170 ielts essay samples

Position:
Writer refers to a number of reasons in the introduction, and to the need for a 
balanced view in the conclusion. 
Main ideas:
First sentence of the second paragraph; first and second sentences of the 
third paragraph; second sentence of the fourth paragraph. 
Linkers:
and, according to, some people, such as, if, then, there is another argument, 
because, or, there is a third factor, however, not only, also, the two views discussed, but, 
as well as 
Reference words:
the, this, who, themselves, these, this view, they, their, them 
Topic vocabulary:
medical experts, shops, unhealthy, fatty foods, chips, cooked, take-
away food, chocolate, sweet and salty, exercise, walk, television, computers, video 
games, unhealthy pastime, junk food, active games, sport, fast food outlets 
Sentence types:
A wide range of complex structures and sentences is used. 
Length:
286 words 

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43 
50. In many countries today, the eating habits and lifestyle of children are different 
from those of previous generations. Some people say this has had a negative effect 
on their health. 
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
It has recently been suggested that the way children eat and live nowadays has led to a 
deterioration in their health. I entirely agree with this view, and believe that this alarming 
situation has come about for several reasons. 
To begin with, there is the worrying increase in the amount of processed food that 
children are eating at home, with little or none of the fresh fruit and vegetables that earlier 
generations ate every day. Secondly, more and more young people are choosing to eat in 
fast-food restaurants, which may be harmless occasionally, but not every day. What they 
eat there is extremely high in fat, salt and sugar, all of which can be damaging to their 
health. 
There is also a disturbing decline in the amount of exercise they get. Schools have 
become obsessed with exams, with the shocking result that some pupils now do no sports 
at all. To make matters worse, few even get any exercise on the way to and from school, 
as most of them go in their parents’ cars rather than walk or cycle. Finally, children are 
spending far more time at home, playing computer games, watching TV or surfing the 
Internet. They no longer play outside with friends or take part in challenging outdoor 
activities. 
To sum up, although none of these changes could, on its own, have caused widespread 
harm to children’s health, there can be little doubt that all of them together have had a 
devastating effect. This, in my opinion, can only be reversed by encouraging children to 
return to move traditional ways of eating and living. 
(267 words)