This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay related to the topic of giving pocket money or allowance for children from the real IELTS exam.
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Dave
IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay General Training: Pocket Money for Children
Giving children and adolescents pocket money is common throughout the world.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this practice and give your own opinion.
Real Past IELTS Exam
In most countries, it is common for children to be given an allowance. This can lead to problems in extreme cases but the advantages are stronger and relate to maturation.
There are two main drawbacks to this practice if parents are irresponsible. Firstly, a parent might give their child too much spending money. There are many well-known cases of children who become pampered socialites, incapable of contributing positively to society because they have little incentive to work or grow as human beings. The second related scenario involves parents who do not monitor their children’s spending habits. For example, young children might buy candy and parents need to try to counter this by encouraging healthier eating. As they get older, parents must continue to monitor closely misuses ranging from relatively benign videogames to decidedly harmful narcotics.
Nonetheless, the advantages in the majority of cases make allowances a positive. An important part of engaging with society is transactions. The first time a child pays at a shop, they enter into the wider economy and begin to understand their role in it. As they grow up, they will have to make decisions about their pocket money. They might opt to save it thereby cultivating discipline and self-control. The purchase itself will also take on increased relevance. Instead of wasting money on something superfluous or actively injurious to them, such as unhealthy foods or a new gaming console, they might begin to realise independently the importance of healthy habits and choose to buy more books, art supplies, or invest in an extracurricular.
In conclusion, allowances without clear checks can in rare instances lead children down a dark path but, in general, spending money fosters greater independence and better decision making. It is therefore paramount for parents to set clear boundaries for their children.
Analysis
1. In most countries, it is common for children to be given an allowance. 2. This can lead to problems in extreme cases but the advantages are stronger and relate to maturation.
- Paraphrase the overall topic.
- State your main ideas and your overall opinion.
1. There are two main drawbacks to this practice if parents are irresponsible. 2. Firstly, a parent might give their child too much spending money. 3. There are many well-known cases of children who become pampered socialites, incapable of contributing positively to society because they have little incentive to work or grow as human beings. 4. The second related scenario involves parents who do not monitor their children’s spending habits. 5. For example, young children might buy candy and parents need to try to counter this by encouraging healthier eating. 6. As they get older, parents must continue to monitor closely misuses ranging from relatively benign videogames to decidedly harmful narcotics.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Begin to talk about the first disadvantage.
- Develop it fully.
- Switch to the second disadvantage.
- Use a specific example to develop your idea.
- Finish developing your second idea.
1. Nonetheless, the advantages in the majority of cases make allowances a positive. 2. An important part of engaging with society is transactions. 3. The first time a child pays at a shop, they enter into the wider economy and begin to understand their role in it. 4. As they grow up, they will have to make decisions about their pocket money. 5. They might opt to save it thereby cultivating discipline and self-control. 6. The purchase itself will also take on increased relevance. 7. Instead of wasting money on something superfluous or actively injurious to them, such as unhealthy foods or a new gaming console, they might begin to realise independently the importance of healthy habits and choose to buy more books, art supplies, or invest in an extracurricular.
- Write another topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Begin to explain your main idea.
- Develop that idea.
- Move on to the second advantage.
- Develop it with specific ideas/examples.
- Continue developing.
- Conclude with a strong statement with the full results.
1. In conclusion, allowances without clear checks can in rare instances lead children down a dark path but, in general, spending money fosters greater independence and better decision making. 2. It is therefore paramount for parents to set clear boundaries for their children.
- Summarise your main ideas and repeat your opinion.
- Conclude with a final thought.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
In most countries, it is common for children to be given an allowance. This can lead to problems in extreme cases but the advantages are stronger and relate to maturation.
There are two main drawbacks to this practice if parents are irresponsible. Firstly, a parent might give their child too much spending money. There are many well-known cases of children who become pampered socialites, incapable of contributing positively to society because they have little incentive to work or grow as human beings. The second related scenario involves parents who do not monitor their children’s spending habits. For example, young children might buy candy and parents need to try to counter this by encouraging healthier eating. As they get older, parents must continue to monitor closely misuses ranging from relatively benign videogames to decidedly harmful narcotics.
