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

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IELTS Essay: Wealthy Countries

More and more young people from wealthy countries are spending time in communities in poorer countries doing unpaid work such as teaching or building houses.

Why is this?

Who benefits more from this, the communities or these young people?

It is becoming increasingly common these days for individuals from wealthier nations to donate their time to aiding less developed countries. In my opinion, this is a natural result of advances in media and technology and it benefits the wealthy far more than those being ostensibly helped.

The main reason this has become a pervasive trend in recent decades is that young people are more aware of and capable of traveling to other countries. The last several decades have witnessed the rise of media beyond traditional television shows and newspapers and now include websites and social media. The average young person today can use their smartphone to easily access information from a variety of sources on issues in distant countries. Additionally, individuals today are generally able to travel conveniently abroad. Air travel is not only far faster than past modes of travel including ships and trains but has also become cheaper as average incomes have risen, particularly in developed nations.

However, this phenomenon is mostly concerned with improving the self-esteem of the wealthy. Young people often lack confidence and one way to improve their own self-image is to volunteer for causes in other countries. A young person of privilege might feel guilty about their own standard of living and lack of accomplishments in life and therefore travel abroad to help others in order to gain confidence. When this person returns home, they will be able to flaunt their achievements in front of friends, their parents, and on university entrance essays. In contrast, the people who have been helped are unlikely to experience a significant change in their lives and the cost of housing and training young volunteers might even outweigh their contributions.

In conclusion, young people today are able to travel to other countries because of new developments in technology and media and this chiefly benefits the travelers. There are nonetheless sometimes concomitant advantages for locals as well.

Analysis

1. It is becoming increasingly common these days for individuals from wealthier nations to donate their time to aiding less developed countries. 2. In my opinion, this is a natural result of advances in media and technology and it benefits the wealthy far more than those being ostensibly helped.

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

1. The main reason this has become a pervasive trend in recent decades is that young people are more aware of and capable of traveling to other countries. 2. The last several decades have witnessed the rise of media beyond traditional television shows and newspapers and now include websites and social media. 3. The average young person today can use their smartphone to easily access information from a variety of sources on issues in distant countries. 4. Additionally, individuals today are generally able to travel conveniently abroad. 5. Air travel is not only far faster than past modes of travel including ships and trains but has also become cheaper as average incomes have risen, particularly in developed nations.

  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. Short sentences can make your writing clearer.
  6. Use complex and simple sentences.

1. However, this phenomenon is mostly concerned with improving the self-esteem of the wealthy. 2. Young people often lack confidence and one way to improve their own self-image is to volunteer for causes in other countries. 3. A young person of privilege might feel guilty about their own standard of living and lack of accomplishments in life and therefore travel abroad to help others in order to gain confidence. 4. When this person returns home, they will be able to flaunt their achievements in front of friends, their parents, and on university entrance essays. 5. In contrast, the people who have been helped are unlikely to experience a significant change in their lives and the cost of housing and training young volunteers might even outweigh their contributions.

  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, young people today are able to travel to other countries because of new developments in technology and media and this chiefly benefits the travelers. 2. There are nonetheless sometimes concomitant advantages for locals as well.

  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.

It is becoming increasingly common these days for individuals from wealthier nations to donate their time to aiding less developed countries. In my opinion, this is a natural result of advances in media and technology and it benefits the wealthy far more than those being ostensibly helped.

The main reason this has become a pervasive trend in recent decades is that young people are more aware of and capable of traveling to other countries. The last several decades have witnessed the rise of media beyond traditional television shows and newspapers and now include websites and social media. The average young person today can use their smartphone to easily access information from a variety of sources on issues in distant countries. Additionally, individuals today are generally able to travel conveniently abroad. Air travel is not only far faster than past modes of travel including ships and trains but has also become cheaper as average incomes have risen, particularly in developed nations.

However, this phenomenon is mostly concerned with improving the self-esteem of the wealthy. Young people often lack confidence and one way to improve their own self-image is to volunteer for causes in other countries. A young person of privilege might feel guilty about their own standard of living and lack of accomplishments in life and therefore travel abroad to help others in order to gain confidence. When this person returns home, they will be able to flaunt their achievements in front of friends, their parents, and on university entrance essays. In contrast, the people who have been helped are unlikely to experience a significant change in their lives and the cost of housing and training young volunteers might even outweigh their contributions.

In conclusion, young people today are able to travel to other countries because of new developments in technology and media and this chiefly benefits the travelers. There are nonetheless sometimes concomitant advantages for locals as well.

Answers

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

increasingly common happens more and more

wealthier nations richer countries

donate give time or money to someone else

aiding less developed countries helping poorer countries

natural result inevitable end

advances developments

media news, TV, etc.

technology machinery, computers, etc.

far more than a lot more than

ostensibly seemingly

pervasive trend common pattern

in recent decades the last 20 or 30 years

aware of know about

capable of can do

The last several decades have witnessed the rise of media recently there are more and more ways to learn about the world

traditional television shows normal TV programs

newspapers where you read the news

social media Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.

