Level: IELTS Academic Writing Task 2
Task type: Problems and measures
Recommended time: 40 minutes
Word count: At least 250 words
Question
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
In many countries, people are living longer than ever before. This creates challenges for governments and society.
What problems can this cause?
What measures could be taken to deal with these problems?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
How to Write This Essay
This is a problems and measures essay. You need to answer two questions clearly:
- What problems are caused by people living longer?
- What measures could governments and society take to deal with these problems?
Do not write only about why people live longer. The question is focused on the effects of an ageing population and how to manage them.
A strong answer could argue:
An ageing population can increase pressure on healthcare, pensions and the working-age population. Governments can respond by improving elderly care, encouraging healthier ageing, reforming pension systems and helping older people remain active in society.
Suggested Essay Structure
Introduction
Paraphrase the question and state that longer life expectancy creates several social and economic challenges.
Body paragraph 1: Problems
Possible ideas:
- Healthcare systems may become more expensive.
- More people may need long-term care.
- Pension systems may become harder to fund.
- A smaller working-age population may have to support more retired people.
- Families may face more pressure caring for elderly relatives.
Body paragraph 2: Measures
Possible ideas:
- Governments can invest in preventive healthcare.
- Pension ages may need to rise gradually.
- Older people could be supported to work part-time if they are healthy enough.
- More funding may be needed for care homes, home care and community support.
- Workplaces can become more age-friendly.
- Families caring for elderly relatives could receive financial or practical support.
Conclusion
Summarise the main problems and measures clearly.
Useful Vocabulary for This Topic
- ageing population
- life expectancy
- elderly people
- retired people
- working-age population
- pension system
- healthcare costs
- long-term care
- social care
- care homes
- home care
- public services
- tax burden
- economic pressure
- age-friendly workplaces
- preventive healthcare
- active ageing
- quality of life
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Do not write only about healthcare. Ageing populations also affect pensions, families, employment and public spending.
Do not say older people are only a problem. A better essay recognises that many elderly people contribute to families, communities and workplaces.
Do not give vague measures such as “the government should help old people”. Explain specific measures.
Do not ignore the second question. You must explain both the problems and the measures.
Do not write a simple opinion essay. This is not asking whether an ageing population is good or bad overall.
Band 6.5 Model Answer
In many countries, people are living much longer than in the past. This is positive in some ways, but it also creates problems for governments, families and society. The main challenges are connected to healthcare, pensions and care for elderly people.
One major problem is the pressure on healthcare systems. Older people often need more medical treatment, regular check-ups and long-term care. This can be expensive for governments, especially if there are fewer young workers paying taxes. Another problem is the cost of pensions. If people live for many years after retirement, governments may need to spend more money supporting them. Families can also be affected. Adult children may need to care for elderly parents while also working and raising their own children, which can be stressful.
There are several measures that could help. First, governments should invest more in preventive healthcare, so people remain healthier for longer. For example, free health checks, exercise programmes and advice about diet could reduce serious illness among older people. Second, the retirement age may need to rise gradually in countries where people are healthy enough to work longer. This would help reduce pressure on pension systems. Finally, governments should improve social care by funding care homes, home visits and community centres for elderly people. This would support both older people and their families.
In conclusion, longer life expectancy can create problems for healthcare, pensions and family life. However, these problems can be managed if governments encourage healthier ageing, reform pension systems and provide better care for elderly citizens.
Word count: 261 words
Band 6.5 Feedback
This is a clear and relevant essay. It answers both parts of the question and gives practical measures.
Why this is around Band 6.5:
Task Response:
The essay identifies suitable problems, including healthcare costs, pensions and family pressure. It also suggests relevant measures, such as preventive healthcare, raising the retirement age and improving social care. However, the ideas are developed in a fairly general way.
Coherence and Cohesion:
The structure is logical: introduction, problems, measures and conclusion. Linking phrases such as “one major problem”, “another problem”, “first”, “second” and “finally” are used accurately, but the organisation is quite standard.
Lexical Resource:
The vocabulary is appropriate for the topic, including “healthcare systems”, “long-term care”, “pensions”, “retirement age” and “social care”. However, the range is not especially sophisticated.
Grammar:
The grammar is generally accurate. There is some variety in sentence structure, but many sentences are straightforward.
How to improve it:
To reach Band 7 or higher, the essay would need deeper explanation, more precise examples and more flexible grammar.
