This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of looking after family from the real IELTS exam.
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Dave
IELTS Essay: Looking after Family
Some believe that younger family members should be legally responsible for supporting older family members when they become physically, mentally and financially unable to look after themselves.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
There have been recent proposals for laws that would require younger generations to look after older family members when they are no longer capable of doing so themselves. In my opinion, these laws are ethically responsible yet should not be enacted considering the many circumstances they fail to take into account.
Supporters argue elderly care is a basic responsibility. As parents age, there is a near absolute chance they will have some combination of physical, mental, or financial difficulties. Since most older people are unable to work full-time jobs, the duty of care naturally falls to either the state or their families. The government has other concerns and their care is impersonal, as in the case of a state-funded nursing home. Children, who have an obligation to their original care-givers, are in much better positions to provide loving support. This could include living with them, supplying money, or helping them with medical bills.
However, this discounts the many contexts in which this care may not be appropriate. Many parents do not want to be a burden to their children and would rather look after themselves later in life. Others may not have been there for their children, or even been abusive. Moreover, the help that children offer will likely hinder their own progress in life. If they are wealthy, this is not a major concern as they can hire someone to look after their parents and the financial support will not be a burden. However, most working class families will struggle to advance socially when slowed by a duty of care for elderly parents, especially if this includes expensive medical bills.
In conclusion, despite the moral justifications, there are simply too many situations where these laws would result in injustices and inconveniences. Individuals should be given the opportunity to look after themselves.
Analysis
1. There have been recent proposals for laws that would require younger generations to look after older family members when they are no longer capable of doing so themselves. 2. In my opinion, these laws are ethically responsible yet should not be enacted considering the many circumstances they fail to take into account.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Supporters argue elderly care is a basic responsibility. 2. As parents age, there is a near absolute chance they will have some combination of physical, mental, or financial difficulties. 3. Since most older people are unable to work full-time jobs, the duty of care naturally falls to either the state or their families. 4. The government has other concerns and their care is impersonal, as in the case of a state-funded nursing home. 5. Children, who have an obligation to their original care-givers, are in much better positions to provide loving support. 6. This could include living with them, supplying money, or helping them with medical bills.
- 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.
- Vary long and short sentences.
- Conclude with more detail.
1. However, this discounts the many contexts in which this care may not be appropriate. 2. Many parents do not want to be a burden to their children and would rather look after themselves later in life. 3. Others may not have been there for their children, or even been abusive. 4. Moreover, the help that children offer will likely hinder their own progress in life. 5. If they are wealthy, this is not a major concern as they can hire someone to look after their parents and the financial support will not be a burden. 6. However, most working class families will struggle to advance socially when slowed by a duty of care for elderly parents, especially if this includes expensive medical bills.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
- Develop the example fully.
- State the results as well.
1. In conclusion, despite the moral justifications, there are simply too many situations where these laws would result in injustices and inconveniences. 2. Individuals should be given the opportunity to look after themselves.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
There have been recent proposals for laws that would require younger generations to look after older family members when they are no longer capable of doing so themselves. In my opinion, these laws are ethically responsible yet should not be enacted considering the many circumstances they fail to take into account.
Supporters argue elderly care is a basic responsibility. As parents age, there is a near absolute chance they will have some combination of physical, mental, or financial difficulties. Since most older people are unable to work full-time jobs, the duty of care naturally falls to either the state or their families. The government has other concerns and their care is impersonal, as in the case of a state-funded nursing home. Children, who have an obligation to their original care-givers, are in much better positions to provide loving support. This could include living with them, supplying money, or helping them with medical bills.
However, this discounts the many contexts in which this care may not be appropriate. Many parents do not want to be a burden to their children and would rather look after themselves later in life. Others may not have been there for their children, or even been abusive. Moreover, the help that children offer will likely hinder their own progress in life. If they are wealthy, this is not a major concern as they can hire someone to look after their parents and the financial support will not be a burden. However, most working class families will struggle to advance socially when slowed by a duty of care for elderly parents, especially if this includes expensive medical bills.
In conclusion, despite the moral justifications, there are simply too many situations where these laws would result in injustices and inconveniences. Individuals should be given the opportunity to look after themselves.
