This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of the responsibilities that children should have from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Responsibilities

Some people believe that children of all ages should have extra responsibilities (for example, helping at home or at work). Others believe that, outside of school, children should be free to enjoy their lives. 

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Many today have argued for the importance of children having greater responsibility in the home. I am generally in agreement with this position, though it should naturally not be taken to extremes.

Critics of such an approach maintain that it can overburden young children. In many societies around the world today, children are under immense pressure at school to perform well academically. In many Asian countries, for example, young children must study at school until the late afternoon, have dinner, and then take additional classes before doing their homework each night. If these students were also tasked with cleaning the house or washing their own clothes, they simply would not have enough time to complete all their responsibilities and rest for the next day.

However, increased responsibility encourages greater maturity and self-reliance. A child who must ensure their room is clean and takes part in either cooking or cleaning up afterwards better understands the importance of time management and how to run a household. In contrast, some parents are overly protective of their children and do not instill traits related to independence. If a child grows up and attends university without a variety of life skills or the maturity that comes from looking after themselves, then they will likely struggle to adjust and may be viewed as childish by their peers.

In conclusion, though there must be logical limits to the amount of work that children should do in the home, it is an advisable approach overall to increase a child’s sense of responsibility. The benefits later in life justify any potential fatigue.

Analysis

1. Many today have argued for the importance of children having greater responsibility in the home. 2. I am generally in agreement with this position, though it should naturally not be taken to extremes.

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

1. Critics of such an approach maintain that it can overburden young children. 2. In many societies around the world today, children are under immense pressure at school to perform well academically. 3. In many Asian countries, for example, young children must study at school until the late afternoon, have dinner, and then take additional classes before doing their homework each night. 4. If these students were also tasked with cleaning the house or washing their own clothes, they simply would not have enough time to complete all their responsibilities and rest for the next day.

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.
5. You might add a counterpoint here.

1. However, increased responsibility encourages greater maturity and self-reliance. 2. A child who must ensure their room is clean and takes part in either cooking or cleaning up afterwards better understands the importance of time management and how to run a household. 3. In contrast, some parents are overly protective of their children and do not instill traits related to independence. 4. If a child grows up and attends university without a variety of life skills or the maturity that comes from looking after themselves, then they will likely struggle to adjust and may be viewed as childish by their peers.

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. Continue your development.
6. Finish the paragraph strong.

1. In conclusion, though there must be logical limits to the amount of work that children should do in the home, it is an advisable approach overall to increase a child’s sense of responsibility. 2. The benefits later in life justify any potential fatigue.

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.

Many today have argued for the importance of children having greater responsibility in the home. I am generally in agreement with this position, though it should naturally not be taken to extremes.

Critics of such an approach maintain that it can overburden young children. In many societies around the world today, children are under immense pressure at school to perform well academically. In many Asian countries, for example, young children must study at school until the late afternoon, have dinner, and then take additional classes before doing their homework each night. If these students were also tasked with cleaning the house or washing their own clothes, they simply would not have enough time to complete all their responsibilities and rest for the next day.

However, increased responsibility encourages greater maturity and self-reliance. A child who must ensure their room is clean and takes part in either cooking or cleaning up afterwards better understands the importance of time management and how to run a household. In contrast, some parents are overly protective of their children and do not instill traits related to independence. If a child grows up and attends university without a variety of life skills or the maturity that comes from looking after themselves, then they will likely struggle to adjust and may be viewed as childish by their peers.

In conclusion, though there must be logical limits to the amount of work that children should do in the home, it is an advisable approach overall to increase a child’s sense of responsibility. The benefits later in life justify any potential fatigue.

Answers

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

argued for the importance of are in favor of

greater responsibility in the home more duty in one’s house

I am generally in agreement with this position I agree mostly with the opinion that

naturally of course

taken to extremes pursued in a strong way

Critics those against it

approach maintain way argue

overburden put too much pressure on

under immense pressure at school to perform well academically have lots of stress to do well in their classes

late afternoon around 3 – 5pm

take additional classes sign up for more courses

each night every night

tasked with are assigned

complete all their responsibilities finish their work

rest relaxing

increased responsibility encourages greater maturity and self-reliance more duty motivates them to be more responsible

ensure make sure of

takes part in engages in

afterwards after that

how to run a household how to take care of your place

overly protective of looking too much after

instill traits related to independence sculpt kids to be self-reliant

attends goes to

without a variety of life skills not having lots of abilities like cooking, cleaning, etc.

