Culture & SocietyDiscuss Both ViewsAdvancedHigh Frequency

IELTS Essay: Some people think that governments should act to change the way individuals l...

Prompt

Some people think that governments should act to change the way individuals live, while others believe that they should choose the way themselves. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

#government intervention#personal autonomy#paternalism#public health#individual liberty

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Band 7 → 9 — Band 7 acknowledges the tension between protecting individual freedom and collective welfare, while Band 9 explores when intervention is justified (externalities, market failure, inequality) and how design matters—transparent policy and accountability reduce paternalism.

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Key concepts in this essay

liberal vs. communitarian political philosophy
information asymmetry and market failures
collective action problems and externalities
legitimacy and accountability of state intervention

Pitfalls the model essay avoids

Presenting autonomy and welfare as entirely opposed when they often intertwine (e.g., informed choice requires education; free choice requires resources)
Using extreme examples that don't represent typical policy trade-offs
Ignoring power asymmetries—whose autonomy, and over whom does government act?

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