IELTS Writing Samples

Samples for: In many countries around the world, life expectancy is increasing. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this situation and give your own opinion.

Increasing Life Expectancy: Pros and Cons

IELTS Writing Task 2

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Complete
7.0
Response: Recent decades have seen a significant rise in global life expectancy, largely due to advancement in science and medical technology. While this has merits to individuals and society, it also has an economic crisis. This essay will explore both the positive and negative aspects of increasing life expectancy and explain Why I believe the positive points outweigh disadvantages. One of the main advantages of extended lifespan is the extended opportunity for people to engage in meaningful roles such as mentoring, advising and volunteering. The length of human life affects positively; to illustrate this point, older generations can share their experiences and wisdom to enhance young people’s knowledge. For instance, in countries like Japan, many retirees continue to participate in the workforce and support younger colleagues. Another point is the longevity offers families to have many reunions or embrace their rites and rituals. With the aim of representing unity and observing paying tribute to older relatives and ancestors. To exemplify, in Iran retirees used to prioritize family gathering. Moreover, they signify reunions to strengthen their bonds. Despite the benefits of longer life duration, this also has downsides which are related to economic challenges and hygienic systems. Firstly, the rising age of the population can lead to immense pressure on health care, hygienic services and pension systems. Local governments must allocate more funding to medical care and retirement support, which can strain national budgets. For example, Australia allocates more funds to support elderly population that can decrease the budget for education and infrastructure. Also, it can trigger basic and major areas in the countries. Secondly, longevity can impact job opportunities due to a shrinking workforce because positions will not be available for younger generations. In addition, it can lead to many challenges in numerous aspects in societies like economic and social problems. In conclusion, although rising lifespan can place significant pressure on healthcare systems and the economy, it also brings substantial social and personal benefits. In my opinion, with proper policy planning and social support , the positive impacts of expectancy- such as continued contribution from elderly and intergenerational bonds- can far outweigh the challenges. Thus, governments play a crucial role in this way and they can utilize the best solutions for reshaping societies and communities.
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