Band 8 Model Answer
Rising life expectancy is one of the major social changes of the modern era. Although it is clearly positive that people are living longer, an ageing population can create serious pressure on healthcare systems, public finances and families. To address these challenges, governments need long-term policies that support both older citizens and the working-age population.
The first major problem is the growing cost of healthcare and social care. Elderly people are more likely to need hospital treatment, medication, mobility support and assistance with daily tasks. As the number of older people rises, demand for doctors, nurses, care workers and specialist facilities also increases. A second challenge is financial. Pension systems may become difficult to sustain if a smaller proportion of workers has to fund a larger retired population. This can lead to higher taxes, reduced benefits or later retirement. Families may also experience pressure, especially when adult children have to care for elderly relatives while managing careers and childcare.
Several measures could reduce these problems. One important step is to promote healthier ageing through preventive healthcare. Regular screening, public exercise programmes and better advice on diet and mental wellbeing can help older people remain independent for longer. Governments may also need to reform pension systems gradually, for example by raising the retirement age in line with life expectancy or encouraging flexible part-time work for older adults. This would allow people who are healthy and willing to continue contributing without forcing everyone to remain in full-time employment. In addition, investment in home care, community centres and age-friendly housing would reduce pressure on hospitals and help elderly people stay connected to society.
In conclusion, an ageing population can increase healthcare costs, weaken pension systems and place extra strain on families. However, with preventive healthcare, sensible pension reform and better social care, societies can manage these challenges while still respecting the needs and dignity of older people.
Word count: 308 words
Band 8 Explanation
This is a stronger essay because it gives a more developed and balanced response to both parts of the question.
Task Response:
The essay fully answers the question. It explains several problems caused by an ageing population, including healthcare demand, pension pressure and family responsibilities. It then gives specific measures, including preventive healthcare, pension reform, flexible work, home care and age-friendly housing.
Coherence and Cohesion:
The essay is well organised. The first body paragraph focuses on problems. The second body paragraph focuses on measures. The conclusion summarises the argument clearly. Ideas are connected logically rather than simply listed.
Lexical Resource:
The vocabulary is precise and topic-specific:
- rising life expectancy
- ageing population
- healthcare systems
- public finances
- working-age population
- social care
- specialist facilities
- pension systems
- healthier ageing
- preventive healthcare
- mental wellbeing
- flexible part-time work
- age-friendly housing
- dignity of older people
The language is natural, accurate and suitable for a high-level IELTS essay.
Grammar:
The essay uses a good range of complex structures:
- “Although it is clearly positive that people are living longer…”
- “Pension systems may become difficult to sustain if…”
- “Governments may also need to reform pension systems gradually, for example by…”
- “This would allow people who are healthy and willing to…”
- “However, with preventive healthcare…, societies can…”
The grammar is flexible and well controlled.
Key Lesson for Students
For a problems and measures essay, make sure you clearly separate the two parts of the task.
A strong structure is:
Body paragraph 1: Problems caused by an ageing population
Body paragraph 2: Measures to deal with these problems
A strong position for this question is:
An ageing population can put pressure on healthcare, pensions and families, but governments can manage this through preventive healthcare, pension reform, flexible work and better social care.
Useful Phrases for This Essay
Explaining problems
- One major problem is the pressure on healthcare systems.
- Older people are more likely to need long-term medical care.
- Pension systems may become harder to fund.
- A smaller working-age population may have to support more retired people.
- Families may face greater responsibility for elderly relatives.
- This can place additional pressure on public finances.
Suggesting measures
- Governments should invest more in preventive healthcare.
- Pension systems may need to be reformed gradually.
- Older people could be encouraged to remain in work if they are healthy enough.
- Flexible part-time work could help older adults stay active.
- More funding should be provided for home care and community support.
- Age-friendly housing can help elderly people remain independent.
Writing the conclusion
- In conclusion, an ageing population creates both social and economic challenges.
- These problems can be managed through long-term planning.
- The aim should be to support older people while protecting healthcare systems and public finances.
Practice Task
Before reading the model answers again, write your own essay using this position:
An ageing population creates problems for healthcare, pensions and families, but these challenges can be reduced through preventive healthcare, gradual pension reform and better elderly care.
Try to include:
a clear conclusion that answers both parts of the question
one paragraph about healthcare, pensions and family pressure
one paragraph about practical measures governments could take
