This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of whether parents or governments are responsible for transporting children to and school from the real IELTS general training exam.

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IELTS Essay: Transporting Children

Some people think parents are responsible for transporting their children to school. Others think it is the government’s responsibility.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Many feel that parents should take their children to school, while others feel this is a governmental responsibility. In my opinion, this is chiefly the duty of governments.

Those who feel parents should be in charge of transportation to school argue this is an important element of family life. Most people have fond memories of their parents driving, walking, or taking public transport with them to school and this is a potential time for bonding. Early in the morning on the way to school children and parents are likely to be at their most energetic. After a long day at school and work, both parties will probably be tired or busy. This therefore means the morning commute is an opportunity to catch up, make plans for the day, and enjoy each other’s company.

Nonetheless, most families rely on government support in this area for a number of reasons. Firstly, many families lack the time to take their children to school in the morning. This is particularly the case if they have more than one child and they attend different schools. A parent living in a rural area, for example, might have to be at work early in the morning and simply does not have the flexible schedule to allow for multiple morning trips. Secondly, most people depend on school buses and consider this a key part of their tax contributions. This is particularly true for less privileged families, who might not have private transportation, or in single parent homes where time is at a premium.

In conclusion, the familial gains of a trip to school in the morning are outweighed by the very practical concerns of average citizens. Governments should continue to ease the burden on parents by providing transportation to and from school.

Analysis

1. Many feel that parents should take their children to school, while others feel this is a governmental responsibility. 2. In my opinion, this is chiefly the duty of governments.

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

1. Those who feel parents should be in charge of transportation to school argue this is an important element of family life. 2. Most people have fond memories of their parents driving, walking, or taking public transport with them to school and this is a potential time for bonding. 3. Early in the morning on the way to school children and parents are likely to be at their most energetic. 4. After a long day at school and work, both parties will probably be tired or busy. 5. This therefore means the morning commute is an opportunity to catch up, make plans for the day, and enjoy each other’s company.

1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop it with a hypothetical example.
4. Continue to develop it as fully as possible.
5. Include specific detail.

1. Nonetheless, most families rely on government support in this area for a number of reasons. 2. Firstly, many families lack the time to take their children to school in the morning. 3. This is particularly the case if they have more than one child and they attend different schools. 4. A parent living in a rural area, for example, might have to be at work early in the morning and simply does not have the flexible schedule to allow for multiple morning trips. 5. Secondly, most people depend on school buses and consider this a key part of their tax contributions. 6. This is particularly true for less privileged families, who might not have private transportation, or in single parent homes where time is at a premium.

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. The more specific, the better.
5. Develop the example.
6. Conclude the paragraph or finish developing your last idea.

1. In conclusion, the familial gains of a trip to school in the morning are outweighed by the very practical concerns of average citizens. 2. Governments should continue to ease the burden on parents by providing transportation to and from school.

1. Summarise your main ideas.
2. Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean?

Many feel that parents should take their children to school, while others feel this is a governmental responsibility. In my opinion, this is chiefly the duty of governments.

Those who feel parents should be in charge of transportation to school argue this is an important element of family life. Most people have fond memories of their parents driving, walking, or taking public transport with them to school and this is a potential time for bonding. Early in the morning on the way to school children and parents are likely to be at their most energetic. After a long day at school and work, both parties will probably be tired or busy. This therefore means the morning commute is an opportunity to catch up, make plans for the day, and enjoy each other’s company.

Nonetheless, most families rely on government support in this area for a number of reasons. Firstly, many families lack the time to take their children to school in the morning. This is particularly the case if they have more than one child and they attend different schools. A parent living in a rural area, for example, might have to be at work early in the morning and simply does not have the flexible schedule to allow for multiple morning trips. Secondly, most people depend on school buses and consider this a key part of their tax contributions. This is particularly true for less privileged families, who might not have private transportation, or in single parent homes where time is at a premium.

In conclusion, the familial gains of a trip to school in the morning are outweighed by the very practical concerns of average citizens. Governments should continue to ease the burden on parents by providing transportation to and from school.

