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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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.

  1. Paraphrase the overall topic.
  2. 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.

  1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
  2. Begin to talk about the first disadvantage.
  3. Develop it fully.
  4. Switch to the second disadvantage.
  5. Use a specific example to develop your idea.
  6. 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.

  1. Write another topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
  2. Begin to explain your main idea.
  3. Develop that idea.
  4. Move on to the second advantage.
  5. Develop it with specific ideas/examples.
  6. Continue developing.
  7. 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.

  1. Summarise your main ideas and repeat your opinion.
  2. 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

  1. When you were a child, where did you like to play?
  2. Did you prefer playing indoors or outdoors?
  3. What kinds of games did you play?
  4. 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

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