Many working people do not have enough free time off work to spend with their families and friends.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 2 question on IELTSX. Many working people do not have enough free time off work to spend with their families and friends.

Working People Insufficient Free Time Family Friends Reasons - IELTS Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Why is this the case? What are the effects on family life and society as a whole?

Write at least 250 words.

A student's answer to this task, and the feedback on it

Written by an IELTSX user under exam conditions and published unedited and anonymously. Band 8.5 ยท 283 words.

Many employees today struggle to allocate sufficient time to their personal relationships due to increasing work demands. This essay will examine the reasons behind this trend and discuss its consequences for both family life and society.

One primary reason why working individuals lack free time is the intensifying competition in the global job market. In order to secure stable employment or achieve career advancement, many people feel compelled to work longer hours, often exceeding standard schedules. Additionally, the rise of technology has blurred the boundary between work and personal life, as employees are expected to remain available through emails and messaging platforms even after working hours. Financial pressure is another contributing factor, particularly in urban areas where the cost of living is high, forcing individuals to take on extra jobs or overtime work. As a result, leisure time is often sacrificed in favor of professional responsibilities.

The consequences of this trend are significant and far-reaching. Within families, limited interaction can weaken emotional bonds between members, especially between parents and children, potentially leading to feelings of neglect and misunderstanding. Over time, this may result in long-term psychological and behavioral issues among younger generations. On a broader scale, society may experience a decline in social cohesion, as individuals have fewer opportunities to engage in community activities or maintain friendships. This lack of social connection can contribute to increased stress levels, loneliness, and even mental health problems, ultimately reducing overall well-being and productivity.

In conclusion, excessive work commitments driven by economic and technological factors have significantly reduced the amount of free time people can dedicate to their loved ones. This not only undermines family relationships but also poses serious challenges to societal harmony and mental health.

Examiner feedback

This is an exceptionally strong essay that demonstrates a clear understanding of the prompt and high-level linguistic control. The arguments are logical, the structure is professional, and the language is natural and precise. It effectively bridges the gap between reasons and consequences with sophisticated transitions.

Task Response - 8

- Sufficiently addresses all parts of the task by explaining reasons (competition, technology, finance) and consequences (family bonds, social cohesion). - Presents a well-developed response with relevant and supported ideas. - To reach Band 9, the response could have provided even more nuanced or 'fully extended' examples rather than just explaining the mechanisms of the trends.

Coherence & Cohesion - 9

- Skilfully manages paragraphing with a clear, logical flow from introduction to body paragraphs and conclusion. - Uses cohesion in such a way that it attracts no attention, with transitions like 'Additionally', 'As a result', and 'In conclusion' feeling entirely natural. - Information and ideas are sequenced logically, providing a clear progression throughout the response.

Lexical Resource - 8

- Uses a wide range of vocabulary fluently and flexibly to convey precise meanings (e.g., 'intensifying competition', 'blurred the boundary', 'social cohesion'). - Skilfully uses uncommon lexical items with awareness of style and collocation, though it stays slightly within the 'safe' academic range rather than the 'sophisticated' rare minor slip range of Band 9. - Spelling and word formation are accurate throughout.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 9

- Uses a wide range of structures with full flexibility and accuracy; complex sentences are handled with ease. - The essay is virtually error-free, demonstrating a high level of control over grammar and punctuation. - Structures such as 'driven by economic and technological factors have significantly reduced...' demonstrate sophisticated grammatical control.

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