IELTS Writing Task 2: Working Parents - Band 6.0 Sample with Full Breakdown

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The Prompt

Paraphrased Prompt:

Many parents today work full-time jobs while raising children. What are the challenges these working parents face? Should they receive more support from governments and employers? Give relevant examples and support your position with evidence.

Note: This is a paraphrased version of a common IELTS Writing Task 2 prompt. The original prompt is copyrighted by Cambridge Assessment English.

Model Answers

Band 6.0 Answer

Sample Answer:

Working parents face many difficulties in balancing their jobs and family life. One big challenge is finding good childcare. Many parents cannot afford quality daycare or nannies, and this makes their lives very stressful. Another problem is the long working hours. Some parents work more than 40 hours a week, and this leaves little time for their children. Additionally, working parents often feel guilty for not spending enough time with their kids. Governments and employers should help these parents by providing better childcare options and flexible working hours. For example, some companies allow employees to work from home a few days a week. This helps parents spend more time with their children. Governments can also offer tax breaks to parents who use childcare services. These supports would make life easier for working parents and their families.

Scoring Breakdown:

• Task Response (TR): The answer addresses the task but lacks depth and complexity. The position is clear but not fully developed with relevant examples.
• Coherence and Cohesion (CC): The ideas are logically organized but with some repetition and lack of clear progression.
• Lexical Resource (LR): The range of vocabulary is limited, with some errors in word choice and collocations.
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA): The grammar is generally accurate but with some errors in sentence structure and tense usage.

Band 7.0 Answer

Sample Answer:

In contemporary society, an increasing number of parents are engaged in full-time employment while raising children, which presents various challenges. One significant issue is the lack of affordable and high-quality childcare services. According to a recent study by Cambridge Assessment English, 60% of working parents in urban areas struggle to find suitable childcare within their budget. Another critical challenge is the rigid working hours that many employers enforce, leaving parents with minimal time to spend with their children. For instance, a survey conducted by the UK government revealed that 45% of working parents reported feeling perpetually exhausted due to the demands of their jobs and family responsibilities. To alleviate these pressures, governments and employers should implement supportive measures. Governments could subsidize childcare costs, making it more accessible to all families. Employers, on the hand, could introduce flexible working arrangements, such as compressed workweeks or remote work options. By adopting these strategies, societies can better support working parents and promote a healthier work-life balance.

Scoring Breakdown:

• Task Response (TR): The answer fully addresses the task with a clear position and relevant examples. The arguments are well-developed and supported with evidence.
• Coherence and Cohesion (CC): The ideas are logically organized with clear progression and effective use of cohesive devices.
• Lexical Resource (LR): The range of vocabulary is sufficient, with some less common lexical items used appropriately. There are few errors in word choice and collocations.
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA): The grammar is generally accurate with a mix of simple and complex sentence forms. There are occasional errors but they do not impede understanding.

Band 8.0 Answer

Sample Answer:

The phenomenon of working parents juggling professional and familial responsibilities has become increasingly prevalent in the 21st century, presenting a myriad of challenges that necessitate societal intervention. One of the most pressing issues is the dearth of affordable, high-quality childcare facilities. A comprehensive report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) highlighted that in many developed nations, the cost of childcare can consume up to 30% of a dual-income household's earnings, placing an enormous financial burden on working parents. Furthermore, the inflexible nature of many workplaces exacerbates this issue, as parents are often compelled to adhere to rigid schedules that conflict with their children's needs. For example, a study published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology found that parents working in sectors with inflexible hours were 2.5 times more likely to experience chronic stress and burnout. To mitigate these challenges, a multifaceted approach is required. Governments should invest in subsidized childcare programs and implement policies that mandate employers to provide flexible working arrangements. Additionally, employers could benefit from offering on-site childcare facilities or partnering with local daycare centers to provide discounted services. By adopting these measures, societies can foster an environment that supports working parents and promotes the well-being of future generations.

Scoring Breakdown:

• Task Response (TR): The answer fully addresses the task with a clear position and comprehensive development. The arguments are well-supported with relevant, specific examples and evidence.
• Coherence and Cohesion (CC): The ideas are logically organized with clear progression and effective use of cohesive devices. The answer is easy to follow and engaging.
• Lexical Resource (LR): The range of vocabulary is sophisticated, with a variety of less common lexical items used appropriately. There are few errors in word choice and collocations.
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA): The grammar is generally accurate with a mix of simple and complex sentence forms. There are occasional errors but they do not impede understanding.

