Plan this discussion essay about society 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:
Some people believe that the care of elderly people is the responsibility of their families. Others think that the government should provide it.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
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.
People disagree about whether families or governments should be responsible for the care of elderly people. In my opinion, the state should provide the main framework, with families offering emotional support.
Those who place the responsibility on families have a point. Relatives know the elderly person best and can provide affection and companionship that no institution can match. In many cultures, caring for parents is considered a moral duty, a way of repaying the care received in childhood. Home care is also familiar and comfortable for the older person, and it can reduce the cost to the public budget.
However, relying entirely on families is unrealistic today. Many adult children work long hours, live in other cities or have young children to look after, and a person who must give up a job to care for a parent may suffer financial hardship and exhaustion. Elderly care often requires specialist skills, such as managing dementia or physical disability, which untrained relatives cannot provide. Moreover, not everyone has family nearby, and those without children could be left without help. Governments are better placed to ensure that every older person has access to pensions, healthcare and residential or home-care services regardless of their circumstances. Societies such as Denmark fund extensive public care, and elderly residents there are less dependent on their relatives and generally enjoy a high quality of life.
Therefore, I think the government should guarantee professional care and financial security, while families remain involved through visits, companionship and decisions about treatment. This combination respects both the practical needs and the emotional needs of older people.
In conclusion, although families have an important emotional role, the state should take primary responsibility for elderly care, because it can offer universal, professional and reliable support.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| elderly care | support for older people who cannot manage alone |
| nursing home | residential building where old people are looked after |
| extended family | relatives beyond parents and children |
| burden on the taxpayer | cost paid by public money |
| round-the-clock care | help available day and night |
| ageing population | rising share of old people in a country |
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