This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of developed countries and happiness from the real IELTS exam.
A really tough topic – don’t try to come up with the most amazing ideas ever for it. Focus on a good, reasonable idea fully developed because the topic is so broad and difficult!
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Dave
IELTS Essay: Developed Countries & Happiness
In recent times, economic growth has helped many become richer, both in developed and developing countries. However, those in developed countries are not as happy as they were in the past.
Why is this?
What can be learned from this?
As global wealth increases, there has been a surprising decrease in reported levels of happiness in developed nations. In my opinion, this is due to lifestyle changes and it teaches that money is merely a baseline requirement for happiness.
The main reason individuals in wealthy nations are less happy today relates to how people live. In the past, people had fewer free time options and this led to more time being outside and socializing. Modern lifestyles are predicated around isolation. For example, the average worker or student after a long day is likely to spend at least a few hours watching movies on Netflix, messaging friends, checking social media, and listening to music. These 21st century habits would seemingly elevate happiness levels but they are in fact a passive means of achieving low levels of contentment and pleasure. In the aggregate, this minimum threshold of commitment pales in comparison to more substantial activities.
The lesson from this development is that wealth is only the foundation of happiness. Many would claim that money has no relationship to happiness, however, this is naive since families living in poverty must obsess over simple matters such as shelter and sustenance. Money only serves to guarantee basic necessities and happiness is an active byproduct of action. This can be seen most clearly in nations that score high on happiness surveys such as in Northern Europe and Japan. Individuals in these countries tend to have more focused lives and feel they are part of a community and culture that requires active engagement. These societies prioritise involvement with others and community responsibility and shun the insular hobbies that have led to dissatisfaction in other developed nations.
In conclusion, lower levels of happiness are due to modern ways of living and this illustrates the relative importance of wealth. Happiness itself should not be an aim but rather a result of pursuing worthier life goals.
Analysis
1. As global wealth increases, there has been a surprising decrease in reported levels of happiness in developed nations. 2. In my opinion, this is due to lifestyle changes and it teaches that money is merely a baseline requirement for happiness.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. The main reason individuals in wealthy nations are less happy today relates to how people live. 2. In the past, people had fewer free time options and this led to more time being outside and socializing. 3. Modern lifestyles are predicated around isolation. 4. For example, the average worker or student after a long day is likely to spend at least a few hours watching movies on Netflix, messaging friends, checking social media, and listening to music. 5. These 21st century habits would seemingly elevate happiness levels but they are in fact a passive means of achieving low levels of contentment and pleasure. 6. In the aggregate, this minimum threshold of commitment pales in comparison to more substantial activities.
- 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.
- Finish by adding extra detail.
1. The lesson from this development is that wealth is only the foundation of happiness. 2. Many would claim that money has no relationship to happiness, however, this is naive since families living in poverty must obsess over simple matters such as shelter and sustenance. 3. Money only serves to guarantee basic necessities and happiness is an active byproduct of action. 4. This can be seen most clearly in nations that score high on happiness surveys such as in Northern Europe and Japan. 5. Individuals in these countries tend to have more focused lives and feel they are part of a community and culture that requires active engagement. 6. These societies prioritise involvement with others and community responsibility and shun the insular hobbies that have led to dissatisfaction in other developed nations.
- 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!
- Conclude by relating it back to the overall topic.
1. In conclusion, lower levels of happiness are due to modern ways of living and this illustrates the relative importance of wealth. 2. Happiness itself should not be an aim but rather a result of pursuing worthier life goals.
- 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.
As global wealth increases, there has been a surprising decrease in reported levels of happiness in developed nations. In my opinion, this is due to lifestyle changes and it teaches that money is merely a baseline requirement for happiness.
The main reason individuals in wealthy nations are less happy today relates to how people live. In the past, people had fewer free time options and this led to more time being outside and socializing. Modern lifestyles are predicated around isolation. For example, the average worker or student after a long day is likely to spend at least a few hours watching movies on Netflix, messaging friends, checking social media, and listening to music. These 21st century habits would seemingly elevate happiness levels but they are in fact a passive means of achieving low levels of contentment and pleasure. In the aggregate, this minimum threshold of commitment pales in comparison to more substantial activities.
