In some countries around the world men and women are having children late in life.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 2 question on IELTSX. In some countries around the world men and women are having children late in life.

Reasons and effects of men and women having children late in life - IELTS Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

What are the reasons for this development? What are the effects on society and family life?

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 ยท 554 words.

In several countries all over the world, couples are choosing to have children at an advanced age. There are several reasons for this trend, and it has significant consequences for both society and the family unit.

There are two primary reasons behind this shift in family planning. Firstly, changing societal attitudes and modern trends have made it more socially acceptable to delay parenthood. Nowadays, numerous trends on social media can negatively influence people's perceptions of family life and the process of building a strong family and raising children. For instance, social media often promotes career success, personal freedom, travel, and a child-free lifestyle, which may influence people's decisions about parenthood. This is particularly evident in South Korea, where such cultural shifts have contributed to one of the lowest birth rates and highest average parental ages in the world. As a result, many young people choose to postpone starting a family until later in life, once they feel more prepared or have achieved these personal goals. Secondly, young people have started prioritising themselves and their careers over starting a family, which is a significant shift from the priorities of previous generations. In the past, the majority of people believed that having a family and children before the age of 30 was an important part of a happy life. Nevertheless, as time has passed, attitudes towards these values have changed considerably, which has had a significant impact on people's decisions about parenthood today. Due to numerous advancements in education and expanding career opportunities, many young people now choose to focus on personal growth and financial stability first. For example, in many European countries such as Italy and Spain, women are increasingly pursuing higher education and establishing their careers before starting a family, often choosing to have their first child in their mid-thirties rather than their twenties.

Turning to the effects of this trend, there are two significant consequences for both society and family life. For society, it could have effects such as an ageing population. Because of late parenthood, the proportion of elderly people compared to younger generations will increase significantly. Consequently, it could negatively affect the economy of a country due to a shrinking workforce, putting additional pressure on the younger generation to support both the economy and an increasing elderly population. For example, Japan is already experiencing rapid population ageing, partly due to persistently low birth rates, which has contributed to a shrinking workforce and increased pressure on social welfare systems. Secondly, family life could also be affected in terms of the relationship between parents and children. Because of the significant age gap between parents and children, they may struggle to relate to one another or share common interests, which can create emotional distance within the family. For instance, older parents may have less energy to engage in physical activities with their children or may hold more traditional views that differ from their children's generation, leading to potential misunderstandings or a weaker parent-child bond.

In conclusion, changing societal attitudes and a growing focus on personal careers have contributed to the trend of delayed parenthood. This, in turn, has led to significant consequences, ranging from an ageing population and economic strain to weaker family bonds between generations. If this trend continues, governments may need to introduce supportive policies for both ageing populations and young families.

Examiner feedback

The essay is a strong, well-structured response that thoroughly explores both the reasons for and consequences of delayed parenthood. It demonstrates advanced vocabulary, accurate grammar, and cohesive organization supported by relevant global examples.

Task Response - 8

- Fully addresses all parts of the task with clear reasons and consequences. - Well-developed ideas supported by specific examples such as South Korea, Italy, Spain, and Japan. - Maintains a clear and consistent position throughout the essay.

Coherence & Cohesion - 8

- Logically sequences information and ideas with clear progression. - Uses a range of cohesive devices effectively and appropriately. - Employs clear paragraphing with distinct central topics.

Lexical Resource - 8

- Uses a wide range of vocabulary flexibly to convey precise meanings. - Skilfully employs uncommon lexical items like "advanced age", "shrinking workforce", and "social welfare systems". - Maintains natural control of lexical features with virtually no errors.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 8

- Uses a wide range of complex grammatical structures accurately. - The majority of sentences are error-free with excellent punctuation control. - Demonstrates strong control over subordination and complex sentence forms.

Related prompts

Start Practice