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.
- Your first sentence should simply restate the topic for the essay – write it quickly and simply.
- 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.
- Your first sentence should be a topic sentence that clearly states your main idea. Read more about topic sentences here.
- In the next sentence, I begin to talk about YouTube. Start your examples quickly and make them as specific as you can.
- Your third sentence should keep develop the same example. Don’t introduce a new main idea or a second example.
- The fourth sentence also develops the same example with more specific detail. Be specific!
- 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.
- 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.
- My second sentence here explains my main idea. You don’t always need this sentence.
- Your third sentence should give specific support through an example or hypothetical situation.
- The fourth sentence should continue developing…
- The fifth sentence does the same – don’t go off topic – stick the same main idea!
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!
Children are increasingly engrossed in television in recent times more than in the past and therefore investing lesser time in being energetic or creative. In my opinion, the causative factors of this issue are the entertainment advancements in television and parents’ intolerant attitude. There are several solutions to motivate children to be more energetic through educational activities and parents’ discipline.
The advancements of kids’ programmes and parents’ intolerant behaviour towards kids are reasons why children spend long hours intrigued on television programmes. Firstly, in recent times, these kids’ programmes have progressed intensely in terms of music profile, colourful background, cartoon characters and captivating storyline that sustains the attention capacity of a kid for a longer time. For instance, commercials also display their favourite cartoon characters to engage with the kids constantly. Secondly, parents these days are more intolerant of their children’s restless behaviour such that, they prefer diverting their children’s undivided attention towards a television programme than having to discipline with values. It functions as a distraction medium for parents to focus on household chores or work-related activities without having to worry on their children’s movements.
Measures can be strongly established by government and organisations through introduction of affordable educational activities. These comprises of drama, music lessons or art classes during weekends or after school hours that in evidently translates a child’s high energetic levels into these creative ventures. Moreover, health promotion boards and schools should raise awareness on the health risks, like obesity and myopia, that arise from prolonged periods of television which can urge parents to restrict their child on the time allocated for television and shift their primary focus on sport activities to build a healthier lifestyle for their kids.
To encapsulate, though children spend increasing period of time on television, it can be curbed with the support of government and school. Government and organisations should, however, place more emphasis on leading a healthier lifestyle for the kids.