Some countries spend a lot of money preparing competitors to take part in major competitions such as Olympic Games or football World Cup. Some people say that it would be better to spend this money encouraging children to take up sports from a young age.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 2 question on IELTSX. Some countries spend a lot of money preparing competitors to take part in major competitions such as Olympic Games or football World Cup. Some people say that it would be better to spend this money encouraging children to take up sports from a…

Spending money on major competitions versus encouraging children in sports - IELTS Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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 · 325 words.

Many governments invest huge amounts of money in training elite athletes for international competitions such as the Olympic Games or the FIFA World Cup. While this can bring national pride and international recognition, I strongly agree that a larger proportion of this funding should be spent on encouraging children to participate in sports from an early age.

On the one hand, supporting professional athletes has certain advantages. Successful sportspeople can inspire citizens, unite countries, and improve a nation’s global image. For example, when athletes win gold medals or football teams achieve international success, people often experience a sense of pride and togetherness. In addition, hosting or succeeding in major sporting events can boost tourism and economic activity. Therefore, governments are justified in allocating some funding to high-performance sports programs.

However, investing in children’s sports development offers far greater long-term benefits for society. First, regular physical activity improves children’s health and helps reduce problems such as obesity, heart disease, and stress. If governments provide better sports facilities in schools, affordable clubs, and qualified coaches, more young people will develop healthy lifestyles that continue into adulthood.

Second, encouraging sports participation among children creates a larger pool of future talent. Instead of focusing resources on a small number of elite athletes, governments could nurture millions of young people who may later become successful competitors themselves. Countries with strong grassroots sports systems often perform better internationally because talented athletes emerge naturally from widespread participation.

Finally, sports teach children important life skills, including teamwork, discipline, leadership, and perseverance. These qualities are valuable not only in sports but also in education and future careers. As a result, society as a whole benefits when children are encouraged to be active from a young age.

In conclusion, although funding elite athletes can enhance national prestige, I believe governments should prioritize spending on children’s sports programs. This approach would improve public health, develop future champions, and create broader social benefits for the entire population.

Examiner feedback

This is an exceptional essay that demonstrates a sophisticated command of the English language and a clear understanding of the task. The arguments are balanced, logical, and extremely well-articulated, meeting the criteria for the highest bands across all categories.

Task Response - 9

- Fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the benefits of elite funding and the advantages of youth sports. - Presents a clear and consistent position throughout the essay. - Ideas are fully developed, well-supported with relevant examples, and logically extended.

Coherence & Cohesion - 9

- Paragraphing is expertly managed with a clear, logical flow from introduction to conclusion. - Cohesion is used so naturally that it attracts no attention; transitions between ideas are seamless. - Each paragraph has a clear central topic that is developed sequentially.

Lexical Resource - 8

- Uses a wide range of vocabulary (e.g., 'national prestige', 'grassroots sports systems', 'nurture', 'allocating') with precision. - Shows strong awareness of collocation and style appropriate for an academic task. - Very rare minor inaccuracies in word choice do not detract from the overall high quality.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 9

- Demonstrates a wide range of structures with full flexibility and accuracy. - Sentence structures are sophisticated, using a mix of conditional clauses and complex subordination. - Punctuation and grammar are virtually error-free, with any minor issues being mere 'slips' rather than systemic errors.

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