This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of freedom to make mistakes from the real IELTS exam.
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Dave
IELTS Essay: Freedom to Make Mistakes
Some people think children should have the freedom to make mistakes, while other people believe that adults should prevent children from making mistakes.
Discuss both sides and give your opinion.
Some are of the opinion that children should be allowed to make mistakes, while others feel that adults should take a preventative approach. In my opinion, there are limits but it is nonetheless essential for healthy development to permit children their errors.
Proponents of reduced freedom for children argue that mistakes can lead to a pattern of misbehavior. This argument is often advanced by over-protective parents who believe human nature naturally trends toward anti-social activity. For example, a child who is mean to classmates and performs poorly in academics and athletics will only continue this behavior if enabled by understanding adults. To counter the child’s wayward impulses, parents should instead either punish or reward in order to motivate more socially acceptable behavior. The theory is that children will then recognize the boundaries set by parents and society and later fit into the adult world as well-functioning members.
Regardless, a sense of autonomy is crucial to mature development. Children who are shielded from making mistakes often lack the skills that encourage healthy growth. The majority of learning, for instance, is achieved through mistakes. A child who is learning a sport makes mistake after mistake but does it with a positive attitude and eventually improves. Later in life, the attitude may become more negative but the process remains the same for all disciplines, private and public. Parents and other adults must therefore seek to impart unconditional support and ensure children do not develop self-esteem problems based on their mistakes. This approach of fostering a cheerful self-sufficiency will serve them best throughout life.
In conclusion, although some adults may feel that are preventing children from making mistakes for the public good, they are in fact doing great harm to their child’s mental well-being. If larger segments of society accept this perspective, it will benefit all of society.
Analysis
1. Some are of the opinion that children should be allowed to make mistakes, while others feel that adults should take a preventative approach. 2. In my opinion, there are limits but it is nonetheless essential for healthy development to permit children their errors.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Proponents of reduced freedom for children argue that mistakes can lead to a pattern of misbehavior. 2. This argument is often advanced by over-protective parents who believe human nature naturally trends toward anti-social activity. 3. For example, a child who is mean to classmates and performs poorly in academics and athletics will only continue this behavior if enabled by understanding adults. 4. To counter the child’s wayward impulses, parents should instead either punish or reward in order to motivate more socially acceptable behavior. 5. The theory is that children will then recognize the boundaries set by parents and society and later fit into the adult world as well-functioning members.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
- Keep developing it fully.
- Finish this main idea.
1. Regardless, a sense of autonomy is crucial to mature development. 2. Children who are shielded from making mistakes often lack the skills that encourage healthy growth. 3. The majority of learning, for instance, is achieved through mistakes. 4. A child who is learning a sport makes mistake after mistake but does it with a positive attitude and eventually improves. 5. Later in life, the attitude may become more negative but the process remains the same for all disciplines, private and public. 6. Parents and other adults must therefore seek to impart unconditional support and ensure children do not develop self-esteem problems based on their mistakes. 7. This approach of fostering a cheerful self-sufficiency will serve them best throughout life.
- 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!
- This paragraph can be long.
- Finish with a strong statement.
1. In conclusion, although some adults may feel that are preventing children from making mistakes for the public good, they are in fact doing great harm to their child’s mental well-being. 2. If larger segments of society accept this perspective, it will benefit all of society.
- 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.
Some are of the opinion that children should be allowed to make mistakes, while others feel that adults should take a preventative approach. In my opinion, there are limits but it is nonetheless essential for healthy development to permit children their errors.
Proponents of reduced freedom for children argue that mistakes can lead to a pattern of misbehavior. This argument is often advanced by over-protective parents who believe human nature naturally trends toward anti-social activity. For example, a child who is mean to classmates and performs poorly in academics and athletics will only continue this behavior if enabled by understanding adults. To counter the child’s wayward impulses, parents should instead either punish or reward in order to motivate more socially acceptable behavior. The theory is that children will then recognize the boundaries set by parents and society and later fit into the adult world as well-functioning members.
Regardless, a sense of autonomy is crucial to mature development. Children who are shielded from making mistakes often lack the skills that encourage healthy growth. The majority of learning, for instance, is achieved through mistakes. A child who is learning a sport makes mistake after mistake but does it with a positive attitude and eventually improves. Later in life, the attitude may become more negative but the process remains the same for all disciplines, private and public. Parents and other adults must therefore seek to impart unconditional support and ensure children do not develop self-esteem problems based on their mistakes. This approach of fostering a cheerful self-sufficiency will serve them best throughout life.