Answers
recent proposals new calls for
require younger generations necessitate children and young adults
older family members elderly parents
no longer capable of doing so themselves can’t take care of themselves on their own
ethically responsible moral duty
enacted put in place
considering given
circumstances situations
fail to take into account don’t consider
supporters argue those in favor say
basic responsibility fundamental duty
near absolute chance almost 100% will happen
combination all together
physical related to the body
mental related to the mind
financial difficulties money trouble
unable can’t
work full-time jobs 40 hour workweeks
duty of care responsibility to look after
naturally falls to of course goes to
the state government
concerns relates to
impersonal unemotional
as in the case of such as when
state-funded nursing home retirement homes
obligation duty
original care-givers parents
in much better positions in improved situations
provide loving support take care of in a kind way
could include might require
supplying giving
medical bills hospital costs
discounts doesn’t consider
contexts situations
appropriate right
burden difficulty
look after themselves later in life take care as they get older
been there around
abusive hurt, neglected
hinder held back
progress moving forward
wealthy have lots of money
major concern big worry
hire give a job
financial support money
burden something that holds you back
working class families middle-class families
struggle have a tough time
advance socially get ahead in life
slowed held back
duty of care responsibility to look after
especially if in particular in the case of
expensive medical bills costly hospital expenses
moral justifications ethical reasons
injustices and inconveniences unfairness and not really convenient
given the opportunity if they have the chance
Pronunciation
ˈriːsnt prəˈpəʊzəlz
rɪˈkwaɪə ˈjʌŋə ˌʤɛnəˈreɪʃənz
ˈəʊldə ˈfæmɪli ˈmɛmbəz
nəʊ ˈlɒŋgə ˈkeɪpəbl ɒv ˈdu(ː)ɪŋ səʊ ðəmˈsɛlvz
ˈɛθɪkəli rɪsˈpɒnsəbl
ɪˈnæktɪd
kənˈsɪdərɪŋ
ˈsɜːkəmstənsɪz
feɪl tuː teɪk ˈɪntuː əˈkaʊnt
səˈpɔːtəz ˈɑːgjuː
ˈbeɪsɪk rɪsˌpɒnsəˈbɪlɪti
nɪər ˈæbsəluːt ʧɑːns
ˌkɒmbɪˈneɪʃən
ˈfɪzɪkəl
ˈmɛntl
faɪˈnænʃəl ˈdɪfɪkəltiz
ʌnˈeɪbl
wɜːk fʊl-taɪm ʤɒbz
ˈdjuːti ɒv keə
ˈnæʧrəli fɔːlz tuː
ðə steɪt
kənˈsɜːnz
ɪmˈpɜːsnl
æz ɪn ðə keɪs ɒv
steɪt-ˈfʌndɪd ˈnɜːsɪŋ həʊm
ˌɒblɪˈgeɪʃən
əˈrɪʤənl keə-ˈgɪvəz
ɪn mʌʧ ˈbɛtə pəˈzɪʃənz
prəˈvaɪd ˈlʌvɪŋ səˈpɔːt
kʊd ɪnˈkluːd
səˈplaɪɪŋ
ˈmɛdɪkəl bɪlz
ˈdɪskaʊnts
ˈkɒntɛksts
əˈprəʊprɪɪt
ˈbɜːdn
lʊk ˈɑːftə ðəmˈsɛlvz ˈleɪtər ɪn laɪf
biːn ðeə
əˈbjuːsɪv
ˈhaɪndə
ˈprəʊgrəs
ˈwɛlθi
ˈmeɪʤə kənˈsɜːn
ˈhaɪə
faɪˈnænʃəl səˈpɔːt
ˈbɜːdn
ˈwɜːkɪŋ klɑːs ˈfæmɪliz
ˈstrʌgl
ədˈvɑːns ˈsəʊʃəli
sləʊd
ˈdjuːti ɒv keə
ɪsˈpɛʃəli ɪf
ɪksˈpɛnsɪv ˈmɛdɪkəl bɪlz
ˈmɒrəl ˌʤʌstɪfɪˈkeɪʃənz
ɪnˈʤʌstɪsɪz ænd ˌɪnkənˈviːniənsɪz
ˈgɪvn ði ˌɒpəˈtjuːnɪti
Vocabulary Practice
There have been r___________________s for laws that would r__________________________s to look after o___________________________s when they are n__________________________________________s. In my opinion, these laws are e______________________e yet should not be e__________d c______________g the many c_____________s they f______________________t.
S__________________e elderly care is a b_____________________y. As parents age, there is a n______________________e they will have some c____________n of p________l, m_________l, or f______________s. Since most older people are u______e to w__________________________s, the d_______________e n_________________o either t__________e or their families. The government has other c___________s and their care is i____________l, a________________f a s___________________________e. Children, who have an o_____________n to their o_________________s, are i__________________________s to p______________________t. This c_____________e living with them, s____________g money, or helping them with m____________s.
However, this d__________s the many c_____________s in which this care may not be a__________e. Many parents do not want to be a b_______n to their children and would rather l____________________________e. Others may not have b___________e for their children, or even been a________e. Moreover, the help that children offer will likely h_______r their own p__________s in life. If they are w_________y, this is not a m___________n as they can h____e someone to look after their parents and the f_____________t will not be a b_______n. However, most w________________s will s_________e to a_________________y when s________d by a d___________e for elderly parents, e______________f this includes e___________________s.
In conclusion, despite the m__________________s, there are simply too many situations where these laws would result in i____________s and i__________________s. Individuals should be g____________________y to look after themselves.
Listening Practice
Reading Practice
https://www.nytimes.com/topic/subject/elder-care
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following topics below from IELTS speaking:
Family
- Are you close with your family?
- Who do you talk to in your family the most?
- Do you have a large family?
- Are families becoming more distant in your country?
Writing Practice
Nowadays, families are not as close as in the past and a lot of people have become used to this.
Why is this happening?
Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the drawbacks?
Very gud explanation of task thnq for this
You’re welcome!
It is argued by some that the younger ones in a family should be forced by law to take care of the elder ones when they are needy in terms of financial, mental and physical. I completely disagree with this statement and will give my reasons below.
The first compelling reason for holding my view is that young members should not be forced to do anything that they do not want to do. They may want to look after their elderly members by supporting financially or accompanying them whenever they need; however, this should be coming from the heart not because of the strict laws. For example, people may not be in favor of supporting their elderly ones who are perceived as bad people or used to acting unethically. Besides, if people reject to aid in any way, the government is likely to charge them with fines or even with prison sentences since it is a violation of rules, and eventually unrest will prevail in society.
Another reason for my position is that not the young people in a family but the government has the responsibility to take care of their senior citizens. These elderly people were once taxpayers and contributed to society by paying their taxes and working for their nations. Thus, the government needs to help them to spend the rest of their lives happily without having obstacles.
To conclude, although I feel that young generations should support their older ones, this should not be imposed by the government. Furthermore, the government has a key role to play in offering any type of support including monetary, mental and physical to its senior citizens.
PS. I wish this question came up in my exam because I felt relaxed writing it 🙁
Haha, too bad it didn’t come up Melissa!
Good work though it is a little short – try to lengthen the 3rd paragraph. If you can give more specific examples – such as in your country – that would help too.
Keep working hard!
Many thanks for the kind response Dave 🙂
No problem, Melissa!