This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of the present moment from the real IELTS recent exam.
IELTS Essay: The Present Moment
Some people think that enjoying the present is more important than planning for the future for both countries and individuals.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many feel that being fully present in the moment is more valuable than thinking of the future in terms of both nations and their residents. In my opinion, this claim is untrue and shortsighted.
Firstly, countries must look to the future to ensure the safe flourishing of all citizens. A country that simply looks to maximize current moments might make unwise decisions that could quickly have catastrophic repercussions. A well-known example of this would be the actions not taken by the United States government in the build-up to The Great Recession of 2007 – 2009. Authorities and governing bodies ignored the over-leveraging of assets and the potential for foreclosures on real estate properties. When the worst scenario occurred, the result was that millions lost their homes and the entire world plunged into a period of stagnation. This same principle applies generally beyond economics and includes the military, medicine, social welfare, and so on.
Secondly, the average person can best attain quality living standards through careful preparation. Admittedly, this can lead to anxiety and a feeling of dissociation with reality. These potential byproducts nonetheless pale in comparison to the risk of not providing for one’s future. For instance, a person who does not study hard in school or apply themselves fully to their career is likely to always face financial pressure. This pressure will itself engender anxiety. In extreme situations, such a person may fail to integrate productively with society. In contrast, someone who thinks about the future, invests wisely, and makes logical decisions is more likely to achieve a sense of happiness and fulfillment.
In conclusion, looking to the future guarantees a higher standard of living and the preservation of various national benefits. Countries in particular must always prioritize consideration of future threats.
Analysis
1. Many feel that being fully present in the moment is more valuable than thinking of the future in terms of both nations and their residents. 2. In my opinion, this claim is untrue and shortsighted.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Firstly, countries must look to the future to ensure the safe flourishing of all citizens. 2. A country that simply looks to maximize current moments might make unwise decisions that could quickly have catastrophic repercussions. 3. A well-known example of this would be the actions not taken by the United States government in the build-up to The Great Recession of 2007 – 2009. 4. Authorities and governing bodies ignored the over-leveraging of assets and the potential for foreclosures on real estate properties. 5. When the worst scenario occurred, the result was that millions lost their homes and the entire world plunged into a period of stagnation. 6. This same principle applies generally beyond economics and includes the military, medicine, social welfare, and so on.
- 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.
- Make sure you generalize if your example is too specific.
1. Secondly, the average person can best attain quality living standards through careful preparation. 2. Admittedly, this can lead to anxiety and a feeling of dissociation with reality. 3. These potential byproducts nonetheless pale in comparison to the risk of not providing for one’s future. 4. For instance, a person who does not study hard in school or apply themselves fully to their career is likely to always face financial pressure. 5. This pressure will itself engender anxiety. 6. In extreme situations, such a person may fail to integrate productively with society. 7. In contrast, someone who thinks about the future, invests wisely, and makes logical decisions is more likely to achieve a sense of happiness and fulfillment.
- 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.
- Conclude strong.
1. In conclusion, looking to the future guarantees a higher standard of living and the preservation of various national benefits. 2. Countries in particular must always prioritize consideration of future threats.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
Many feel that being fully present in the moment is more valuable than thinking of the future in terms of both nations and their residents. In my opinion, this claim is untrue and shortsighted.
Firstly, countries must look to the future to ensure the safe flourishing of all citizens. A country that simply looks to maximize current moments might make unwise decisions that could quickly have catastrophic repercussions. A well-known example of this would be the actions not taken by the United States government in the build-up to The Great Recession of 2007 – 2009. Authorities and governing bodies ignored the over-leveraging of assets and the potential for foreclosures on real estate properties. When the worst scenario occurred, the result was that millions lost their homes and the entire world plunged into a period of stagnation. This same principle applies generally beyond economics and includes the military, medicine, social welfare, and so on.
Secondly, the average person can best attain quality living standards through careful preparation. Admittedly, this can lead to anxiety and a feeling of dissociation with reality. These potential byproducts nonetheless pale in comparison to the risk of not providing for one’s future. For instance, a person who does not study hard in school or apply themselves fully to their career is likely to always face financial pressure. This pressure will itself engender anxiety. In extreme situations, such a person may fail to integrate productively with society. In contrast, someone who thinks about the future, invests wisely, and makes logical decisions is more likely to achieve a sense of happiness and fulfillment.