Nonetheless, the advantages in the majority of cases make allowances a positive. An important part of engaging with society is transactions. The first time a child pays at a shop, they enter into the wider economy and begin to understand their role in it. As they grow up, they will have to make decisions about their pocket money. They might opt to save it thereby cultivating discipline and self-control. The purchase itself will also take on increased relevance. Instead of wasting money on something superfluous or actively injurious to them, such as unhealthy foods or a new gaming console, they might begin to realise independently the importance of healthy habits and choose to buy more books, art supplies, or invest in an extracurricular.
In conclusion, allowances without clear checks can in rare instances lead children down a dark path but, in general, spending money fosters greater independence and better decision making. It is therefore paramount for parents to set clear boundaries for their children.
Answers
given an allowance give pocket money
lead to problems result in issues
extreme cases outliers
maturation growing up
two main drawbacks two big takeaways
practice convention/thing people do
irresponsible not taking care of themselves/others
spending money pocket money/allowance
well-known cases famous instances
pampered socialites spoiled rich kids
incapable can’t do
contributing positively to society giving back to the world
little incentive no reason to
grow as human beings develop as people
related scenario similar situation
monitor watch
spending habits how they spend money
counter fight against
encouraging healthier eating fostering better nutrition
monitor closely watch carefully
misuses not used correctly
ranging from including
relatively benign videogames not that harmful games
decidedly harmful narcotics definitely hurts drugs
nonetheless regardless
majority of cases most of the time
positive good
engaging with society becoming part of the world
transactions buying/selling
enter into become part of
wider economy world of buying and selling
role part in
make decisions choose
pocket money allowance
opt choose
thereby cultivating discipline resulting in making oneself more in control
self-control more disciplined
increased relevance more and more important
wasting not using well
superfluous not needed
actively injurious actually hurts
new gaming console PlayStation, X-Box, etc.
realise independently figure out on their own
healthy habits active hobbies, good lifestyle
invest put more into
extracurricularactivity outside school
clear checks watching/monitoring
rare instances lead children down a dark path sometimes can lead to problems
fosters greater independence encourages more self-sufficiency
better decision making can make better choices
paramount really important
set clear boundaries have definite rules and limits
Pronunciation
Listen and repeat:
ˈgɪvn ən əˈlaʊəns
liːd tuː ˈprɒbləmz
ɪksˈtriːm ˈkeɪsɪz
ˌmætjʊəˈreɪʃən
tuː meɪn ˈdrɔːbæks
ˈpræktɪs
ˌɪrɪsˈpɒnsəbl
ˈspɛndɪŋ ˈmʌni
wɛl-nəʊn ˈkeɪsɪz
ˈpæmpəd ˈsəʊʃəlaɪts
ɪnˈkeɪpəbl
kənˈtrɪbju(ː)tɪŋ ˈpɒzətɪvli tuː səˈsaɪəti
ˈlɪtl ɪnˈsɛntɪv
grəʊ æz ˈhjuːmən ˈbiːɪŋz
rɪˈleɪtɪd sɪˈnɑːrɪəʊ
ˈmɒnɪtə
ˈspɛndɪŋ ˈhæbɪts
ˈkaʊntə
ɪnˈkʌrɪʤɪŋ ˈhɛlθɪər ˈiːtɪŋ
ˈmɒnɪtə ˈkləʊsli
ˌmɪsˈjuːsɪz
ˈreɪnʤɪŋ frɒm
ˈrɛlətɪvli bɪˈnaɪn videogames
dɪˈsaɪdɪdli ˈhɑːmfʊl nɑːˈkɒtɪks
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
məˈʤɒrɪti ɒv ˈkeɪsɪz
ˈpɒzətɪv
ɪnˈgeɪʤɪŋ wɪð səˈsaɪəti
trænˈzækʃənz
ˈɛntər ˈɪntuː
ˈwaɪdər i(ː)ˈkɒnəmi
rəʊl
meɪk dɪˈsɪʒənz
ˈpɒkɪt ˈmʌni
ɒpt
ˈðeəˈbaɪ ˈkʌltɪveɪtɪŋ ˈdɪsɪplɪn
sɛlf-kənˈtrəʊl
ɪnˈkriːst ˈrɛlɪvəns
ˈweɪstɪŋ
sju(ː)ˈpɜːflʊəs
ˈæktɪvli ɪnˈʤʊərɪəs
njuː ˈgeɪmɪŋ kənˈsəʊl
ˈrɪəlaɪz ˌɪndɪˈpɛndəntli
ˈhɛlθi ˈhæbɪts
ɪnˈvɛst
ˌɛkstrəkəˈrɪkjʊlə
klɪə ʧɛks
reər ˈɪnstənsɪz liːd ˈʧɪldrən daʊn ə dɑːk pɑːθ
ˈfɒstəz ˈgreɪtər ˌɪndɪˈpɛndəns
ˈbɛtə dɪˈsɪʒən ˈmeɪkɪŋ
ˈpærəmaʊnt
sɛt klɪə ˈbaʊndəriz
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
In most countries, it is common for children to be g____________________e. This can l______________________s in e____________________s but the advantages are stronger and relate to m__________________n.
