Some people choose to have their first child at an older age. What are the reasons? Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? 👇👇👇 Recently, a growing number of people have chosen to have their first child later in life. This essay will discuss the reasons behind this trend and evaluate whether its benefits outweigh the drawbacks. One of the main reasons people postpone childbearing is the desire for emotional maturity and personal freedom. Raising a child requires responsibility, patience, and long-term commitment, therefore many individuals feel unprepared at a younger age. Instead, they prefer to pursue further studies, explore their interests, travel, and build relationships during their twenties and early thirties before settling down. Additionally, many aim to achieve career stability. By focusing on their careers, they are more likely to gain financial independence and higher positions, which enables them to better support their future children. Admittedly, delayed parenthood offers several benefits. Individuals tend to develop greater emotional maturity, allowing them to provide a more stable and supportive home environment. They are also often in a stronger financial position, enabling greater investment in their children’s education and well-being. However, these advantages are relatively limited compared to the more serious drawbacks. One concern is the narrower generational gap, as children of older parents may have less time with them, reducing long-term emotional support. More importantly, fertility declines with age, making conception more difficult and sometimes leading to emotional stress, costly medical treatment, and fewer chances to have multiple children. These biological and emotional challenges can have lasting consequences for both parents and children. In conclusion, the decision to start a family later in life is often driven by personal and professional priorities developed in early adulthood. Although this choice can lead to improved financial stability and more prepared parenting, it is ultimately outweighed by its disadvantages, particularly biological limitations and the reduced duration of shared family life.

The bar chart below shows the percentages of three groups of Japanese children taking part in four kinds of activities in 2018. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words. 𓂃🖊 The provided information illustrates the percentages of Japanese children in three age groups who participated in four different leisure activities in 2018. Overall, participation in reading and bicycle riding generally increased with age, whereas computer gaming became less common among older children. Additionally, watching TV was the most popular activity. Regarding reading, approximately 64% of children aged 5–8 read books, and this figure rose to around 71% among both the 9–11 and 12–16 age groups. A broadly similar trend was observed for bicycle riding. About 65% of the youngest children rode bicycles, compared with 63% of those aged 9–11. The proportion then increased significantly to just over 80% among teenagers aged 12–16, making it the most popular activity in this age category. Among children aged 5–8, 93% watched television, whereas the figure dropped considerably to approximately 80% in both older groups. In terms of computer gaming, around 60% of the youngest children participated in this activity, before the percentage declined slightly to 57% among 9–11-year-olds and then fell more sharply to only 40% among those aged 12–16, which was the lowest figure recorded for any activity in this age group. ﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌ Why this grouping works well This is a very standard and high-scoring structure: ✔ Logical grouping by trend - Group 1: increasing activities - Group 2: decreasing activities - This is preferred because: - It avoids mixing unrelated trends - It makes comparisons easier for the reader - It shows clear data organization skill (important for Task Achievement) ﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌ Useful expressions: - Regarding… - approximately / around - this figure rose to… - a broadly similar trend was observed - compared with… - the proportion then increased significantly to… - making it the most popular activity in this age category

PROMPT: The graph below shows the figures for population distribution in the Central Valley from 1940 to 2030. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and making comparisons where relevant. REPORT: The bar chart illustrates the proportion of people living in rural, suburban, and urban areas in the Central Valley between 1940 and 2030. Overall, population patterns changed considerably over the period and are expected to continue evolving by 2030. While the proportion of people living in rural areas declined significantly, the suburban population grew steadily and is projected to account for the largest share by the end of the period. Meanwhile, the urban population fluctuated, peaking in 2000 before falling thereafter. In 1940, the majority of residents lived in rural areas, accounting for approximately 65% of the population. By comparison, only 10% dwelt in suburban areas, while around 35% resided in urban areas. Over the following three decades, the proportion of rural residents fell markedly to roughly 45%, whereas the suburban figure doubled to 20%. During the same period, the percentage of urban residents remained stable at around 35%. The trend shifted more noticeably after 1970. By 2000, the rate of people living in urban areas had risen sharply to 60%, making it the dominant population group, while both rural and suburban populations stood at 20%. However, by 2030, suburban areas are projected to experience the most substantial growth, climbing to approximately 55%. In contrast, the rural population is expected to decline further to just 10%, whereas the urban figure will fall back to around 35%. ------------- KEY PATTERNS YOU CAN USE. 1. Overview Pattern (Trend Change) Overall, [subject] changed considerably over the period and is expected to continue shifting by [future year]. ✅ This is useful for mixed past + future data. 2. In [year], the majority of [people/residents/population] lived in [category], accounting for approximately [x]% of the total.

Many children these days have an unhealthy lifestyle. Both schools and parents are equally responsible for solving this problem. To what extent do you agree or disagree? ---------------------------------------------------------------- RESPONSE: It is widely observed that many children today lead unhealthy lifestyles, often characterised by poor diets, lack of physical activity, and excessive screen time. I completely agree that both schools and parents share equal responsibility for addressing this issue, as children’s daily habits are shaped by both environments. On the one hand, parents play a fundamental role in forming children’s early lifestyle habits. Since children spend most of their time at home, parents directly influence what they eat, how active they are, and how they manage their free time. For example, if parents regularly provide fast food or sugary snacks and do not encourage outdoor play, children are likely to adopt these unhealthy patterns. In contrast, parents who prepare balanced meals and set limits on screen time can significantly improve their children’s physical well-being. On the other hand, schools also have a crucial responsibility because they shape children’s routines during a large part of the day and influence their long-term attitudes. Schools can promote healthy living by providing nutritious meals in canteens, ensuring regular physical education classes, and educating students about health and nutrition. Moreover, teachers can act as role models by encouraging active participation in sports and raising awareness about the risks of sedentary behaviour. Without such support, children may lack the knowledge and structure needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle. In conclusion, the problem of unhealthy lifestyles among children cannot be solved by one party alone. Parents establish the foundation of daily habits, while schools reinforce and expand these behaviours through education and structured activities. Therefore, both should be equally accountable in promoting healthier lifestyles for children.

QUESTION: Some people think that parents should teach their children how to be good members of society. Others, however, believe that school is the best place to learn this. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. RESPONSE: It is often argued that children should learn how to become responsible members of society from their parents, while others believe that schools are the most suitable place for this education. Although both parents and schools play vital roles in shaping children’s character, I believe that parents exert the greatest influence on their behavior and moral development, while schools should serve as supportive institutions that reinforce these values. On the one hand, many people think that schools are the best environment for teaching social values and acceptable behavior. Teachers are trained professionals who can educate children about discipline, teamwork, and respect for others in a structured way. In addition, schools provide opportunities for students to interact with classmates from different backgrounds, which helps them develop communication and cooperation skills. Subjects such as citizenship education and group activities can also encourage children to become responsible and active members of society. Therefore, schools are able to shape children’s social behavior through both academic lessons and daily interaction. On the other hand, parents are generally considered to have the greatest influence on their children’s character. This is because children spend most of their early years at home, where they observe and imitate their parents’ attitudes and actions. For example, children who grow up in families that value honesty, kindness, and respect are more likely to adopt these qualities themselves. Furthermore, parents can provide personal guidance and emotional support that schools may not be able to offer due to large class sizes and limited time. As a result, moral values taught at home often have a deeper and more lasting impact on children.