This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of doctors’ recommendations for older people and their exercise routines from the real recent IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Doctors’ Recommendations

Many doctors recommend that older people exercise regularly, but most patients do not follow an exercise routine.

Why do you think this happens?

How can people be encouraged to exercise regularly?

A large proportion of healthcare professionals find that their advice to elderly people concerning exercise is not heeded. In my opinion, this is due to practical concerns and the best encouragement would be through government initiatives.

The reasons senior citizens have difficulty staying fit are physical and economic. Firstly, older people naturally suffer from a range of minor or major and debilitating conditions such as poor cardiovascular health, arthritis, and dementia. Each presents unique challenges to a regular exercise regular routine. Moreover, older people are often unable to afford the costs associated with learning a new sport or joining a gym. In the United States most older people survive on a fixed income and must set aside money for medical bills. Sports equipment is simply not a priority.

There is little that can be done to deter the natural ageing process but the financial impediments can be effectively tackled by building more public parks and facilities. An older person living in an urban area may lack easy access to a park or the transportation to travel to one far away. However, if there was one within walking distance they would be encouraged to exercise habitually. This habit could also be reinforced by social interactions. Many older people are lonely and seek companions from their generation. By making friends and regularly meeting to walk to exercise in the park, as is common in many East Asian nations, they can create lasting bonds that will also encourage them to stay fit.

In conclusion, many older people are physically or economically unable to exercise regularly and the this can be partly remedied with greater investment in public spaces. The benefits of such a reform would impact other segments of the population as well.

Analysis

1. A large proportion of healthcare professionals find that their advice to elderly people concerning exercise is not heeded. 2. In my opinion, this is due to practical concerns and the best encouragement would be through government initiatives.

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

1. The reasons senior citizens have difficulty staying fit are physical and economic. 2. Firstly, older people naturally suffer from a range of minor or major and debilitating conditions such as poor cardiovascular health, arthritis, and dementia. 3. Each presents unique challenges to a regular exercise regular routine. 4. Moreover, older people are often unable to afford the costs associated with learning a new sport or joining a gym. 5. In the United States most older people survive on a fixed income and must set aside money for medical bills. 6. Sports equipment is simply not a priority.

  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. Vary long and short sentences.
  6. Make sure you generalize if your example is too specific.

1. There is little that can be done to deter the natural ageing process but the financial impediments can be effectively tackled by building more public parks and facilities. 2. An older person living in an urban area may lack easy access to a park or the transportation to travel to one far away. 3. However, if there was one within walking distance they would be encouraged to exercise habitually. 4. This habit could also be reinforced by social interactions. 5. Many older people are lonely and seek companions from their generation. 6. By making friends and regularly meeting to walk to exercise in the park, as is common in many East Asian nations, they can create lasting bonds that will also encourage them to stay fit.

  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. Develop the example fully.
  6. State the results as well.

1. In conclusion, many older people are physically or economically unable to exercise regularly and the this can be partly remedied with greater investment in public spaces. 2. The benefits of such a reform would impact other segments of the population as well.

  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.

A large proportion of healthcare professionals find that their advice to elderly people concerning exercise is not heeded. In my opinion, this is due to practical concerns and the best encouragement would be through government initiatives.

The reasons senior citizens have difficulty staying fit are physical and economic. Firstly, older people naturally suffer from a range of minor or major and debilitating conditions such as poor cardiovascular health, arthritis, and dementia. Each presents unique challenges to a regular exercise regular routine. Moreover, older people are often unable to afford the costs associated with learning a new sport or joining a gym. In the United States most older people survive on a fixed income and must set aside money for medical bills. Sports equipment is simply not a priority.

There is little that can be done to deter the natural ageing process but the financial impediments can be effectively tackled by building more public parks and facilities. An older person living in an urban area may lack easy access to a park or the transportation to travel to one far away. However, if there was one within walking distance they would be encouraged to exercise habitually. This habit could also be reinforced by social interactions. Many older people are lonely and seek companions from their generation. By making friends and regularly meeting to walk to exercise in the park, as is common in many East Asian nations, they can create lasting bonds that will also encourage them to stay fit.

In conclusion, many older people are physically or economically unable to exercise regularly and the this can be partly remedied with greater investment in public spaces. The benefits of such a reform would impact other segments of the population as well.

Answers

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

A large proportion of many of

healthcare professionals doctors

advice suggestions

elderly people older citizens

concerning exercise have to do with staying in shape

not heeded not listened to

due to because of

practical concerns problems that are real

best encouragement ideal way to inspire

government initiatives reforms

senior citizens the elderly

have difficulty staying fit can’t stay in shape

physical related to the body

economic related to finance

naturally of course

suffer from have

a range of many types of

minor small

major big

debilitating conditions issues that really impact them

poor cardiovascular health bad heart health

arthritis bones hurting

dementia Alzheimer’s

presents unique challenges creates new difficulties

regular exercise regular routine normal time to go exercise

unable can’t

afford pay for

costs associated with learning a new sport expenses of taking up a new game

joining a gym going to a sports facility

survive live on

fixed income unchanging amount of money every month

set aside money save funds

medical bills hospital costs

sports equipment items for doing sports

simply merely

priority of great importance

deter discourage

natural ageing process normal getting old

financial impediments money barriers

effectively tackled well handled

building more public parks and facilities constructing more public places for everyone

urban area city

lack easy access can’t get to

transportation how you travel

far away not near

within walking distance near

encouraged inspired to

exercise habitually go walk, play sports often

reinforced supported

social interactions talking to people

lonely isolated

seek companions look for friends

generation people of the same age

regularly meeting normal getting together

as is common in many East Asian nations happens a lot in China, Japan, Vietnam, etc.