Vocabulary Highlights

1. Challenge (noun): A difficult task or problem. Example: Working parents face numerous challenges in balancing their careers and family life.
2. Childcare (noun): The care and supervision of children, typically by someone other than the parents. Example: Affordable childcare is a major concern for working parents.
3. Stressful (adjective): Causing or involving a great deal of stress. Example: The lack of childcare options makes life very stressful for working parents.
4. Flexible (adjective): Willing to change or try new things. Example: Employers should offer flexible working hours to support working parents.
5. Guilty (adjective): Feeling responsible for a wrongdoing. Example: Many working parents feel guilty for not spending enough time with their children.
6. Subsidize (verb): To provide financial assistance or support. Example: Governments could subsidize childcare costs to make it more accessible.
7. Rigid (adjective): Strict and uncompromising. Example: The rigid working hours make it difficult for parents to spend time with their children.
8. Tax breaks (noun): A reduction in the amount of tax that someone has to pay. Example: Governments can offer tax breaks to parents who use childcare services.
9. Affordable (adjective): Inexpensive; reasonably priced. Example: Many parents cannot afford quality daycare or nannies.
10. Quality (noun): The standard of something as measured against other things of a similar kind; the degree of excellence of something. Example: There is a lack of affordable and high-quality childcare services.
11. Support (verb): To give assistance or approval to someone or something. Example: Governments and employers should support working parents by providing better childcare options.
12. Work-life balance (noun): The balance between the demands of a career and the demands of one's personal life. Example: Flexible working hours can help parents achieve a better work-life balance.
13. Promote (verb): To encourage or support the progress or existence of something. Example: These supports would promote a healthier work-life balance for working parents.
14. Accessible (adjective): Easily obtained or used. Example: Governments could make childcare more accessible to all families.
15. Compressed workweeks (noun): A schedule that allows employees to work longer hours over fewer days. Example: Employers could introduce compressed workweeks to support working parents.
16. Remote work (noun): Work that is done away from the usual place of employment, typically at home. Example: Some companies allow employees to work from home a few days a week.
17. Strategies (noun): A plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim. Example: By adopting these strategies, societies can better support working parents.
18. Prevalent (adjective): Existing, occurring, or found widely or habitually. Example: The phenomenon of working parents juggling professional and familial responsibilities has become increasingly prevalent.
19. Dearth (noun): A scarcity or lack of something. Example: One significant issue is the dearth of affordable, high-quality childcare facilities.
20. Inflexible (adjective): Not readily adaptable; resistant to change. Example: The inflexible nature of many workplaces exacerbates this issue.
21. Exacerbate (verb): To make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse. Example: The inflexible nature of many workplaces exacerbates this issue.
22. Compelled (verb): To force or drive someone to do something. Example: Parents are often compelled to adhere to rigid schedules that conflict with their children's needs.
23. Chronic (adjective): Persisting for a long time or constantly recurring. Example: A study found that parents working in sectors with inflexible hours were more likely to experience chronic stress.
24. Burnout (noun): Physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress. Example: Many working parents experience burnout due to the demands of their jobs and family responsibilities.
25. Mitigate (verb): To make less severe, serious, or painful. Example: To mitigate these challenges, a multifaceted approach is required.
26. Multifaceted (adjective): Having many different aspects or features. Example: A multifaceted approach is required to support working parents.
27. Invest (verb): To put money, effort, or time into something to achieve a future benefit. Example: Governments should invest in subsidized childcare programs.
28. Mandate (verb): To give official permission for something to happen, or to order something to be done. Example: Governments should mandate employers to provide flexible working arrangements.
29. On-site (adjective): Located at or on the premises of an organization or institution. Example: Employers could offer on-site childcare facilities to support working parents.
30. Partner (verb): To cooperate with someone in order to achieve a goal. Example: Employers could partner with local daycare centers to provide discounted services.

Common Mistakes Students Make

1. Lack of Specific Examples: Many students fail to provide specific examples to support their arguments, leading to a lower score in Task Response.
2. Poor Organization: Some students struggle with organizing their ideas coherently, resulting in a lower score in Coherence and Cohesion.
3. Limited Vocabulary: Students often use a limited range of vocabulary, which can lower their score in Lexical Resource.
4. Grammatical Errors: Common grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement and tense consistency, can negatively impact the Grammatical Range and Accuracy score.
5. Repetition: Repeating the same ideas or words can make the response seem less sophisticated and can lower the overall score.
6. Off-Topic Responses: Some students may go off-topic, addressing issues not relevant to the prompt, which can significantly lower the Task Response score.
7. Inadequate Development of Ideas: Students often present their ideas without sufficient development, leading to a lower score in Task Response and Coherence and Cohesion.
8. Overuse of Simple Sentences: Relying too much on simple sentences can make the response seem less sophisticated and can lower the Grammatical Range and Accuracy score.
9. Poor Paraphrasing: Some students may not paraphrase the prompt effectively, leading to a lower score in Task Response.
10. Inadequate Conclusion: Failing to provide a clear and concise conclusion can leave the response feeling incomplete and can lower the overall score.

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