This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of television from the real IELTS test.

I took the question in an interesting direction by focusing on television in terms of how it is streamed online and not actually watched on a physical TV.

It is a little risky so let me know what you think of it in the comments!

-Dave

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer: Television (Real IELTS Test)

Nowadays children watch much more television than they did in the past and spend less time being active or creative.

What is the reason for this?

What measures should be taken to encourage children to be more active?

Today children spend more time watching television than at any point in the past. The reason for this is the development of online streaming websites and parents should eschew smartphones to curb this trend towards passivity.

The main reason that many children today spend an outsized amount of time watching television is that it is widely available on streaming websites. YouTube was the earliest, and now the most popular, streaming website for video content. Children are often allowed to watch it on smartphones or iPads. The more recent rise of streaming websites like Netflix and Hulu provide the same experience as television on the internet. Simply put, children spend more time watching because they have the ability to choose whatever show they want, pause it, and binge watch TV shows on a variety of portable devices with limited adult supervision.

In order to discourage children from watching television, parents should not give their children smartphones under any circumstances. This is the first step that responsible parents must undertake. Once children are no longer tempted by phones, it is much easier to get them interested in creative outlets. Parents can sign up their children for art or music lessons. They could encourage them to do art at home and instead of putting a TV in their room, fill it with books and art supplies. Children’s natural curiosity and artistic energy will naturally take over from that point and parents then need only supervise, guide and intervene when called upon.

In conclusion, parents can counterbalance the rise of streaming by banning portable devices and stocking up on art supplies. Unfortunately, it will take a concerted effort from the majority of parents to prevent children without devices from being ostracised socially.

Analysis

1. Today children spend more time watching television than at any point in the past. 2. The reason for this is the development of online streaming websites and parents should eschew smartphones to curb this trend towards passivity.

  1. Your first sentence should simply restate the topic for the essay – write it quickly and simply.
  2. For the second sentence, answer the two questions clearly. You will repeat this again in the conclusion.

1. The main reason that many children today spend an outsized amount of time watching television is that it is widely available on streaming websites. 2. YouTube was the earliest, and now the most popular, streaming website for video content. 3. Children are often allowed to watch it on smartphones or iPads. 4. The more recent rise of streaming websites like Netflix and Hulu provide the same experience as television on the internet. 5. Simply put, children spend more time watching because they have the ability to choose whatever show they want, pause it, and binge watch TV shows on a variety of portable devices with limited adult supervision.

  1. Your first sentence should be a topic sentence that clearly states your main idea. Read more about topic sentences here.
  2. In the next sentence, I begin to talk about YouTube. Start your examples quickly and make them as specific as you can.
  3. Your third sentence should keep develop the same example. Don’t introduce a new main idea or a second example.
  4. The fourth sentence also develops the same example with more specific detail. Be specific!
  5. My fifth sentence also develops the same example. Develop, develop, develop!

1. In order to discourage children from watching television, parents should not give their children smartphones under any circumstances. 2. This is the first step that responsible parents must undertake. 3. Once children are no longer tempted by phones, it is much easier to get them interested in creative outlets. 4. Parents can sign up their children for art or music lessons. 5. They could encourage them to do art at home and instead of putting a TV in their room, fill it with books and art supplies. 6. Children’s natural curiosity and artistic energy will naturally take over from that point and parents then need only supervise, guide and intervene when called upon.

  1. Just like the last paragraph, this first sentence is a topic sentence with the main idea for this paragraph. In this essay the first paragraph describes the reason and the second one describes my solution.
  2. My second sentence here explains my main idea. You don’t always need this sentence.
  3. Your third sentence should give specific support through an example or hypothetical situation.
  4. The fourth sentence should continue developing…
  5. The fifth sentence does the same – don’t go off topic – stick the same main idea!
  6. Conclude your paragraph with more support.

1. In conclusion, parents can counterbalance the rise of streaming by banning portable devices and stocking up on art supplies. 2. Unfortunately, it will take a concerted effort from the majority of parents to prevent children without devices from being ostracised socially.

  1. The first sentence of the conclusion should repeat your answer to the two questions asked. If you don’t answer them directly, you will get band 5 for task achievement.
  2. You last sentence should add a final thought/extra detail. Don’t forget to include this sentence.

Vocabulary

Today children spend more time watching television than at any point in the past. The reason for this is the development of online streaming websites and parents should eschew smartphones to curb this trend towards passivity.