In conclusion, although some adults may feel that are preventing children from making mistakes for the public good, they are in fact doing great harm to their child’s mental well-being. If larger segments of society accept this perspective, it will benefit all of society.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
are of the opinion believe
allowed are able to
mistakes errors
take a preventative approach want to stop it from happening at all
limits boundaries
nonetheless regardless
essential crucial
healthy development good for you
permit allow
errorsmistakes
proponents people who support
reduced less
lead to a pattern of misbehavior keep making mistakes in the future
argument debate
advanced developed
over-protective parents parents who try too hard to keep their kids safe
human nature how people are naturally
naturally trends toward of course leads to
anti-social activity not following the rules of society
mean not nice
classmates students in the same class
performs poorly does badly
academics school subjects
athletics sports
behavior how a person acts
enabled encouraged
understanding sympathy
counter fight against
wayward impulses bad desires
punish hit, reprimand
reward positive reinforcement
in order to so as to
socially acceptable behavior what the world allows you to do
theory idea
recognize start to notice
boundaries set by limits laid down by
fit into become part of
well-functioning members normal people
regardless nonetheless
sense of autonomy feeling of independence
crucial important
mature development sophisticated growing up
shielded from protected from
lack don’t have
encourage healthy growth help you grow up well
majority most of
achieved got to the point
mistake after mistake keep messing up
positive attitude good outlook
eventually improves in the long run helps
later in life as you get older
negative not positive
process way of doing something
remains the same doesn’t change
disciplines skills, jobs
private personal
public around others
therefore thus
seek to impart hopes to give
unconditional support no strings love
ensure make sure
develop self-esteem problems feel bad about themselves
based on comes from
approach way of doing something
fostering encouraging
cheerful self-sufficiency happy independence
throughout life your whole life
preventing stopping
public good for all of society
in fact actually
doing great harm hurting
mental well-being psychological health
larger segments more parts of
society accept the world believe in
perspective viewpoint
benefit get something from
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ɑːr ɒv ði əˈpɪnjən
əˈlaʊd
mɪsˈteɪks
teɪk ə prɪˈvɛntɪv əˈprəʊʧ
ˈlɪmɪts
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
ɪˈsɛnʃəl
ˈhɛlθi dɪˈvɛləpmənt
ˈpɜːmɪt
ˈɛrəz
prəˈpəʊnənts
rɪˈdjuːst
liːd tuː ə ˈpætən ɒv ˌmɪsbɪˈheɪvjə
ˈɑːgjʊmənt
ədˈvɑːnst
ˈəʊvə-prəˈtɛktɪv ˈpeərənts
ˈhjuːmən ˈneɪʧə
ˈnæʧrəli trɛndz təˈwɔːd
ˈænti-ˈsəʊʃəl ækˈtɪvɪti
miːn
ˈklɑːsmeɪts
pəˈfɔːmz ˈpʊəli
ˌækəˈdɛmɪks
æθˈlɛtɪks
bɪˈheɪvjə
ɪˈneɪbld
ˌʌndəˈstændɪŋ
ˈkaʊntə
ˈweɪwəd ˈɪmpʌlsɪz
ˈpʌnɪʃ
rɪˈwɔːd
ɪn ˈɔːdə tuː
ˈsəʊʃəli əkˈsɛptəbl bɪˈheɪvjə
ˈθɪəri
ˈrɛkəgnaɪz
ˈbaʊndəriz sɛt baɪ
fɪt ˈɪntuː
wɛl-ˈfʌŋkʃənɪŋ ˈmɛmbəz
rɪˈgɑːdlɪs
sɛns ɒv ɔːˈtɒnəmi
ˈkruːʃəl
məˈtjʊə dɪˈvɛləpmənt
ˈʃiːldɪd frɒm
læk
ɪnˈkʌrɪʤ ˈhɛlθi grəʊθ
məˈʤɒrɪti
əˈʧiːvd
mɪsˈteɪk ˈɑːftə mɪsˈteɪk
ˈpɒzətɪv ˈætɪtjuːd
ɪˈvɛnʧəli ɪmˈpruːvz
ˈleɪtər ɪn laɪf
ˈnɛgətɪv
ˈprəʊsɛs
rɪˈmeɪnz ðə seɪm
ˈdɪsɪplɪnz
ˈpraɪvɪt
ˈpʌblɪk
ˈðeəfɔː
siːk tuː ɪmˈpɑːt
ˌʌnkənˈdɪʃənl səˈpɔːt
ɪnˈʃʊə
dɪˈvɛləp sɛlf-ɪsˈtiːm ˈprɒbləmz
beɪst ɒn
əˈprəʊʧ
ˈfɒstərɪŋ
ˈʧɪəfʊl sɛlf-səˈfɪʃənsi
θru(ː)ˈaʊt laɪf
prɪˈvɛntɪŋ
ˈpʌblɪk gʊd
ɪn fækt
ˈdu(ː)ɪŋ greɪt hɑːm
ˈmɛntl wɛl-ˈbiːɪŋ
ˈlɑːʤə ˈsɛgmənts
səˈsaɪəti əkˈsɛpt
pəˈspɛktɪv
ˈbɛnɪfɪt
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:
Some a_____________________n that children should be a_________d to make m___________s, while others feel that adults should t_____________________________h. In my opinion, there are l________s but it is n______________s e______________l for h____________________t to p_________t children their e_______s.
