IELTS Writing Sample #164
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Some people think that professional athletes make good role models for young people, while others believe they don’t.
Discuss both these points of views and give your own opinion.
Write at least 250 words.
IELTS Tip
With some question types in IELTS Writing Task 2, you need to discuss
more than one type of evidence, argument or point of view before
reaching your conclusion. This is called the evidence-led approach.
The term role model generally means a person whose
behaviour, example, or success is or can be emulated by others,
especially by younger people.
Sample answer
People everywhere like watching sports. Many top
athletes are admired throughout their countries, and some even have fans all
around the world. Young people especially, view many athletes as role models and
want to emulate the way these stars dress, act and live their lives. While some
athletes aren't deserving of their "role model" status, others act like role
models and responsible community citizens.
Top athletes get the attention of young people. Most children and teenagers like
to follow professional sports. For many of them, star athletes represent heroes,
and children want to be like their heroes. This means they will want to play
sports, which is good for their health. Playing sports also teaches valuable
life lessons such as teamwork, discipline, goal setting, and the realities of
dealing with success and failure. Professional athletes demonstrate the
importance of working hard to achieve a goal, or practicing regularly to become
good at something. This is a good example for children to follow.
However, professional athletes are not always good role models. For one thing,
when young athletes reach a level of fame, it comes with media attention, large
financial benefits and social attention. This can lead children to believe that
money and fame are an important part of sports. Children might focus more on
these aspects than on the fun of the game or on the challenge of learning how to
play well. Then there are those athletes who behave badly. For example, some
cheat to win their games or take drugs to improve their performance. This kind
of behaviour sends the wrong message to children.
Athletes are people who are held at a lofty place in the society owing to their
popularity and wealth. These attributes are what makes people want to look up to
them and model various facets of their lives along those of the athletes. We can
thus be led to conclude that professional athletes can be very good role models
for children, as long as they focus on the positive aspects of playing sports.