The lesson from this development is that wealth is only the foundation of happiness. Many would claim that money has no relationship to happiness, however, this is naive since families living in poverty must obsess over simple matters such as shelter and sustenance. Money only serves to guarantee basic necessities and happiness is an active byproduct of action. This can be seen most clearly in nations that score high on happiness surveys such as in Northern Europe and Japan. Individuals in these countries tend to have more focused lives and feel they are part of a community and culture that requires active engagement. These societies prioritise involvement with others and community responsibility and shun the insular hobbies that have led to dissatisfaction in other developed nations.
In conclusion, lower levels of happiness are due to modern ways of living and this illustrates the relative importance of wealth. Happiness itself should not be an aim but rather a result of pursuing worthier life goals.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
global wealth amount of money in the world
surprising decrease shocking fall
reported levels the amount people say
developed nations rich countries
lifestyle changes different ways of living
merely only
baseline requirement minimum needed
relates to has to do with
fewer free time options not as many choices for hobbies
socializing talking to people
predicated based on
isolation being alone
average worker normal employee
long day whole day at work/school
at least at the minimum
checking social media looking at Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.
21st century habits new pastimes in the 2000s
seemingly elevate ostensibly make better
in fact actually
passive means not an active way
achieving accomplishing
contentment satisfaction
pleasure happiness
in the aggregate all combined
minimum threshold the least required
commitment duty
pales in comparison is weaker than
substantial meaningful
foundation basis
claim argue
naive innocent, unrealistic
poverty poor
obsess fixate on
simple matters ordinary issues
shelter home
sustenance food
serves to works to
guarantee ensure
basic necessities minimum to live
active byproduct result of
This can be seen most clearly in a good example of this is
score high get good marks
surveys reports
Northern Europe Finland, Denmark, Sweden, etc.
focused lives purposeful lives
community neighborhood
culture traditions and people around you
requires active engagement needs actual input
prioritise consider more important
involvement with others interpersonal relationships
community responsibility duty to those around you
shun ignore
insular hobbies isolated pastimes
dissatisfaction not feeling content, satisfied
relative importance of wealth how important money is compared to other factors
aim goal
pursuing worthier life goals going after more important aims in life
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ˈgləʊbəl wɛlθ
səˈpraɪzɪŋ ˈdiːkriːs
rɪˈpɔːtɪd ˈlɛvlz
dɪˈvɛləpt ˈneɪʃənz
ˈlaɪfˌstaɪl ˈʧeɪnʤɪz
ˈmɪəli
ˈbeɪslaɪn rɪˈkwaɪəmənt
rɪˈleɪts tuː
ˈfjuːə friː taɪm ˈɒpʃənz
ˈsəʊʃəlaɪzɪŋ
ˈprɛdɪkeɪtɪd
ˌaɪsəʊˈleɪʃən
ˈævərɪʤ ˈwɜːkə
lɒŋ deɪ
æt liːst
ˈʧɛkɪŋ ˈsəʊʃəl ˈmiːdiə
ˈtwɛnti fɜːst ˈsɛnʧʊri ˈhæbɪts
ˈsiːmɪŋli ˈɛlɪveɪt
ɪn fækt
ˈpæsɪv miːnz
əˈʧiːvɪŋ
kənˈtɛntmənt
ˈplɛʒə
ɪn ði ˈægrɪgɪt
ˈmɪnɪməm ˈθrɛʃˌhəʊld
kəˈmɪtmənt
peɪlz ɪn kəmˈpærɪsn
səbˈstænʃəl
faʊnˈdeɪʃən
kleɪm
nɑːˈiːv
ˈpɒvəti
əbˈsɛs
ˈsɪmpl ˈmætəz
ˈʃɛltə
ˈsʌstɪnəns
sɜːvz tuː
ˌgærənˈtiː
ˈbeɪsɪk nɪˈsɛsɪtiz
ˈæktɪv ˈbaɪˌprɒdʌkt
ðɪs kæn biː siːn məʊst ˈklɪəli ɪn
skɔː haɪ
ˈsɜːveɪz
ˈnɔːðən ˈjʊərəp
ˈfəʊkəst lɪvz
kəˈmjuːnɪti
ˈkʌlʧə
rɪˈkwaɪəz ˈæktɪv ɪnˈgeɪʤmənt
praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪz
ɪnˈvɒlvmənt wɪð ˈʌðəz
kəˈmjuːnɪti rɪsˌpɒnsəˈbɪlɪti
ʃʌn
ˈɪnsjʊlə ˈhɒbiz
dɪsˌsætɪsˈfækʃən
ˈrɛlətɪv ɪmˈpɔːtəns ɒv wɛlθ
eɪm
pəˈsjuːɪŋ ˈwɜːðɪə laɪf gəʊlz
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:
As g_______________h increases, there has been a s__________________e in r________________s of happiness in d________________s. In my opinion, this is due to l________________s and it teaches that money is m______y a b________________________t for happiness.
