This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of a universal basic income from the government from the real IELTS recent exam.
IELTS Essay: Universal Basic Income
The governments should give each citizen a basic income so that they have enough money to live on, even if they are unemployed.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some today are calling for the institution of a universal basic income for all citizens. In my opinion, while this addresses legitimate fears concerning automation, it would be ill-advised overall as work is central to the human condition.
Those who advocate this legislation point out unemployment risks. Wealth is today accumulated amongst a very small percentage of billionaires. In the future, this situation will be exacerbated by rising corporate investment into advanced robotics and artificial intelligence. For instance, 50 years ago there were thousands of jobs for those working in factories assembling cars and other products. Today, the vast majority of that work is done by machines and humans must locate more creative avenues of employment. The fear that someday most workers will no longer have a viable role in society does justify discussion of a universal wage.
However, these future possibilities are not assured and work is still an essential part of being human. Each person has duty in their personal lives, typically as part of a family, as well as in public through their work. Only by fulfilling each responsibility fully will a person feel connected to the history and present of human progress. A universal wage would allow individuals to focus exclusively on their family and their hobbies but it is nearly impossible to predict possible deeper ramifications. Individuals may lose the motivation to innovate and the world would, in that case, be run by unimaginative technocrats and machines.
In conclusion, though it seems that capitalism will someday necessitate a reform such as a basic income for all, I believe there is enough value in work that alternatives should be pursued instead. Idealistic dreams of a world without work are naive and short-sighted.
Analysis
1. Some today are calling for the institution of a universal basic income for all citizens. 2. In my opinion, while this addresses legitimate fears concerning automation, it would be ill-advised overall as work is central to the human condition.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Those who advocate this legislation point out unemployment risks. 2. Wealth is today accumulated amongst a very small percentage of billionaires. 3. In the future, this situation will be exacerbated by rising corporate investment into advanced robotics and artificial intelligence. 4. For instance, 50 years ago there were thousands of jobs for those working in factories assembling cars and other products. 5. Today, the vast majority of that work is done by machines and humans must locate more creative avenues of employment. 6. The fear that someday most workers will no longer have a viable role in society does justify discussion of a universal wage.
- 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. However, these future possibilities are not assured and work is still an essential part of being human. 2. Each person has duty in their personal lives, typically as part of a family, as well as in public through their work. 3. Only by fulfilling each responsibility fully will a person feel connected to the history and present of human progress. 4. A universal wage would allow individuals to focus exclusively on their family and their hobbies but it is nearly impossible to predict possible deeper ramifications. 5. Individuals may lose the motivation to innovate and the world would, in that case, be run by unimaginative technocrats and machines.
- 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.
1. In conclusion, though it seems that capitalism will someday necessitate a reform such as a basic income for all, I believe there is enough value in work that alternatives should be pursued instead. 2. Idealistic dreams of a world without work are naive and short-sighted.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
Some today are calling for the institution of a universal basic income for all citizens. In my opinion, while this addresses legitimate fears concerning automation, it would be ill-advised overall as work is central to the human condition.
Those who advocate this legislation point out unemployment risks. Wealth is today accumulated amongst a very small percentage of billionaires. In the future, this situation will be exacerbated by rising corporate investment into advanced robotics and artificial intelligence. For instance, 50 years ago there were thousands of jobs for those working in factories assembling cars and other products. Today, the vast majority of that work is done by machines and humans must locate more creative avenues of employment. The fear that someday most workers will no longer have a viable role in society does justify discussion of a universal wage.
However, these future possibilities are not assured and work is still an essential part of being human. Each person has duty in their personal lives, typically as part of a family, as well as in public through their work. Only by fulfilling each responsibility fully will a person feel connected to the history and present of human progress. A universal wage would allow individuals to focus exclusively on their family and their hobbies but it is nearly impossible to predict possible deeper ramifications. Individuals may lose the motivation to innovate and the world would, in that case, be run by unimaginative technocrats and machines.
In conclusion, though it seems that capitalism will someday necessitate a reform such as a basic income for all, I believe there is enough value in work that alternatives should be pursued instead. Idealistic dreams of a world without work are naive and short-sighted.