create lasting bonds form meaningful relationships

encourage inspire

stay fit keep in shape

economically relating to money

partly remedied fixed a little

greater investment more money for

public spaces places everyone can go

benefits advantages

reform changes

impact effect

segments of the population other age groups

Pronunciation

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

ə lɑːʤ prəˈpɔːʃən ɒv 
ˈhɛlθkeə prəˈfɛʃənlz 
ədˈvaɪs 
ˈɛldəli ˈpiːpl 
kənˈsɜːnɪŋ ˈɛksəsaɪz 
nɒt ˈhiːdɪd
djuː tuː 
ˈpræktɪkəl kənˈsɜːnz 
bɛst ɪnˈkʌrɪʤmənt 
ˈgʌvnmənt ɪˈnɪʃɪətɪvz
ˈsiːnjə ˈsɪtɪznz 
hæv ˈdɪfɪkəlti ˈsteɪɪŋ fɪt 
ˈfɪzɪkəl 
ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk
ˈnæʧrəli 
ˈsʌfə frɒm 
ə reɪnʤ ɒv 
ˈmaɪnə 
ˈmeɪʤə 
dɪˈbɪlɪteɪtɪŋ kənˈdɪʃənz 
pʊə ˌkɑːdɪəʊˈvæskjʊlə hɛlθ
ɑːˈθraɪtɪs 
dɪˈmɛnʃɪə 
ˈprɛznts juːˈniːk ˈʧælɪnʤɪz 
ˈrɛgjʊlər ˈɛksəsaɪz ˈrɛgjʊlə ruːˈtiːn
ʌnˈeɪbl 
əˈfɔːd 
kɒsts əˈsəʊʃɪeɪtɪd wɪð ˈlɜːnɪŋ ə njuː spɔːt 
ˈʤɔɪnɪŋ ə ʤɪm
səˈvaɪv 
fɪkst ˈɪnkʌm 
sɛt əˈsaɪd ˈmʌni 
ˈmɛdɪkəl bɪlz
spɔːts ɪˈkwɪpmənt 
ˈsɪmpli 
praɪˈɒrɪti
dɪˈtɜː 
ˈnæʧrəl ˈeɪʤɪŋ ˈprəʊsɛs 
faɪˈnænʃəl ɪmˈpɛdɪmənts 
ɪˈfɛktɪvli ˈtækld 
ˈbɪldɪŋ mɔː ˈpʌblɪk pɑːks ænd fəˈsɪlɪtiz
ˈɜːbən ˈeərɪə 
læk ˈiːzi ˈæksɛs 
ˌtrænspɔːˈteɪʃən 
fɑːr əˈweɪ
wɪˈðɪn ˈwɔːkɪŋ ˈdɪstəns 
ɪnˈkʌrɪʤd 
ˈɛksəsaɪz həˈbɪtjʊəli
ˌriːɪnˈfɔːst 
ˈsəʊʃəl ˌɪntərˈækʃənz
ˈləʊnli 
siːk kəmˈpænjənz 
ˌʤɛnəˈreɪʃən
ˈrɛgjʊləli ˈmiːtɪŋ 
æz ɪz ˈkɒmən ɪn ˈmɛni iːst ˈeɪʃ(ə)n ˈneɪʃənz
kri(ː)ˈeɪt ˈlɑːstɪŋ bɒndz 
ɪnˈkʌrɪʤ 
steɪ fɪt
ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪkəli 
ˈpɑːtli ˈrɛmɪdid 
ˈgreɪtər ɪnˈvɛstmənt 
ˈpʌblɪk ˈspeɪsɪz
ˈbɛnɪfɪts 
ˌriːˈfɔːm 
ˈɪmpækt 
ˈsɛgmənts ɒv ðə ˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃən

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:

A_________________________________________s find that their a_______e to e_____________e c___________________e is n_____________d. In my opinion, this is d______o p__________________s and the b______________________t would be through g_______________________s.

The reasons s________________s h________________________t are p__________l and e___________c. Firstly, older people n_________y s_____________m a__________f m_____r or m______r and d___________________________s such as p_______________________________h, a________s, and d___________a. Each p__________________________s to a r________________________________e. Moreover, older people are often u_______e to a__________d the c_________________________h l________________________t or j_________________m. In the United States most older people s_________e on a f_______________e and must s________________y for m______________s. S_________________________t is s_________y not a p____________y.

There is little that can be done to d______r the n____________________________s but the f___________________________s can be e__________________________d by b____________________________________s. An older person living in an u___________a may l_____________________s to a park or the t__________________n to travel to one f___________y. However, if there was one w_________________________e they would be e_____________d to e___________________y. This habit could also be r_________________d by s_____________________s. Many older people are l________y and s___________________s from their g_____________n. By making friends and r_______________g to walk to exercise in the park, a______________________________________s, they can c___________________s that will also e_______________e them to s___________t.

In conclusion, many older people are physically or e_____________y unable to exercise regularly and the this can be p________________d with g__________________t in p_______________s. The b__________s of such a r_______m would i________t other s_____________________n as well.

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.seniorlifestyle.com/resources/blog/7-best-exercises-for-seniors-and-a-few-to-avoid/

Speaking Practice

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

Old Age

  1. Do you know a lot of older people?
  2. How often do you talk with your grandparents?
  3. Do you think people get happier as they get older?
  4. Are people living longer in your country?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:

Many people who care for the elderly do not have enough time to look after them.

What are the problems related to this?

What are some possible solutions?

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