IELTS Essay: Money

This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of talking about money from the real IELTS exam.

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Dave

In many countries, people increasingly talk about money such as how much they earn or how much they pay for things in their daily conversations.

Why?

Is this a positive or negative trend?

It has become increasingly pervasive in recent years for individuals to discuss money matters on a daily basis. In my opinion, this is due to changes in what individuals consider polite and is a decidedly negative trend on the whole.

The reason people now talk about money is that it is socially acceptable. In past generations, discussing money was considered “in poor taste” and most people were reserved in order to not appear arrogant or desperate. Today, many social norms from the past have disappeared and this includes ones related to the discussion of one’s finances. This enables the average person to discuss money with friends and family as a way of coping with anxieties about the future or insecurities about their own status in society. For instance, it is common for some wealthy individuals to show off by talking about their investments, property, and so on to impress friends and elevate their own self-esteem.

Discussing money is overall a negative trend as it exacerbates an unhealthy mindset. There are situations where it can be positive, such as when discussing potential investments and helping friends. These contexts are the exceptions, however, as most people simply talk about money to relieve their own nervousness or as a form of bragging. Once a person becomes addicted to the minor dopamine bursts that accompany seeking self-pity or self-aggrandizement, they will have a difficult time transitioning to more productive and fun topics of conversation. Over time, a person may ironically increase their anxieties and insecurities by seeking to cope with them.

In conclusion, people talk about their finances as it is no longer considered rude and it is an unhealthy habit. It is better to talk about to more important topics.

Analysis

1. It has become increasingly pervasive in recent years for individuals to discuss money matters on a daily basis. 2. In my opinion, this is due to changes in what individuals consider polite and is a decidedly negative trend on the whole.

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

1. The reason people now talk about money is that it is socially acceptable. 2. In past generations, discussing money was considered “in poor taste” and most people were reserved in order to not appear arrogant or desperate. 3. Today, many social norms from the past have disappeared and this includes ones related to the discussion of one’s finances. 4. This enables the average person to discuss money with friends and family as a way of coping with anxieties about the future or insecurities about their own status in society. 5. For instance, it is common for some wealthy individuals to show off by talking about their investments, property, and so on to impress friends and elevate their own self-esteem.

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 the paragraph strong.

1. Discussing money is overall a negative trend as it exacerbates an unhealthy mindset. 2. There are situations where it can be positive, such as when discussing potential investments and helping friends. 3. These contexts are the exceptions, however, as most people simply talk about money to relieve their own nervousness or as a form of bragging. 4. Once a person becomes addicted to the minor dopamine bursts that accompany seeking self-pity or self-aggrandizement, they will have a difficult time transitioning to more productive and fun topics of conversation. 5. Over time, a person may ironically increase their anxieties and insecurities by seeking to cope with them.

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.
Keep adding in the result to develop your ideas more.

1. In conclusion, people talk about their finances as it is no longer considered rude and it is an unhealthy habit. 2. It is better to talk about to more important topics.

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.

It has become increasingly pervasive in recent years for individuals to discuss money matters on a daily basis. In my opinion, this is due to changes in what individuals consider polite and is a decidedly negative trend on the whole.

The reason people now talk about money is that it is socially acceptable. In past generations, discussing money was considered “in poor taste” and most people were reserved in order to not appear arrogant or desperate. Today, many social norms from the past have disappeared and this includes ones related to the discussion of one’s finances. This enables the average person to discuss money with friends and family as a way of coping with anxieties about the future or insecurities about their own status in society. For instance, it is common for some wealthy individuals to show off by talking about their investments, property, and so on to impress friends and elevate their own self-esteem.

Discussing money is overall a negative trend as it exacerbates an unhealthy mindset. There are situations where it can be positive, such as when discussing potential investments and helping friends. These contexts are the exceptions, however, as most people simply talk about money to relieve their own nervousness or as a form of bragging. Once a person becomes addicted to the minor dopamine bursts that accompany seeking self-pity or self-aggrandizement, they will have a difficult time transitioning to more productive and fun topics of conversation. Over time, a person may ironically increase their anxieties and insecurities by seeking to cope with them.

In conclusion, people talk about their finances as it is no longer considered rude and it is an unhealthy habit. It is better to talk about to more important topics.

