Cambridge IELTS 11 Test 4 Writing Task 2: Economic Progress
Cambridge IELTS 11 · Test 4 · Academic Writing Task 2Discuss both viewsGovernment & law
Many governments believe economic progress is their most important goal, while some people think other types of progress are equally important for a country. Candidates must discuss both views and give their own opinion.
The question
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Many governments think that economic progress is their most important goal. Some people, however, think that other types of progress are equally important for a country. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion. Write at least 250 words.
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How to read the question
- This is a discussion essay: Discuss both these views and give your own opinion requires a balanced treatment of both views and a clear personal position, stated in the introduction and the conclusion.
- The first view says economic progress is the most important goal; the second says other types of progress are equally important. Note that the second view does not say the economy is unimportant, only that it is not more important.
- Other types of progress is deliberately vague, so define it with concrete examples such as health, education, social equality, the environment, culture and personal freedom.
- Focus on government priorities and policy, for example how budgets and success are measured, rather than on individuals wanting more money.
- A strong opinion can recognise that economic growth pays for social progress while arguing that it should be a means to well-being, not an end in itself.
- Avoid writing only about money versus happiness in personal life, which drifts away from what governments and countries should aim for.
Suggested position
In my opinion, a strong economy is essential, but it should be treated as a means of improving people's lives rather than as an end in itself, so other forms of progress deserve equal priority.
Paragraph plan
- 1
Introduction
Paraphrase the two views: some governments see economic growth as their top priority, while others believe progress in areas such as health, education and the environment is just as important. State that the economy is essential but should not outrank other goals.
- 2
Body paragraph 1: why governments prioritise the economy
Explain that growth creates jobs, raises incomes and generates tax revenue for schools, hospitals and pensions. Give the example of China lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, and note that social programmes cannot be funded without a sound economy.
- 3
Body paragraph 2: why other kinds of progress matter equally
Argue that growth can bring pollution and inequality, so life expectancy, literacy, freedom and environmental quality matter as much as income. Mention Bhutan's Gross National Happiness and the fact that higher incomes do not always make people happier or healthier.
- 4
Conclusion
Restate that growth provides resources but should not be pursued at any cost, and that governments should give equal weight to social, cultural and environmental progress.
Ideas and arguments
- Economic growth creates jobs and raises living standards, which is why governments often treat it as their top priority.
- Tax revenue from a strong economy pays for healthcare, education, infrastructure and pensions.
- China's rapid growth over several decades lifted hundreds of millions of people out of extreme poverty.
- Rapid industrialisation can cause serious air and water pollution that damages public health.
- Growth may increase inequality if the benefits go mainly to a wealthy minority.
- Measures such as life expectancy, literacy, personal freedom and environmental quality reflect well-being better than GDP alone.
- Bhutan uses Gross National Happiness as a guiding principle for policy, and the United Nations Human Development Index combines income with health and education.
- Investment in education and health is itself a source of long-term economic progress, so the two goals support each other.
Band 8+ model answer
283 words · An original model answer written for ieltswrites, not an official answer. It stays in English, as in the exam.
Many governments regard economic growth as their top priority, while others believe that progress in areas such as health, education and the environment is just as important. In my opinion, a strong economy is essential, but it should be treated as a means of improving people's lives rather than as an end in itself.
There are good reasons why governments focus on the economy. A growing economy creates jobs, raises incomes and generates the tax revenue needed to pay for schools, hospitals and pensions. China, for instance, lifted hundreds of millions of people out of extreme poverty through several decades of rapid growth, which shows how powerful economic development can be. Without a sound economy, ambitious social programmes simply cannot be funded, so it is understandable that politicians often judge their success by figures such as GDP.
On the other hand, economic progress does not automatically lead to a better society. Rapid industrialisation can cause serious pollution, and growth is sometimes accompanied by widening inequality, so that the benefits go mainly to a wealthy minority. Measures such as life expectancy, literacy, personal freedom and environmental quality therefore matter just as much as national income. Bhutan, for example, has adopted Gross National Happiness as a guiding principle, and in several wealthy nations rising incomes have not made citizens noticeably happier or healthier. Moreover, investment in education and health eventually strengthens the economy itself.
In conclusion, although economic growth provides the resources that a country needs, it should not be pursued at any cost. Governments should give equal weight to social, cultural and environmental progress, because the ultimate aim of development is to improve the well-being of all citizens, not simply to increase national wealth.
Why this answer scores highly
- Task Response
- Both views are developed fully with specific examples, other types of progress are defined clearly, and the writer's position that growth is a means rather than an end is stated at the start and confirmed at the end.
- Coherence and Cohesion
- Each body paragraph presents one view with a clear topic sentence, and ideas are connected with devices such as which shows, on the other hand and therefore, as well as clear referencing.
- Lexical Resource
- Precise vocabulary such as tax revenue, widening inequality, life expectancy, an end in itself and guiding principle is used naturally, and the key terms of the question are paraphrased.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy
- The essay uses complex sentences with concessive, relative and conditional clauses, as well as passive forms and modal verbs, accurately and with good variety.
Useful vocabulary
- economic growth
- an increase in the amount of goods and services a country produces
- GDP
- gross domestic product, the total value of goods and services produced in a country
- living standards
- the level of wealth, comfort and goods available to people
- tax revenue
- money a government receives from taxes
- lift people out of poverty
- help people to stop being poor
- industrialisation
- the development of factories and industry in a country
- inequality
- an unfair situation in which some people have much more money or opportunity than others
- social progress
- improvements in areas such as health, education, equality and rights
- well-being
- the state of being healthy, happy and comfortable
- life expectancy
- the average number of years a person is expected to live
- an end in itself
- something valued for its own sake rather than for what it achieves
- at any cost
- regardless of the harm or problems it causes
- give equal weight to
- treat two things as equally important
Common mistakes
- Discussing only one view, or giving the second view just one or two sentences, which limits the Task Response score.
- Leaving other types of progress vague instead of naming specific areas such as health, education, equality or the environment.
- Writing about individuals who want to earn more money rather than about what governments should prioritise for a country.
- Arguing that the economy is unimportant, which is an extreme position that is difficult to support convincingly.
- Forgetting to give a personal opinion, or giving one in the introduction that contradicts the conclusion.
- Repeating economic progress throughout instead of using alternatives such as economic growth, prosperity and national wealth.
Frequently asked questions
- Which Cambridge book is this question from?
- This question about whether economic progress should be a government's most important goal is Writing Task 2 of Test 4 in Cambridge IELTS 11 Academic, published in 2016.
- What counts as other types of progress?
- Any improvement that is not mainly about wealth, such as better healthcare, education, social equality, environmental protection, culture or personal freedom. Name two or three specific areas to make your argument clear.
- Can my opinion support both views?
- Yes, as long as it is clear. For example, you can argue that economic growth is necessary but that other forms of progress are equally important, and keep that position throughout.
- How many words should I write for this Task 2?
- Write at least 250 words; about 270-310 words is usually enough to discuss both views fully in 40 minutes.
Free and timed, with a live word count, just like the computer-delivered test. Then get an instant AI band score.
The exam simulator runs on a computer. Open this page on a laptop or desktop to practise.