maturity how old you are emotionally

looking after themselves taking care of themselves

likely struggle to adjust probably have difficulty adapting

may be viewed as childish by their peers might seem immature by other classmates

logical limits rational levels

advisable approach overall good idea in general

sense of responsibility feeling of duty

later in life justify any potential fatigue after that make it worth it to be tired

Pronunciation

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

ˈɑːgjuːd fɔː ði ɪmˈpɔːtəns ɒv 
ˈgreɪtə rɪsˌpɒnsəˈbɪlɪti ɪn ðə həʊm
aɪ æm ˈʤɛnərəli ɪn əˈgriːmənt wɪð ðɪs pəˈzɪʃən 
ˈnæʧrəli 
ˈteɪkən tuː ɪksˈtriːmz
ˈkrɪtɪks 
əˈprəʊʧ meɪnˈteɪn 
ˌəʊvəˈbɜːdn 
ˈʌndər ɪˈmɛns ˈprɛʃər æt skuːl tuː pəˈfɔːm wɛl ˌækəˈdɛmɪkəli
leɪt ˈɑːftəˈnuːn
teɪk əˈdɪʃənl ˈklɑːsɪz 
iːʧ naɪt
tɑːskt wɪð 
kəmˈpliːt ɔːl ðeə rɪsˌpɒnsəˈbɪlɪtiz 
rɛst 
ɪnˈkriːst rɪsˌpɒnsəˈbɪlɪti ɪnˈkʌrɪʤɪz ˈgreɪtə məˈtjʊərɪti ænd sɛlf-rɪˈlaɪəns
ɪnˈʃʊə 
teɪks pɑːt ɪn 
ˈɑːftəwədz 
haʊ tuː rʌn ə ˈhaʊshəʊld
ˈəʊvəli prəˈtɛktɪv ɒv 
ɪnˈstɪl treɪts rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː ˌɪndɪˈpɛndəns
əˈtɛndz 
wɪˈðaʊt ə vəˈraɪəti ɒv laɪf skɪlz 
məˈtjʊərɪti 
ˈlʊkɪŋ ˈɑːftə ðəmˈsɛlvz
ˈlaɪkli ˈstrʌgl tuː əˈʤʌst 
meɪ biː vjuːd æz ˈʧaɪldɪʃ baɪ ðeə pɪəz
ˈlɒʤɪkəl ˈlɪmɪts 
ədˈvaɪzəbl əˈprəʊʧ ˈəʊvərɔːl 
sɛns ɒv rɪsˌpɒnsəˈbɪlɪti
ˈleɪtər ɪn laɪf ˈʤʌstɪfaɪ ˈɛni pəʊˈtɛnʃəl fəˈtiːg

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:

Many today have a______________________________f children having g______________________________e. I a____________________________________________n, though it should n____________y not be t_____________s.

C_______s of such an a__________________n that it can o____________n young children. In many societies around the world today, children are u_____________________________________________________________y. In many Asian countries, for example, young children must study at school until the l__________________n, have dinner, and then t__________________s before doing their homework e_____________t. If these students were also t_____________h cleaning the house or washing their own clothes, they simply would not have enough time to c__________________________________s and r____t for the next day.

However, i_________________________________________________________________________e. A child who must e______e their room is clean and t_____________n either cooking or cleaning up a__________s better understands the importance of time management and h___________________d. In contrast, some parents are o_____________________f their children and do not i_____________________________________________e. If a child grows up and a_________s university w_____________________________________________s or the m________y that comes from l_______________________s, then they will l___________________________t and m_____________________________________________s.

In conclusion, though there must be l_____________s to the amount of work that children should do in the home, it is an a_______________________________l to increase a child’s s______________________y. The benefits l________________________________________________e.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

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

https://www.romper.com/life/childrens-responsibilities

Speaking Practice

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

Chores

1. Did you do many chores as a child?
2. What chores do you typically do now?
3. Are there are chores you dislike doing?
4. Do men or women do more chores in your country?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topics below:

Some people believe that engaging in an active pastime does more to develop children’s life skills than time spent reading.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

IELTS Essay: Children Developing Skills