This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of children on their phones from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Children on their Phones

Some children spend hours every day on their smartphones. 

Why is this the case?

Do you think this is a positive or a negative development?

Many today would argue that children spend too many hours on their smartphones. In my opinion, this is a natural result of the conveniences these phones afford and is decidedly negative as it severely impacts health.

The main reason children are using phones too much today is parents view it as a convenient option. This is firstly a simple practicality. Most parents are busy and tired after work and smartphones are one of the easiest methods to keep their children occupied and entertained. It is a common occurrence to witness children on phones at restaurants and airports while their parents are distracted. Moreover, parents can easily justify smartphones by claiming they help their children become better acclimated with technology. This justification is self-serving, but there is a degree of truth in the fact that young children will be able to understand applications and how to navigate websites like YouTube and Google search.

As far as I am concerned, the overuse of smartphones greatly impairs children physically and mentally. Physically, using a smartphone encourages a more sedentary lifestyle. A large proportion of children today are more likely to sit at home after school playing games, chatting, and scrolling through YouTube or TikTok instead of playing outside with friends. Over time, these become ingrained habits and threaten their long-term physical fitness. Intellectually, phones lead to shorter attention spans. Media online, especially applications that have embraced shorter video formats, produce dopamine responses in the brain that then require frequent stimulation. In contrast to a book, children can only gain these feelings from their digital devices.

In conclusion, despite the convenient uses of smartphones, they hinder the physical and intellectual development of children. Parents should limit their children’s screen time.

Analysis

1. Many today would argue that children spend too many hours on their smartphones. 2. In my opinion, this is a natural result of the conveniences these phones afford and is decidedly negative as it severely impacts health.

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

1. The main reason children are using phones too much today is parents view it as a convenient option. 2. This is firstly a simple practicality. 3. Most parents are busy and tired after work and smartphones are one of the easiest methods to keep their children occupied and entertained. 4. It is a common occurrence to witness children on phones at restaurants and airports while their parents are distracted. 5. Moreover, parents can easily justify smartphones by claiming they help their children become better acclimated with technology. 6. This justification is self-serving, but there is a degree of truth in the fact that young children will be able to understand applications and how to navigate websites like YouTube and Google search.

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. You might add a counterpoint here.
6. Finish strong.

1. As far as I am concerned, the overuse of smartphones greatly impairs children physically and mentally. 2. Physically, using a smartphone encourages a more sedentary lifestyle. 3. A large proportion of children today are more likely to sit at home after school playing games, chatting, and scrolling through YouTube or TikTok instead of playing outside with friends. 4. Over time, these become ingrained habits and threaten their long-term physical fitness. 5. Intellectually, phones lead to shorter attention spans. 6. Media online, especially applications that have embraced shorter video formats, produce dopamine responses in the brain that then require frequent stimulation. 7. In contrast to a book, children can only gain these feelings from their digital devices.

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. Continue your development.
6. Keep developing your ideas specifically.
7. Finish the paragraph strong.

1. In conclusion, despite the convenient uses of smartphones, they hinder the physical and intellectual development of children. 2. Parents should limit their children’s screen time.

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 today would argue that children spend too many hours on their smartphones. In my opinion, this is a natural result of the conveniences these phones afford and is decidedly negative as it severely impacts health.

The main reason children are using phones too much today is parents view it as a convenient option. This is firstly a simple practicality. Most parents are busy and tired after work and smartphones are one of the easiest methods to keep their children occupied and entertained. It is a common occurrence to witness children on phones at restaurants and airports while their parents are distracted. Moreover, parents can easily justify smartphones by claiming they help their children become better acclimated with technology. This justification is self-serving, but there is a degree of truth in the fact that young children will be able to understand applications and how to navigate websites like YouTube and Google search.

As far as I am concerned, the overuse of smartphones greatly impairs children physically and mentally. Physically, using a smartphone encourages a more sedentary lifestyle. A large proportion of children today are more likely to sit at home after school playing games, chatting, and scrolling through YouTube or TikTok instead of playing outside with friends. Over time, these become ingrained habits and threaten their long-term physical fitness. Intellectually, phones lead to shorter attention spans. Media online, especially applications that have embraced shorter video formats, produce dopamine responses in the brain that then require frequent stimulation. In contrast to a book, children can only gain these feelings from their digital devices.

In conclusion, despite the convenient uses of smartphones, they hinder the physical and intellectual development of children. Parents should limit their children’s screen time.

Answers

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

argue claim

smartphones phones, mobile phones

natural result of the conveniences happens obviously because they are easy

afford allow for

decidedly negative definitely bad

severely impacts health greatly hurts your body

main reason biggest source

view it as a convenient option think it is an easy way

firstly to start

simple practicality just an easy thing to do in life

easiest methods best ways

occupied spend time on

entertained kept occupied and engaged

It is a common occurrence to witness it happens a lot to see

while their parents are distracted as their mom and dad are busy

easily justify give themselves the excuse to

claiming arguing

better acclimated with technology able to use devices better

justification reason for

self-serving good for them

a degree of truth in the fact that some reality in the situation

understand applications know how to use apps

navigate websites get around sites

As far as I am concerned in my opinion

overuse use too often

greatly impairs children physically and mentally hurt kids in terms of body and mind

