In this post: The population questions that come up most, and 8 lines of reasoning on young and ageing populations and family responsibility, seen from three angles: government, family and individual.
Population and Society · 3 parts
- 1. Common questions and 8 arguments (you are here)
- 2. Collocations and my 7.5 essays
- 3. Models, mistakes and practice
Population is a topic where the questions look academic but the content is really about everyday life. Ageing societies, falling birth rates and the share of young people sound like an economics textbook, but what you actually end up writing about is very ordinary: who pays the taxes, who looks after the children, who cares for parents when they grow old, and how young people who are busy with work find time for their kids.
This is the last post in the Topic Guides series. Two of the essays I had marked happen to fall under this topic: “in some countries there are more young adults than older people; do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?” (Task 45) and “the advantages and disadvantages of telling children they can achieve anything if they work hard” (Task 43). Both scored 7.5 overall. This post breaks down their paragraphs and also turns the ageing arguments from my notes into lines of reasoning. For a quick vocabulary list, see the “Social issues” section of Task 2 Topic Vocabulary (Part 2).
1. Common questions on this topic
Population questions fall into two broad groups: population structure (more young people or more old people, life expectancy, birth rates) and family and generations (caring for elderly relatives, raising children, young people becoming independent).
| # | Question (paraphrased) | Question type | My version |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | In some countries there are more young adults than older people. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? | Outweigh | Task 45 (marked, 7.5 overall) |
| 2 | Some cultures often tell children that they can achieve anything if they try hard enough. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this? | Advantages / Disadvantages | Task 43 (marked, 7.5 overall) |
| 3 | Many countries have ageing populations. What problems does this cause, and how can they be solved? | Two-question (problems + solutions) | Ideas in my notes (pros and cons of ageing) |
| 4 | People are living longer. Is this a positive or negative development? | Positive / Negative | Ideas in my notes |
| 5 | Should caring for elderly parents be the responsibility of the family or the government? | Discuss both views | Not written; use the argument bank |
| 6 | Should governments raise the retirement age? | Agree / Disagree | Not written; use the argument bank |
| 7 | Should governments offer financial incentives to encourage people to have children? | Agree / Disagree | Not written; use the argument bank |
| 8 | More and more young adults live with their parents after they grow up. Is this positive or negative? | Positive / Negative | Not written; use the argument bank |
The most useful thinking framework for population questions is three players: the government, the family and the individual. The same population change is a question of tax and spending for the government, of care and time for the family, and of work and well-being for the individual. In Task 45, my two advantages were about the government (tax revenue) and society (competitiveness), and the disadvantage was about the family (childcare). That is exactly how this framework unfolds.
2. Arguments for and against: 8 lines of reasoning
“My essay” means an argument from an essay I had marked, “my notes” means an idea from my notes, and “model” means one I added afterwards.
A large young population: benefits and costs
For 1: More young workers mean more tax revenue for the government (my essay, Task 45)
Point: Young adults are the main source of tax and social insurance contributions.
Explanation: The larger the working-age population, the more people pay taxes and insurance premiums. Higher government income means more budget that can be used flexibly on education, infrastructure or welfare.
Example: In Task 45 I used Taiwan’s National Health Insurance (a compulsory public health insurance scheme) as the example: when more people pay into it, the income of this mandatory scheme rises too.
The primary benefit of a large young population is that it increases government revenue, as working-age adults are the main source of taxes and insurance contributions.
For 2: A young population brings productivity and competitiveness (my essay, Task 45)
Point: With a large young workforce, society as a whole becomes more productive and competitive.
Explanation: The younger generation has received the most up-to-date education, is more familiar with new technology and learns quickly. When they make up most of the workforce, companies find it easier to adopt new technology, and the country becomes more competitive.
Example: The example in Task 45 was computer programming: young workers are more familiar with the latest technology, so their work can make a positive contribution to the country.
A younger workforce also enhances a nation’s competitiveness, since young workers are usually more familiar with the latest technology.
Against 1: Young parents are busy at work and have fewer grandparents to help with the children (my essay, Task 45)
Point: When the share of older people is low, young families face more pressure over childcare.
