The older generations tend to have very traditional ideas about how people

should live, think and behave. However, some people believe that these ideas are
not helpful in preparing younger generations for modern life.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?
Sample Answer 1:
It is true that many older people believe in traditional values that often seem
incompatible with the needs of younger people. While I agree that some traditional
ideas are outdated, I believe that others are still useful and should not be forgotten.
On the one hand, many of the ideas that elderly people have about life are
becoming less relevant for younger people. In the past, for example, people were
advised to learn a profession and find a secure job for life, but today’s workers
expect much more variety and diversity from their careers. At the same time, the
‘rules’ around relationships are being eroded as young adults make their own
choices about who and when to marry. But perhaps the greatest disparity between
the generations can be seen in their attitudes towards gender roles. The traditional
roles of men and women, as breadwinners and housewives, are no longer accepted
as necessary or appropriate by most younger people.
On the other hand, some traditional views and values are certainly applicable to the
modern world. For example, older generations attach great importance to working
hard, doing one’s best, and taking pride in one’s work, and these behaviours can
surely benefit young people as they enter today’s competitive job market. Other
characteristics that are perhaps seen as traditional are politeness and good manners.
In our globalised world, young adults can expect to come into contact with people
from a huge variety of backgrounds, and it is more important than ever to treat
others with respect. Finally, I believe that young people would lead happier lives if
they had a more ‘old-fashioned’ sense of community and neighbourliness.
In conclusion, although the views of older people may sometimes seem unhelpful
in today’s world, we should not dismiss all traditional ideas as irrelevant.
(299 words, band 9)

(Source: https://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2015/08/ielts-writing-task-2-traditional-views-essay.html)
Sample Answer 2:

It is true that the older generation, in most of the cases, adheres to many traditional
values, belief and old way of thinking and many of these are not suitable to make the
youngsters ready to take challenges in this modern era. There are still some values and
traditions that are useful and older generation should pass those values to the young
people.

To begin with, many ideas that older generation still finds unavoidable have become
less relevant for the young generation and it is a good thing that the youngsters have
less faith on the superstitions our forefathers believed in. Besides, the traditional belief
of educating a boy and upbringing a girl so that he becomes the breadwinner and she
can become a good housewife is no longer accepted by the modern era. The
traditional belief of fixed role for men and women are no longer applicable to this
advance era where people believe in gender equity. Furthermore, the modern
generation no longer agrees to take the fact that a student has to study to become
either a doctor or an engineer. According to the old belief, these two are the careers
someone must have. With the time, study and career have become quite different and
the older tradition is no longer acceptable now. Moreover, young adults these days
choose their life partners and decide when to marry which contradicts with the old
tradition.

However, there are some traditional values that the youngsters should foster as those
views are still beneficial and useful in this modern era. For instance, old generation
strongly believes in the importance of being honest and they would rather die than to
surrender to the corruption. If this generation can adapt to this single traditional value,
the world would be a much better place. Our forefathers also valued the importance of
working hard and taking pride in one’s dignity and work. These characteristics are
ageless and should be passed to the new generation as well. We have become more
materialistic and selfish these days while out older generation teaches us the value of
family and society. The sense of community the senior people had are exemplary and
would establish better family, social and cultural bonding.

To conclude, youngsters have to be ready to embrace the changed of the modern era
while nurturing the traditional values that teaches them to have better future.
(source: https://www.ielts-mentor.com/writing-sample/writing-task-2/2130-ielts-writing-task-2-sample-973-the-older-generations-tend-to-have-
very-traditional-ideas )