Task 2 · · 15 samples

There is an increasing trend around the world of married couples deciding not to have children. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for couples who decide to do this.

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Plan your answer

Try your own response before reading the samples.

Ideas to explore

  • Discuss how not having childcare responsibilities may allow partners to focus on careers, study or travel.
  • Explain that couples may have more time and resources for their relationship and personal interests.
  • Consider possible social exclusion or concerns about later-life support, while noting that these outcomes are not inevitable.

Suggested structure

  1. Introduce the trend and indicate that both advantages and disadvantages will be discussed.
  2. Use one body paragraph to explain benefits, supported by concrete examples such as further education or travel.
  3. Use a second body paragraph for social and later-life concerns, qualifying claims rather than treating them as certain.
  4. Conclude by summarising the trade-off and noting that the choice depends on individual priorities.
Useful vocabulary & examples
daily responsibilities
The regular duties that need to be done each day.

Without the daily responsibilities of raising children, couples may have more time for work and personal interests.

career ambitions
A person’s goals and plans for professional progress.

Some couples may choose a child-free life to give more time to their career ambitions.

social inclusion
Feeling accepted and involved in a social group or community.

Couples may seek shared activities to maintain social inclusion when many friends are parents.

family support network
Relatives who may offer practical help or companionship.

Some people worry that they may have a smaller family support network in later life.

Sample answers

AI-completed learning example

262 words · Illustrative target band

An increasing number of married couples around the world choosing to remain childless. The main benefits of not having a child for couples are that they can focus on their careers and have more time for themselves. The main drawbacks are that they could not fit into their peers’ group and have no one to support them when they grow older. For couples who make this choice, having more time and money available can offe…

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AI-completed learning example

357 words · Illustrative target band

One of the most conspicuous topics is that married couples are now making a decision about not having children. The main benefit of not having children is gaining a long-term career, and the drawback is that as people get older, no one cares about them. In many developed countries around the world, the percentage of couples making this choice is described as increasing in the prompt. The important question here is wh…

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AI-completed learning example

354 words · Illustrative target band

Nowadays, more and more couples are choosing to not have a child. This trend brings about both positive and negative impacts. While remaining childless would give couples more time to develop their career and care for themselves, these couples would have no one to take care of them when they get older and they would might reconsider their decision later. However, it would be too absolute to assume that nobody can sup…

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