantages of this trend far outweigh any perceived downsides.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. The most significant tradeoffs of this relate to opportunity and maturity. 2. Many individuals decide early on in their career to wait until their mid to late 30s to have children. 3. The natural risk here is that if the relationship ends before that point or they then have trouble conceiving, they may end up childless. 4. This possibility is lower today due to advances in fertility science but still exists. 5. Furthermore, having children is a maturing experience. 6. If an individual waits until late in life to raise a child, then they delay the experience gained and may later regret their decision. 7. Most parents would openly admit that parenthood is a life-altering milestone and defining moment of adulthood.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific examples.
- Keep developing it fully.
- Stay focused on the same main idea.
- Use hypotheticals.
- Conclude with a strong statement.
1. Nonetheless, the disadvantages detailed above pale in comparison to the economic merits of delaying childbirth. 2. Firstly, most young parents are not in an ideal situation in their career. Many working parents earn low salaries and work long hours. 3. Once they have a child that means the majority of their day is occupied and they may feel trapped and overburdened. 4. It is then difficult to switch careers or move to a new location as well as afford all the expenses incumbent on parents. 5. This often results in parents becoming resentful and projecting their animosity towards their children or significant other. 6. In contrast, parents who are firmly established in their careers, earn decent salaries, and have savings set aside have both the time and energy to devote to raising their children well without having to stress about making ends meet.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Continue developing it…
- as fully as possible!
- Vary long and short sentences.
1. In conclusion, despite marginal risks concerning the opportunity and experience, it is an overall positive for financial reasons that many prospective parents are putting off childbirth. 2. Therefore, this trend should be welcomed and encouraged.
- 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.
There are growing numbers of men and women choosing to have children later in life these days. In my opinion, the financial advantages of this trend far outweigh any perceived downsides.
The most significant tradeoffs of this relate to opportunity and maturity. Many individuals decide early on in their career to wait until their mid to late 30s to have children. The natural risk here is that if the relationship ends before that point or they then have trouble conceiving, they may end up childless. This possibility is lower today due to advances in fertility science but still exists. Furthermore, having children is a maturing experience. If an individual waits until late in life to raise a child, then they delay the experience gained and may later regret their decision. Most parents would openly admit that parenthood is a life-altering milestone and defining moment of adulthood.
Nonetheless, the disadvantages detailed above pale in comparison to the economic merits of delaying childbirth. Firstly, most young parents are not in an ideal situation in their career. Many working parents earn low salaries and work long hours. Once they have a child that means the majority of their day is occupied and they may feel trapped and overburdened. It is then difficult to switch careers or move to a new location as well as afford all the expenses incumbent on parents. This often results in parents becoming resentful and projecting their animosity towards their children or significant other. In contrast, parents who are firmly established in their careers, earn decent salaries, and have savings set aside have both the time and energy to devote to raising their children well without having to stress about making ends meet.
In conclusion, despite marginal risks concerning the opportunity and experience, it is an overall positive for financial reasons that many prospective parents are putting off childbirth. Therefore, this trend should be welcomed and encouraged.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
growing numbers more and more people
later in life when they are older
financial advantages good for your money
trend pattern
far outweigh are much stronger than
perceived downsides apparent disadvantages
significant tradeoffs major downsides
opportunity chance
maturity experience
decide early on choose from the beginning
mid to late 30s 35 – 40 years old
natural risk obvious threat
before that point prior to that
trouble conceiving difficulty having kids
may end up childless might finally not have kids
possibility chance
advances developments
fertility science medicine related to having kids
furthermore moreover
maturing experience makes you more like an adult
raise a child help a kid grow up
delay wait until later
regret wish it had been different
