IELTS Writing Task 2 with sample answer.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
In some countries the average worker is obliged to retire at the age of 55, while in others people can work until they are 65 or 70. Until what age do you think people should be encouraged to remain in paid employment?
Give reasons for your answers.
Write at least 250 words.
Model Answer:
Compulsory retirement age differs society to society in terms of socioeconomic condition. But now the issue of increasing retirement age has sparked a heated debate. Retirement at 55 can be as easily fitted as that at 70. I am of the honest opinion that it is the high time for re-fixing retirement age which is better for both the individual and the nation.
Age is the prime concern in deciding retirement, whereas, many a times age is proven that it is not the main yardstick of ability. In many cases, some 65 or 70 years old workers may not work efficiently as they work before, while many workers at this age are sound enough to work as well or better than they used to. The suitability of a position should be based on workers’ performance rather than their age. What the employers need to do is to observe their workers performance. Those who are performing poorly may be asked to retire, but those are yet able to do work efficiently should go on. The organization can be benefited in ways; on the one hand it can have an experience worker and the other hand it can save money and time on training new employee.
Similarly, since the life expectancy has increased around the world, it makes good sense to increase the retirement age. The overall lifespan has stretched shows that now people are able to work for a longer period than before. This means that people are now able to contribute more to society and they have also need income for longer period. At this point, the mandatory retirement at 55 cannot be justified. It violates human rights and puts nation in financial crises as well. What I am arguing is that if the state prevents a citizen from working towards their own ends, then it is hindering their constitutional rights to liberty, life and happiness. The state cannot defend forcing a person into inactivity for the rest of their life. The citizen should be allowed to continue for as long as they wish in whatever they choose to do, and hope any liberal man will agree with me by the time it becomes an issue. In other words, it also turns into a burden of social security system.
To sum it all up, I would like to say that age is not a crucial factor for retirement of people. Since the average lifespan has increase, it would be wise to rise retirement age that has two fold impact on both the individual and the community as well.