IELTS Writing Task 2 - To What Extent Do You Agree (Community Work)

It is sometimes argued that every school leaver should give a year to serving the community before going on to further study or work. I largely agree with this idea, because such a year helps young people grow up and also benefits society, although it must be organised fairly.

The main reason I support this proposal is that a year of service helps young people develop personally. Firstly, working with others in a real setting teaches teenagers to communicate, solve problems and manage their time, so they are better prepared for later life. For example, a student who spends months helping elderly patients learns patience and responsibility that no classroom can teach. Secondly, such a year gives school leavers a clearer sense of direction. Many have no idea what career they want, and trying different kinds of work can help them choose a course or profession with more confidence.

In addition, such a scheme would help society as a whole. Most obviously, it would provide extra help for public services. Hospitals, care homes and parks are often short of staff, so thousands of young volunteers could reduce waiting times and keep public spaces clean. It would also strengthen communities. When young people work alongside neighbours of different ages, they develop respect for others and often stay involved in local life. Admittedly, the scheme would need to be fair, since a year without a salary could be difficult for poorer families, but a small government allowance would solve this.

In conclusion, I largely agree that young people should spend a year serving their community before university or work, because it helps them mature and supports society. As long as the scheme is organised fairly, so that no family is left worse off, a year of service would be a valuable step for every school leaver.

It is sometimes suggested that private cars should no longer be allowed into the centres of cities. I completely agree with this view, because it would make city centres healthier and safer, and it would make them more pleasant places to live, work and shop.

The main reason I support this idea is that it would improve people's health. Firstly, traffic is one of the biggest sources of air pollution in cities, and this pollution is linked to asthma and heart disease. Removing cars from the busiest streets would quickly make the air cleaner for everyone who works or shops there. Secondly, without traffic, more people would choose to walk or cycle, so they would become more active as part of their normal day.

In addition, a ban would make city centres safer and more attractive. Most obviously, there would be far fewer road accidents, which often involve pedestrians and cyclists. For example, after the centre of Pontevedra in Spain was closed to most traffic, the city went many years without a road death in that area. A car-free centre would also have more room for trees, cafés and public squares, and these spaces bring in visitors and help local businesses.

In conclusion, I completely agree that private cars should be banned from city centres. This change would protect people's health, reduce accidents and turn crowded roads into places that people actually want to visit.

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