This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of moving to a new place from the real IELTS general training exam.

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Dave

IELTS Essay: Moving

Some people are happy to stay in the same area for their whole life, while others prefer living in many different places.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Some individuals frequently move to new places to live and others would rather remain in one general area. In my opinion, there can be value in moving, however, it is on the whole more advantageous to integrate with a single community.

The benefits gained from moving relate to lifestyle. A person who lives in the same town their entire life is likely to have a similar circle of friends, take part in hobbies with limited variation, and not come in contact with diverse points of view. However, the person who moves to another part of their country or travels abroad for an extended period, will broaden their horizons. For instance, a worker from the United States who spends a year living in an Asian nation is likely to learn basic competency in a new language, develop an appreciation for an authentic cuisine, and form meaningful bonds with locals.

Nonetheless, by remaining in one place, an individual can best impact their community. A person who moves from community to community will not be able to form as many deep connections and much of their energy will be spent moving and acclimating to a new region. In contrast, a person who lives in the same town or city their whole life will have a wide circle of friends and not need to spend time learning how to get around, speak a new language, or meet new friends. The time and energy saved can then be directed towards a number of pursuits that benefit their neighborhood. For instance, they might decide to invest time in renovating their house or organizing local litter collection campaigns, without having to sacrifice much time for friends, family, and work.

In conclusion, despite the broadening advantages of moving often, there is more value in having a substantial effect on one’s local area. Travel and moving often disguise an inability to focus on one’s own life and surroundings.

Analysis

1. Some individuals frequently move to new places to live and others would rather remain in one general area. 2. In my opinion, there can be value in moving, however, it is on the whole more advantageous to integrate with a single community.

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

1. The benefits gained from moving relate to lifestyle. 2. A person who lives in the same town their entire life is likely to have a similar circle of friends, take part in hobbies with limited variation, and not come in contact with diverse points of view. 3. However, the person who moves to another part of their country or travels abroad for an extended period, will broaden their horizons. 4. For instance, a worker from the United States who spends a year living in an Asian nation is likely to learn basic competency in a new language, develop an appreciation for an authentic cuisine, and form meaningful bonds with locals.

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.

1. Nonetheless, by remaining in one place, an individual can best impact their community. 2. A person who moves from community to community will not be able to form as many deep connections and much of their energy will be spent moving and acclimating to a new region. 3. In contrast, a person who lives in the same town or city their whole life will have a wide circle of friends and not need to spend time learning how to get around, speak a new language, or meet new friends. 4. The time and energy saved can then be directed towards a number of pursuits that benefit their neighborhood. 5. For instance, they might decide to invest time in renovating their house or organizing local litter collection campaigns, without having to sacrifice much time for friends, family, and work.

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.

1. In conclusion, despite the broadening advantages of moving often, there is more value in having a substantial effect on one’s local area. 2. Travel and moving often disguise an inability to focus on one’s own life and surroundings.

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 individuals frequently move to new places to live and others would rather remain in one general area. In my opinion, there can be value in moving, however, it is on the whole more advantageous to integrate with a single community.

The benefits gained from moving relate to lifestyle. A person who lives in the same town their entire life is likely to have a similar circle of friends, take part in hobbies with limited variation, and not come in contact with diverse points of view. However, the person who moves to another part of their country or travels abroad for an extended period, will broaden their horizons. For instance, a worker from the United States who spends a year living in an Asian nation is likely to learn basic competency in a new language, develop an appreciation for an authentic cuisine, and form meaningful bonds with locals.

Nonetheless, by remaining in one place, an individual can best impact their community. A person who moves from community to community will not be able to form as many deep connections and much of their energy will be spent moving and acclimating to a new region. In contrast, a person who lives in the same town or city their whole life will have a wide circle of friends and not need to spend time learning how to get around, speak a new language, or meet new friends. The time and energy saved can then be directed towards a number of pursuits that benefit their neighborhood. For instance, they might decide to invest time in renovating their house or organizing local litter collection campaigns, without having to sacrifice much time for friends, family, and work.

In conclusion, despite the broadening advantages of moving often, there is more value in having a substantial effect on one’s local area. Travel and moving often disguise an inability to focus on one’s own life and surroundings.

