Scorify.uzThe question
Some people think that family members should look after elderly relatives. Others believe the government should provide care. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Write at least 250 words.
What the question asks
Discuss family care and state care fairly and say which is more suitable or how they may work together.
Essay plan
- Introduction: Say that families give emotional care, but the state must provide support.
- Body 1: family care: Emotional bonds, familiar environment, cost saving, moral duty.
- Body 2: state care: Professional medical care, relief for working families, ageing societies.
- Conclusion: Shared responsibility is best.
Band 7+ sample essay
As life expectancy increases, societies must decide who should look after elderly people. Some believe that this is a family duty, while others think the government should be responsible. In my opinion, both should share the responsibility.
Supporters of family care argue that children owe a debt to their parents, who raised them. Elderly people usually feel happier in a familiar home with relatives who love them, and emotional support is difficult for institutions to provide. Family care also reduces the cost for governments and strengthens bonds between generations, which is a strong tradition in many cultures.
However, caring for an older person can be a heavy burden. Many adults work full-time and raise children, so they cannot provide the constant attention that someone with a serious illness needs. Professional nurses and specialised facilities offer better medical treatment and 24-hour supervision. Governments therefore have a duty to provide care homes, healthcare and financial support, especially for people without relatives.
The best solution is cooperation: the state could provide medical services, home visits and allowances, while families supply company and emotional care.
Communities can also contribute by organising volunteer visits, clubs and day centres for elderly people. These activities reduce loneliness, which is a major cause of poor health in older age, and they give relatives some time to rest. With such support, families can continue caring at home for longer, which is what most older people want.
In conclusion, relatives are best able to offer love and companionship, but professional care requires public funding, so both families and governments should take part.
262 words.
Why this essay scores well
- Task Response: every part of the question is answered and the position stays consistent from the introduction to the conclusion.
- Coherence and Cohesion: each paragraph has one clear idea, linked with natural connectors rather than a list of memorised phrases.
- Lexical Resource: topic vocabulary is precise and varied, without forcing rare words.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: a mix of simple and complex sentences, with conditionals and relative clauses used accurately.
Useful vocabulary
- life expectancy — how long people usually live
- care home — a residence with care for older people
- emotional support — help with feelings
- institution — an organisation such as a hospital
- burden — a heavy responsibility
- allowance — regular financial help
- supervision — watching over someone
Common mistakes on this question
- Presenting only your own culture.
- Forgetting to explain the role of the state.
- Using “old people” repeatedly; vary with “elderly people” and “older adults”.
Study guides
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A practical list of IELTS linking words grouped by function, with correct and incorrect examples, punctuation rules and a warning about overusing connectors.
Frequently asked questions
What type of essay is this IELTS Task 2 question?
It is a discussion + opinion question. Discuss family care and state care fairly and say which is more suitable or how they may work together.
How many words should the essay be?
Write at least 250 words. Most strong answers are 260–290 words, planned in about five minutes and completed in 40 minutes.
How many paragraphs should I write?
Four paragraphs work well: an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. Each body paragraph needs one main idea, an explanation and an example.