Answers

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

It has become increasingly pervasive in recent years for it is more common now

discuss money matters on a daily basis talk about finances every day

this is due to changes in this is mostly because of

consider polite think is nice

decidedly negative trend on the whole bad overall

socially acceptable good for society

In past generations before

considered “in poor taste” not a polite thing to say

reserved in order to not appear arrogant or desperate polite so that you don’t seem prideful or needy

social norms what is considered polite by society

disappeared went away

discussion of one’s finances talking about your money

enables allows

average person normal citizen

coping with anxieties about dealing with nervous feelings related to

insecurities doubts

status in society how you are perceived in the world

wealthy individuals rich people

show off brag

investments money put into

property things you own

impress friends show off to friends

elevate their own self-esteem feel better about themselves

overall a negative trend on the whole is bad

exacerbates makes worse

unhealthy mindset not a health way to think about it

situations contexts

potential investments possible places to put your money

These contexts are the exceptions these situations are rare

relieve their own nervousness less their anxiety

as a form of bragging a way of showing off

addicted to the minor dopamine bursts that accompany seeking self-pity or self-aggrandizement get used to the pleasure that comes from feeling bad about yourself or bragging

difficult time transitioning to hard time changing

productive useful

fun topics of conversation interesting things to talk about

Over time as life goes on

ironically surprisingly

by seeking to cope with them trying to deal with them

no longer considered rude not impolite any more

Pronunciation

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

ɪt hæz bɪˈkʌm ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli pɜːˈveɪsɪv ɪn ˈriːsnt jɪəz fɔː
dɪsˈkʌs ˈmʌni ˈmætəz ɒn ə ˈdeɪli ˈbeɪsɪs
ðɪs ɪz djuː tuː ˈʧeɪnʤɪz ɪn
kənˈsɪdə pəˈlaɪt
dɪˈsaɪdɪdli ˈnɛɡətɪv trɛnd ɒn ðə həʊl
ˈsəʊʃəli əkˈsɛptəbᵊl
ɪn pɑːst ˌʤɛnəˈreɪʃᵊnz
kənˈsɪdəd “ɪn pʊə teɪst“
rɪˈzɜːvd ɪn ˈɔːdə tuː nɒt əˈpɪər ˈærəʊɡənt ɔː ˈdɛspərɪt
ˈsəʊʃəl nɔːmz
ˌdɪsəˈpɪəd
dɪsˈkʌʃᵊn ɒv wʌnz faɪˈnænsɪz
ɪˈneɪbᵊlz
ˈævərɪʤ ˈpɜːsn
ˈkəʊpɪŋ wɪð æŋˈzaɪətiz əˈbaʊt
ˌɪnsɪˈkjʊərɪtiz
ˈsteɪtəs ɪn səˈsaɪəti
ˈwɛlθi ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəlz
ʃəʊ ɒf
ɪnˈvɛstmənts
ˈprɒpəti
ˈɪmprɛs frɛndz
ˈɛlɪveɪt ðeər əʊn sɛlf-ɪsˈtiːm
ˈəʊvərɔːl ə ˈnɛɡətɪv trɛnd
ɪɡˈzæsəbeɪts
ʌnˈhɛlθi ˈmaɪndsɛt
ˌsɪtjʊˈeɪʃᵊnz
pəʊˈtɛnʃəl ɪnˈvɛstmənts
ðiːz ˈkɒntɛksts ɑː ði ɪkˈsɛpʃᵊnz
rɪˈliːv ðeər əʊn ˈnɜːvəsnəs
æz ə fɔːm ɒv ˈbræɡɪŋ
əˈdɪktɪd tuː ðə ˈmaɪnə ˈdəʊpəmiːn bɜːsts ðæt əˈkʌmpəni ˈsiːkɪŋ sɛlf-ˈpɪti ɔː sɛlf-əˈɡrændɪzmənt
ˈdɪfɪkəlt taɪm trænˈzɪʃᵊnɪŋ tuː
prəˈdʌktɪv
fʌn ˈtɒpɪks ɒv ˌkɒnvəˈseɪʃᵊn.
ˈəʊvə taɪm
aɪˈrɒnɪkəli
baɪ ˈsiːkɪŋ tuː kəʊp wɪð ðɛm
nəʊ ˈlɒŋɡə kənˈsɪdəd ruːd

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:

I__________________________________________r individuals to d_________________________________s. In my opinion, t___________________________n what individuals c_________________e and is a d_________________________________e.

The reason people now talk about money is that it is s_________________________e. I______________________s, discussing money was c_______________________e” and most people were r_______________________________________________e. Today, many s_______________s from the past have d_____________d and this includes ones related to the d______________________s. This e__________es the a_______________n to discuss money with friends and family as a way of c___________________________t the future or i________________s about their own s_______________y. For instance, it is common for some w__________________s to s____________f by talking about their i_______________s, p___________y, and so on to i______________s and e______________________________m.

Discussing money is o_____________________d as it e_______________s an u___________________t. There are s_____________s where it can be positive, such as when discussing p___________________s and helping friends. T_________________________s, however, as most people simply talk about money to r________________________s or a_____________________g. Once a person becomes a___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________t, they will have a d_________________________o more p___________e and f__________________________n. O_________e, a person may i____________y increase their anxieties and insecurities b________________________________m.

In conclusion, people talk about their finances as it is n______________________________e and it is an unhealthy habit. It is better to talk about to more important topics.