IELTS Writing Task 2: strong or balanced opinion

The following question asks for your opinion. You can either have a strong opinion or a more balanced opinion, but make it clear in your introduction.

Governments should not have to provide care or financial support for elderly people because it is the responsibility of each person to prepare for retirement and support him or herself.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Introduction (strong opinion):
People have different views about whether or not governments should help senior citizens. I completely disagree with the idea that elderly people should receive no support from the state.

Introduction (more balanced opinion):
People have different views about whether or not governments should help senior citizens. Although I accept that we all have a responsibility to save money for retirement, I disagree with the idea that elderly people should receive no support from the state.

Note:
After the first introduction, try to write 2 paragraphs that both explain why you disagree. The second introduction allows you to discuss both sides (which might be easier).

Comments

[Elly]

Hi Simon,

Could you please give me some ideas how to answer this type of questions?

Many people try to balance their working and personal lives in order to allow them more free time. More and more leisure activities are available to fill this time, but they can be expensive. Meanwhile, family life is often said to be less valued than in the past.
What do you think about the situation, and how do you think it will develop in the future?

Many thanks

[Simon]

Hi Elly,

This question seems to have a different style - where did you get it from? I've never seen an IELTS question written in that way.

[Yamei]

Hi Simon

The following topic-
Costs of international travel are decreasing and the tourism is growing. What are the advantages and disadvantages of an increasing tourism activity in different countries?
didn't exactly ask for my opinion. Is it fine for me to put in my opinion. Can I just pick a side of advantage?

Thanks heaps in advanced.

[Elly]

Hi Simon,

This is a Task 2 IELTS Writining given me by my tutor that I supposed to prapare by the next week. To be honest, I have no idea what strategy (Problem-Solution,Discussion or Opinion) should I use in order to an give a sufficient answer.
Your advice would be highly appreciated!

Many thanks!

[Marya]

Hi Simon,
Thank you for your today's lesson.
I would prefer to go to the second opinion which discusses the two points of view.

My introduction will be as follow

It is certainly true that governments do the best of their efforts to benefit their citizens.To a certain extent i agree that retired people should have the responsibility to be independent and support themselves financially.However,i also disagree with the idea that elderly people should receive no funds or benefits from the state.

Then i would write one paragraph about the advantages of being independent and taking the responsibility.the benefits of saving money for retirement .

The second paragraph will support the idea of the importance of caring and helping from governments towards their citizens by different means.For example, providing suitable and comfortable means of transportation,accommodation with cheapest prices.also,joining public transport for free.

[Sulaiman]

Hi Simon,
i would appreciate your feedback.

Governments should not have to provide care or financial support for elderly people because it is the responsibility of each person to prepare for retirement and support him or herself.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

In today’s world, there are controversial debates about how to deal with the elderly in terms of financial and health support. It is essential that senior citizens are able to carry on their life independently. I think it is our responsibility to help these people financially, emotionally and physically if they need to. So I agree with this proposal to a certain extent.

There are some older people who are pensioners for a long time but they are financially not depending on state pension or government support not to mention that they are active and ambitious. For example, we can see in the private health sector many senior citizens who are retired consultants or nurses but they are still in their career and depending on the profits and salaries from their work. in addition most of these people are members in gym clubs so they are not only looking after themselves physically but mentally because physical activity has a positive impact on keeping their brain functioning. Therefore, authorities should cut any type of help and support, which is entitled to elderly, from these people.

However, it has been understood that the majority of pensioners are vulnerable individuals, suffering from financial and health issues. It is illogical to leave these people without support because their greater contribution to our society in terms of education, health and technology is undeniable. Therefore, geriatric medicine is required for the needy patients and reasonable financial support from tax-payers is demandable, in order to give these people the opportunity to continue their lives successfully. For this reason the proposal could not be accepted if the pensioners are in a critical situation.
To conclude, perhaps there are some highly dependent elderly pensioners but the majority of them are dependable and contingent help is required

[Salih]

Thanks Simon.
I will take the balanced opinion approach.
I used the wikipedia to get my ideas

The employee who has devoted his entire working life to his employer should expect protection and assistance in return when he/she gets retired. This is a just request. Retirees are, therefore, within their right to claim their governments to support them. They are entitled to help and justice as a matter of right rather than benevolence.