The main reason individuals in wealthy nations are less happy today r____________o how people live. In the past, people had f_________________________s and this led to more time being outside and s________________g. Modern lifestyles are p_____________d around i__________n. For example, the a_________________r or student after a l_____________y is likely to spend a________t a few hours watching movies on Netflix, messaging friends, c___________________a, and listening to music. These 2_________________s would s________________e happiness levels but they are i_______t a p_____________s of a_______________g low levels of c________________t and p___________e. I____________________e, this m_____________________d of c______________t p________________n to more s______________l activities.
The lesson from this development is that wealth is only the f___________n of happiness. Many would c______m that money has no relationship to happiness, however, this is n______e since families living in p________y must o________s over s_________________s such as s_________r and s_____________e. Money only s____________o g____________e b__________________s and happiness is an a__________________t of action. T________________________n nations that s_________h on happiness s________s such as in N_____________________e and Japan. Individuals in these countries tend to have more focused lives and feel they are part of a c______________y and c_________e that r______________________________t. These societies p____________________________s and c_________________________y and s_____n the i____________________s that have led to d_________________n in other developed nations.
In conclusion, lower levels of happiness are due to modern ways of living and this illustrates the r_________________________h. Happiness itself should not be an a____m but rather a result of p___________________________s.
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:
https://www.vox.com/first-person/2016/10/4/13093380/happiness-america-ruth-whippman
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Age
- Do you like your current age?
- What was the biggest decision you made in your life?
- At what age are people happiest?
Writing Practice
Practice with the same basic topic below and then check with my sample answer:
Some people believe that it is best to accept a bad situation, such as an unsatisfactory job or shortage of money. Others argue that it is better to try and improve such situations.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Such a tricky topic, especially the second question. Thanks for being such a wonderful writer Dave 🙂
It is true that greater economic vitality has substantially improved the living standards of those residing in affluent countries. However, this development is also accompanied by a lower level of happiness there. In my opinion, isolated lifestyles ascribed to overreliance on technology are responsible for this phenomenon, and it teaches that being wealthy is not always tantamount to being happy.
The primary rationale behind why individuals are less happy involves how they live. In the past, people had limited choices regarding in which recreational activities they could partake, urging them to go outside and interact socially more. Being richer, however, has allowed individuals to purchase state-of-the-art electronic devices. This is compounded with the omnipresence of the Internet, enabling modern people to enjoy their own company such as playing video games or watching movies on Netflix or HBO. Although these passive activities are seemingly enjoyable, being in prolonged isolation often contributes to people either segregating themselves from the community or eschewing in-person interaction in favor of the virtual counterpart, which potentially is a precursor to future depression and unhappiness.
The lesson drawn from this trend is that affluence does not always result in happiness. The truth is that money has a crucial role to play in satisfying basic human demands such as food or accommodation. However, studies have empirically proven that once these needs are met, more money contributes little to whether a person is happy or not. This is why countries scoring high on happiness surveys such as Vietnam or Sweden tend to place a strong emphasis on encouraging their citizens to have a focused life. Additionally, these societies prioritize involvement with others, which possibly instills in their citizens a sense of community and happiness.
In conclusion, the trend of individuals becoming unhappy despite being wealthier is attributable to their isolated ways of living, and this illustrates the lessons that the pursuit of wealth is not an effective way to happiness.
Nice work, Mike!
Really accurate and high level paraphrase of mine – keep it up!
Thanks a great deal.
Would you please tell me to which band my essay belongs? It means the world for me 🙂
It would be band 8.5 – just a few errors with prepositions and some issues linking ideas a little awkwardly.
sorry but why we put our opinion in situation essay