Level: IELTS Academic Writing Task 2
Task type: Two-part direct question
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 some families, children spend less time with their parents than in the past.

Why is this happening?

How does this affect children and family relationships?

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 two-part direct question essay. You must answer both questions clearly:

Why are children spending less time with their parents?
How does this affect children and family relationships?

Do not turn this into an advantages and disadvantages essay. The question is asking for causes and effects, not whether the trend is good or bad overall.

A strong answer could argue:

Children spend less time with their parents because adults often work longer hours and children have busier schedules. This can weaken emotional closeness, reduce communication and make children more dependent on friends, technology or other influences.

Suggested Essay Structure

Introduction
Paraphrase the topic and say that there are several reasons for this trend and several effects on children and families.

Body paragraph 1: Why this is happening
Possible ideas:

Parents often work longer hours.
Many families need two incomes because of the cost of living.
Parents may commute long distances.
Children spend more time at school, in extra classes or doing activities.
Technology can reduce face-to-face family time at home.

Body paragraph 2: Effects on children and family relationships
Possible ideas:

Children may receive less emotional support.
Parents may know less about their children’s problems.
Communication within the family may become weaker.
Children may rely more on friends, social media or online entertainment.
Family relationships may become more distant.
Some children may become more independent, but this is not always positive.

Conclusion
Summarise the main causes and effects clearly.

Useful Vocabulary for This Topic

child development
parental involvement
emotional support
family relationships
quality time
work-life balance
long working hours
cost of living
dual-income families
commuting
extra-curricular activities
academic pressure
face-to-face communication
emotional distance
family bonds
independence
screen time
social media influence

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Do not write a solution essay. The question does not ask what should be done.

Do not only blame parents. A stronger answer should mention wider social and economic pressures.

Do not ignore the second question. You must explain how this affects children and family relationships.

Do not write only about technology. Technology may be one cause, but work, school and lifestyle changes are also important.

Do not give an unclear answer. Each body paragraph should match one part of the question.

Band 6.5 Model Answer

In some families, children spend less time with their parents than they did in the past. This is mainly because modern family life has become busier, and both adults and children often have many responsibilities. This trend can have negative effects on children and on family relationships.

One important reason is that many parents work long hours. In many countries, the cost of living is high, so both parents may need to work full-time to support the family. As a result, they may come home late and feel too tired to spend quality time with their children. Another reason is that children’s schedules are also busier than before. Many children attend extra classes, sports clubs or music lessons after school. In addition, technology can reduce family time because children and parents may spend their free time using phones, computers or watching online videos instead of talking to each other.

This can affect children in several ways. If parents are not available, children may receive less emotional support and guidance. They may also find it harder to talk about problems at school or with friends. Over time, this can make family relationships weaker because parents and children know less about each other’s daily lives. Some children may become more independent, but they may also depend too much on friends, social media or the internet for advice.

In conclusion, children are spending less time with their parents because of long working hours, busy school schedules and technology. This can reduce communication, weaken family bonds and make children feel less supported at home.

Word count: 260 words

Band 6.5 Feedback

This is a clear and relevant essay. It answers both parts of the question and keeps the focus on causes and effects.

Why this is around Band 6.5:

Task Response:
The essay answers both questions clearly. It explains why children spend less time with parents and how this affects children and family relationships. However, some points are developed in a fairly general way.

Coherence and Cohesion:
The structure is logical: introduction, causes, effects and conclusion. The paragraphs are easy to follow. Linking phrases such as “as a result”, “another reason”, “in addition” and “over time” are used accurately.

Lexical Resource:
The vocabulary is appropriate for the topic, including “cost of living”, “quality time”, “emotional support”, “guidance”, “family relationships” and “family bonds”. However, the range is not especially sophisticated.

Grammar:
The grammar is mostly accurate. There is some variety in sentence structure, but many sentences are straightforward and predictable.

How to improve it:
To reach Band 7 or higher, the essay would need more precise development, stronger examples and more flexible sentence structures.

