IELTS Writing Task 2 General Training Sample Answer Essay: Retired People Abroad (Real Past IELTS Exam/Test)

This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer from the general training exam on the topic of people retiring abroad.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 General Training Sample Answer Essay: Retired People Abroad

Many retired people today are choosing to live in other countries.

What are the advantages of disadvantages of this?

Real Past IELTS Exam

Many elderly people today are opting to spend their retirement living abroad. In my opinion, the disadvantages to this relate to living standards in foreign countries, while the advantages are largely financial.

Those who are suspicious of this trend can point to the conditions of countries where it is possible to retire cheaply. Most of those choosing to retire abroad are moving somewhere with lower living costs, such as a developing nation. This allows them to live more comfortably with a fixed income but there are risks. The medical services are probably not as developed and they may not have insurance. This puts their lives in jeopardy in the increasingly likely event of an accident or prolonged illness. Moreover, many older people will have to adapt to lower standards than they are used to as it relates to cleanliness, transportation, and accommodation. This can result in both more mental and physical strain.

Spending one’s retirement abroad is nonetheless a positive because of the financial incentives. Many people today retire with meagre savings and little support from the government, depending on their nationality. If they do not have family to live with, they face the prospect of living in poverty or just above subsistence in their final years. By moving abroad, their money will stretch much further and allow them to feel peace of mind. In the countries where most choose to retire, the costs of living are considerably cheaper due to reduced rents and lower food costs. This might even allow older people to set aside money so that they can travel or leave an inheritance to their relations.

In conclusion, the financial gains from residing abroad during retirement outweigh concerns about living conditions. Before making this decision it is important for each retired individual to weigh a number of factors pertaining to quality of life, finances, family and culture.

Analysis

1. Many elderly people today are opting to spend their retirement living abroad. 2. In my opinion, the disadvantages to this relate to living standards in foreign countries, while the advantages are largely financial.

1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
2. Give a clear opinion or hint at your main ideas for later. Read here about writing introductions.

1. Those who are suspicious of this trend can point to the conditions of countries where it is possible to retire cheaply. 2. Most of those choosing to retire abroad are moving somewhere with lower living costs, such as a developing nation. 3. This allows them to live more comfortably with a fixed income but there are risks. 4. The medical services are probably not as developed and they may not have insurance. 5. This puts their lives in jeopardy in the increasingly likely event of an accident or prolonged illness. 6. Moreover, many older people will have to adapt to lower standards than they are used to as it relates to cleanliness, transportation, and accommodation. 7. This can result in both more mental and physical strain.

1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end. Read more about topic sentences here.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop your idea.
4. Use specific ideas – don’t be general.
5. State the results.
6. Make sure that you describe more than one advantage.
7. Develop the second advantage.

1. Spending one’s retirement abroad is nonetheless a positive because of the financial incentives. 2. Many people today retire with meagre savings and little support from the government, depending on their nationality. 3. If they do not have family to live with, they face the prospect of living in poverty or just above subsistence in their final years. 4. By moving abroad, their money will stretch much further and allow them to feel peace of mind. 5. In the countries where most choose to retire, the costs of living are considerably cheaper due to reduced rents and lower food costs. 6. This might even allow older people to set aside money so that they can travel or leave an inheritance to their relations.

1. Write another clear topic sentence.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Use examples or hypothetical examples.
4. State the results again.
5. Support your main idea with very clear examples.
6. State the final results.

1. In conclusion, the financial gains from residing abroad during retirement outweigh concerns about living conditions. 2. Before making this decision it is important for each retired individual to weigh a number of factors pertaining to quality of life, finances, family and culture.

1. Repeat your opinion and summarise your main ideas.
2. Add a final thought/detail.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean?

Many elderly people today are opting to spend their retirement living abroad. In my opinion, the disadvantages to this relate to living standards in foreign countries, while the advantages are largely financial.

Those who are suspicious of this trend can point to the conditions of countries where it is possible to retire cheaply. Most of those choosing to retire abroad are moving somewhere with lower living costs, such as a developing nation. This allows them to live more comfortably with a fixed income but there are risks. The medical services are probably not as developed and they may not have insurance. This puts their lives in jeopardy in the increasingly likely event of an accident or prolonged illness. Moreover, many older people will have to adapt to lower standards than they are used to as it relates to cleanliness, transportation, and accommodation. This can result in both more mental and physical strain.

Spending one’s retirement abroad is nonetheless a positive because of the financial incentives. Many people today retire with meagre savings and little support from the government, depending on their nationality. If they do not have family to live with, they face the prospect of living in poverty or just above subsistence in their final years. By moving abroad, their money will stretch much further and allow them to feel peace of mind. In the countries where most choose to retire, the costs of living are considerably cheaper due to reduced rents and lower food costs. This might even allow older people to set aside money so that they can travel or leave an inheritance to their relations.

In conclusion, the financial gains from residing abroad during retirement outweigh concerns about living conditions. Before making this decision it is important for each retired individual to weigh a number of factors pertaining to quality of life, finances, family and culture.