Moreover, poverty rates among senior citizens are highest. Old age pensions are, hence, pivotal in achieving equality and providing the basic needs necessary to live a healthy life. As a result, general revenue should be utilized in the way that it can guarantee a minimal level of well-being and support for all. This will ensure social solidarity.

Furthermore, setting an insurance program to fund the retirees would encourage older workers to retire, thereby creating opportunities for younger people to find jobs, which would lower the unemployment rate.

Nevertheless, it would also be wise to preserve money for future use. Many people in the later years of their lives, due to failing health, require assistance, sometimes in extremely expensive treatments. Old age benefits might not be enough to keep up with such increasing life costs. Saving money will, therefore, make them more self-sufficient.

[Simon]

Hi Yamei,

It's asking what YOU think are the advantages and disadvantages - you MUST discuss both. I've done a lesson about that topic - have a look through my "task 2" lessons until you find it.

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Hi Elly,

That's the problem - the question doesn't fit the "opinion, discussion or problem/solution" formats.

I think it's a question that your tutor has invented (it's not a normal IELTS question) - I'm not sure what your tutor wants, so I think you should ask him/her to help you with a plan for the essay structure.

...

Hi Marya,

Your plan and ideas look really good.

...

Hi Sulaiman,

You seem to have the right idea.

I'm afraid I can't give feedback, scores or corrections because everyone would send me their essays if I did.

My advice is to find a teacher or native speaker who can check your work and help you face-to-face.

[Simon]

Hi Salih,

Yes, the balanced approach is probably easier. I'm glad to see you're using Wikipedia - you've got the right idea.

[Salih]

Hi Sulaiman, the parts that I really liked in your essay are:

1- It is illogical to leave these people without support because their greater contribution to our society in terms of education, health and technology is undeniable
2- Reasonable financial support from tax-payers is demandable

I saved them to my computer

[alice]

Dear Simon,

Thank you for your website, it's really useful for preparation. I started to study Writing Task 2.

My introduction of the zoo topic:

Today, there are different point of views about zoos. Some people assume that it is not good for animals to be kept in zoos, in contrary to those some think that zoos have lots of benefits both for people themselves and animals.

Is this a good introduction?

[mahado]

hi simon
he poeple always have diverse opinions about if the governments give financial support to the elderly or not. I radically disagree that our senior citizens have not receive their pesion, because they need and deserve. They are not case for charaty.

Most of our elderly people they are the genenration who prepared the ground which we are gained. they were not only worked for the well being of humanity such as:the democracy,peace research,rebuilding the world after second world war, but also they were contributed for all kind social services and their retirement ponsion too, moreover they are paying their council tax and income tax as well .

the quesiton of they should take their reponsability to look after them, it is rediculous because for example in France the ponsion is 60 or 70% of averege wege of what they were contributed for their entire life. Inaddition still they carry on their contribution as citizen. what they receive as posion they have to pay their council tax and their income tax. this depend on the value of their yearly income.

I would like to mention here the welfare state it is a good system. It is all about the difference between the counrties that have this kind of law and other countries that do not care about their people like Golf, African and Asian countries. So why we want to change or to cut. it is all about humanity. and give awareness to the future generation for their resposability to look after always the vulnerable poeple in tne society.

Posted by: mahado |

[Pete01]

Can I ask you?
If candidates go off topic they are given, what is the maximum score will they get for the task response?

[Mahado]

Hi,
I am sorry that my comments contained some spelling errors.

[Antonela]

Hi Simon,

I was wondering could you post was again topics for task Writing 2. I can not find them on the blog.

Thanks in advance

[Simon]

Hi Alice,

Good introduction, but I wouldn't use "in contrary to".

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Hi Mahado,

Thanks for sharing. Sorry I can't give feedback (everyone would send me their essays if I did). My advice is to get your essay checked by a teacher because it contains some mistakes.

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Hi Pete,

It's impossible to say - it depends how much of the essay is off-topic. If the whole of the essay is about a completely different topic, it's possible to get zero!

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Hi Antonela,

Here it is:

http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2011/02/ielts-advice-you-need-ideas-and-opinions.html

[alice]

Thank you,Simon. What should it be written instead of "in contrary to"?

