Band 7 Example

Question: Do you think most of people's decisions are made in their 20s?

Idea 1

Yes
Model Answer
Yes, I think most people make a lot of important decisions in their 20s. For example, they choose what job they want to do, or if they want to keep studying. Many people also move out from their parents’ house and start living on their own. Some even get married or start serious relationships. So, I think your 20s is a time when you really start to decide what kind of life you want.
Yes, I do think that a lot of major decisions are made in our 20s. This is usually the time when people decide on their career path, whether to continue with higher education or jump into the workforce. It's also common for people to move out and become independent, and sometimes even get married or start long-term relationships. Basically, your 20s are when you start shaping your adult life and figuring out your values and lifestyle.
Grammar Analysis
1. Present simple tense: Used throughout the answer (e.g., "I do think," "This is usually the time," "It's also common") to state general truths and habits, which is appropriate for IELTS Part 3. 2. Parallel structure: Phrases like "decide on their career path, whether to continue with higher education or jump into the workforce" and "get married or start long-term relationships" use parallel structure, making the answer clear and organized. 3. Relative clause: "This is usually the time when people decide..." uses a relative clause to add detail and connect ideas smoothly. 4. Gerunds as objects: "shaping your adult life" and "figuring out your values and lifestyle" use gerunds as objects after the verb "start," which is a natural and advanced structure.
Vocabulary
  • major decisions
  • career path
  • higher education
  • jump into the workforce
  • move out
  • become independent
  • get married
  • long-term relationships
  • shaping your adult life
  • figuring out your values and lifestyle

Idea 2

No
Model Answer
No, I don’t think most decisions are made in your 20s. Some people change their jobs or even their whole career in their 30s or 40s. Life can be unpredictable, and sometimes people aren’t ready to make big choices when they’re young. Things like family problems or money issues can also make people wait until later to decide important things.
No, I wouldn’t say that most decisions are made in your 20s. Many people actually make significant life changes much later, like switching careers or moving to a new country in their 30s or 40s. Life is full of surprises, and sometimes circumstances like family responsibilities or financial issues mean people have to delay making big decisions. Plus, not everyone feels mature enough in their 20s to make choices that will affect the rest of their lives.
Grammar Analysis
1. Negative structure: "No, I wouldn’t say that most decisions are made in your 20s" uses a negative modal verb structure to politely disagree, which is a natural way to express opinion in spoken English. 2. Present simple tense: "Many people actually make significant life changes much later" uses the present simple to talk about general truths or common situations. 3. Present participle as example: "like switching careers or moving to a new country" uses present participles to give examples of life changes, making the answer more specific and vivid. 4. Complex sentences with conjunctions: "sometimes circumstances like family responsibilities or financial issues mean people have to delay making big decisions" uses a complex sentence structure with conjunctions and examples to clearly explain reasons. 5. Modal verbs for possibility: "not everyone feels mature enough in their 20s" uses "not everyone" and the adjective "mature enough" to express possibility and variation among people.
Vocabulary
  • make significant life changes
  • switching careers
  • moving to a new country
  • life is full of surprises
  • family responsibilities
  • financial issues
  • delay making big decisions
  • not everyone feels mature enough

Idea 3

It Depends
Model Answer
I think it depends on the person and their situation. In some cultures, people are expected to make big decisions early, but in others, there’s not much pressure. Also, if someone studies for a long time or has to do military service, they might wait until later to decide things. Some people just need more time to figure out what they want.
Honestly, it really depends on a lot of factors. In some cultures, there’s a lot of pressure to make important decisions early on, while in others, young people are given more time to figure things out. Things like how long someone spends in education or whether they have to do military service can delay decision-making. Plus, everyone is different—some people are decisive and know what they want early, while others take longer to find their path.
Grammar Analysis
1. Present simple tense: Used throughout the answer (e.g., "it really depends," "there’s a lot of pressure," "everyone is different") to talk about general truths and habits. 2. Passive voice: "young people are given more time" uses the passive voice to focus on the experience of young people rather than who gives them the time. 3. Use of gerunds: "spends in education," "delay decision-making"—the gerund forms are used naturally to talk about activities and processes. 4. Contrast structure: "while in others..." and "some people..., while others..."—these contrasting structures help organize the answer and show a range of perspectives.
Vocabulary
  • pressure to make important decisions
  • early on
  • given more time to figure things out
  • spends in education
  • military service
  • delay decision-making
  • decisive
  • find their path