IELTS Writing Task 2 – Agree or Disagree Essay
Pick one side, give two clear reasons, and build every body paragraph with four steps: point, explain, example, result. Then try the practice question below.
Key points
The example question from the video
Secondary schools should make money management a compulsory subject for all students. 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.
Band 9 model answer from the video (270 words)
Many people believe that teenagers should be required to study personal finance at secondary school, just like maths or science. I completely agree with this view, because young people need money skills early, and these skills protect them from serious problems later in life.
The first reason is that teenagers already make money decisions, but many of them have never been taught how to make good ones. Today, students buy things online, pay for phone plans and use bank cards, often before they leave school. However, not all parents know how to explain budgeting or saving, so many children learn only by making mistakes. For example, a sixteen-year-old might sign up for a "buy now, pay later" offer without understanding the extra fees. If every school taught these basic skills, all students would get the same useful start, whatever their family background.
Secondly, money lessons at school can prevent bigger problems in adult life. People who never learn to plan a budget are more likely to borrow too much and fall into debt. This debt can take years to pay back, and it often leads to stress, family arguments and even health problems. For instance, a young worker who understands interest will think twice before taking an expensive loan for a new car. As a result, these lessons do not only help individuals, but they also make society as a whole more stable.
In conclusion, I strongly believe that money management should be a compulsory subject in all secondary schools. It gives every teenager the practical skills they need today and helps them avoid debt and stress in the future.
Useful phrases for this essay
| Word / phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I completely agree / disagree with this view, because … | give your opinion and both reasons | I completely agree with this view, because young people need money skills early. |
| The first reason is that … | start body paragraph 1 (the point) | The first reason is that teenagers already make money decisions. |
| Secondly, … | start body paragraph 2 | Secondly, money lessons at school can prevent bigger problems in adult life. |
| For example / For instance | the example step | For example, a sixteen-year-old might sign up for a 'buy now, pay later' offer. |
| As a result / If …, … | the result step | If every school taught these basic skills, all students would get the same useful start. |
| In conclusion, I strongly believe that … | repeat your opinion | In conclusion, I strongly believe that money management should be compulsory. |
Practice task: Smartphones for children
Children under the age of 12 should not be allowed to own a smartphone. 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.
Key words: under 12, not allowed, own. Owning is not the same as using a family phone.
Pick one side and find two reasons.
Point → explain → example → result in each body paragraph.
Show model answer (try first!)
Many parents now give their children a smartphone of their own at a young age, and some people think this should not happen before the age of twelve. I agree with this view, because owning a smartphone harms young children's sleep and schoolwork, and it exposes them to risks that they are too young to handle.
The first reason is that a personal smartphone takes time and attention away from activities that young children need. Games, videos and messages are always in their pocket, so it is hard for them to stop. Unlike adults, most young children cannot control this habit on their own. For example, an eight-year-old with a phone in the bedroom may keep watching videos late at night and then feel too tired to concentrate in class the next morning. If children did not own a phone until they were older, they would spend more time sleeping, reading and playing outside.
Secondly, a phone of their own gives children access to dangers that they cannot yet recognise. Even with parental controls, young users can find violent or adult content, and they may receive messages from strangers. Children of this age often trust people too easily and do not tell their parents when something goes wrong. For instance, a ten-year-old might share a home address in an online game without realising why that is unsafe. As a result, waiting until twelve keeps children safer while parents teach them how to use the internet sensibly.
In conclusion, I firmly believe that children under twelve should not have their own smartphone. Waiting protects their sleep and schoolwork, and it keeps them away from online risks until they are mature enough to deal with them.
284 words
Keep going