Physically related to the body

encourages motivates

sedentary lifestyle not active ways of living

A large proportion of most of

scrolling through looking through

instead of playing outside with friends not going outside with other kids

Over time as time goes on

ingrained habits actions you can’t change

threaten their long-term physical fitness hurt their body later on

Intellectually related to the mentality

lead to shorter attention spans make it harder to pay attention for a long time

embraced shorter video formats watch videos that aren’t that long

produce dopamine responses in the brain make people happy in their minds

require frequent stimulation need more content

In contrast to in comparison to

digital devices phones, tablets, etc.

despite regardless of

hinder hold back

physical and intellectual development of body and mind change

limit restrain

screen time time spent using a device

Pronunciation

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

ˈɑːgjuː 
ˈsmɑːtfəʊnz
ˈnæʧrəl rɪˈzʌlt ɒv ðə kənˈviːniənsɪz 
əˈfɔːd 
dɪˈsaɪdɪdli ˈnɛgətɪv 
sɪˈvɪəli ˈɪmpækts hɛlθ
meɪn ˈriːzn 
vjuː ɪt æz ə kənˈviːniənt ˈɒpʃən
ˈfɜːstli 
ˈsɪmpl ˌpræktɪˈkælɪti
ˈiːzɪɪst ˈmɛθədz 
ˈɒkjʊpaɪd 
ˌɛntəˈteɪnd
ɪt ɪz ə ˈkɒmən əˈkʌrəns tuː ˈwɪtnɪs 
waɪl ðeə ˈpeərənts ɑː dɪsˈtræktɪd
ˈiːzɪli ˈʤʌstɪfaɪ 
ˈkleɪmɪŋ 
ˈbɛtər əˈklaɪmeɪtɪd wɪð tɛkˈnɒləʤi
ˌʤʌstɪfɪˈkeɪʃən 
sɛlf-ˈsɜːvɪŋ
ə dɪˈgriː ɒv truːθ ɪn ðə fækt ðæt 
ˌʌndəˈstænd ˌæplɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)nz 
ˈnævɪgeɪt ˈwɛbˌsaɪts 
æz fɑːr æz aɪ æm kənˈsɜːnd 
ˌəʊvəˈjuːz 
ˈgreɪtli ɪmˈpeəz ˈʧɪldrən ˈfɪzɪkəli ænd ˈmɛntəli
ˈfɪzɪkəli
ɪnˈkʌrɪʤɪz eɪ
ˈsɛdntəri ˈlaɪfˌstaɪl
ə lɑːʤ prəˈpɔːʃən ɒv 
ˈskrəʊlɪŋ θruː 
ɪnˈstɛd ɒv ˈpleɪɪŋ ˌaʊtˈsaɪd wɪð frɛndz
ˈəʊvə taɪm
ɪnˈgreɪnd ˈhæbɪts 
ˈθrɛtn ðeə ˈlɒŋtɜːm ˈfɪzɪkəl ˈfɪtnɪs
ˌɪntɪˈlɛktjʊəli 
liːd tuː ˈʃɔːtər əˈtɛnʃ(ə)n spænz
ɪmˈbreɪst ˈʃɔːtə ˈvɪdɪəʊ ˈfɔːmæts
ˈprɒdjuːs ˈdəʊpəmiːn rɪsˈpɒnsɪz ɪn ðə breɪn 
rɪˈkwaɪə ˈfriːkwənt ˌstɪmjʊˈleɪʃən
ɪn ˈkɒntrɑːst tuː 
ˈdɪʤɪtl dɪˈvaɪsɪz
dɪsˈpaɪt 
ˈhaɪndə 
ˈfɪzɪkəl ænd ˌɪntɪˈlɛktjʊəl dɪˈvɛləpmənt ɒv 
ˈlɪmɪt 
skriːn taɪm

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 today would a______e that children spend too many hours on their s________________s. In my opinion, this is a n_________________________________s these phones a________d and is d_________________e as it s______________________h.

The m______________n children are using phones too much today is parents v______________________________n. This is f______y a s____________________y. Most parents are busy and tired after work and smartphones are one of the e____________________s to keep their children o____________d and e____________d. I____________________________________s children on phones at restaurants and airports w______________________________d. Moreover, parents can e_________________y smartphones by c___________g they help their children become b_______________________________y. This j________________n is s____________g, but there is a____________________________t young children will be able to u_________________________s and how to n________________s like YouTube and Google search.

A_______________________d, the o_________e of smartphones g_________________________________________y. P_________y, using a smartphone e________________s a more s_____________________e. A_____________________________f children today are more likely to sit at home after school playing games, chatting, and s_____________________h YouTube or TikTok i________________________________________s. O________________e, these become i___________________s and t________________________________________________s. I__________________y, phones l__________________________s. Media online, especially applications that have e_______________________________s, p__________________________________________n that then r_____________________________________n. I_____________________o a book, children can only gain these feelings from their d____________________s.

In conclusion, d___________e the convenient uses of smartphones, they h________r the p_f children. Parents should limit their children’s screen time.

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:

Parenting Children in the Age of Screens

Speaking Practice

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

Mobile Phones and Smartphones

1. What are the advantages of smartphones?
2. Should children be allowed to own smartphones?
3. Do you thinks have a major or minor impact on mental health?
4. Where in your country is it not appropriate to use a phone?
5. Do you think smartphone usage may decline in the future?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topics below:

Some children spend hours every day on smartphones.

Why is this the case?

Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

IELTS Cambridge 17 Essay: Smartphones