Band 8 Model Answer

In many households, children appear to spend less time with their parents than previous generations did. This change is largely the result of economic pressure, demanding schedules and the growing role of technology in family life. Although children may gain some independence, the overall effect on family relationships is often negative.

One major reason for this trend is that parents are under increasing pressure to work longer hours. In many cities, housing, education and everyday expenses have become so costly that two full-time incomes are often necessary. As a result, parents may leave home early, return late and have limited energy for meaningful interaction with their children. Children’s lives have also become more structured. Many attend extra lessons, sports training or other organised activities after school, leaving less time for ordinary family routines such as eating together or talking in the evening. Technology has intensified this problem, as even when families are physically together, they may be mentally separated by phones, games or social media.

The effects can be serious. Children who spend little time with their parents may receive less emotional guidance, especially during difficult stages such as adolescence. Parents may also be slower to notice changes in behaviour, problems at school or signs of stress. This can weaken trust because children may start to turn first to friends, online communities or social media for advice. Family relationships may then become more practical than emotional, with conversations limited to homework, rules and daily arrangements. While some children may become more independent, this independence can come at the cost of security, confidence and a strong sense of belonging.

In conclusion, this trend is mainly caused by work pressures, busier childhood schedules and technology. It can reduce communication and emotional closeness within families, making it harder for parents and children to build strong, supportive relationships.

Word count: 292 words

Band 8 Explanation

This is a stronger essay because it answers both questions with more depth and a more mature argument.

Task Response:
The essay fully addresses both parts of the question. It explains the causes clearly: economic pressure, demanding schedules and technology. It then explains the effects on children and family relationships in detail, including emotional guidance, trust and communication.

Coherence and Cohesion:
The essay is well organised. The first body paragraph focuses on reasons for the trend. The second body paragraph focuses on effects. The conclusion summarises both parts without adding unnecessary new ideas.

Lexical Resource:
The vocabulary is precise and topic-specific:

economic pressure
demanding schedules
growing role of technology
meaningful interaction
ordinary family routines
physically together
mentally separated
emotional guidance
adolescence
signs of stress
online communities
more practical than emotional
strong sense of belonging

The language is natural and controlled.

Grammar:
The essay uses a strong range of sentence structures:

“This change is largely the result of…”
“In many cities, housing, education and everyday expenses have become so costly that…”
“As a result, parents may…”
“Children who spend little time with their parents may…”
“While some children may become more independent…”

The grammar is flexible, accurate and appropriate for a Band 8 response.

Key Lesson for Students

For a two-part direct question essay, answer both questions directly and clearly.

For this question, a strong structure is:

Body paragraph 1: Why children spend less time with parents
Body paragraph 2: How this affects children and family relationships

A strong position is:

This trend is mainly caused by work pressure, busy schedules and technology, and it can weaken communication, emotional support and family bonds.

Useful Phrases for This Essay

Explaining causes

One major reason for this trend is…
Many parents are under pressure to work longer hours.
The rising cost of living means that…
Children’s schedules have become more demanding.
Technology can reduce face-to-face communication.
Even when families are physically together, they may not be fully engaged with each other.

Explaining effects

This can reduce emotional closeness within the family.
Children may receive less guidance from their parents.
Parents may be less aware of their children’s problems.
Family conversations may become less frequent and less meaningful.
Children may turn to friends or social media for advice.
Over time, family bonds may become weaker.

Writing the conclusion

In conclusion, this trend is mainly caused by…
The main effects are weaker communication and less emotional support.
Although children may become more independent, family relationships may suffer.

Practice Task

Before reading the model answers again, write your own essay using this position:

Children spend less time with their parents because of long working hours, busy schedules and technology. This can weaken emotional support, communication and family relationships.

Try to include:

a clear conclusion that answers both questions

one paragraph explaining the main causes

one paragraph explaining the effects on children and family relationships

IELTS Writing Task 2: Family and Child Development