There are t_____________________________s to this p_____________e if parents are i_______________________e. Firstly, a parent might give their child too much s_____________________y. There are many w___________________s of children who become p______________________s, i_________________e of c______________________________________y because they have l____________________e to work or g_______________________________s. The second r______________________o involves parents who do not m_______________r their children’s s______________________s. For example, young children might buy candy and parents need to try to c___________r this by e________________________________g. As they get older, parents must continue to m____________________y m_____________s r____________________m r____________________________________s to d______________________________s.
N__________________s, the advantages in the m_____________________s make allowances a p_______________e. An important part of e_________________________y is t__________________s. The first time a child pays at a shop, they e______________o the w___________________y and begin to understand their r_______e in it. As they grow up, they will have to m_____________________s about their p___________________y. They might o___t to save it t_____________________________________e and s_________________l. The purchase itself will also take on i_________________________e. Instead of w_______________g money on something s__________________s or a________________________s to them, such as unhealthy foods or a n_____________________________e, they might begin to r__________________________y the importance of h_____________________s and choose to buy more books, art supplies, or i___________t in an e_________________________r.
In conclusion, allowances without c___________________s can in r_____________________________________________h but, in general, spending money f________________________________e and b____________________________g. It is therefore p____________________t for parents to s__________________________s for their children.
Listen and check:
Listening Practice
Listen about this topic here:
Reading Practice
Read about some young adults who still receive an allowance here:
https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/884q3k/millennial-young-adults-pocket-money-allowance
Speaking Practice
Answer the following questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Playing
- When you were a child, where did you like to play?
- Did you prefer playing indoors or outdoors?
- What kinds of games did you play?
- Do kids benefit more from playing outside?
Writing Practice
Write about the following related topic and check with my sample answer:
Many parents today do not spend much time with their children.
Why is this?
Does this affect parents or children more?
Real Past IELTS Exam
Hi Dave,
Could you please just go through this at let me know my level please, Thanks for millions 🙂
Nowadays, parents generally provide a considerable amount of money as an allowance for their children in school ages and teenagers in contemporary society. This has very significant advantages and some critical disadvantages which can convert the children’s behaviors and life patterns to negative. In my opinion, I strongly believe these allowances are acceptable yet under strong reprimands.
Firstly, pocket money is vital for every child when they remain outside the home or guardians, particularly for their own safety. It is very conspicuous that every individual must have some amount in their hand in case of emergencies such as urgent transportation and emergency calls because the situations are unpredictable outside their own residence. Secondly, pupils of that age are very active, so they can purchase food and other basic requirements at a glance when they possess some amount of cash.
In the contrary, this can also be accountable for children being prodigal and spendthrift, which can also create a path for their own destruction. The value of money can be deprived when they easily receive a handful of cash through their parents and this can build a detrimental image in their immature mind as money can be gained easily. Furthermore, excessive amounts of allowances can cause for unnecessary expenses for harmful addictions and experiments at the adolescence, for instance, consumption of alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes with friends can lead their pristine lives for graves.
In conclusion, I strongly believe that giving allowances for children and teenagers could advocate for financial discretions and safety actions yet, continuous and discreet monitoring of parents is essential whereas inappropriate expenses should be castigated.
I’ll try to give you an idea next week – really under it now!
Thanks a lot, Dave.
You’re very welcome!