Answers

opting choosing

living abroad residing in another country

living standards how well people live

largely financial mostly related to money

suspicious questionable

trend pattern/development

point to argue

conditions the present state of

retire stop working, usually in one’s 60s

lower living costs less money to spend on rent, food, etc.

developing nation poor country

comfortably easily

fixed income no change in salary/money earned

risks dangers

medical services hospitals

insurance money in case of an accident or illness

puts their lives in jeopardy their life is at risk

increasingly likely event more and more probably will happen

prolonged illness chronic sickness

moreover furthermore

adapt conform to

as it relates to involving

this can result in the impact will be

mental and physical strain pressure

financial incentives money reasons

meagre savings not a lot of money

depending on their nationality regarding the country they are from

face the prospect have to deal with the chances of

poverty very poor

just above subsistence barely surviving

stretch much further hold out longer

feel peace of mind calm, security

considerably cheaper a lot less money

reduced rents paying less for your home

set aside money save money

leave an inheritance have savings for others after you die

financial gains money saved

residing abroad living in another country

concerns worries

weigh a number of factors consider many elements

pertaining to related to

Pronunciation

ˈɒptɪŋ 
ˈlɪvɪŋ əˈbrɔːd
ˈlɪvɪŋ ˈstændədz 
ˈlɑːʤli faɪˈnænʃəl
səsˈpɪʃəs 
trɛnd 
pɔɪnt tuː 
kənˈdɪʃənz 
rɪˈtaɪə 
ˈləʊə ˈlɪvɪŋ kɒsts
dɪˈvɛləpɪŋ ˈneɪʃən
ˈkʌmf(ə)təbli 
fɪkst ˈɪnkʌm 
rɪsks 
ˈmɛdɪkəl ˈsɜːvɪsɪz 
ɪnˈʃʊərəns
pʊts ðeə lɪvz ɪn ˈʤɛpədi 
ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli ˈlaɪkli ɪˈvɛnt 
prəʊˈlɒŋd ˈɪlnɪs
mɔːˈrəʊvə
əˈdæpt 
æz ɪt rɪˈleɪts tuː 
ðɪs kæn rɪˈzʌlt ɪn 
ˈmɛntl ænd ˈfɪzɪkəl streɪn
faɪˈnænʃəl ɪnˈsɛntɪvz
ˈmiːgə ˈseɪvɪŋz 
dɪˈpɛndɪŋ ɒn ðeə ˌnæʃəˈnælɪti 
feɪs ðə ˈprɒspɛkt 
ˈpɒvəti 
ʤʌst əˈbʌv səbˈsɪstəns 
strɛʧ mʌʧ ˈfɜːðə 
fiːl piːs ɒv maɪnd
kənˈsɪdərəbli ˈʧiːpə 
rɪˈdjuːst rɛnts 
sɛt əˈsaɪd ˈmʌni 
liːv ən ɪnˈhɛrɪtəns 
faɪˈnænʃəl geɪnz 
rɪˈzaɪdɪŋ əˈbrɔːd 
kənˈsɜːnz 
weɪ ə ˈnʌmbər ɒv ˈfæktəz 
pɜːˈteɪnɪŋ tuː 

Vocabulary Practice

Rememeber and fill in the blanks:

Many elderly people today are o___________g to spend their retirement l__________________d. In my opinion, the disadvantages to this relate to l_____________________s in foreign countries, while the advantages are l______________________l.

Those who are s_________________s of this t________d can p__________o the c_____________s of countries where it is possible to r_________e cheaply. Most of those choosing to retire abroad are moving somewhere with l________________s, such as a d_______________________n. This allows them to live more c___________________y with a f___________________e but there are r________s. The m______________________s are probably not as developed and they may not have i________________e. This p_____________________________y in the i__________________________t of an accident or p________________________s. M_______________r, many older people will have to a_________t to lower standards than they are used to a________________o cleanliness, transportation, and accommodation. T____________________n both more m___________________________n.

Spending one’s retirement abroad is nonetheless a positive because of the f________________________s. Many people today retire with m__________________s and little support from the government, d______________________________y. If they do not have family to live with, they f______________________t of living in p_______________y or j_____________________________e in their final years. By moving abroad, their money will s__________________________r and allow them to f_____________________________d. In the countries where most choose to retire, the costs of living are c_______________________r due to r___________________s and lower food costs. This might even allow older people to s_____________________y so that they can travel or l______________________e to their relations.

In conclusion, the f___________________s from r___________________d during retirement outweigh c____________s about living conditions. Before making this decision it is important for each retired individual to w_______________________________s p___________________o quality of life, finances, family and culture.

Listening Practice

Watch the woman below talk about retiring abroad:

Reading Practice

Check here if your country is in the top 10 to retire abroad in:

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/this-gorgeous-country-is-the-no-1-place-to-retire-abroad-and-you-can-do-it-on-just-2200-a-month-2020-01-02

Speaking Practice

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

Travelling

Do you like travelling?

What is the most beautiful country you have visited?

Would you like to have a job that demands travelling to other countries?

What problems can occur when travelling?

IELTS Speaking Exam

Writing Practice

Write about the following topic then check with my sample answer below:

Some think that governments should support retired people financially while others believe they should take care of themselves.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

IELTS Writing Exam

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Retirement (Real Past IELTS Tests/Exams)