Many parents and teachers today think it is important to supervise children's activities very closely. Others say it is important to give children more freedom.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 2 question on IELTSX. Many parents and teachers today think it is important to supervise children's activities very closely. Others say it is important to give children more freedom.

Supervising children activities closely versus giving them more freedom - IELTS Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

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 7 · 270 words.

People hold cnflicting views regarding whether children should be supervised carefully or allowed greater freedom. While I acknowledge the merits of both views, I believe that the internet exposes kids to dangerous content and online predators- parental monitoring is essential in today's world.

Proponents of close supervision argue that, children lack the maturity to assess risks, so adults must protect them from harm by controlling their activities on social media or online games. First and foremost, nowadays the internet can leave young people vulnerable to inappropriate content, cyberbulling and online predators. Children are often unable to distinguish between reliable and harmful infotmation. Therefore, parents and teachers should guide them until they develop the knowledge and critical thinking skills needed to make informed decisions as they grow older. Finally, structured supervision helps children build discipline, healthy study habits, and respect for boundaries — qualities that serve them throughout their lives.

Those who advocate giving children more freedom argue that it helps them develop self-reliance and problem-solving skills. When children are allowed to explore and make their own decisions, they learn to take responsibility for their actions and gain confidence. Proponents of this view also contend that overprotective parenting can produce anxious, dependent adults who struggle to cope with the challenges of life.

To sum up, the debate ultimately comes down to finding the right balance between safety and independence. But I firmly believe that close supervision is more responsible approach in the modern world. Given the risks children are exposed to today, it is essential that parents and teachers provide consistent guidance and monitoring to ensure their safety and healthy development.

Examiner feedback

This is a strong Band 7.0 essay that clearly addresses the prompt with a logical structure and a consistent viewpoint. To reach a higher band, the candidate needs to eliminate minor spelling errors and ensure that the scope of the arguments fully reflects the breadth of the prompt's terminology.

Task Response - 7

- Addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the need for supervision and the importance of freedom. - Presents a clear position throughout the response, favoring supervision due to modern digital risks. - Ideas are relevant and supported, although the focus on the internet in the first body paragraph could be broadened to include other 'activities' mentioned in the prompt.

Coherence & Cohesion - 7

- Information and ideas are logically sequenced with clear progression throughout the essay. - Each paragraph has a clear central topic, effectively separating the arguments for supervision and freedom. - Cohesive devices such as 'While I acknowledge', 'Proponents of', and 'To sum up' are used appropriately to guide the reader.

Lexical Resource - 7

- Demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow for flexibility and precision (e.g., 'vulnerable', 'distinguish', 'self-reliance'). - There are several spelling errors ('cnflicting', 'cyberbulling', 'infotmation') which, while not impeding communication, prevent a higher score. - Good use of collocations such as 'critical thinking skills' and 'make informed decisions'.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 7

- Uses a variety of complex structures, including conditional sentences and relative clauses. - Most sentences are error-free, though there are minor issues with article usage ('a more responsible approach'). - Punctuation is generally good, though the use of the dash in the first paragraph is slightly informal.

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