TASK 2:
ESSAY INFORMATION:
Written by: IELTS I-Ready, 1/10/2023
Marked by: Ex-BC Examiner
(IELTS Academic – 30/9/2023)
Question: Some people believe that children of all ages should have extra responsibilities (for example, helping at home or at work). Others believe that, outside of school, children should be free to enjoy their lives. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
ANSWER:
Opinions diverge on whether all minors of various age cohorts should bear additional obligations including doing housework or engaging in part-time jobs or alternatively, they should have the freedom to select their own activities. I contend that students should be autonomous to decide their free time activities.
Proponents of youths undertaking more tasks beyond school time support their arguments with two reasons. The foremost one is that it protects children from external threats. In today’s increasingly complex world, children are exposed to various dangers and negative influences, both online and offline. By involving them in responsibilities such as household chores or community activities, parents can create a safe environment that limits dangerous interactions such as the consumption of stimulants or access to pornographic content. Moreover, this practice may teach them valuable social skills such as communication or financial management. For example, working as a cashier can improve students’ financial literacy, and helping with meal preparation at home may enhance their cooking skills, which are conducive for their transition into adulthood.
However, an alternative stance argues that it is more important for children to have autonomy for their choices. One valid factor is that non-compulsory leisure activities may enable young individuals to nurture their innate talent. To illustrate, those who are musically talented need more time to practise playing instruments. As a result, they can have more chances to accomplish their dreams. Furthermore, this can reduce pressure on children. Adding more assignments either with household chores or part-time jobs can be stressful, given that they are already overwhelmed with school workloads. Consequently, older generations should emphasise reducing their stress level by decreasing extra burdens, thus ensuring a balanced development.
In conclusion, I believe although younger people can be more responsible and they can also learn certain valuable sets of skills, it is more reasonable to let them freely choose their leisure pursuits because they can cultivate intrinsic abilities and experience a lower stress life. Therefore, I feel that they should not be required to undertake added responsibilities out of school. Where possible, extra tasks given to children should be thoughtfully considered by their parents. (353 words)
Highlight Vocabulary:
- “bear additional responsibilities” – This collocation means taking on more duties or tasks.
- “autonomous to decide” – This collocation indicates the ability to make independent choices or decisions without external control.
- “negative influences” – This phrase refers to harmful or detrimental factors that can affect someone’s behavior or decisions.
- “financial literacy” – It means having knowledge and understanding of financial concepts and skills, such as budgeting, saving, and investing.
- “nurture their innate talent” – This collocation suggests the process of developing and encouraging one’s natural or inherent abilities or skills.
