This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of standard of living from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Standard of Living

Nowadays, most countries can improve the standard of living through economic development, but some social values are lost as a result.

Do you think the advantages of this phenomenon outweigh the disadvantages?

The pursuit of economic progress often comes at the expense of certain social values. In my opinion, though economic development undeniably engenders numerous benefits, it is key to prioritize tradition.

There are several undeniable advantages to flourishing economic conditions. Firstly, it creates job opportunities and improves the employment rate, leading to reduced poverty levels and enhanced living standards. For example, in countries like China and India, rapid economic growth has lifted millions out of poverty through industries such as manufacturing and tourism services. Economic growth results in increased tax revenue, which can be allocated towards public services such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure development. In developing nations, these improvements create a sustainable cycle that can lead to improved overall societal well-being.

However, economic prioritization can sometimes harm social values. In the race for rapid growth, societies may witness a decline in traditions, cultural heritage, and community cohesion. For instance, the rise of consumerism and material wealth in marginalized communities such as on Native American reservations in the United States often leads to the erosion of cultural practices and traditions as people value material possessions over cultural preservation. Additionally, the focus on personal success and material gain may overshadow the importance of human relationships, leading to a decline in social interaction and a rise in individualistic attitudes. This ultimately widens economic inequalities as certain groups benefit disproportionately from development, exacerbating social divisions and creating social unrest.

In conclusion, although economic development is undoubtedly advantageous, it is crucial to recognize that social values are more important. Governments and societies must take proactive measures to balance economic growth and the preservation of cultural heritage, community values, and social well-being.

Analysis

1. The pursuit of economic progress often comes at the expense of certain social values. 2. In my opinion, though economic development undeniably engenders numerous benefits, it is key to prioritize tradition.

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

1. There are several undeniable advantages to flourishing economic conditions. 2. Firstly, it creates job opportunities and improves the employment rate, leading to reduced poverty levels and enhanced living standards. 3. For example, in countries like China and India, rapid economic growth has lifted millions out of poverty through industries such as manufacturing and tourism services. 4. Economic growth results in increased tax revenue, which can be allocated towards public services such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure development. 5. In developing nations, these improvements create a sustainable cycle that can lead to improved overall societal well-being.

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. Use specific examples.

1. However, economic prioritization can sometimes harm social values. 2. In the race for rapid growth, societies may witness a decline in traditions, cultural heritage, and community cohesion. 3. For instance, the rise of consumerism and material wealth in marginalized communities such as on Native American reservations in the United States often leads to the erosion of cultural practices and traditions as people value material possessions over cultural preservation. 4. Additionally, the focus on personal success and material gain may overshadow the importance of human relationships, leading to a decline in social interaction and a rise in individualistic attitudes. 5. This ultimately widens economic inequalities as certain groups benefit disproportionately from development, exacerbating social divisions and creating social unrest.

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. Finish the paragraph strong.

1. In conclusion, although economic development is undoubtedly advantageous, it is crucial to recognize that social values are more important. 2. Governments and societies must take proactive measures to balance economic growth and the preservation of cultural heritage, community values, and social well-being.

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.

The pursuit of economic progress often comes at the expense of certain social values. In my opinion, though economic development undeniably engenders numerous benefits, it is key to prioritize tradition.

There are several undeniable advantages to flourishing economic conditions. Firstly, it creates job opportunities and improves the employment rate, leading to reduced poverty levels and enhanced living standards. For example, in countries like China and India, rapid economic growth has lifted millions out of poverty through industries such as manufacturing and tourism services. Economic growth results in increased tax revenue, which can be allocated towards public services such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure development. In developing nations, these improvements create a sustainable cycle that can lead to improved overall societal well-being.

However, economic prioritization can sometimes harm social values. In the race for rapid growth, societies may witness a decline in traditions, cultural heritage, and community cohesion. For instance, the rise of consumerism and material wealth in marginalized communities such as on Native American reservations in the United States often leads to the erosion of cultural practices and traditions as people value material possessions over cultural preservation. Additionally, the focus on personal success and material gain may overshadow the importance of human relationships, leading to a decline in social interaction and a rise in individualistic attitudes. This ultimately widens economic inequalities as certain groups benefit disproportionately from development, exacerbating social divisions and creating social unrest.