In conclusion, looking to the future guarantees a higher standard of living and the preservation of various national benefits. Countries in particular must always prioritize consideration of future threats.
Answers
fully present in the moment not thinking about the future
valuable has importance
in terms of concerning
nations countries
residents citizens
claim argue
untrue not true
shortsighted not looking to the future
look to the future thinking of later
ensure make sure of
safe flourishing no danger and getting better
citizens people of a country
simply merely
maximize current moments make the most of right now
make unwise decisions made bad choices
quickly fast
catastrophic repercussions really bad results
A well-known example of this would be a famous instance is
actions steps
build-up period before
The Great Recession of 2007 – 2009 financial crisis of 2008
authorities people in charge
governing bodies ignored people in charge didn’t pay attention to
over-leveraging investing too much
assets money, capital, property, etc.
potential possible
foreclosures homes being lost
real estate properties homes
worst scenario occurred bad thing happened
lost their homes houses foreclosed on
entire world whole Earth
plunged into feel deep into
a period of stagnation time of no growth
principle rule
beyond economics not just the money made in a country
includes applies for
military armies
medicine hospitals
social welfare taking care of people
and so on etc.
average person normal resident
best attain quality living standards live their best lives
through careful preparation thinking ahead
admittedly it is true that
anxiety nervousness
dissociation not connecting to
reality the real world
potential products possible items
nonetheless regardless
pale in comparison not as important as
risk threat
providing for supporting
apply themselves fully to their career work hard
face financial pressure have money trobles
engender anxiety make them feel nervous
In extreme situations in some cases
fail to integrate productively don’t join in a good way
In contrast however
invests wisely put money in stocks, property
makes logical decisions choose well
achieve a sense of happiness and fulfillment feel good about their lives
guarantees makes sure of
higher standard of living quality of life
preservation keeping alive
various national benefits good things for the country
in particular especially
prioritize consideration make more important caring about
threats risks
Pronunciation
ˈfʊli ˈprɛznt ɪn ðə ˈməʊmənt
ˈvæljʊəbl
ɪn tɜːmz ɒv
ˈneɪʃənz
ˈrɛzɪdənts
kleɪm
ʌnˈtruː
ˌʃɔːtˈsaɪtɪd
lʊk tuː ðə ˈfjuːʧə
ɪnˈʃʊə
seɪf ˈflʌrɪʃɪŋ
ˈsɪtɪznz
ˈsɪmpli
ˈmæksɪmaɪz ˈkʌrənt ˈməʊmənts
meɪk ʌnˈwaɪz dɪˈsɪʒənz
ˈkwɪkli
ˌkætəˈstrɒfɪk ˌriːpɜːˈkʌʃənz
ə wɛl-nəʊn ɪgˈzɑːmpl ɒv ðɪs wʊd biː
ˈækʃ(ə)nz
ˈbɪldʌp
ðə greɪt rɪˈsɛʃən ɒv
ɔːˈθɒrɪtiz
ˈgʌvənɪŋ ˈbɒdiz ɪgˈnɔːd
ˈəʊvə-ˈliːvərɪʤɪŋ
ˈæsɛts
pəʊˈtɛnʃəl
fɔːˈkləʊʒəz
rɪəl ɪsˈteɪt ˈprɒpətiz
wɜːst sɪˈnɑːrɪəʊ əˈkɜːd
lɒst ðeə həʊmz
ɪnˈtaɪə wɜːld
plʌnʤd ˈɪntuː
ə ˈpɪərɪəd ɒv stægˈneɪʃən
ˈprɪnsəpl
bɪˈjɒnd ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪks
ɪnˈkluːdz
ˈmɪlɪtəri
ˈmɛdsɪn
ˈsəʊʃəl ˈwɛlfeə
ænd səʊ ɒn
ˈævərɪʤ ˈpɜːsn
bɛst əˈteɪn ˈkwɒlɪti ˈlɪvɪŋ ˈstændədz
θruː ˈkeəfʊl ˌprɛpəˈreɪʃən
ədˈmɪtɪdli
æŋˈzaɪəti
dɪˌsəʊsɪˈeɪʃən
ri(ː)ˈælɪti
pəʊˈtɛnʃəl ˈprɒdʌkts
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
peɪl ɪn kəmˈpærɪsn
rɪsk
prəˈvaɪdɪŋ fɔː
əˈplaɪ ðəmˈsɛlvz ˈfʊli tuː ðeə kəˈrɪə
feɪs faɪˈnænʃəl ˈprɛʃə
ɪnˈʤɛndər æŋˈzaɪəti
ɪn ɪksˈtriːm ˌsɪtjʊˈeɪʃənz
feɪl tuː ˈɪntɪgreɪt prəˈdʌktɪvli
ɪn ˈkɒntrɑːst
ɪnˈvɛsts ˈwaɪzli
meɪks ˈlɒʤɪkəl dɪˈsɪʒənz
əˈʧiːv ə sɛns ɒv ˈhæpɪnɪs ænd fʊlˈfɪlmənt
ˌgærənˈtiːz
ˈhaɪə ˈstændəd ɒv ˈlɪvɪŋ
ˌprɛzə(ː)ˈveɪʃən
ˈveərɪəs ˈnæʃənl ˈbɛnɪfɪts
ɪn pəˈtɪkjʊlə
praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪz kənˌsɪdəˈreɪʃən