Explanation: Once young adults enter the workforce, they have less time with their children. If there are no grandparents at home to help, parents have to pay for a childminder or a nursery, which adds both financial and emotional pressure.
Example: What I wrote in Task 45: after young people start work, they lose time with their children, and the situation gets worse if they cannot get help from the older generation.
However, a smaller elderly population means that young working parents receive less help with childcare.
Against 2: With too many young people and too few jobs, unemployment follows (model)
Point: A large young population only helps if the economy can provide enough jobs.
Explanation: If the job market does not grow as fast as the young population, many young people will be unable to find work. Long-term unemployment not only wastes human potential but can also lead to social discontent and unrest.
Example: A hypothetical example: a country produces large numbers of university graduates every year, but only some of them can be absorbed by new jobs, so many young people end up in low-paid work unrelated to their degree, or stay unemployed for a long time.
If the economy cannot create enough jobs, a large young population may lead to high youth unemployment.
Ageing: a burden or a resource?
Against 3: Ageing adds to the financial burden on governments and families (my notes)
Point: As the elderly population grows, spending on pensions and healthcare rises sharply.
Explanation: More retirees and fewer workers mean fewer taxpayers and more people drawing pensions. Demand for healthcare also rises, hospitals and medical staff are stretched, and the government has to cut budgets in other areas.
Example: I wrote this in my notes: training doctors and nurses takes a great deal of money and time, so healthcare services come under heavy pressure as the elderly population increases.
An ageing population places a heavy financial burden on both the government and households, as spending on pensions and healthcare rises.
For 3: Grandparents help with childcare and ease the load on working parents (my notes)
Point: Healthy older people are an important source of support for families.
Explanation: Most parents today work on weekdays. When grandparents help look after their grandchildren, this not only reduces the parents’ stress but also saves on childminder fees, and the children grow up in a familiar environment.
Example: What I wrote in my notes: older relatives can help look after grandchildren, reducing their adult children’s stress and the cost of hiring a childminder.
Elderly people can help look after their grandchildren, which relieves working parents of both stress and childcare costs.
For 4: Older people’s experience is a resource for the younger generation (my notes + model)
Point: Older people have built up decades of work and life experience.
Explanation: When young people face career choices or family problems, older people’s experience can offer a different perspective. If companies let senior staff retire later or work as advisers, they can also pass on skills and contacts to new employees.
Example: A hypothetical example: a factory asks a technician who is about to retire to train a new employee for a year. The newcomer learns not only the operating procedures but also how to judge what to do when a machine breaks down.
Older people can also share invaluable insights with the younger generation, both at home and in the workplace.
Family responsibility and upbringing: who is responsible?
Both sides 5: The message that “hard work brings success”: motivation and pressure (my essay, Task 43)
Point: Telling children that they can achieve anything if they work hard motivates them, but it ignores the possibility of failure.
Explanation: Children who believe effort pays off choose goals they really want to pursue and are willing to put in time to improve. But if no one ever tells them that failure is also possible, they may not cope with the pressure when setbacks come, and they may even underestimate the risks when they invest or start a business.
Example: The two sides in Task 43: the advantages are that it motivates children to pursue their real dreams and fulfil their potential; the disadvantages are possible financial losses and harm to mental health because they are not prepared for pressure.
Telling children that they can achieve anything motivates them to pursue ambitious goals, but it may also leave them unprepared for failure.
Continue reading · Part 2 of 3
IELTS Notes in English · Topic Guides (post 10 of 10)
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✦ Target Your Future
Some days you practise for hours and the score still does not move. I hope these notes remind you that the setbacks are part of the road: every recording you replayed, every essay you rewrote and every sentence you finally dared to say is progress you have already made.
I wrote this down so the next person can take fewer detours. You do not have to follow my method exactly. Find a rhythm that works for you, rest when you need to, and come back for the next small step.
I hope what you take away is more than a number on a score report: a little more confidence in yourself, and the courage to step a bit closer to the world.
— Ting
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