This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of concerts and plays from the real IELTS general training exam.

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Dave

IELTS Essay: Concerts and Plays

Not many young people in countries around the world go to and enjoy concerts and plays.

Why is this the case?

How should they be encouraged to attend?

There are fewer and fewer young people today who enjoy going out for concerts and plays. In my opinion, this is a result of increased isolation due to newer media and this demographic could be motivated to attend by increased funding for these events.

The main reason that plays and concerts are declining in popularity for younger generations is the wealth of other entertainment options. In the past, individuals could watch television, read books, and listen to music at home but would often opt to go out for live performances. Now, it is possible to isolate yourself virtually from the real world because of the satisfactions available from social media, streaming websites like Netflix and YouTube, online music platforms, and the internet generally. Therefore, spending money on an expensive experience no longer holds the same appeal.

This trend can be best curbed by funding the performing arts. Such funding would have to begin at very basic levels of education and continue throughout several layers of society. For instance, governments could ensure there is adequate space and financial backing in the curriculum for classes related to music and acting. They could also fund community outreach programs for children, teenagers, and adults in the hopes of encouraging greater interest in the performing arts and then couple these reforms with subsidized tickets for admission. A good example of the efficacy of this approach would be the emphasis on classical music in past decades in many developing Asian nations and the subsequent popularity of concert halls.

In conclusion, though young people today are more likely to spend time at home, alone on their devices, there remains a desire to go out and funding more performances would help encourage active participation. Governments must naturally balance this against other, potentially more pressing, needs.

Analysis

1. There are fewer and fewer young people today who enjoy going out for concerts and plays. 2. In my opinion, this is a result of increased isolation due to newer media and this demographic could be motivated to attend by increased funding for these events.

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

1. The main reason that plays and concerts are declining in popularity for younger generations is the wealth of other entertainment options. 2. In the past, individuals could watch television, read books, and listen to music at home but would often opt to go out for live performances. 3. Now, it is possible to isolate yourself virtually from the real world because of the satisfactions available from social media, streaming websites like Netflix and YouTube, online music platforms, and the internet generally. 4. Therefore, spending money on an expensive experience no longer holds the same appeal.

  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.

1. This trend can be best curbed by funding the performing arts. 2. Such funding would have to begin at very basic levels of education and continue throughout several layers of society. 3. For instance, governments could ensure there is adequate space and financial backing in the curriculum for classes related to music and acting. 4. They could also fund community outreach programs for children, teenagers, and adults in the hopes of encouraging greater interest in the performing arts and then couple these reforms with subsidized tickets for admission. 5. A good example of the efficacy of this approach would be the emphasis on classical music in past decades in many developing Asian nations and the subsequent popularity of concert halls.

  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. Continue developing it…
  5. as fully as possible!

1. In conclusion, though young people today are more likely to spend time at home, alone on their devices, there remains a desire to go out and funding more performances would help encourage active participation. 2. Governments must naturally balance this against other, potentially more pressing, needs.

  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.

There are fewer and fewer young people today who enjoy going out for concerts and plays. In my opinion, this is a result of increased isolation due to newer media and this demographic could be motivated to attend by increased funding for these events.

The main reason that plays and concerts are declining in popularity for younger generations is the wealth of other entertainment options. In the past, individuals could watch television, read books, and listen to music at home but would often opt to go out for live performances. Now, it is possible to isolate yourself virtually from the real world because of the satisfactions available from social media, streaming websites like Netflix and YouTube, online music platforms, and the internet generally. Therefore, spending money on an expensive experience no longer holds the same appeal.

This trend can be best curbed by funding the performing arts. Such funding would have to begin at very basic levels of education and continue throughout several layers of society. For instance, governments could ensure there is adequate space and financial backing in the curriculum for classes related to music and acting. They could also fund community outreach programs for children, teenagers, and adults in the hopes of encouraging greater interest in the performing arts and then couple these reforms with subsidized tickets for admission. A good example of the efficacy of this approach would be the emphasis on classical music in past decades in many developing Asian nations and the subsequent popularity of concert halls.

In conclusion, though young people today are more likely to spend time at home, alone on their devices, there remains a desire to go out and funding more performances would help encourage active participation. Governments must naturally balance this against other, potentially more pressing, needs.

Answers

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

fewer and fewer less and less

concerts playing music in public

plays theater performances like a play by Shakespeare

a result of caused by

increased isolation more time alone

due to because of

newer media more recent shows, entertainment

demographic group of people

motivated encouraged by

attend go to

increased funding more money

events performances, activities

main reason primary cause

declining in popularity less common

younger generations younger people

wealth of other entertainment options many choices

opt choose

live performances not recorded

isolate be alone

virtually online

satisfactions pleasures

available from can be found on

social media Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.

streaming websites sites for watching shows

online music platforms Spotify, Apple Music, etc.

generally overall

expensive experience costs a lot to go there

no longer holds the same appeal not as enticing

trend pattern

best curbed better limited

performing arts plays, concerts, etc.

very basic levels of education younger learners in school

continue throughout several layers of society keep funding other parts of society

ensure make sure of

adequate space enough room

financial backing money

curriculum what is learned in school

related to concerning

fund community outreach programs give money for activities for people

in the hopes of so that

greater interest caring more about

couple combine

reforms changes

subsidized tickets cheaper admissions

admission getting in

efficacy how effective it is

emphasis focus

classical music Mozart, Bach, etc.