Answers

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

frequently move to new places to live often change houses/apartment to go to a new place

would rather remain prefer to stay

general area overall vicinity, near

value importance

on the whole overall

advantageous beneficial

integrate become one with

community people around you

benefits gained from advantages you get from

relate to lifestyle have to do with how you live

entire life whole lifespan

similar circle of friends same network

hobbies pastimes

limited variation not much difference

come in contact with diverse points of view meet different people and ideas

however but

travels abroad for an extended period goes to another country for a long time

broaden their horizons learn more about other places and people

spends a year living lives 1 year somewhere else

basic competency decent at it

develop an appreciation for an authentic cuisine likes the local food

form meaningful bonds with locals gets to know people who live there

nonetheless regardless

best impact greatest effect

from community to community in each place

deep connections strong relationships

acclimating getting used to

wide circle of friends many different friends

directed towards pointed at

pursuits activities

neighborhood community around you

decide to invest time choose to put time into

renovating fixing up

organizing local litter collection campaigns picking up trash

sacrifice give up

broadening advantages benefits related to learning

substantial effect big impact

disguise hide

inability can’t do it

surroundings place where you live

Pronunciation

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

ˈfriːkwəntli muːv tuː njuː ˈpleɪsɪz tuː lɪv 
wʊd ˈrɑːðə rɪˈmeɪn 
ˈʤɛnərəl ˈeərɪə
ˈvæljuː
ɒn ðə həʊl 
ˌædvənˈteɪʤəs 
ˈɪntɪgreɪt 
kəˈmjuːnɪti
ˈbɛnɪfɪts geɪnd frɒm 
rɪˈleɪt tuː ˈlaɪfˌstaɪl
ɪnˈtaɪə laɪf 
ˈsɪmɪlə ˈsɜːkl ɒv frɛndz
ˈhɒbiz 
ˈlɪmɪtɪd ˌveərɪˈeɪʃən
kʌm ɪn ˈkɒntækt wɪð daɪˈvɜːs pɔɪnts ɒv vjuː
haʊˈɛvə
ˈtrævlz əˈbrɔːd fɔːr ən ɪksˈtɛndɪd ˈpɪərɪəd 
ˈbrɔːdn ðeə həˈraɪznz
spɛndz ə jɪə ˈlɪvɪŋ 
ˈbeɪsɪk ˈkɒmpɪtənsi 
dɪˈvɛləp ən əˌpriːʃɪˈeɪʃ(ə)n fɔːr ən ɔːˈθɛntɪk kwi(ː)ˈziːn
fɔːm ˈmiːnɪŋfʊl bɒndz wɪð ˈləʊkəlz
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
bɛst ˈɪmpækt 
frɒm kəˈmjuːnɪti tuː kəˈmjuːnɪti 
diːp kəˈnɛkʃənz 
əˈklaɪmeɪtɪŋ 
waɪd ˈsɜːkl ɒv frɛndz 
dɪˈrɛktɪd təˈwɔːdz 
pəˈsjuːts 
ˈneɪbəhʊd
dɪˈsaɪd tuː ɪnˈvɛst taɪm 
ˈrɛnəʊveɪtɪŋ 
ˈɔːgənaɪzɪŋ ˈləʊkəl ˈlɪtə kəˈlɛkʃən kæmˈpeɪnz
ˈsækrɪfaɪs 
ˈbrɔːdnɪŋ ədˈvɑːntɪʤɪz 
səbˈstænʃəl ɪˈfɛkt 
dɪsˈgaɪz 
ˌɪnəˈbɪlɪti 
səˈraʊndɪŋz

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 individuals f________________________________e and others w______________________n in one g_____________a. In my opinion, there can be v______e in moving, however, it is o_____________e more a________________s to i_____________e with a single c_____________y.

The b__________________m moving r____________________e. A person who lives in the same town their e_____________e is likely to have a s___________________s, take part in h____________s with l________________n, and not c_____________________h d____________________________w. H______________r, the person who moves to another part of their country or t__________________________________d, will b_________________s. For instance, a worker from the United States who s____________________g in an Asian nation is likely to learn b_____________________y in a new language, d___________________________________________e, and f___________________________________s.

N_________________s, by remaining in one place, an individual can b________________t their community. A person who moves f___________________________y will not be able to form as many d___________________s and much of their energy will be spent moving and a__________________g to a new region. In contrast, a person who lives in the same town or city their whole life will have a w______________________s and not need to spend time learning how to get around, speak a new language, or meet new friends. The time and energy saved can then be d______________________s a number of p___________s that benefit their n________________d. For instance, they might d________________________e in r_____________g their house or o_______________________________s, without having to s_______________e much time for friends, family, and work.

In conclusion, despite the b_____________________s of moving often, there is more value in having a s___________________t on one’s local area. Travel and moving often d___________e an i____________y to focus on one’s own life and s________________s.

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.nytimes.com/2020/07/03/world/asia/bali-sisters-plastic-climate-change.html

Speaking Practice

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

Moving

1. Is it common in your country for people to move a lot?
2. Do most people in your country live in cities?
3. Why do some people live to live in the same place their whole lives?
4. Is it important to travel a lot?
5. How can less privileged groups be encouraged to move more often?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:

Nowadays many people travel to foreign countries for pleasure. Some believe this travel has a negative impact on the countries travelled to.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

https://howtodoielts.com/ielts-essay-travelling-for-pleasure/