[Mahado]

Hi Simon
thanks for your advise.I am ESOL student in The Manchester college and I show my teacher to correct me. please can you let me know just what you think every time I write your opinion is important.

[Richard]

Hello Simon,

I have a couple of questions for your post here.
1. some Ielts tutor recommend us to use a passive voice when write a thesis statement, is that true? what about your opinion?
2. in your example, the thesis statement is pretty clear. Can you also give us some clue to write a body paragraph topic sentence with similar feature? thanks!

BR/Richard

[Simon]

Hi Alice,

Just write "zoos, while others..."

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Hi Mahado,

I'm afraid I can't give any feedback about essays - if I do this for one person, everyone will expect the same. Sorry.

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Hi Richard,

1. There is no need to complicate things for the introduction. Just keep it simple - the main body is much more important.

2. Have a look through my task 2 lessons. There are several lessons about main body paragraphs - you'll see how I do my main body topic sentences.

Hope this helps

[adverb]

Hi,Simon
Could you give me some ideas on the following topic?

benefits and drawbacks of universities accepting equal numbers of male and female students in every subject.

Thank you.

[Simon]

Hi Adverb,

I'll do a lesson about this question at some point, but here are a few ideas:

Benefits:
Equal opportunities, fairer, will lead to a better mix of males and females in all professions.

Drawbacks:
It's wrong to select people because of gender - students should be selected on merit. Some courses might not be full if they are less popular with men or women.

Hope this helps

[adverb]

Thank you Simon

[Simon]

No problem.

[Liy]

hi simon is it possible to give a balanced opinion in this type of question;

Should wealthy nations be required to share their wealth among poorernations by providing such things as food and education? Or is it theresponsibility of the governments of poorer nations to look after theircitizens themselves?

(i.e- agree wealthy nations should help but doesn't mean that the local gvt should neglect their responsibilities to their citizens)

or does the nature of this question demand we take one or the other stance.

[Simon]

Hi Liy,

I think your example of a balanced opinion would be fine:
(i.e- agree wealthy nations should help but doesn't mean that the local gvt should neglect their responsibilities to their citizens)

[salwa]

Hi Simon ,I want to ask ,if writing introduction with strong opinion better than blanced introduction ,i mean does it affect the score

[Simon]

Hi Salwa,

No, it won't change the score. It all depends on how well you support your opinion in the main body paragraphs.

[mz]

People hold mixed views about whether or not the responsibility of the government to support elderly people. While there are grounds to argue that individuals should hold their own responsibility when they get older ,i also believe that the governments should help in delivering tender care and financial support for their older citizens for various reasons.

On the one hand, there are several reasons whey people should be responsible to support them self when they get old. Perhaps the main one is the fact that the number of elderly is increasing especially in developed world , as a result this can create a burden on hospitals , and consequently on the government and tax payer .Another reason is that with age many people can get complicated health problems that might need more specialised treatment .This treatments might be very expensive and money from pension alone or from the government could not cover it, so in this case people are advised to save money for later health expenses. If ,for example,some body needed a hip replacemet operation in later life, there would be enough money to cover the cost without delay.

On the other hand,there are also convincing arguments in favour of providing care and support for old citizens by the government. One is that many old age people don`t have any family member or relative who can take care of them, and it would be a pity if they have left alone without any supervision. Also more importantly that those people have had dedicated their life serving their country through working many years and regularly paying their taxes, so they deserve reward from their country at least by providing them with basic needs like housing and care. Finally,it is widely recognised that poverty rate is more common among elderly population ,so from ethical point of view it is the government duty to provide basic necessities like food, housing and free health care.

on conclusion,i believe that we should prepare our self for later life by saving money that could be essential to cover the cost of all care needed, but i would also argue that there are cases where government to deliver financial support care .

[VU]

Dear Mr Simon
Can I choose the balance style like this to answer this question?
While I accept that it is the responsibility of each person to prepare for retirement, I agree that government should not support for elderly people.
Thank you !

[maina]

hi simon, im going to give my ielts test after four days.im confused about my reading and listening skills also,im not too much sure about my writing and speaking abilities can you suggest me some very precised tips and techniques to check my level of preparations .i need 7band in each module
thanks for your kind inputs in advance!!