θrɛts
Vocabulary Practice
Many feel that being f_________________________t is more v____________e than thinking of the future i______________f both n___________s and their r__________s. In my opinion, this c_____m is u_______e and s____________d.
Firstly, countries must l________________e to e_______e the s_____________g of all c_________s. A country that s_______y looks to m__________________s might m_________________________s that could q_______y have c________________________s. A_________________________________e the a________s not taken by the United States government in the b________p to T___________________________________9. A____________s and g_________________________d the o__________________g of a_________s and the p_________l for f_____________s on r______________________s. When the w____________________d, the result was that millions l___________________s and the e____________________________________________n. This same p__________e applies generally b_______________s and i__________s the m_______y, m________e, s_____________e, a____________n.
Secondly, the a_______________n can b___________n q_________________________s t______________________n. A____________y, this can lead to a__________y and a feeling of d______________n with r________y. These p____________________s n___________s p____________________n to the r____k of not p______________r one’s future. For instance, a person who does not study hard in school or a____________________________r is likely to always f____________________________e. This pressure will itself e________________y. I____________________s, such a person may f___________________________y with society. I______________t, someone who thinks about the future, i______________y, and m_______________________s is more likely to a_________________________________________t.
In conclusion, looking to the future g____________s a h______________________g and the p___________n of v__________________________s. Countries i________________r must always p_______________________n of future t_________s.
Listening Practice
Reading Practice
https://www.gaiam.com/blogs/discover/6-ways-to-live-in-the-moment
Speaking Practice
Talk about a goal that you want to achieve in the future. Include:
What the goal is
When you thought of it
How you will accomplish it
Writing Practice
Some feel that it is a waste of time to plan for the future and it is more important to focus on the present.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Hello, in 2nd body paragraph, 3rd sentence, can we use These potential feelings/effects instead of products?
Yes, those are better – I think I meant to write ‘byproducts’ which makes more sense there.
Feelings and effects both work too!
That’s great!
Hlo sir this essay how mch band get in academic writting
All mine are band 9 or higher of course!
Tq sir nd please give me the suggestion about 20 exams or please write essay own ur writting
I don’t understand what you are asking for, Harry…
M asking aa sir for u in yesterday 20 Jan nu jihde questions paper aye ne ohnde de sample answer show krdu
I still don’t get it – students often send me new questions from the exam and when I see them I will post and write about them…
Tqq sir these are so important from students i req to you plese write here as soon as possible bcz your vocab very beneficial about acedemic student
Yep – not retiring anytime soon, Harry!
In 4 th sentence of 2nd body paragraph , is it correct to use both likely and always together in one sentence?
Yes, it is fine in that context Sandra – basically means there is a good chance that they will always be stressed out – could just leave out the always and say they are likely to feel stressed.
Got it. Thanx!