This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of society and individuals from the real IELTS exam.
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IELTS Essay: Society and Individuals
Some people think young people should follow the traditions of their society. Others think that they should be free to behave as individuals.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Many today feel that it is crucial for younger generations to follow the traditions of their country rather than their own individual inclinations. In my opinion, though there is value to such self-expression, upholding tradition is more important.
Those who are in support of younger people prioritising their individuality argue this is key to happiness. The true pursuit of happiness requires an individual to define their goals and accomplish them on their own terms. A counterexample illustrating this point would be the rigid, hierarchical societies of the past wherein women had fewer rights of self-expression. Most women in the past did not receive an education and were effectively blocked from having a career or life outside the traditional confines of a housewife. The narrow range of experiences on offer meant that most women were unable to struggle to find their own version of happiness.
However, since the stigmas of society today are less in conflict with individuals, it is logical to prioritise tradition. Traditions themselves may be forgotten if not respected and adhered to. For example, in many indigenous cultures, younger people are more interested in migrating from their ancestral homes to the cities to lead a modern life. If this occurs in enough numbers, then thousands of unique, distinct cultures will fade into the seemingly inevitable global monoculture. Once this happens, there will be no way to retrieve and enliven past traditions and they will become relics of history rather than living monuments to diversity, creativity, and human ingenuity.
In conclusion, though individual freedom is important, particularly for repressed segments of society, there is greater value in preserving past ways of life. This is difficult to enforce but governments should seek to encourage the latter instead of the former.
Analysis
1. Many today feel that it is crucial for younger generations to follow the traditions of their country rather than their own individual inclinations. 2. In my opinion, though there is value to such self-expression, upholding tradition is more important.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Those who are in support of younger people prioritising their individuality argue this is key to happiness. 2. The true pursuit of happiness requires an individual to define their goals and accomplish them on their own terms. 3. A counterexample illustrating this point would be the rigid, hierarchical societies of the past wherein women had fewer rights of self-expression. 4. Most women in the past did not receive an education and were effectively blocked from having a career or life outside the traditional confines of a housewife. 5. The narrow range of experiences on offer meant that most women were unable to struggle to find their own version of happiness.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific examples.
- Continue to develop it.
- State the result.
1. However, since the stigmas of society today are less in conflict with individuals, it is logical to prioritise tradition. 2. Traditions themselves may be forgotten if not respected and adhered to. 3. For example, in many indigenous cultures, younger people are more interested in migrating from their ancestral homes to the cities to lead a modern life. 4. If this occurs in enough numbers, then thousands of unique, distinct cultures will fade into the seemingly inevitable global monoculture. 5. Once this happens, there will be no way to retrieve and enliven past traditions and they will become relics of history rather than living monuments to diversity, creativity, and human ingenuity.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- The more specific, the better.
- Continue your development.
1. In conclusion, though individual freedom is important, particularly for repressed segments of society, there is greater value in preserving past ways of life. 2. This is difficult to enforce but governments should seek to encourage the latter instead of the former.
- 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 and then check below.
Many today feel that it is c__________l for y_____________________s to f____________________s of their country r_____________n their own i___________________s. In my opinion, though there is v______e to such s_______________________n, u___________g tradition is more important.
Those who are in support of younger people p_____________g their individuality a_______e this is k___y to happiness. The t_____________________s r___________s an individual to d________e their goals and a_____________h them o____________________s. A c_________________e illustrating this point would be the r________d, h_______________l societies of the past w___________n women had f___________________________n. Most women in the past did not receive an education and were e__________________d from having a career or life o________________________________________e. The n______________________________r m______t that most women were u________________e to find their own v________n of happiness.
However, since the s_________s of society today are l_________________h individuals, it is l_________l to p__________e tradition. Traditions themselves may be f______________n if not r_______________d and a____________d to. For example, in many i_________________________s, younger people are more interested in m_____________g from their a__________________s to the cities to l___________________e. If this occurs in e______________s, then thousands of u________e, d________t cultures will f_________o the s____________________________________e. Once this happens, there will be no way to r____________e and e___________n past traditions and they will become r__________________y rather than l_______________________s to d___________y, creativity, and h______________________y.
In conclusion, though individual freedom is important, p_________________r r_____________________________y, there is greater value in p__________________g past ways of life. This is difficult to e___________e but governments should s______k to encourage the l_________r instead of the f_________r.