openly admit honestly say
parenthood being a parent
life-altering milestone significant moment in life
defining moment significant time
adulthood being an adult
nonetheless regardless
detailed above described over
pale in comparison to not as important as
economic merits helps you make money
delaying childbirth waiting until later to have kids
ideal situation best context
earn low salaries make more money at work
work long hours spend a lot of time at work
majority most of
occupied time taken up
trapped stuck
overburdened too much work
switch careers change jobs
location place
afford pay for
expenses incumbent on money you have to pay
results in causes
resentful annoyed
projecting putting on to someone else
animosity resentment
significant other partner, husband, wife
firmly established solidly in place
earn decent salaries make a lot of money
savings set aside money saved
devote to put time into
without having to not needing to
making ends meet earning enough money to survive
despite marginal risks regardless of small dangers
concerning related to
overall positive good on the whole
prospective parents possible parents later
putting off childbirth delaying having children
therefore thus
welcomed should be applauded
encouraged motivated
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ˈgrəʊɪŋ ˈnʌmbəz
ˈleɪtər ɪn laɪf
faɪˈnænʃəl ədˈvɑːntɪʤɪz
trɛnd
fɑːr aʊtˈweɪ
pəˈsiːvd ˈdaʊnˌsaɪdz
sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt treɪd ɒfs
ˌɒpəˈtjuːnɪti
məˈtjʊərɪti
dɪˈsaɪd ˈɜːli ɒn
mɪd tuː leɪt 30ɛs
ˈnæʧrəl rɪsk
bɪˈfɔː ðæt pɔɪnt
ˈtrʌbl kənˈsiːvɪŋ
meɪ ɛnd ʌp ˈʧaɪldlɪs
ˌpɒsəˈbɪlɪti
ədˈvɑːnsɪz
fə(ː)ˈtɪlɪti ˈsaɪəns
ˈfɜːðəˈmɔː
məˈtjʊərɪŋ ɪksˈpɪərɪəns
reɪz ə ʧaɪld
dɪˈleɪ
rɪˈgrɛt
ˈəʊpnli ədˈmɪt
ˈpeərənthʊd
laɪf-ˈɔːltərɪŋ ˈmaɪlstəʊn
dɪˈfaɪnɪŋ ˈməʊmənt
əˈdʌlthʊd
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
ˈdiːteɪld əˈbʌv
peɪl ɪn kəmˈpærɪsn tuː
ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˈmɛrɪts
dɪˈleɪɪŋ ˈʧaɪldbɜːθ
aɪˈdɪəl ˌsɪtjʊˈeɪʃən
ɜːn ləʊ ˈsæləriz
wɜːk lɒŋ ˈaʊəz
məˈʤɒrɪti
ˈɒkjʊpaɪd
træpt
ˌəʊvəˈbɜːdnd
swɪʧ kəˈrɪəz
ləʊˈkeɪʃən
əˈfɔːd
ɪksˈpɛnsɪz ɪnˈkʌmbənt ɒn
rɪˈzʌlts ɪn
rɪˈzɛntfʊl
prəˈʤɛktɪŋ
ˌænɪˈmɒsɪti
sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt ˈʌðə
ˈfɜːmli ɪsˈtæblɪʃt
ɜːn ˈdiːsnt ˈsæləriz
ˈseɪvɪŋz sɛt əˈsaɪd
dɪˈvəʊt tuː
wɪˈðaʊt ˈhævɪŋ tuː
ˈmeɪkɪŋ ɛndz miːt
dɪsˈpaɪt ˈmɑːʤɪnəl rɪsks
kənˈsɜːnɪŋ
ˈəʊvərɔːl ˈpɒzətɪv
prəsˈpɛktɪv ˈpeərənts
ˈpʊtɪŋ ɒf ˈʧaɪldbɜːθ
ˈðeəfɔː
ˈwɛlkəmd
ɪnˈkʌrɪʤd
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:
There are growing numbers of men and women choosing to have children later in life these days. In my opinion, the financial advantages of this trend far outweigh any perceived downsides.
The most significant tradeoffs of this relate to opportunity and maturity. Many individuals decide early on in their career to wait until their mid to late 30s to have children. The natural risk here is that if the relationship ends before that point or they then have trouble conceiving, they may end up childless. This possibility is lower today due to advances in fertility science but still exists. Furthermore, having children is a maturing experience. If an individual waits until late in life to raise a child, then they delay the experience gained and may later regret their decision. Most parents would openly admit that parenthood is a life-altering milestone and defining moment of adulthood.
Nonetheless, the disadvantages detailed above pale in comparison to the economic merits of delaying childbirth. Firstly, most young parents are not in an ideal situation in their career. Many working parents earn low salaries and work long hours. Once they have a child that means the majority of their day is occupied and they may feel trapped and overburdened. It is then difficult to switch careers or move to a new location as well as afford all the expenses incumbent on parents. This often results in parents becoming resentful and projecting their animosity towards their children or significant other. In contrast, parents who are firmly established in their careers, earn decent salaries, and have savings set aside have both the time and energy to devote to raising their children well without having to stress about making ends meet.
In conclusion, despite marginal risks concerning the opportunity and experience, it is an overall positive for financial reasons that many prospective parents are putting off childbirth. Therefore, this trend should be welcomed and encouraged.
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Talkative Children
- Do think being talkative is a good quality for children?
- Is it good for children to talk a lot in every situation?
- Why do children talk so much?
- What makes children talk less as the get older sometimes?
- What can teachers do to encourage children to talk more?
Writing Practice
Practice with the same basic topic below and then check with my sample answer:
Parents should take courses in parenting in order to improve the lives of their children.
To what extent do you agree?
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