Here is my model essay on the topic of saving money. Is it important to save money for the future? What do you think? Here is my response, with a plan, a vocabulary list and some practice exercises for you, as well as the full essay.
Task
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic:
It is important for everyone, including young people, to save money for their future.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.
Cambridge IELTS Academic 19 Test 3
Plan
Essay
It is often argued that people need to save more for their future, rather than give in to the lure of overspending. I largely agree with this, although saving can sometimes be taken to extremes.
The most important reason why it is crucial to save is that it gives you a financial buffer should you lose your job, find yourself too ill to work or simply because you are retired. Many people spend everything they earn almost immediately, living hand-to-mouth, meaning that if they fall on hard times, they will have no money to see them through. It’s also important to save for retirement. Even if you are fortunate enough to live in a country that provides a state pension, it is unlikely to give you a comfortable retirement, so any savings will help you enjoy life in later years.
In addition, savings provide people with extra income in the form of interest payments on savings Although these may be small, they compound over time, and so long-term savers will be less dependent on earnings from employment.
However, I also think it is important not to take saving to an extreme. Some people constantly scrimp and save, rarely going on holiday or eating out, in order to save every penny. This may be taking things too far, since I think it is important to strike a balance between saving for the future and enjoying the pleasures of life in the present.
In conclusion, I strongly believe in the need to save, both to provide a degree of financial security and as an additional source of income. However, that does not mean you should forego all spending as you also need to enjoy life now.
(284 words)
Vocabulary List
Here is a list of natural vocabulary that will give this essay a high band score for Lexical Resource. Many words have a precise meaning (eg “retired”, “crucial”). Some show a good understanding of natural collocation (eg “state pension”, “later years”, “taking things too far”). There are also some examples of colloquial and idiomatic language (eg “living hand-to-mouth”, “fall on hard times”).
Notice that almost all of this vocabulary are GROUPS of words, not individual words. At Band 7 and above, IELTS Examiners are looking for groups of words (lexical items), not just individual words.
- it is often argued
- give in to the lure of overspending
- I largely agree
- can sometimes be taken to extremes
- crucial
- a financial buffer
- retired
- living hand-to-mouth
- fall on hard times
- to see them through
- provides a state pension
- a comfortable retirement
- in later years
- interest payments
- they compound over time
- take saving to an extreme
- scrimp and save
- save every penny
- taking things too far
- important to strike a balance between
- enjoying the pleasures of life
- provide a degree of financial security
- an additional source of income
- forego all spending
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1
Complete the essay by dragging the correct words into the spaces. Try to do this without looking at the essay above!