Answers
crucial very important
younger generations young people
follow the traditions maintain ways of the past
rather than instead of
individual inclinations what people want to do
value consider important
self-expression individuality
upholding maintaining
prioritising considering more important
argue debate
key important
true pursuit of happiness real trying to be satisfied
requires needs
define make up
accomplish achieve
on their own terms as they want
counterexample example showing the opposite case
rigid strict, not flexible
hierarchical part of an ordering structure
wherein in which
fewer rights of self-expression less ability to do what they want
effectively blocked in essence stopped
outside the traditional confines of a housewife beyond the normal role of women
narrow range of experiences on offer limited amount of opportunities available
meant implied
unable to struggle can’t attempt
version kind of
stigmas negative stereotypes
less in conflict with not fighting against
logical rational
prioritise consider more important
forgotten not remembered
respected venerated
adhered respected
indigenous cultures native groups
migrating leaving to go to
ancestral homes places where you are from
lead a modern life result in new ways of living
enough numbers more than enough people
unique special
distinct unique
fade into disappear
seemingly inevitable global monoculture apparently unchangeable similarity of cultures
retrieve get back
enliven bring to life
relics of history old reminders
living monuments living reminders
diversity difference
human ingenuity creativity
particularly for especially
repressed segments of society minorities
preserving keeping alive
enforce make sure it happens
seek try to find
latter one mentioned second
former one mentioned before
Pronunciation
ˈkruːʃəl
ˈjʌŋə ˌʤɛnəˈreɪʃənz
ˈfɒləʊ ðə trəˈdɪʃənz
ˈrɑːðə ðæn
ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəl ˌɪnklɪˈneɪʃənz
ˈvæljuː
sɛlf-ɪksˈprɛʃən
ʌpˈhəʊldɪŋ
praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪzɪŋ
ˈɑːgjuː
kiː
truː pəˈsjuːt ɒv ˈhæpɪnɪs
rɪˈkwaɪəz
dɪˈfaɪn
əˈkɒmplɪʃ
ɒn ðeər əʊn tɜːmz
ˈkaʊntər ɪgˈzɑːmpl
ˈrɪʤɪd
ˌhaɪərˈɑːkɪkəl
weərˈɪn
ˈfjuːə raɪts ɒv sɛlf-ɪksˈprɛʃən
ɪˈfɛktɪvli blɒkt
ˌaʊtˈsaɪd ðə trəˈdɪʃənl ˈkɒnfaɪnz ɒv ə ˈhaʊswaɪf
ˈnærəʊ reɪnʤ ɒv ɪksˈpɪərɪənsɪz ɒn ˈɒfə
mɛnt
ʌnˈeɪbl tuː ˈstrʌgl
ˈvɜːʃən
ˈstɪgməz
lɛs ɪn ˈkɒnflɪkt wɪð
ˈlɒʤɪkəl
praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪz
fəˈgɒtn
rɪsˈpɛktɪd
ədˈhɪəd
ɪnˈdɪʤɪnəs ˈkʌlʧəz
maɪˈgreɪtɪŋ
ænˈsɛstrəl həʊmz
liːd ə ˈmɒdən laɪf
ɪˈnʌf ˈnʌmbəz
juːˈniːk
dɪsˈtɪŋkt
feɪd ˈɪntuː
ˈsiːmɪŋli ɪnˈɛvɪtəbl ˈgləʊbəl ˈmɒnəʊ ˈkʌlʧə
rɪˈtriːv
ɪnˈlaɪvn
ˈrɛlɪks ɒv ˈhɪstəri
ˈlɪvɪŋ ˈmɒnjʊmənts
daɪˈvɜːsɪti
ˈhjuːmən ˌɪnʤɪˈnju(ː)ɪti
pəˈtɪkjʊləli fɔː
rɪˈprɛst ˈsɛgmənts ɒv səˈsaɪəti
prɪˈzɜːvɪŋ
ɪnˈfɔːs
siːk
ˈlætə
ˈfɔːmə
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks on a separate piece of paper (to make your learning more memorable):
Many today feel that it is c__________l for y_______________________s to f_____________________s of their country r__________n their own i_______________________s. In my opinion, though there is v_______e to such s____________________n, u___________g tradition is more important.
Those who are in support of younger people p_____________g their individuality a______e this is k___y to happiness. The t___________________________s r_____________s an individual to d________e their goals and a_________________h them o___________________s. A c________________e illustrating this point would be the r_____d, h________________l societies of the past w_________n women had f______________________________n. Most women in the past did not receive an education and were e____________________d from having a career or life o___________________________________________e. The n____________________________________r m________t that most women were u_________________e to find their own v_________n of happiness.
However, since the s_________s of society today are l_________________h individuals, it is l__________l to p__________e tradition. Traditions themselves may be f__________n if not r___________d and a__________d to. For example, in many i______________________s, younger people are more interested in m__________g from their a____________________s to the cities to l_________________________e. If this occurs in e_________________s, then thousands of u__________e, d_________t cultures will f_____________o the s________________________________________________e. Once this happens, there will be no way to r__________e and e__________n past traditions and they will become r_______________________y rather than l____________________s to d___________y, creativity, and h_____________________y.
In conclusion, though individual freedom is important, p__________________r r______________________________y, there is greater value in p___________g past ways of life. This is difficult to e___________e but governments should s_____k to encourage the l_________r instead of the f__________r.
Reading Practice
Read more about a traditional culture below and practice with these activities:
Listening Practice
Watch the video below and practice with some of these ideas:
Speaking Practice
Talk about the following questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Setting Goals
- How important is it for people to set goals?
- Do people set different goals at different stages of life?
- Are personal goals more important than professional goals?
- What sort of goals do young people today set?
- Are people becoming more pessimistic about their life goals?
Writing Practice
Write about the related topic below then check with my sample answer:
Some believe that it is beneficial to show foreign films while others feel this can have a negative impact on local culture.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
My IELTS teacher told me that I must write two reasons for each viewpoint. Is it ok to write just one for each?
I think you teacher may have mis-spoken – the band descriptors require development.
Any way that you develop is fine.
I recommend a single main idea so that you can develop it more fully.
Is that clear, Masi?