It is the responsibility of individuals to save and provide for their own retirement. Governments have no obligation to provide this benefit. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.

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Whether
retirement
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should be treated as an individual duty or a government responsibility is a major issue in ageing societies. I partly agree that
people
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should save for later life, but I strongly disagree that governments have no obligation at all. A fair system should combine personal planning with a public safety net, because not everyone has the same chance to build private wealth. Individuals should undoubtedly save when they can.
People
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with stable jobs and regular incomes should contribute to pension schemes, savings accounts, or long-term investments, as
this
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gives them greater independence in old age. It
also
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reduces pressure on taxpayers, especially in countries where the number of elderly citizens is rising.
For example
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, a young engineer who saves a small amount every month from the beginning of his career is likely to retire with more comfort and choice than someone who depends entirely on state support.
However
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, relying only on personal savings would be unfair and unrealistic. Many workers earn just enough to cover rent, food, transport, and family expenses, so they cannot save much even if they are responsible. Others,
such
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as unpaid carers, disabled
people
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, or those who lose their jobs, may have very limited opportunities to prepare financially.
For instance
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, a low-paid cleaner who has worked for forty years may still reach
retirement
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with little money. In
such
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cases, a basic government pension is not a luxury; it is a protection against poverty and humiliation.
Moreover
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, public
retirement
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support benefits society as a whole. When elderly
people
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can afford housing, food, and healthcare, families and charities face less pressure.
Therefore
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, governments should guarantee a minimum income,
while
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individuals should save extra for a more comfortable lifestyle. In conclusion,
retirement
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should not be left entirely to either citizens or the state.
People
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must plan responsibly, but governments have a clear duty to protect older citizens from poverty.

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task response
For task response, your answer is clear and you give your opinion from the start. To get a higher score, add one more strong idea on why the state should help old people.
task response
For task response, your examples are good and easy to understand. You can make them even better by adding one real country or system as an example.
coherence and cohesion
For coherence and cohesion, your essay is easy to follow and each paragraph has one main idea. To improve, use a few more linking words between some ideas inside paragraphs.
coherence and cohesion
For coherence and cohesion, your conclusion is clear and matches your opinion. For a higher score, make one body paragraph develop a point a little more deeply.
task response
For task response, you answer all parts of the question and clearly show a partly agree position.
task response
For task response, your ideas are relevant and supported with clear examples.
coherence and cohesion
For coherence and cohesion, your essay has a strong structure with introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
coherence and cohesion
For coherence and cohesion, your ideas move in a clear order and are easy to follow.
Support ideas with relevant, specific examples

Examples make your writing easier to understand by illustrating points more effectively.

Examples, if used properly, not only help you get higher marks for ‘Task Response’ but also for ‘Coherence’.

When giving examples it is best to put them after your main idea or topic sentence. They can be used in the middle of supporting sentences or they can be used to start a new sentence. There is no rule for where exactly to give examples in essays, logically they would come after your main idea/topic sentence or just after a supporting sentence.

Linking words for giving examples:

  • for example
  • for instance
  • to illustrate this
  • to give a clear example
  • such as
  • namely
  • to illustrate
  • take, for example
Topic Vocabulary:
  • retirement savings
  • financial planning
  • economic circumstances
  • government provision
  • basic state pension
  • financial independence
  • income disparities
  • aging populations
  • social safety net
  • tax burden
  • financial education
  • quality of life
  • personal financial responsibility
  • social inequality
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