Answers
calling for demanding
institution creation of
universal basic income money for each person to live off without working
citizens residents
addresses deals with
legitimate fears real worries
concerning about
automation becoming related to machines
ill-advised overall not good in general
central key
the human condition how all people live and deal with life
advocate support
legislation laws
unemployment risks possibly not having a job
wealth money
accumulated added up
billionaires people with 1,000,000,000+
exacerbated made worse
rising corporate investment companies putting more money into
advanced robotics sophisticated machines
artificial intelligence smart computers
factories assembling cars putting together automobiles
products items
vast majority most of
locate find
creative avenues of employment new ways of finding jobs
fear worry
someday in the future
viable role useful place
justify discussion give good reason for talking about
universal wage everyone paid but with no job
future possibilities potential changes
assured definite
essential part key element
duty responsibility
personal lives private lives, family, friends, hobbies, etc.
typically usually
as well as and
public in the world, not private
fulfilling satisfying
responsibility fully duty 100%
connected related
focus exclusively emphasize only
hobbies what you do in your free time
predict look forward to
deeper ramifications bigger implications
lose the motivation not feel encouraged
innovate create new ideas
in that case in this situation
run by unimaginative technocrats managed by rich tech people with no creativity
machines robots
capitalism economic system with free markets
necessitate require
basic income money each month without a job
value importance
alternatives different ways
pursued instead looked for
idealistic dreams naive ideas
naive innocent, unrealistic
short-sighted not looking at the long-term
Pronunciation
ˈkɔːlɪŋ fɔː
ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃən
ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsəl ˈbeɪsɪk ˈɪnkʌm
ˈsɪtɪznz
əˈdrɛsɪz
lɪˈʤɪtɪmɪt fɪəz
kənˈsɜːnɪŋ
ˌɔːtəˈmeɪʃ(ə)n
ˈɪlədˈvaɪzd ˈəʊvərɔːl
ˈsɛntrəl
ðə ˈhjuːmən kənˈdɪʃən
ˈædvəkɪt
ˌlɛʤɪsˈleɪʃən
ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt rɪsks
wɛlθ
əˈkjuːmjʊleɪtɪd
ˌbɪljəˈneəz
ɛksˈæsə(ː)beɪtɪd
ˈraɪzɪŋ ˈkɔːpərɪt ɪnˈvɛstmənt
ədˈvɑːnst rəʊˈbɒtɪks
ˌɑːtɪˈfɪʃ(ə)l ɪnˈtɛlɪʤəns
ˈfæktəriz əˈsɛmblɪŋ kɑːz
ˈprɒdʌkts
vɑːst məˈʤɒrɪti
ləʊˈkeɪt
kri(ː)ˈeɪtɪv ˈævɪnjuːz ɒv ɪmˈplɔɪmənt.
fɪə
ˈsʌmˌdeɪ
ˈvaɪəbl rəʊl
ˈʤʌstɪfaɪ dɪsˈkʌʃən
ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsəl weɪʤ
ˈfjuːʧə ˌpɒsəˈbɪlɪtiz
əˈʃʊəd
ɪˈsɛnʃəl pɑːt
ˈdjuːti
ˈpɜːsnl lɪvz
ˈtɪpɪk(ə)li
æz wɛl æz
ˈpʌblɪk
fʊlˈfɪlɪŋ
rɪsˌpɒnsəˈbɪlɪti ˈfʊli
kəˈnɛktɪd
ˈfəʊkəs ɪksˈkluːsɪvli
ˈhɒbiz
prɪˈdɪkt
ˈdiːpə ˌræmɪfɪˈkeɪʃənz
luːz ðə ˌməʊtɪˈveɪʃən
ˈɪnəʊveɪt
ɪn ðæt keɪs
rʌn baɪ ˌʌnɪˈmæʤɪnətɪv teknəʊkræts
məˈʃiːnz
ˈkæpɪtəlɪzm
nɪˈsɛsɪteɪt
ˈbeɪsɪk ˈɪnkʌm
ˈvæljuː
ɔːlˈtɜːnətɪvz
pəˈsjuːd ɪnˈstɛd
aɪˌdɪəˈlɪstɪk driːmz
nɑːˈiːv
ʃɔːt-ˈsaɪtɪd
Vocabulary Practice
Some today are c________________r the i____________n of a u_____________________e for all c___________s. In my opinion, while this a_______________s l______________e f_________________g a______________n, it would be i____________d o_________l as work is c______l to t________________n.
