GT Writing Task 2 (Essay Writing) Sample # 1
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
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.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Model Answer 1: (In favour of the happier teenage stage)
People enjoy every phase of their life in their own way and every single stage of it has something enjoyable and new to offer. However, when it comes to the happiest period of life, opinions may be split. It is believed by many that teen years are filled with more glee, while many people are happier in their adulthood. Although both stages have different graces, I, personally, think that a person enjoys his life during the early years.
For a start, happiness is the freedom of whatever a person wants to do and in adulthood, people are independent in various ways. First of all, they have no financial dependency on their parents and are not obliged to take permission for whatever they want to do. They can afford stuff and do things that are beyond the imagination of children. Second, people, in their mature years, have the right to exercise choice in matters of relationships. Parents, usually, do not interfere with their relationships whereas youngsters are forced to act on their parents’ advice in this regard.
However, the teenage phase, for many, is the golden period. Juveniles do not need to worry about responsibilities, jobs, and so forth. They, for instance, do not have to earn a living. In addition, they can spend more quality time with peers and do things adults would not dare. Grown-ups, on the other hand, are laden with despair by individualism, weakening of social ties, economic recession and so on.
To conclude, the early stage is the golden time of a person’s life. To my way of thinking, the teenage years are the time in a person’s life when egotism, corruption, complexities and the weight of sin cause no hindrance in the pursuit of true happiness and satisfaction.
Model Answer 2: (In favour of the happier adulthood stage)
The teenage stage of a person’s life knows no bounds and brings pure joy while adulthood offers freedom, a sense of fulfilment and achievement. Thus a group of people deem adolescence as the happiest part of life whilst others argue that adulthood is more enjoyable. Both teenage and grown-up time can be unique and full of blessings for certain people. But in my view, the mature stage of a person’s life is more fulfilling.
To begin with, most teenagers have no responsibility and have parents to look after their intricacies. Thus they can easily put aside the difficulties of life and enjoy things they are passionate about. At this stage, youngsters have fresh minds, fewer complexities and dreams to follow. Life has yet to reveal its challenges to these young minds and they find contentment in whatever they do. To illustrate, many of my relatives recall enjoying the beauty of life in their teenage more than they do now and I often wonder whether this is the case for me!
On the other hand, adulthood is a stage when we have a better understanding of life, economic and decision-making freedom, matured thinking and a sense of achievement. No doubt the responsibilities are high, but the sense of achievement is even greater. Thus life opens many windows of opportunity and relationships to an adult that a youngster cannot imagine. To give an example, the happiness I felt when I fall in love for the first time or kissed my newborn child is unparalleled. I might have been satisfied in my early stage, but there is no reason I am not happier now.
To conclude, every stage of our life has its own set of comfort and some people look back to the past and feel happier while others are just happy in their adulthood. For me, my adulthood is more fulfilling and glorifying.
Sample Answer 3: (Adulthood is the happiest period in our life)
Whether the teenage years or adulthood brings more happiness is often hotly debated. While some argue that adolescence is the most joyful period of one’s life, others hold that grown-up life offers more happiness and fulfilment despite more significant responsibilities. This essay aims to discuss both views. Personally, I believe that adulthood is the happiest period in our life.
On the one hand, proponents of the argument that the teenage years are the happiest believe that at this stage, individuals are free from the heavy responsibilities and commitments of adulthood. Teenagers have fewer things to worry about, such as financial obligations, work, and other duties. They have the freedom to enjoy their life to the fullest and can indulge in their hobbies and interests without any hindrance. Moreover, at this age, one’s physical abilities are at their peak, allowing them to participate in various sports and activities, leading to a sense of accomplishment and joy.
On the other hand, supporters of the opinion that adulthood is the happiest period of life assert that grown-up life brings more happiness, even though it comes with more significant commitments. As people grow older, they gain more experience and knowledge, leading to a greater sense of confidence and self-assurance. This, in turn, allows them to take on more challenging tasks and feel a sense of accomplishment, which contributes to their overall happiness. Additionally, they can create more meaningful and lasting relationships with others, including friends, family, and romantic partners, leading to more profound feelings of happiness and fulfilment.
In my opinion, both periods can bring happiness in their own ways, but I believe that adulthood brings more happiness than adolescence. While it is true that teenagers are free from the burdens of adult life, they also face numerous challenges and uncertainties in their lives, including peer pressure, academic pressures, and identity formation. In contrast, adulthood brings greater stability and control over one’s life, as well as more significant opportunities for personal growth, achievement, and fulfilment.