In conclusion, although economic development is undoubtedly advantageous, it is crucial to recognize that social values are more important. Governments and societies must take proactive measures to balance economic growth and the preservation of cultural heritage, community values, and social well-being.

Answers

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

The pursuit of economic progress The search for economic prosperity

comes at the expense of certain social values Involves sacrificing certain societal ideals

economic development undeniably engenders numerous benefits Economic advancement unquestionably brings forth many benefits

key Vital

prioritize tradition Give priority to customs

several undeniable advantages to flourishing economic conditions Numerous indisputable benefits of thriving economic circumstances

creates job opportunities Provides work opportunities

improves the employment rate Boosts employment figures

leading to reduced poverty levels and enhanced living standards Bringing about lower levels of poverty and elevated living standards

rapid economic growth has lifted millions out of poverty Quick economic development has uplifted millions by alleviating poverty

industries Economic sectors

manufacturing Production

increased tax revenue Greater tax earnings

allocated towards public services Assigned to community services

healthcare Medical care

infrastructure development Construction of infrastructure

improvements Enhancements

sustainable cycle Long-term cycle

lead to improved overall societal well-being Result in enhanced societal welfare

prioritization Preference

harm Adversely affect

In the race for rapid growth Experience a weakening of traditional practices

witness a decline in traditions Ancestral customs

cultural heritage Social unity

community cohesion Solidarity among community members

consumerism Wanting to buy things

material wealth Money

Native American reservations Tribal lands

erosion Deterioration

cultural practices Rituals

value material possessions over cultural preservation Emphasize the importance of material belongings over the preservation of culture

Additionally Furthermore

focus on personal success Prioritize personal accomplishments

material gain Acquisition of wealth

overshadow the importance of human relationships Diminish the significance of interpersonal connections

individualistic attitudes Self-centered mindsets

ultimately widens economic inequalities In the end exacerbates economic disparities

certain groups benefit disproportionately from development Specific demographics gain disproportionately from progress