Those who a__________e this l_____________n point out u________________s. W______h is today a___________d amongst a very small percentage of b_______________s. In the future, this situation will be e______________d by r_____________________________t into a______________s and a__________________e. For instance, 50 years ago there were thousands of jobs for those working in f___________________________s and other p_____________s. Today, the v____________y of that work is done by machines and humans must l_______e more c__________________________t. The f____r that s_______y most workers will no longer have a v___________e in society does j___________________n of a u________________e.
However, these f__________________s are not a__________d and work is still an e______________t of being human. Each person has d___y in their p___________s, t__________y as part of a family, a_____________s in p_____c through their work. Only by f___________g each r_________________y will a person feel c________d to the history and present of h_____________s. A universal wage would allow individuals to f_______________y on their family and their h_________s but it is nearly impossible to p________t possible d________________________s. Individuals may l______________________n to i______e and the world would, i_____________e, be r________y u___________________________s and m__________s.
In conclusion, though it seems that c___________m will someday n____________e a reform such as a b______________e for all, I believe there is enough v______e in work that a____________s should be p________________d. I_____________________s of a world without work are n______e and s_______________d.
Listening Practice
Reading Practice
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/universal-basic-income-explained
Speaking Practice
Work (Model answer available on my Patreon)
- Are you student or are you working now?
- What do you like about your job/school at the moment?
- What job would you like to do in the future?
Writing Practice
The world should have only one government rather than a national government for each country.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
Nowadays it’s been suggested that the government should allocate money to fund unemployed individuals so they can at least make ends meet. In this ,essay I will be discussing why to some extent I do agree with this notion.
To begin with, The cardinal reason why the crime rate is quite high in many nations is because of unemployment and poverty. Many people tend to engage in criminal activity just to be able to support themselves and their families. A recent Harvard University study showed that the crime rate is directly correlated with unemployment. This indeed is clear evidence that governments supporting unemployed people will benefit society. Moreover, in recent years many occupations have been diminishing due to technological advancement. An article that was published in the GUARDIAN states that by 2035 almost 35% of world citizens will become unemployed.
However, by only supporting these individuals financially they might become a huge burden to society, governments should provide educational programmes that will enable citizens to acquire new skills which will help them to secure a decent job. Moreover, supporting local industries and focusing more on the tourism sector will help create more job opportunities for locals and improve the country ‘s economy. Furthermore, a major concern that comes with giving money to unemployed individuals is that it will incite millions of workers to stop working. Which may send the wrong message to younger generations.
In conclusion, the conversion of universal wage is justifiable, having a basic living standard is an essential right for any human being and the government should be able to provide it. But also educating people and teaching them new skills in order to obtain and maintain a job is also important.
Nice length Amal!
There are some informal sentences – don’t start with but or which for instance – but nice grammar and vocabulary overall.
Keep it up!
Dear Dave,
Could you please evaluate my score about my exercise below?
I am not agree with the advice to the government, of which about a new all-citizens welfare plan. There are 3 reasons given below to explain my disagreement.
First of all, a universal payment to cover all the people requires a lot of money. We all know that the main income of government is from tax payers, the execution of such plan will increase annually budget dramatically and the extra financial burden would payback to the people. This makes no sense but increase the workload of government and the risk of corruption.
Furthermore, such policy for all will make some people change the attitudes toward working and studying. With enough fare to live, human nature of laziness may have a bad influence to the common value of working attitude, for example, a waiter working in restaurant may not care too much about his discipline and behavior since his life will be covered in any cases.
Also, this policy may lead to a lower economy growth. To get more fund, low income family might try to have more babies to get more money, and the parents may distribute the money unevenly and even abuse the children they don’t like. Also, big companies may leave the country because recruiting cost and operation cost will increase.
In conclusion, the good intent may lead to a bad consequence after legislation, no matter in respect of economy growth or common value. Maybe this proposal could be modified and make it clearer about the targets who really need such support, namely disables, orphans and olds.
Nice work Roger though I’d recommend 4 paragraphs just so that you can develop your ideas more fully.
Also there is an over-reliance on linking words – some of which are repetitive and informal.
Keep working hard!
Just dropping by to say I’ve spent the past few days combing through the sample essays from your website and I feel like my IQ has increased by a mark haha. Thank you for setting the bar high for examinees.
Thanks for your kind words Nikki – they made my day!
hi