This is an IELTS writign task 2 sample answer essay from the general training exam on the topic of whether or not children should do sports in order to grow up as healthy adults.

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IELTS Essay General Training: Children and Sports

Some people believe that children should do sports so that they will grow up as healthy adults, but others feel sports are just about enjoying yourself.

Discuss these both views and give your own opinion.

Some feel that the primary reason young students should participate in sports is to establish healthy habits for adulthood, while others feel they are simply for fun. In my opinion, the later health benefits are an added bonus and sports are mainly an enjoyable pastime.

Administrators who argue sports are a means of ensuring healthy future habits believe school must be efficient. Sports are therefore no different from normal subjects such as the sciences and humanities in that they offer potential future benefit. While athletics are unlikely to become a career, they can at least form the basis of a lasting passion for and understanding of physical fitness. Such fitness not only guarantees higher quality of life but will also likely have a concomitant effect on healthcare, allowing governments to redeploy finite resources into other vital sectors.

Those who claim sports are simply for enjoyment argue that future aims should not be subordinate to the present moment. The entire purpose of education is to guarantee a higher standard of living and thus happiness. For most, playing sports achieves that goal on its own. Children enjoy playing a sport far more than most adults will savor any aspect of a comfortable life later on. If a school must choose between offering fun sports during P.E. lessons and educating children about physical fitness, it is counter-productive to choose the less enjoyable latter option. This desire to sacrifice current happiness for an often elusive future goal betrays an inflexible valuation of social stability above the desires of the individual.

In conclusion, despite the long-term advantages of sports, their inclusion in the curriculum can be justified purely for the enjoyment they engender. It is unnecessary for every single subject to have a clear future goal.

Analysis

1. Some feel that the primary reason young students should participate in sports is to establish healthy habits for adulthood, while others feel they are simply for fun. 2. In my opinion, the later health benefits are an added bonus and sports are mainly an enjoyable pastime.

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

1. Administrators who argue sports are a means of ensuring healthy future habits believe school must be efficient. 2. Sports are therefore no different from normal subjects such as the sciences and humanities in that they offer potential future benefit. 3. While athletics are unlikely to become a career, they can at least form the basis of a lasting passion for and understanding of physical fitness. 4. Such fitness not only guarantees higher quality of life but will also likely have a concomitant effect on healthcare, allowing governments to redeploy finite resources into other vital sectors.

1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop it with specific examples.
4. Keep developing it fully.

1. Those who claim sports are simply for enjoyment argue that future aims should not be subordinate to the present moment. 2. The entire purpose of education is to guarantee a higher standard of living and thus happiness. 3. For most, playing sports achieves that goal on its own. 4. Children enjoy playing a sport far more than most adults will savor any aspect of a comfortable life later on. 5. If a school must choose between offering fun sports during P.E. lessons and educating children about physical fitness, it is counter-productive to choose the less enjoyable latter option. 6. This desire to sacrifice current happiness for an often elusive future goal betrays an inflexible valuation of social stability above the desires of the individual.

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!
6. This paragraph should be slightly longer.

1. In conclusion, despite the long-term advantages of sports, their inclusion in the curriculum can be justified purely for the enjoyment they engender. 2. It is unnecessary for every single subject to have a clear future goal.

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.

Some feel that the primary reason young students should participate in sports is to establish healthy habits for adulthood, while others feel they are simply for fun. In my opinion, the later health benefits are an added bonus and sports are mainly an enjoyable pastime.

Administrators who argue sports are a means of ensuring healthy future habits believe school must be efficient. Sports are therefore no different from normal subjects such as the sciences and humanities in that they offer potential future benefit. While athletics are unlikely to become a career, they can at least form the basis of a lasting passion for and understanding of physical fitness. Such fitness not only guarantees higher quality of life but will also likely have a concomitant effect on healthcare, allowing governments to redeploy finite resources into other vital sectors.

Those who claim sports are simply for enjoyment argue that future aims should not be subordinate to the present moment. The entire purpose of education is to guarantee a higher standard of living and thus happiness. For most, playing sports achieves that goal on its own. Children enjoy playing a sport far more than most adults will savor any aspect of a comfortable life later on. If a school must choose between offering fun sports during P.E. lessons and educating children about physical fitness, it is counter-productive to choose the less enjoyable latter option. This desire to sacrifice current happiness for an often elusive future goal betrays an inflexible valuation of social stability above the desires of the individual.

In conclusion, despite the long-term advantages of sports, their inclusion in the curriculum can be justified purely for the enjoyment they engender. It is unnecessary for every single subject to have a clear future goal.

Answers

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

primary reason main cause

participate in sports take part in games

establish healthy habits start living a healthy lifestyle

adulthood being an adult

while others feel different people believe

simply merely

fun enjoyment

later health benefits future advantages for fitness

added bonus additional benefit

mainly mostly

enjoyable pastime fun hobby

administrators people in charge

means methods

ensuring guaranteeing

efficient not wasting time

therefore thus

no different from the same as

normal subjects academic areas

the sciences physics, chemistry, etc.

humanities literature, history, etc.

in that they offer because they allow for

potential possibility

unlikely probably will not happen

career job

at least at the minimum

form the basis of be the foundation of

a lasting passion for loving for a long time

understanding of knowing about

physical fitness being in shape

guarantees makes sure of

higher quality of life better standard of living

likely probably

concomitant also caused by

healthcare hospitals, medicine, etc.

