In many families, both parents now work full time.
A full IELTS Writing Task 2 answer to this question, with a paragraph plan, ideas you can use, and the vocabulary that fits this topic.
The question
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
In many families, both parents now work full time.
Is this a positive or a negative trend?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
How to read this question
This topic invites two failures. The first is treating it as a question about mothers rather than parents — the statement says both, and the essay should too. The second is discussing choice when for most households there is none, since two incomes are now required to meet costs that one used to cover. Handling both makes the answer noticeably more mature than the average response.
Paragraph plan
Introduction — Paraphrase, then give the verdict: positive in what it represents, but the working week and childcare have not adjusted, so families absorb the shortfall.
Body 1 — Why positive — financial resilience, women's independence, and the modelling effect on children.
Body 2 — The costs — a time deficit that falls unequally, and the fact that two incomes are now a requirement rather than a choice.
Conclusion — Positive as a change in who may work; negative in that institutions never adapted to it.
Model essay
Band 8.5–9.0 model essay
333 words
In a considerable number of households today, both parents are engaged in full-time employment simultaneously. I believe this arrangement is largely beneficial for families, provided that adequate childcare support is available to compensate for parents' reduced availability at home.
To begin, dual full-time incomes substantially improve a family's financial security. To clarify, when both parents contribute earnings, households can more comfortably afford housing, education and healthcare, while also building savings for unforeseen circumstances such as medical emergencies or job loss. This financial cushion reduces stress within the household and allows children to access better educational opportunities, including private tutoring or extracurricular activities such as music lessons and sports clubs. Additionally, when both parents pursue careers, children are exposed to positive role models who demonstrate the value of professional ambition and gender equality within the household, since domestic and financial responsibilities are shared rather than assigned along traditional lines. Such role modelling can shape how children themselves approach careers and partnerships once they reach adulthood.
Nevertheless, this trend can also compromise the quality of parent-child relationships if not carefully managed. Since both parents spend the majority of their waking hours at work, children may receive less direct supervision and emotional guidance during formative years, which can occasionally result in behavioural problems or academic underperformance. This is particularly true for households that cannot afford reliable childcare, leaving children unsupervised for extended periods after school. In the absence of grandparents or trustworthy carers, working parents may be forced to leave children with unqualified minders, heightening the risk of neglect and, in the most severe cases, exposing children to unsafe environments. Teachers often notice these effects first, since such children may appear inattentive or withdrawn during lessons.
To conclude, I regard the rise of dual-income households as a predominantly positive trend, since it strengthens family finances and models gender equality for children. However, this benefit is only sustainable when parents can secure dependable childcare, without which the reduced time spent with children could undermine their emotional development.
Created by a Band 8.5–9.0 IELTS Writing achiever — Premium. Sign up free to read the rest of this essay and unlock every model on the site.
This is a positive or negative development question. The essay above shows you what a strong answer looks like when it is finished. What it cannot show you is how to get there from a blank page in forty minutes.
That is what our Writing Study Library is for: the structure we teach for this exact question type, the paragraph pattern that goes with it, and the sentence openers for each stage — so the essay is planned before you start writing rather than assembled as you go.
Introduction: Introduction — paraphrase that both parents now work full time in many families, and state that this is largely beneficial provided adequate childcare support exists.
Body 1: Body 1 — argue the positive side: dual incomes improve financial security and educational opportunities for children, and both parents working models gender equality and professional ambition.
Body 2: Body 2 — argue the negative side: reduced parental supervision during formative years can cause behavioural or academic problems, especially when families cannot afford reliable childcare and must rely on unqualified minders.
Conclusion: Conclusion — restate the balanced judgement that the trend is positive overall, but its benefits depend on parents being able to secure dependable childcare.
Word or phrase
Meaning
Used in a sentence
dual-income households
families where both partners earn a salary
I regard the rise of dual-income households as a predominantly positive trend.
financial cushion
savings or income that provide security against hardship
This financial cushion reduces stress within the household and allows children to access better educational opportunities.
role models
people whose behaviour is imitated by others, especially children
children are exposed to positive role models who demonstrate the value of professional ambition and gender equality.
formative years
the early period of life when character and habits develop
children may receive less direct supervision and emotional guidance during formative years.
behavioural problems
difficulties in a child's conduct or discipline
which can occasionally result in behavioural problems or academic underperformance.
reliable childcare
trustworthy, consistent care for children while parents work
This is particularly true for households that cannot afford reliable childcare.
unqualified minders
untrained people who look after children informally
working parents may be forced to leave children with unqualified minders, heightening the risk of neglect.
emotional development
the growth of a child's ability to understand and manage feelings
the reduced time spent with children could undermine their emotional development.
Created by a Band 8.5–9.0 IELTS Writing achiever — Premium. Sign up free to see the ideas and vocabulary for this topic and unlock every model on the site.
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Common questions
Is this a question about mothers?
No — the statement says both parents, and answering as though childcare were solely a mother's concern narrows the task and dates the essay badly. You can still discuss the unequal division of domestic work; the difference is treating it as a finding rather than an assumption.
How do I separate a change from its consequences?
Say explicitly that the harm comes from what did not adapt rather than from the change itself, then structure the essay around that. It produces a clear verdict and avoids the common trap of concluding that something is simultaneously good and bad with no resolution.
Can I mention housing costs in a family question?
Yes, and it is one of the strongest points available. Showing that the second income was absorbed by prices explains why the arrangement stopped being optional, which turns a familiar topic into a structural argument.
