Some people think that the teenage years are the happiest times of most people’s lives. Others think that adult life brings more happiness, in spite of greater responsibilities. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Sample Response
It is often argued that adolescence is the most fulfilling stage of a person’s lifethe most fulfilling stage of a person’s life is during adolescence, while others believe that adulthood, despite responsibilities such as work, family, and financial concernsdespite things like a job, family and money concerns, is better. This essay agrees with the formerrather than, rather than the latter view. It will first discuss how grown-ups are much less fulfilled than teenagers because of the pressures they are under and then discuss how contented most teenagers are, before coming to the conclusion that the ages of thirteen to eighteen really are the best years of our lives. Upon reaching maturity, peopleUpon reaching maturity people are expected to support themselvesfend for themselves and this often leads to unhappiness. This is because most adults have rent and bills to pay, as well as a partner and dependents to look after, which often leads, which more often than not, leads to them working in a job they do not enjoydoing a job they don’t enjoy to earn an incomein exchange for money. A recent study by Queen’s University, Belfast, foundBelfast found that 79% of people would leave their jobs if they didn’t have a mortgage and 64% of people reported that their jobs had made them depressed at some pointstated that their job made them depressed at some point. On the other hand, young people are free from these worries because they are often supported financially and are free fromfinancially and free from any real troubles. Most live with their parents who cover all their expensespay for all their needs and their main responsibility is usually studyingthe only thing they have to focus on is studying. Research carried out by Cambridge University found that only 29% of 15-16 year old students said they were ‘happy’, but when questioned 10 years later, 84%when questioned 10 years later 84% said that they were ‘much happier’ when they were 16. In conclusion, youth really is wasted on the young because older people are under much more strain due to financial pressures and the responsibility of supporting otherswhen it comes to money and people relying on them.
Why this response received Band 7.0
The response’s strongest feature is its confident, generally accurate language and clear progression from adult pressures to teenage freedom. Its main limitation is task coverage: it does not genuinely explain why some people consider adulthood happier, so one required view remains largely unaddressed. The highest priority is to add a distinct, developed argument for adult happiness before weighing both positions against the stated opinion.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The position is clear and the case for teenage happiness is developed, but the opposing view that adulthood can be happier is not actually explored.
Develop a separate reason why adulthood may bring greater happiness, then compare it explicitly with the preferred view.
Coherence and Cohesion
The ideas progress logically through adult pressures and teenage advantages, although the response lacks clear paragraph breaks and relies on conspicuous signposting.
Use distinct introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs so the two views and final judgement are easier to follow.
Lexical Resource
A broad and generally precise vocabulary, including terms such as adolescence, dependents, and financially, conveys the argument effectively.
Refine occasional overgeneralised or slightly awkward phrasing and reduce repetition around happiness and freedom.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex sentences is handled accurately, with only occasional punctuation and modifier-control lapses.
Polish comma placement and the control of long relative-clause sentences to make the syntax consistently precise.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Some people think that the teenage years are the happiest times of most people’s lives. Others think that adult life brings more happiness, in spite of greater responsibilities. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.