Plan this problem and solution essay about economy 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:
Many young adults borrow heavily with credit cards and loans and struggle to repay their debts.
What are the causes of this problem and what measures could be taken to solve it?
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.
A growing number of young adults rely on credit cards and loans and then find themselves unable to repay what they owe. This essay will discuss the causes of this problem and propose some solutions.
One cause is the ease with which credit is offered. Banks market cards aggressively to students and new graduates, often with generous limits and little checking of whether the customer can afford repayments. A second cause is lack of financial education. Many school leavers have never learned how interest accumulates, so a small purchase can become a large debt within a year. Social pressure plays a part too. Social media constantly displays holidays, fashion and restaurants, and young people may borrow in order to keep up with their friends. Finally, rising rents and tuition fees combined with low entry-level salaries mean that some young adults use credit simply to cover essentials.
Several measures could help. Schools should include practical money management in the curriculum, teaching pupils to budget, to compare interest rates and to understand the consequences of missed payments. Lenders should be required to assess income carefully before approving credit and to cap interest rates for first-time borrowers, as some European countries have done. Advertising that presents borrowing as costless could also be restricted. At the same time, governments can reduce the pressure to borrow by making housing and education more affordable, and by supporting free debt advice services so that struggling borrowers seek help early instead of ignoring the problem.
In conclusion, easy credit, poor financial knowledge, social pressure and economic hardship all contribute to youth debt. Education, responsible lending rules and affordable basics would help young adults avoid it.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| credit card debt | money owed on cards |
| interest rate | cost of borrowing |
| budgeting skills | ability to plan spending |
| overspend | spend too much |
| debt counselling | advice on repaying debts |
| financial responsibility | wise handling of money |
Answer random Part 1, 2 and 3 questions on an exam timer.
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Compare an IELTS band with TOEFL, Duolingo and PTE scores and CEFR levels.
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