in past decades 20+ years ago

developing poor

subsequent popularity resultant ubiquity

concert halls places to place music

alone by itself

devices computers, phones, etc.

remains stays

desire want to

active participation taking part in

naturally balance this against of course keep equal with

potentially possibly

pressing crucial

Pronunciation

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

ˈfjuːər ænd ˈfjuːə 
ˈkɒnsə(ː)ts 
pleɪz
ə rɪˈzʌlt ɒv 
ɪnˈkriːst ˌaɪsəʊˈleɪʃən 
djuː tuː 
ˈnjuːə ˈmiːdiə 
ˌdɛməˈgræfɪk 
ˈməʊtɪveɪtɪd 
əˈtɛnd 
ɪnˈkriːst ˈfʌndɪŋ 
ɪˈvɛnts
meɪn ˈriːzn 
dɪˈklaɪnɪŋ ɪn ˌpɒpjʊˈlærɪti 
ˈjʌŋə ˌʤɛnəˈreɪʃənz 
wɛlθ ɒv ˈʌðər ˌɛntəˈteɪnmənt ˈɒpʃənz
ɒpt 
lɪv pəˈfɔːmənsɪz
ˈaɪsəleɪt 
ˈvɜːtjʊəli 
ˌsætɪsˈfækʃənz 
əˈveɪləbl frɒm 
ˈsəʊʃəl ˈmiːdiə
ˈstriːmɪŋ ˈwɛbˌsaɪts 
ˈɒnˌlaɪn ˈmjuːzɪk ˈplætfɔːmz
ˈʤɛnərəli
ɪksˈpɛnsɪv ɪksˈpɪərɪəns 
nəʊ ˈlɒŋgə həʊldz ðə seɪm əˈpiːl
trɛnd 
bɛst kɜːbd 
pəˈfɔːmɪŋ ɑːts
ˈvɛri ˈbeɪsɪk ˈlɛvlz ɒv ˌɛdju(ː)ˈkeɪʃən 
kənˈtɪnju(ː) θru(ː)ˈaʊt ˈsɛvrəl ˈleɪəz ɒv səˈsaɪəti
ɪnˈʃʊə 
ˈædɪkwɪt speɪs 
faɪˈnænʃəl ˈbækɪŋ 
kəˈrɪkjʊləm 
rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː 
fʌnd kəˈmjuːnɪti ˈaʊtriːʧ ˈprəʊgræmz 
ɪn ðə həʊps ɒv 
ˈgreɪtər ˈɪntrɪst 
ˈkʌpl 
ˌriːˈfɔːmz 
ˈsʌbsɪdaɪzd ˈtɪkɪts 
ədˈmɪʃ(ə)n
ˈɛfɪkəsi 
ˈɛmfəsɪs 
ˈklæsɪkəl ˈmjuːzɪk 
ɪn pɑːst ˈdɛkeɪdz 
dɪˈvɛləpɪŋ 
ˈsʌbsɪkwənt ˌpɒpjʊˈlærɪti 
ˈkɒnsə(ː)t hɔːlz
əˈləʊn 
dɪˈvaɪsɪz
rɪˈmeɪnz 
dɪˈzaɪə 
ˈæktɪv pɑːˌtɪsɪˈpeɪʃən
ˈnæʧrəli ˈbæləns ðɪs əˈgɛnst 
pəʊˈtɛnʃəli 
ˈprɛsɪŋ

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 f___________________r young people today who enjoy going out for c______s and p_______s. In my opinion, this is a_____________f i_________________n d________o n_________________a and this d______________c could be m___________d to a________d by i____________________g for these e_______s.

The m_____________n that plays and concerts are d______________________________r y_______________________s is the w___________________________________s. In the past, individuals could watch television, read books, and listen to music at home but would often opt to go out for l___________________s. Now, it is possible to i_______e yourself v__________y from the real world because of the s_____________________________m s_____________a, s________________________s like Netflix and YouTube, o____________________s, and the internet g_____________y. Therefore, spending money on an e______________________e n______________________________________l.

This t______d can be b______________d by funding the p___________________s. Such funding would have to begin at v________________________n and c______________________________________________y. For instance, governments could e_______e there is a_______________e and f___________________g in the c_________m for classes r___________o music and acting. They could also f_________________________s for children, teenagers, and adults i_____________________f encouraging g_________________t in the performing arts and then c________e these r__________s with s_________________s for a_______________n. A good example of the e__________y of this approach would be the e_____________s on c________________c i_______________________s in many d_____________g Asian nations and the s_______________________y of c_________________s.

In conclusion, though young people today are more likely to spend time at home, a______e on their d_______s, there r__________s a d________e to go out and funding more performances would help encourage a_________________n. Governments must n_________________________t other, p___________y more p_________g, needs.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching videos from The New York Times YouTube channel below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

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

https://www.theatlantic.com/live/day-live-concert-returns-2020/

Speaking Practice

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

Music

  1. Do you like music?
  2. Which types of music do you like?
  3. Would you like to learn a musical instrument?
  4. Do you prefer listening to music by yourself or with someone else?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:

In some countries, there are fewer young people who listen to or play classical music these days.

Why is this?

Should young people be encouraged to play or perform classical music?

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