IELTS Writing Task 2 essay with model answer

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic.

Many countries aim to improve the standards of living by economic development. Some people believe it affects social value to the extent of losing these values. To what extent do you agree? 

Write at least 250 words.

Model Answer:

Societies have been making continuous efforts to improve their means of living. They have been trying to achieve this goal by focusing on financial growth. A considerable number of social experts believe that this phenomenon is having an injurious effect on human behaviour. Values such as truth, honesty and empathy are being lost from the society, which is a cause of concern for many. I am in complete agreement with this opinion.

Traditionally, values such as being honest and helpful to others were considered to be of great significance by the society. Nevertheless, the twenty-first century economic boost has overshadowed their importance, and in fact these have been replaced with greed, dishonesty, and fraud. The reasons behind this awful change is wealth, as workers, lawyers, doctors, and businessmen all are trying to get rich quick. While doing so they cheat, fraud and deceive their fellow-humans, with the sole aim of getting more and more materialistic things. Its illustration can be seen in hospitals where doctors and paramedics advise unnecessary diagnostic investigations to the ailing patients just to make more commissions. This appalling behaviour has its root in the current capitalistic system, which is adopted just to expand the so called economic development.

On the contrary, supporters of the current economic model argue that this financial boom is making people's lives easier and more comfortable. In support of their argument, they claim that modern humans are living much better than their predecessors, as they have security, abundant food, and housing. Furthermore, individuals have better access to health and education as compared to the past, and this is all possible due to the economic growth. Nowadays, people have 24/7 emergency services in case they get sick, and the modern day hospitals are saving thousands of lives. Hence, it is clear that people can get better access to basic services by promoting the financial sector.

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In conclusion, despite some people encouraging development at the cost of losing human character, I believe that this extra wealth is harmful as it is shaping human minds by incorporating more greed, lust for money, and unnecessary desires. This pathological alteration of human psychology is having detrimental effects on human civilization.

Total Words: 361

Task Achievement: 9

Coherence & Cohesion: 9

Lexical resources: 9

Grammar: 9

Overall Score: Band 9.0