In many cities, people increasingly live alone rather than with family or housemates.
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 cities, people increasingly live alone rather than with family or housemates.
Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
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
The trap is treating living alone as identical to loneliness. They correlate weakly — plenty of people living alone have rich social lives, and plenty living with family are isolated. Separating the household arrangement from the social outcome lets you give a verdict that is not simply a lament, and it is the distinction that lifts this from a Band 6 list into a real argument.
Paragraph plan
Introduction — Paraphrase, then give the verdict: positive in what it signals about freedom, but with real costs in housing and in old age.
Body 1 — Why positive — it is largely a consequence of prosperity and independence, particularly for women and older people who previously had no alternative.
Body 2 — The costs — smaller households consume more housing and energy per person, and the informal care that families provided has no substitute.
Conclusion — Net positive as a sign of expanded choice, but the care gap it creates is unresolved and will be expensive.
Model essay
Band 8.5–9.0 model essay
333 words
In many cities, an increasing number of people are choosing to live alone rather than sharing accommodation with family members or housemates, a shift closely tied to rising incomes and changing attitudes toward independence. In my view, this trend is largely positive for the individuals involved, despite raising some concerns for wider society.
To begin, living independently allows individuals considerable autonomy over their daily routines and living environment. To clarify, without the need to negotiate shared responsibilities or accommodate the preferences of others, residents can structure their homes and schedules entirely according to their own priorities, which often enhances psychological well-being and personal productivity. Moreover, living alone can encourage greater self-reliance, as individuals must independently manage finances, household chores, and decision-making, skills that prove valuable throughout adult life. In addition, single occupants often report greater satisfaction with their living arrangements, since disputes over shared chores or guests are entirely avoided. Additionally, this independence often allows individuals to relocate more easily for career opportunities, since they need not coordinate the move with a housemate or family member. For instance, young professionals who live alone often report increased confidence in handling unexpected challenges without depending on others.
However, this trend also carries notable risks, particularly concerning social isolation and its effect on mental health. This is attributable to the fact that individuals living alone, especially the elderly, may go days without meaningful face-to-face interaction, which can gradually erode emotional well-being and leave them vulnerable during emergencies. Consequently, healthcare systems in many countries have observed rising rates of loneliness-related conditions among solitary residents, alongside greater difficulty detecting health crises promptly when no one shares the household. Furthermore, the rising number of single-person households also places additional strain on housing markets, as more individual units are required to accommodate the same population. Moreover, landlords in cities with high demand for single occupancy often raise rents accordingly, making independent living increasingly unaffordable for younger residents on modest incomes.
To conclude, although living alone offers valuable independence and fosters self-reliance, I believe communities and policymakers must actively counter the accompanying risk of isolation, particularly among vulnerable groups, to ensure this trend remains a genuinely positive one.
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: Paraphrase the rise of single-person households and state that it is largely positive for individuals despite some societal concerns.
Body 1: Argue that living alone grants autonomy over routines and builds self-reliance in managing finances and household responsibilities.
Body 2: Argue that living alone raises the risk of social isolation, especially for the elderly, and puts extra strain on housing markets and rents.
Conclusion: Restate that living alone is positive overall only if communities actively address the accompanying risk of isolation for vulnerable groups.
Word or phrase
Meaning
Used in a sentence
autonomy
the freedom to control one's own decisions and actions
living independently allows individuals considerable autonomy over their daily routines and living environment
self-reliance
the ability to manage one's own needs without depending on others
living alone can encourage greater self-reliance, as individuals must independently manage finances, household chores, and decision-making
erode
to gradually wear away or weaken something
which can gradually erode emotional well-being and leave them vulnerable during emergencies
loneliness-related
connected to or caused by a lack of social contact
healthcare systems in many countries have observed rising rates of loneliness-related conditions among solitary residents
solitary
living or done alone
healthcare systems in many countries have observed rising rates of loneliness-related conditions among solitary residents
strain
pressure caused by excessive demand on a system
the rising number of single-person households also places additional strain on housing markets
relocate
to move to a different place, especially for work
this independence often allows individuals to relocate more easily for career opportunities
occupancy
the state of living in or using a particular space
landlords in cities with high demand for single occupancy often raise rents accordingly
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
How do I avoid the obvious "loneliness" essay here?
Separate the household arrangement from the social outcome and say why they are not the same. That single distinction reframes the whole question and gives you something to argue rather than to lament — and it is a genuine insight, not a trick.
Is it acceptable to disagree with a widely held view?
Yes, and it usually produces a stronger essay, provided you give reasons rather than simply contradicting. Explaining why the common reading has the causation backwards is exactly the kind of engagement the higher bands describe.
Can I write about how this affects women or older people specifically?
Yes — naming who is actually driving a trend makes an argument far more concrete than talking about "people" in general. Keep the claims general enough to be defensible and use them to support your position rather than as a separate topic.
