Some say that because many people are living much longer, the age at which people retire from work should be raised considerably. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Introduction
When you write your IELTS essay, start with an introduction by paraphrasing the question. What does that mean? It means you say the same idea in a different way.
Plan your answer
Before you start writing, just take a minute to plan. I know it feels like a waste of time, but trust me — it saves you later.
Think: What’s my opinion? What are my two main points? How am I going to organize them?
Body paragraphs
Okay, so once you’ve got your outline, the next step is to turn it into full paragraphs. Your outline is like the skeleton, and now you’re adding the flesh.
Take one main idea from your plan and make it the topic sentence. Then explain it—give a reason why. After that, add an example to make it clear and specific. That’s it! One idea = one paragraph.
Don’t try to squeeze too many ideas in. Keep it simple: Topic sentence → Explanation → Example.
Conclusion
- Summarize key points/main ideas
- Give your opinion
Sample Answer
It is argued that the government should raise the retirement age in response to rising life expectancy. I completely disagree with this view because people deserve sufficient time to enjoy life after decades of work, and such a policy could pose serious risks to public health.
The key reason for my opposition is that raising the retirement age would deprive individuals of the opportunity to actually enjoy their old age. If people were required to continue working until their late sixties, for example, they may no longer have the health or energy to pursue personal interests by the time they retire. A construction worker, for example, might still be relatively able at the age of 60 to travel with family or pursue hobbies, but this would likely not be the case after continuing in a physically demanding role for another five or ten years. Therefore, I am convinced that making people work longer undermines the very purpose of retirement, which is to allow people to rest and experience life beyond work.
Another significant concern is the potential impact on public health. When senior workers are compelled to stay in the workforce for additional years instead of being allowed to rest, they are more susceptible to age-related health problems, such as chronic fatigue and burnout. These conditions not only diminish quality of life but also impose a substantial financial burden on national healthcare systems, as prolonged stress and physical strain often lead to costly medical treatment. In France, for example, after the government raised the retirement age from 60 to 62, public health studies reported a noticeable increase in cases of hypertension and heart disease among employees in their late sixties.
In conclusion, I strongly disagree with the proposal to raise the retirement age because workers should be given adequate time to enjoy their later years, and extending working life could create serious health challenges.
Useful vocabulary
- life expectancy = the average number of years a person is expected to live
- pose serious risks = create or present significant dangers or threats
- deprive = to take something away from someone or prevent them from having it
- undermines = weakens or makes something less effective
- are compelled to = are forced or obligated to do something
- susceptible = likely to be affected by or vulnerable to something
- chronic fatigue = extreme tiredness that lasts for a long period and doesn’t improve with rest
- burnout = a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress
- diminish = to reduce or make something smaller or less important
- hypertension = abnormally high blood pressure
- proposal = a suggestion or plan for consideration
