IELTS WRITING TASK 2
You should spend no more than 40 minutes on this task.
As part of a class assignment you have to write about the following topic.
Some governments say how many children a family can have in their country. They may control the number of children someone has through taxes. It is sometimes necessary and right for a government to control the population in this way.
Do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer.
You should write at least 250 words.
Sample Answer 1
[This model has been prepared by an examiner as an example of a very good answer. However, please note that this is just one example out of many possible approaches.]
It is certainly very understandable that some governments should start looking at ways of limiting their populations to a sustainable figure. In the past, populations were partly regulated by frequent war and widespread disease, but in recent years the effects of those factors have been diminished.
Countries can be faced with a population that is growing much faster than the nation’s food resources or employment opportunities and whose members can be condemned to poverty by the need to feed extra mouths. They identify population control as a’means of raising living standards. But how should it be achieved?
Clearly, this whole area is a very delicate personal and cultural issue. Many people feel that this is not a matter for the state. They feel this is one area of life where they have the right to make decisions for themselves. For that reason, it would seem that the best. the approach would be to work by persuasion rather than compulsion This could be done by a process of education that points out the way a smaller family can mean an improved quality of life for the family members, as well as less strain on the country’s perhaps very limited, resources. This is the preferred way.
Of course, if this does not succeed within a reasonable time scale, it may be necessary to consider other measures. such as tax incentives or child-benefit payments for small families only. These are midway between persuasion and compulsion So. yes. it is sometimes necessary, but governments should try very hard to persuade first. They should also remember that this is a very delicate area indeed and that social engineering can create as many problems as it solves?
Sample Answer 2:
In many countries, the government has the authority to decide how many children its people can have. Some governments try to control the population by imposing taxes on people who have more children than is permitted. In my opinion, in order to control the population growth, the government should have the legal authority to determine the size of families. In this essay, we will first examine how the problem of overpopulation can be controlled through such measures and also how proper check on population can lead to an increase in the economic growth of a nation.
The world is witnessing the negative effects of overpopulation like crime, illiteracy and pollution in many countries. With the implementation of taxes, people will understand the benefits of having a small family and this will in a way make them plan for a baby well in advance. For example, China follows a two child policy and citizens violating the law often have to pay hefty fine or face other types of punishment. Such stringent laws have enabled them to control their population growth and now China is developing rapidly.
If a state authority is able to control the birth date by imposing higher taxes or fines on violators, they will definitely observe an elevation in the economic and social growth of their country. People will have a healthy standard of living. Children will grow up to be more disciplined as well as responsible citizens of their country. Thus it is evident that this measure will boost the economic growth of the country. For example, according to a survey conducted by a UK university, families having one or two kids are the happiest.
In conclusion, the government should have the legal authority to reduce the size of families by imposing fines or other types of punishment on people who have more children than is permitted. While this might seem to be a violation of the rights of citizens, in the long run it will benefit everyone by helping the economy grow. Thus, in my opinion, such measures are justified.
Sample Answer 3
It is undeniable that the population size of the human is expanding with a significant speed. Thus, the country’s birth control policy has become a major concern for many governments in the world. But should such policies control the number of offspring one family can have through taxes? In my opinion, that solution could be replaced with many more efficient methods.
Some people believe that taxes can lower the fertility rate in countries since it involves directly to one family’s financial state. This belief has some merits on the surface. However, with families which have low income, especially the ones below the poverty line, there is an extremely low possibility that they can manage to pay extra taxes for having many children. Therefore, tax evasion may occur, which leads to another unexpected problem the governments to deal with.
Although birth control policies are inevitable, there are more reasonable methods that governments can apply rather than raising the tax. For instance, sex education may be taught at elementary schools. Since elementary educating universalisation is becoming a trend, children would have a better perception about sex protection and unwanted pregnancy, thus reducing the birth rate. Another solution is to propagandise for citizens the benefits of having few children, such as more education and healthcare that a sole child would receive, or less financial pressure having only one to two children.
To sum up, I totally disagree with the idea of putting more taxes only to reduce the country’s birthrate. Instead, more non-financial policies should be taken place to convince couples to the root, making them have fewer children with no objection but to their heart’s content.
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