Answers

governmental responsibility government should take care of it

chiefly mainly

duty responsibility

in charge of oversee

important element key part

family life living together in a family

fond memories good memories

taking public transport taking the bus, subway

potential time possible moment

early in the morning on the way to while going to

likely to be probably

energetic have more energy

parties both groups – parents and children

therefore thus

morning commute going to school/work

opportunity chance

catch up talk about what has been going on

make plans for the day decide on what to do later

enjoy each other’s company spend quality time together

nonetheless regardless

rely on depend on

firstly first of all

lack don’t have

particularly the case especially true

attend go to

rural area countryside

flexible schedule not a fixed timetable

allow for multiple be able to go many times

secondly second of all

depend on rely on

consider think about

key part essential element

tax contributions giving part of your paycheck to the government

particularly true especially the case

less privileged families poor families

private transportation cars

single parent homes only one parent to raise you

at a premium very valuable

familial gains good for the family

outweighed stronger than

practical concerns pragmatic issues

average citizens normal people

ease the burden make life easier

providing transportation to and from school taking care of the morning and afternoon commute

Pronunciation

ˌgʌvənˈmɛntl rɪsˌpɒnsəˈbɪlɪti
ˈʧiːfli 
ˈdjuːti 
ɪn ʧɑːʤ ɒv 
ɪmˈpɔːtənt ˈɛlɪmənt 
ˈfæmɪli laɪf
fɒnd ˈmɛməriz 
ˈteɪkɪŋ ˈpʌblɪk ˈtrænspɔːt 
pəʊˈtɛnʃəl taɪm
ˈɜːli ɪn ðə ˈmɔːnɪŋ ɒn ðə weɪ tuː 
ˈlaɪkli tuː biː 
ˌɛnəˈʤɛtɪk
ˈpɑːtiz 
ˈðeəfɔː 
ˈmɔːnɪŋ kəˈmjuːt 
ˌɒpəˈtjuːnɪti 
kæʧ ʌp
meɪk plænz fɔː ðə deɪ
ɪnˈʤɔɪ iːʧ ˈʌðəz ˈkʌmpəni
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
rɪˈlaɪ ɒn 
ˈfɜːstli
læk 
pəˈtɪkjʊləli ðə keɪs 
əˈtɛnd 
ˈrʊərəl ˈeərɪə
ˈflɛksəbl ˈʃɛdjuːl 
əˈlaʊ fɔː ˈmʌltɪpl 
ˈsɛkəndli
dɪˈpɛnd ɒn 
kənˈsɪdə 
kiː pɑːt 
tæks ˌkɒntrɪˈbjuːʃənz
pəˈtɪkjʊləli truː 
lɛs ˈprɪvɪlɪʤd ˈfæmɪliz
ˈpraɪvɪt ˌtrænspɔːˈteɪʃən
ˈsɪŋgl ˈpeərənt həʊmz 
æt ə ˈpriːmiəm
familial geɪnz 
aʊtˈweɪd 
ˈpræktɪkəl kənˈsɜːnz 
ˈævərɪʤ ˈsɪtɪznz
iːz ðə ˈbɜːdn 
prəˈvaɪdɪŋ ˌtrænspɔːˈteɪʃən tuː ænd frɒm skuːl

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

Many feel that parents should take their children to school, while others feel this is a g_______________________________y. In my opinion, this is c________y the d____y of governments.

Those who feel parents should be i__________f transportation to school argue this is an i____________________t of f____________e. Most people have f______________________s of their parents driving, walking, or t_________________________t with them to school and this is a p______________e for bonding. E_______________________________o school children and parents are l_______________e at their most e___________c. After a long day at school and work, both p__________s will probably be tired or busy. This t___________e means the m___________________e is an o______________y to c__________p, m______________________y, and e__________________________y.

N_____________s, most families r________n government support in this area for a number of reasons. F_________y, many families l_____k the time to take their children to school in the morning. This is p__________________e if they have more than one child and they a________d different schools. A parent living in a r_____________a, for example, might have to be at work early in the morning and simply does not have the f____________________e to a______________________e morning trips. S______________y, most people d______________n school buses and c____________r this a k___________t of their t______________________s. This is p______________________e for l________________________s, who might not have p_____________________n, or in s_________________________s where time is a________________m.

In conclusion, the f________________s of a trip to school in the morning are o________________d by the very p__________________s of a___________________s. Governments should continue to e______________________n on parents by p___________________________________________l.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

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

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-07/how-distance-to-school-affects-student-well-being

Speaking Practice

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

Walking

1. Do you go places on foot a lot?
2. Did you walk more when you were younger?
3. Why do some people prefer walking to driving a car?
4. Do people in your country walk a lot?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related topic below and then check with my sample answer:

Some people argue children should stay in school until the age of 18 while others think that 14 years is long enough.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay General Training: School Age (Real Past IELTS Exam/Test)