exacerbating social divisions Worsening social disparities

creating social unrest Provoking social turmoil

undoubtedly Certainly

crucial Essential

recognize Acknowledge

take proactive measures Preemptive actions

balance Equal

preservation of cultural heritage Conservation of cultural legacy

community values Shared principles

social well-being For the good of the public

Pronunciation

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

ðə pəˈsjuːt ɒv ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˈprəʊɡrəs 
kʌmz æt ði ɪksˈpɛns ɒv ˈsɜːtᵊn ˈsəʊʃᵊl ˈvæljuːz 
ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk dɪˈvɛləpmənt ˌʌndɪˈnaɪəbᵊli ɪnˈʤɛndəz ˈnjuːmərəs ˈbɛnɪfɪts 
kiː 
praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪz trəˈdɪʃᵊn 
ˈsɛvᵊrᵊl ˌʌndɪˈnaɪəbᵊl ədˈvɑːntɪʤɪz tuː ˈflʌrɪʃɪŋ ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk kənˈdɪʃᵊnz 
kriˈeɪts ʤɒb ˌɒpəˈtjuːnətiz 
ɪmˈpruːvz ði ɪmˈplɔɪmənt reɪt 
ˈliːdɪŋ tuː rɪˈdjuːst ˈpɒvəti ˈlɛvᵊlz ænd ɪnˈhɑːnst ˈlɪvɪŋ ˈstændədz 
ˈræpɪd ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ɡrəʊθ hæz ˈlɪftɪd ˈmɪljənz aʊt ɒv ˈpɒvəti 
ˈɪndəstriz 
ˌmænjəˈfækʧərɪŋ 
ɪnˈkriːst tæks ˈrɛvɪnjuː 
ˈæləʊkeɪtɪd təˈwɔːdz ˈpʌblɪk ˈsɜːvɪsɪz 
ˈhɛlθkeə 
ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌkʧə dɪˈvɛləpmənt 
ɪmˈpruːvmənts 
səsˈteɪnəbᵊl ˈsaɪkᵊl 
liːd tuː ɪmˈpruːvd ˈəʊvərɔːl səˈsaɪətᵊl wɛl-ˈbiːɪŋ 
praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪzeɪʃᵊn
hɑːm 
ɪn ðə reɪs fɔː ˈræpɪd ɡrəʊθ 
ˈwɪtnəs ə dɪˈklaɪn ɪn trəˈdɪʃᵊnz 
ˈkʌlʧᵊrᵊl ˈhɛrɪtɪʤ 
kəˈmjuːnəti kəʊˈhiːʒᵊn 
kənˈsjuːmərɪzᵊm 
məˈtɪəriəl wɛlθ 
ˈneɪtɪv əˈmɛrɪkən ˌrɛzəˈveɪʃᵊnz 
ɪˈrəʊʒᵊn 
ˈkʌlʧᵊrᵊl ˈpræktɪsɪz 
ˈvæljuː məˈtɪəriəl pəˈzɛʃᵊnz ˈəʊvə ˈkʌlʧᵊrᵊl ˌprɛzəˈveɪʃᵊn 
əˈdɪʃᵊnᵊli 
ˈfəʊkəs ɒn ˈpɜːsᵊnᵊl səkˈsɛs 
məˈtɪəriəl ɡeɪn 
ˌəʊvəˈʃædəʊ ði ɪmˈpɔːtᵊns ɒv ˈhjuːmən rɪˈleɪʃᵊnʃɪps 
ˌɪndɪˌvɪʤuəˈlɪstɪk ˈætɪtjuːdz 
ˈʌltɪmɪtli ˈwaɪdᵊnz ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˌɪnɪˈkwɒlətiz 
ˈsɜːtᵊn ɡruːps ˈbɛnɪfɪt ˌdɪsprəˈpɔːʃᵊnətli frɒm dɪˈvɛləpmənt 
ɪɡˈzæsəbeɪtɪŋ ˈsəʊʃᵊl dɪˈvɪʒᵊnz 
kriˈeɪtɪŋ ˈsəʊʃᵊl ʌnˈrɛst 
ʌnˈdaʊtɪdli 
ˈkruːʃᵊl 
ˈrɛkəɡnaɪz 
teɪk prəʊˈæktɪv ˈmɛʒəz 
ˈbælᵊns 
ˌprɛzəˈveɪʃᵊn ɒv ˈkʌlʧᵊrᵊl ˈhɛrɪtɪʤ 
kəˈmjuːnəti ˈvæljuːz 
ˈsəʊʃᵊl wɛl-ˈbiːɪŋ 

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:

T________________________________s often c___________________________________s. In my opinion, though e_________________________________________________________s, it is k___y to p____________n.

There are s_______________________________________________________________________s. Firstly, it c____________________________s and i_____________________e, l___________________________________________________________s. For example, in countries like China and India, r________________________________________________y through i__________s such as m_________g and tourism services. Economic growth results in i________________e, which can be a_______________________s such as h_________e, education, and i______________________________t. In developing nations, these i_______________s create a s__________________e that can l______________________________________g.

However, economic p__________________n can sometimes h____m social values. I_____________________________h, societies may w___________________________s, c____________________e, and c____________________n. For instance, the rise of c_____________________m and m_______________h in marginalized communities such as on N___________________________s in the United States often leads to the e_________n of c__________________s and traditions as people v_____________________________________________n. A_____________y, the f_____________________s and m____________n may o_________________________________________s, leading to a decline in social interaction and a rise in i_____________________________s. This u_______________________________________s as c_________________________________________________t, e_____________________________s and c____________________________t.

In conclusion, although economic development is u____________y advantageous, it is c_______l to r_________e that social values are more important. Governments and societies must t_______________________s to b_________e economic growth and the p______________________________e, c_____________________________s, and s______________________g.

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://qz.com/these-are-the-worlds-most-expensive-cities-in-2023-1850556595

Speaking Practice

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

Your Home Nation/Country

1. Where are you from?
2. What do you like the most about your country?
3. Where would you like to live in your country?
4. Are people in your country patriotic?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topics below:

People living in the 21st century have a better life quality than people who lived in previous times.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

IELTS EBook: Quality of Life