Plan this opinion essay about family with the ideas and outline below, write it on a 40-minute timer, then compare it with a band-8 model answer.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Adult children have a duty to look after their elderly parents, and this should not be left to the state.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
GoPrep wrote this practice question in the style of the exam. It is not an official IELTS question.
Pick two or three points from one or both columns. You do not need all of them, and your own examples score better than memorised ones.
Spend the first few minutes planning, then write.
0 words of 250 minimum
Your answer stays on this page only. Copy it before you leave.
Write your own answer first, then compare: how it answers the exact question, what each paragraph does, and which phrases you could borrow.
Some people claim that adult children have a duty to look after their elderly parents and that this should not be left to the state. I largely agree with the first part of this statement, but I think the state must still play a role.
There are strong moral reasons for children to care for their parents. Parents spend years raising their children, providing food, education and emotional support, and it seems fair that children return this care when their parents become frail. In many cultures, such as those of East Asia, this duty is deeply respected. Caring for parents at home also gives older people dignity and emotional comfort, as they remain in familiar surroundings with those who love them. Furthermore, it reduces the burden on public services, allowing governments to spend money elsewhere.
Nevertheless, it would be unrealistic and unfair to leave elderly care entirely to families. Many adults live far from their parents because of work, or have their own children and financial commitments to manage. Looking after a parent with serious illness, such as dementia, can be physically and emotionally exhausting and requires specialised training that most people lack. Some carers are forced to give up their careers, which leads to financial hardship and stress. There are also older people who have no children or who have lost contact with them, and they should not be left without help.
For these reasons, I believe the best system is shared responsibility. Children should offer emotional support and practical help where they can, while the state provides pensions, healthcare and professional care services so that nobody is left alone or overburdened.
In conclusion, adult children have a moral duty towards their parents, but the state must also provide reliable support.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| moral obligation | duty based on what is right |
| repay kindness | return help given earlier |
| caregiver | person who looks after someone |
| elderly relatives | older members of the family |
| state pension | payment from government to old people |
| sandwich generation | adults caring for both children and parents |
Answer random Part 1, 2 and 3 questions on an exam timer.
Average your four skill bands, rounded the way IELTS rounds them.
Compare an IELTS band with TOEFL, Duolingo and PTE scores and CEFR levels.
Look up the IELTS score a university asks for, with the source.