Writing Task 2 · Advantages and disadvantages

Fathers as stay-at-home parents: IELTS Writing Task 2 sample answer

An IELTS Writing Task 2 advantages and disadvantages essay question with a Band 8-style sample answer, the plan behind it, the vocabulary that lifts it and what an examiner looks for.
  • 298 words
  • Advantages and disadvantages
  • General Training
  • 40 minutes

The question

In some countries, it is becoming more common for fathers to stay at home to look after their children while mothers go out to work. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

About 40 minutes. Write at least 250 words.

Advantages and disadvantages

Plan before you write

  1. 1

    Your position

    The advantages of this trend clearly outweigh the disadvantages.

  2. 2

    Paragraph 2

    Families can choose the arrangement that suits them, women keep their careers, and children bond with both parents.

  3. 3

    Paragraph 3

    Stay-at-home fathers may feel isolated, face criticism and find it hard to return to work, but attitudes are changing.

  • →Discuss the benefits and drawbacks requested in the question.
  • →One useful structure is a paragraph for advantages and another for disadvantages, with explanations or examples.
  • →If asked for your opinion or whether advantages outweigh disadvantages, give and support a clear judgement; otherwise summarise both sides.

Model answer

Band 8-style sample essay

This AI-generated teaching example illustrates target features; it has not received an official IELTS band. Compare its ideas and structure with your own response.

Band 8-style model298 words · use the structure and vocabulary, not the sentences

Traditional ideas about the roles of men and women are changing, and in some families the father now cares for the children full-time while the mother is the main earner. In my view, the advantages of this trend clearly outweigh the disadvantages.

The first advantage is that it allows each family to choose the arrangement that best suits them, rather than following a fixed expectation. If the mother has a higher income or a more demanding career, it makes practical sense for the father to stay at home. This flexibility also benefits society, as talented women are no longer forced to abandon successful careers simply because of tradition. A second advantage concerns the children themselves. When fathers are closely involved in daily care, children develop strong bonds with both parents, and they grow up with a broader understanding of what men and women can do. A boy who sees his father cooking meals and helping with homework is likely to regard these activities as normal responsibilities for everyone.

There are, however, some disadvantages. Stay-at-home fathers may experience isolation, because playgroups and parents' networks are often dominated by mothers, and they may feel uncomfortable or even unwelcome. Some also face criticism from relatives or friends who hold traditional views, which can affect their confidence. In addition, any parent who leaves work for several years may find it difficult to return to their career later.

These problems are real, but they are largely the result of attitudes that are already changing. As the arrangement becomes more common, the sense of isolation and the social stigma are likely to decrease.

In conclusion, although stay-at-home fathers may face loneliness and criticism, the benefits for women's careers, children's development and family choice are greater, so I see this trend as a positive one.

Model commentary

Features to notice in this model

The essay aims to illustrate Band 8 features: the writer's judgement is stated in the introduction, both sides are developed, and the disadvantages are evaluated rather than simply listed. Vocabulary such as 'stigma' and 'dominated by' is used precisely, and grammatical structures are varied and accurate.

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7 words

Vocabulary from the essay

  • earner

    a person who earns money from work

  • abandon

    to give something up completely

  • bonds

    close emotional connections between people

  • isolation

    the state of being separated from other people

  • dominated

    mainly made up of or controlled by one group

  • stigma

    a feeling of disapproval that society has towards something

  • arrangement

    a plan or way of organising something

More words for this topic: IELTS vocabulary for society.

Frequently asked questions

What type of essay is "Fathers as stay-at-home parents"?+

Advantages and disadvantages. Discuss the benefits and drawbacks requested in the question.

How many words should an IELTS Writing Task 2 essay be?+

At least 250 words, in about 40 minutes. This sample is 298 words, written to fit that time with five minutes left to check grammar.

How is IELTS Writing Task 2 scored?+

On four criteria: task response, coherence and cohesion, vocabulary, and grammatical range and accuracy. Task 2 counts for twice as much as Task 1 in your Writing band.

What is the difference between a Band 6 and a Band 8 answer here?+

The essay aims to illustrate Band 8 features: the writer's judgement is stated in the introduction, both sides are developed, and the disadvantages are evaluated rather than simply listed. Vocabulary such as 'stigma' and 'dominated by' is used precisely, and grammatical structures are varied and accurate.

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