In conclusion, while some people contend that the teenage years are the happiest times of most people’s lives, others argue that grown-up life brings more happiness, despite greater responsibilities. In my view, adulthood brings greater happiness due to the greater sense of control, stability, and personal actualisation it provides.
Idea generation for this Essay Topic:
Essay Topic:
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.
While writing this essay, you need to discuss both views while also giving your own opinion:
A) Teenage years are the happiest times of most people’s lives.
B) Adult life brings more happiness, in spite of greater responsibilities.
Note: Please support your views with at least one example. Put simply, your body paragraphs should contain at least one example to support your view/opinion/argument.
Following are a few discussions for both these views. Please read these points and decide which ones you would like to include in your essay. It is worth noticing that you do not need to add too many points in a single paragraph. Just one or two with an example or two would suffice.
A) View: Teenage years are the happiest times of most people’s lives.
1) Being stress-free and having no big responsibility toward life during the age of thirteen to nineteen contribute to more delightful moments and happiest times. The hardship of life barely touches them and they have big dreams in life which make them happier than most adults. For instance, I had spent my teenage years surrounded by boundless joys and magical moments since I did not have any big responsibility except for doing well in school. I did not have much to worry about either, which, I am afraid, I can not tell about my life in my late twenties.
2) Teenagers look at life from a fresh perspective, so everything is new and exciting to them even if those things have hidden complexities. For instance, when confronted with an adverse situation, teenagers are usually more determined and strong to face it. This determination gives them a positive outlook in life which is perhaps the most important aspect to be happy in life.
3) Youngsters, especially teenagers, have plenty of stamina, physical strength and mental dynamism to explore and enjoy life. Thus things are not boring to teenagers as they are ready to embrace life and enjoy it to the fullest.
4) Many adults cherish their teenage life and wish to re-live that period of life. This is because, with age and maturity, they realise that carefree life and endless spirit are the ingredients to be happy in life which is in plenty when we are teenagers.
5) Teenagers are well protected by their parents and their unbound love and caring. Whenever they need money, advice, support and shelter, they have the best people in the entire world to help them.
6) Teenagers have a more active social life and they have a wide circle of friends and classmates. An active social life helps them hang out with others, explore new activities, travel to different places, and spend time pursuing their hobbies and interests. This makes things happier in life and boredom rarely touches them. Many research works suggest that more than 60% of teenagers spontaneously reported that they are “happy”, but when questioned to adults over 50 years old, eight out of ten of them said that they were “much happier” when they were between 12-17.
B) View: Adult life brings more happiness, in spite of greater responsibilities.
1) With the maturity of age and mind, people evolve and develop a sense to understand the meaning and purpose of life, which, in turn, brings fulfilment and stability in life. It contributes to long-term happiness in many people’s lives. For instance, I have often heard my parents tell stories about their struggles in life in childhood while they are now much content with their life.
2) Economic freedom gives grown-ups the power to decide what to do with their life. They can choose to travel, purchase things they like, take up an expensive hobby, explore new possibilities in their career and move to a better place. Take my uncle Chris as an example who always wanted to move to a first-world country but had been successful in doing so in his mid-thirties.
3) Responsibilities often come with great pleasure, leading to a more fulfilling and happy adult life. Paying for children’s tuition fees, buying them gifts, taking the family to a dream holiday destination, paying bills and helping others bring immeasurable joys in life. This is why many adults are happier in life than they were in their teenage time.
4) When people grow up, they become far more confident and brave to confront injustice or unfairness in society. They are less vulnerable to abuse and make prudent decisions that help them avoid devastation in life. Their maturity gives them strong opinions and the courage to express themselves. An example is a teenager often feels trapped when it comes to avoiding bad company while it is not so hard when we are mature.
5) During adulthood, people have a stable career, scope and mean to develop skills and get involved in activities they enjoy. This makes them independent and helps them live a life where they are not forced to do things they hate.
6) Having a secure job, family and children, and good relationships are crucial factors to be happy in life and these things come when we become adults. Despite responsibilities, which adults often enjoy fulfilling, life is meaningful and real when we are adults.
According to https://ielts.idp.com/prepare/article-ielts-writing-task-2-8-steps-to-band-8 you need to have 5 paragraphs to achieve band 8. None of your sample writing is correct.
Hi, the article says 4/5 paragraphs, not 5 paragraphs. And please note that that number (4 or 5) is including the “Introduction” and “Conclusion”. Our essays contain 4 paragraphs in most cases.