allowing governments to redeploy finite resources into makes it possible for countries to put more money into other areas

vital sectors important areas

claim state

argue make the argument

should not be subordinate to should not be lower than

present moment right now

entire purpose whole reason

guarantee ensure

higher standard of living better life

thus therefore

achieves accomplishes

on its own by itself

far more a lot more

savor enjoy

any aspect of all parts of

later on in the future

offering allowing for

P.E. lessons gym lessons

physical fitness how good shape you are in

counter-productive works against your interests

latter option second stated choice

desire wanting something

sacrifice current happiness give up on being happy now

often elusive future goal probably won’t ever happen later

betrays shows/illustrates

inflexible valuation static opinions

social stability the health of society

desires of the individual interests of the average person

despite regardless of

long-term advantages benefits in the future

inclusion being included in

curriculum what you study in school

justified purely gives a good reason on its own

engender creates

unnecessary not needed

clear future goal definite aim later on

Pronunciation

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

ˈpraɪməri ˈriːzn 
pɑːˈtɪsɪpeɪt ɪn spɔːts 
ɪsˈtæblɪʃ ˈhɛlθi ˈhæbɪts 
əˈdʌlthʊd
waɪl ˈʌðəz fiːl 
ˈsɪmpli 
fʌn
ˈleɪtə hɛlθ ˈbɛnɪfɪts 
ˈædɪd ˈbəʊnəs 
ˈmeɪnli 
ɪnˈʤɔɪəbl ˈpɑːstaɪm
ədˈmɪnɪstreɪtəz 
miːnz 
ɪnˈʃʊərɪŋ 
ɪˈfɪʃənt
ˈðeəfɔː 
nəʊ ˈdɪfrənt frɒm 
ˈnɔːməl ˈsʌbʤɪkts 
ðə ˈsaɪənsɪz 
hju(ː)ˈmænɪtiz 
ɪn ðæt ðeɪ ˈɒfə 
pəʊˈtɛnʃəl 
ʌnˈlaɪkli 
kəˈrɪə
æt liːst 
fɔːm ðə ˈbeɪsɪs ɒv 
ə ˈlɑːstɪŋ ˈpæʃən fɔː 
ˌʌndəˈstændɪŋ ɒv 
ˈfɪzɪkəl ˈfɪtnɪs
ˌgærənˈtiːz 
ˈhaɪə ˈkwɒlɪti ɒv laɪf 
ˈlaɪkli 
kənˈkɒmɪtənt 
ˈhɛlθkeə
əˈlaʊɪŋ ˈgʌvnmənts tuː ˌriːdɪˈplɔɪ ˈfaɪnaɪt rɪˈsɔːsɪz ˈɪntuː 
ˈvaɪtl ˈsɛktəz
kleɪm 
ˈɑːgjuː 
ʃʊd nɒt biː səˈbɔːdnɪt tuː 
ˈprɛznt ˈməʊmənt
ɪnˈtaɪə ˈpɜːpəs 
ˌgærənˈtiː 
ˈhaɪə ˈstændəd ɒv ˈlɪvɪŋ 
ðʌs 
əˈʧiːvz 
ɒn ɪts əʊn
fɑː mɔː 
ˈseɪvə 
ˈɛni ˈæspɛkt ɒv 
ˈleɪtər ɒn
ˈɒfərɪŋ 
piː.iː. ˈlɛsnz 
ˈfɪzɪkəl ˈfɪtnɪs
ˈkaʊntə-prəˈdʌktɪv 
ˈlætər ˈɒpʃən
dɪˈzaɪə 
ˈsækrɪfaɪs ˈkʌrənt ˈhæpɪnɪs 
ˈɒf(ə)n ɪˈluːsɪv ˈfjuːʧə gəʊl 
bɪˈtreɪz 
ɪnˈflɛksəbl ˌvæljʊˈeɪʃən 
ˈsəʊʃəl stəˈbɪlɪti 
dɪˈzaɪəz ɒv ði ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəl
dɪsˈpaɪt 
ˈlɒŋtɜːm ədˈvɑːntɪʤɪz 
ɪnˈkluːʒən 
kəˈrɪkjʊləm 
ˈʤʌstɪfaɪd ˈpjʊəli 
ɪnˈʤɛndə
ʌnˈnɛsɪsəri 
klɪə ˈfjuːʧə gəʊl

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 feel that the p______________n young students should p_____________________s is to e_____________________s for a___________d, w_______________________l they are s________y for f___n. In my opinion, the l______________________s are an a________________s and sports are m_______y an e_________________e.

A_________________s who argue sports are a m________s of e___________g healthy future habits believe school must be e__________t. Sports are t____________e n___________________m n__________________s such as t_______________s and h______________s i___________________r p___________l future benefit. While athletics are u___________y to become a c_______r, they can a______________________________________________r and u__________________f p___________________s. Such fitness not only g______________________________e but will also l__________y have a c__________________t effect on h_____________e, a__________________________________________________o other v______________s.

Those who c_______m sports are simply for enjoyment a__________e that future aims s________________________________o the p________________t. The e_________________e of education is to g______________e a h______________________________g and t______s happiness. For most, playing sports a___________s that goal o_____________n. Children enjoy playing a sport f_____________e than most adults will s_________r a______________f a comfortable life l___________n. If a school must choose between o_________g fun sports during P_______________s and educating children about p_______________s, it is c____________________e to choose the less enjoyable l________________n. This d________e to s_____________________________s for an o__________________________l b___________s an i_________________________n of s__________________________y above the d_____________________________l.

In conclusion, d__________e the l________________________s of sports, their i______________n in the c_____________m can be j__________________y for the enjoyment they e______________r. It is u________________y for every single subject to have a c__________________l.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lErfjqbE9Y

Reading Practice

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

https://www.insider.com/youngest-and-oldest-athletes-competing-in-tokyo-olympics-2020

Speaking Practice

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

Sports

1. Which sport do you like to play?
2. Have you ever been on a sports team?
3. Do you like watching sports on TV?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:

Extreme sports such as sky diving and skiing are very dangerous and should be banned.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer: Extreme Sports (Real IELTS Test)