easily access information from a variety of sources get what you want to know from many places

issues problems

distant countries places far away

generally overall

conveniently abroad easily to other countries

far faster much quicker

past modes of travel different ways of moving

ships boats

trains way to travel across countries

cheaper not expensive

average incomes normal amount earned

risen increased

particularly in especially in

developed nations richer countries

phenomenon event, happening

mostly concerned with improving has to do with mainly

self-esteem how you feel about yourself

lack confidence low self-esteem

self-image how you view yourself

volunteer person who helps others

causes things you care about

A young person of privilege a rich kid

guilty bad conscience

standard of living quality of life

lack of accomplishments haven’t done much in life

therefore thus

confidence feeling good about yourself

flaunt show off

achievements what you’ve accomplished

university entrance essays writing to apply for university

unlikely probably won’t happen

experience life events

significant change big difference

training young volunteers teaching young people

outweigh stronger than

contributions help

chiefly benefits mainly helps

nonetheless regardless

sometimes on occasion

concomitant related, comes with it

advantages benefits

locals people living there

Pronunciation

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

ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli ˈkɒmən 
ˈwɛlθɪə ˈneɪʃənz 
dəʊˈneɪt 
ˈeɪdɪŋ lɛs dɪˈvɛləpt ˈkʌntriz
ˈnæʧrəl rɪˈzʌlt 
ədˈvɑːnsɪz 
ˈmiːdiə 
tɛkˈnɒləʤi 
fɑː mɔː ðæn 
ɒsˈtɛnsəbli 
pɜːˈveɪsɪv trɛnd 
ɪn ˈriːsnt ˈdɛkeɪdz 
əˈweər ɒv 
ˈkeɪpəbl ɒv 
ðə lɑːst ˈsɛvrəl ˈdɛkeɪdz hæv ˈwɪtnɪst ðə raɪz ɒv ˈmiːdiə 
trəˈdɪʃənl ˈtɛlɪˌvɪʒən ʃəʊz 
ˈnjuːzˌpeɪpəz 
ˈsəʊʃəl ˈmiːdiə
ˈiːzɪli ˈæksɛs ˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃən frɒm ə vəˈraɪəti ɒv ˈsɔːsɪz 
ˈɪʃuːz 
ˈdɪstənt ˈkʌntriz
ˈʤɛnərəli 
kənˈviːniəntli əˈbrɔːd
fɑː ˈfɑːstə 
pɑːst məʊdz ɒv ˈtrævl 
ʃɪps 
treɪnz 
ˈʧiːpə 
ˈævərɪʤ ˈɪnkʌmz 
ˈrɪzn
pəˈtɪkjʊləli ɪn 
dɪˈvɛləpt ˈneɪʃənz
fɪˈnɒmɪnən 
ˈməʊstli kənˈsɜːnd wɪð ɪmˈpruːvɪŋ 
sɛlf-ɪsˈtiːm 
læk ˈkɒnfɪdəns 
sɛlf-ˈɪmɪʤ 
ˌvɒlənˈtɪə 
ˈkɔːzɪz 
ə jʌŋ ˈpɜːsn ɒv ˈprɪvɪlɪʤ 
ˈgɪlti 
ˈstændəd ɒv ˈlɪvɪŋ 
læk ɒv əˈkɒmplɪʃmənts 
ˈðeəfɔː 
ˈkɒnfɪdəns
flɔːnt 
əˈʧiːvmənts 
ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsɪti ˈɛntrəns ˈɛseɪz
ʌnˈlaɪkli 
ɪksˈpɪərɪəns 
sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt ʧeɪnʤ 
ˈtreɪnɪŋ jʌŋ ˌvɒlənˈtɪəz 
aʊtˈweɪ 
ˌkɒntrɪˈbjuːʃənz
ˈʧiːfli ˈbɛnɪfɪts 
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs 
ˈsʌmtaɪmz 
kənˈkɒmɪtənt 
ədˈvɑːntɪʤɪz 
ˈləʊkəlz 

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:

It is becoming i______________________n these days for individuals from w_________________s to d_________e their time to a_________________________________s. In my opinion, this is a n____________t of a___________s in m_____a and t_____________y and it benefits the wealthy f______________n those being o_________y helped.

The main reason this has become a p________________d i_______________s is that young people are more a_________f and c______________f traveling to other countries. T______________________________________________a beyond t____________________________s and n______________s and now include websites and s___________a. The average young person today can use their smartphone to e___________________________________________s on i______s in d_____________________s. Additionally, individuals today are g_________y able to travel c_______________________d. Air travel is not only f______________r than p__________________l including s_____s and t_________s but has also become c________r as a______________s have r_____n, p______________________________s.

However, this p___________n is m______________________________g the s________m of the wealthy. Young people often l________________e and one way to improve their own s___________e is to v____________r for c________s in other countries. A___________________e might feel g___________y about their own s__________________g and l___________________s in life and t__________e travel abroad to help others in order to gain c____________e. When this person returns home, they will be able to f________t their a_______________s in front of friends, their parents, and on u__________________________s. In contrast, the people who have been helped are u_____y to e___________e a s________________e in their lives and the cost of housing and t_________________________s might even o_________h their c________s.

In conclusion, young people today are able to travel to other countries because of new developments in technology and media and this c______________s the travelers. There are n_________s s_________s c_____________t a_________s for l_______s as well.

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.volunteerworld.com/en

Speaking Practice

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

Charity

  1. Why do people do charity for others?
  2. Is charity always altruistic or can it be selfish?
  3. What kinds of charities are there in your country?
  4. Do corporations in your country contribute to charity?
  5. Should charities be allowed to make a profit?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topics below:

Some people think that famous people can help international aid organizations to draw attention to important problems. Others believe that the celebrities can make the problems seem less important.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

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