P___________s of r__________d freedom for children argue that mistakes can l_________________________________r. This a___________t is often a____________d by o___________________________s who believe h_____________e n____________y t_________________d a____________________y. For example, a child who is m____n to c___________s and p_________________y in a____________s and a____________s will only continue this b__________r if e________d by u_________________g adults. To c__________r the child’s w___________________s, parents should instead either p__________h or r_______d i___________o motivate more s_____________________________r. The t_______y is that children will then r___________e the b________________y parents and society and later f________o the adult world as w________________________s.
R___________s, a s_____________________y is c_________l to m_____________________t. Children who are s_____________m making mistakes often l_____k the skills that e________________________h. The m__________y of learning, for instance, is a___________d through mistakes. A child who is learning a sport makes m___________________e but does it with a p________________________e and e__________________s. L_____________e, the attitude may become more n___________e but the p__________s r_________________e for all d___________s, p___________e and p________c. Parents and other adults must t_____________e s___________________t u___________________t and e_________e children do not d________________________________n their mistakes. This a_____________h of f_____________g a c_____________________y will serve them best t_____________________e.
In conclusion, although some adults may feel that are p______________g children from making mistakes for the p____________d, they are i_______t d__________________m to their child’s m________________g. If l_________________s of s________________t this p____________e, it will b________t all of society.
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:
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Playing
- When you were a child, where did you like to play?
- Did you prefer playing indoors or outdoors?
- What kinds of games did you play?
- Do kids benefit more from playing outside?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:
It is better for children if the whole family including aunts, uncles and so on are involved in a child’s upbringing, rather than just their parents.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Hi Dave, Could you please evaluate my essay on that topic?
I really appreciate your effort in making this site, unbelievably helpful to catch the concept of writing.
please tell me my improvement area. Is this a clear essay? I am very confused in developing ideas and struggling to write a topic sentence as well.
***
Parents, in modern society, always keep their eyes on their kids if they make any mistake and rectify it instantly, while others think children should be free to do what they want to do. I will discuss both views, but I believe children should be free in their activities that enhance their cognitive ability.
Humankind does their best while they enjoy their freedom. Similarly, children will be more creative while playing or doing any activities without restrictions from parents or adults. It is often observed that infants are breaking toys while they play alone. In that case, breaking toys, indeed, increases their inquisitive ability to find out the unknown. Afterwhile, they try to fix the broken toys and give their fullest to bring them back to their original state. Studies showed that the children who were given liberty on activities in adolescent age have rightly chosen career path and succeeded in this way.
Conversely, some fathers and mothers want to make their offsprings perfectionists from childhood. They, therefore, try as much as to spot their kid’s mistake and show demonstration to follow the right one. Rectification of wrongdoing limits their children to repeat the mistakes that eventually save more time to learn the right thing. Therefore, that habit of doing right leads them to achieve a specific goal and help them to compete for the world in a perfect way. However, kids are often scared of making mistakes that actually hinder them from doing the new thing and, therefore, creativity losing.
To recapitulate, although prohibiting children from all activities makes them focused on doing the actual thing, freedom of activities strengthen their perceptive ability that they can tackle and circumstance that arises in the elder age.
Sure Sajib!
Try to be a little more formal with some of your vocabulary, your topic sentences have clear ideas there are just small mistakes with grammar and vocabulary.
The 3rd paragraph could have a specific/hypothetical example and that would help a lot – like the 2nd one.
Hope that gives you some direction!
It means a lot that you replied to me. Dave, would you please show me what are informal vocab I used and how to practise formal vocabulary?
One more thing to ask, is there any exercise for essay planning practice on your site?
Thanks Dave for your input. Love from Bangladesh.
Hi Sajib, I don’t have much time at the moment but if you sign up on Patreon I can definitely give you some more detailed feedback – that is the service I would recommend here as well: Patreon.com/howtodoielts