The main reason that many children today spend an outsized amount of time watching television is that it is widely available on streaming websites. YouTube was the earliest, and now the most popular, streaming website for video content. Children are often allowed to watch it on smartphones or iPads. The more recent rise of streaming websites like Netflix and Hulu provide the same experience as television on the internet. Simply put, children spend more time watching because they have the ability to choose whatever show they want, pause it, and binge watch TV shows on a variety of portable devices with limited adult supervision.

In order to discourage children from watching television, parents should not give their children smartphones under any circumstances. This is the first step that responsible parents must undertake. Once children are no longer tempted by phones, it is much easier to get them interested in creative outlets. Parents can sign up their children for art or music lessons. They could encourage them to do art at home and instead of putting a TV in their room, fill it with books and art supplies. Children’s natural curiosity and artistic energy will naturally take over from that point and parents then need only supervise, guide and intervene when called upon.

In conclusion, parents can counterbalance the rise of streaming by banning portable devices and stocking up on art supplies. Unfortunately, it will take a concerted effort from the majority of parents to prevent children without devices from being ostracised socially.

Answers

at any point at any time

online streaming sites like YouTube and Netflix

eschew avoid

curb slow down

passivity not active, lazy

outsized too much importance

video content videos

simply put said in a simple way

binge watch watch multiple episodes in a row

portable devices phones and tablets

limited adult supervision parents not paying attention

discourage frown on

under any circumstances in any situation

undertake do

tempted want to do

creative outlets ways to use your imagination

natural curiosity interested innately

artistic energy imaginative impulses

take over control

supervise wathc over

intervene step in

called upon when needed

counterbalance make even

banning not allowing

stocking up storing

concerted focused

ostracised socially no friends

Pronunciation

æt ˈɛni pɔɪnt 
ˈɒnˌlaɪn ˈstriːmɪŋ 
ɪsˈʧuː 
kɜːb 
pæˈsɪvɪti
ˈaʊtsaɪzd 
ˈvɪdɪəʊ ˈkɒntɛnt
ˈsɪmpli pʊt
bɪnʤ wɒʧ 
ˈpɔːtəbl dɪˈvaɪsɪz 
ˈlɪmɪtɪd ˈædʌlt ˌsjuːpəˈvɪʒən
dɪsˈkʌrɪʤ 
ˈʌndər ˈɛni ˈsɜːkəmstənsɪz
ˌʌndəˈteɪk
ˈtɛmptɪd 
kri(ː)ˈeɪtɪv ˈaʊtlɛts
ˈnæʧrəl ˌkjʊərɪˈɒsɪti 
ɑːˈtɪstɪk ˈɛnəʤi 
teɪk ˈəʊvə 
ˈsjuːpəvaɪz
ˌɪntə(ː)ˈviːn 
kɔːld əˈpɒn
ˈkaʊntəˌbæləns 
ˈbænɪŋ 
ˈstɒkɪŋ ʌp 
kənˈsɜːtɪd 
ˈɒstrəsaɪzd ˈsəʊʃəli

Vocabulary Practice

Today children spend more time watching television than _______________ in the past. The reason for this is the development of _______________ websites and parents should _______________ smartphones to _______________ this trend towards _______________.

The main reason that many children today spend an _______________ amount of time watching television is that it is widely available on streaming websites. YouTube was the earliest, and now the most popular, streaming website for _______________. Children are often allowed to watch it on smartphones or iPads. The more recent rise of streaming websites like Netflix and Hulu provide the same experience as television on the internet. _______________, children spend more time watching because they have the ability to choose whatever show they want, pause it, and _______________ TV shows on a variety of _______________ with _______________.

In order to _______________ children from watching television, parents should not give their children smartphones _______________. This is the first step that responsible parents must _______________. Once children are no longer _______________ by phones, it is much easier to get them interested in _______________. Parents can sign up their children for art or music lessons. They could encourage them to do art at home and instead of putting a TV in their room, fill it with books and art supplies. Children’s _______________ and _______________ will naturally _______________ from that point and parents then need only _______________, guide and _______________ when _______________.

In conclusion, parents can _______________ the rise of streaming by portable devices and _______________ on art supplies. Unfortunately, it will take a _______________ effort from the majority of parents to prevent children without devices from being _______________.

Listening Practice

Watch the video below and review the ideas/vocabulary from my sample answer:

Reading Practice

Read more about the impact of television on children:

https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/tv-affects-child.html?WT.ac=ctg

Comment any questions or comments that you have below!

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