Term limits for politicians have become a hot topic in recent IELTS Writing Task 2 exams. This issue has appeared several times in the past few years, reflecting its relevance in contemporary political discourse. Based on this trend, we can expect similar questions to feature prominently in future IELTS exams. Let’s examine a real IELTS question on this subject and provide sample essays for different band scores.
Some people think that politicians should be subject to term limits to prevent them from serving too long. Others believe that term limits are unnecessary and even harmful.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Analyzing the Question
This question asks you to discuss two contrasting views on term limits for politicians and provide your own opinion. Key points to address:
- Arguments for term limits
- Arguments against term limits
- Your personal stance on the issue
Remember to discuss both views before presenting your opinion, as the question explicitly asks for this structure.
Sample Essay 1 (Band 8-9)
Term limits for political leaders have long been a subject of debate in democratic societies. While some argue that such restrictions are essential to prevent the entrenchment of power, others contend that they are unnecessary and potentially detrimental to effective governance. This essay will examine both perspectives before offering a personal viewpoint.
Proponents of term limits assert that they are crucial for maintaining a healthy democracy. They argue that prolonged incumbency can lead to complacency, corruption, and a disconnect from constituents’ needs. By enforcing regular turnover in leadership, term limits can inject fresh ideas and energy into the political system, preventing stagnation and fostering innovation. Moreover, they create opportunities for new voices and diverse perspectives to enter the political arena, potentially leading to more representative governance.
On the other hand, opponents of term limits contend that they can be counterproductive and limit voter choice. They argue that experienced politicians often possess valuable expertise and institutional knowledge that can be instrumental in navigating complex policy issues. Forcing skilled leaders out of office solely due to term limits may deprive the government of their expertise and potentially lead to less effective governance. Additionally, critics argue that regular elections already serve as a natural mechanism for removing unpopular or ineffective politicians, making artificial term limits unnecessary.
In my opinion, while both arguments have merit, I believe that carefully implemented term limits can be beneficial for democratic systems. The potential advantages of preventing power entrenchment and encouraging political renewal outweigh the drawbacks of losing some experienced leaders. However, I would advocate for relatively long term limits, such as 12-15 years for legislators, to strike a balance between fresh perspectives and the retention of valuable experience. This approach would allow for both continuity and change, ensuring that the political system remains dynamic and responsive to the evolving needs of society.
In conclusion, term limits for politicians present both opportunities and challenges for democratic governance. While they can promote political renewal and prevent the concentration of power, they may also lead to the loss of experienced leadership. Ultimately, a balanced approach that allows for some turnover while retaining valuable expertise may be the most effective solution for maintaining a vibrant and responsive democracy.
Term limits balancing power and renewal in democracy
Essay Analysis (Band 8-9)
This essay demonstrates excellence across all marking criteria:
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Task Response: The essay fully addresses all parts of the task, presenting a well-developed response with relevant, extended and supported ideas.
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Coherence and Cohesion: Ideas are logically organized with clear progression throughout. Paragraphing is well-managed, and cohesive devices are used effectively.
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Lexical Resource: A wide range of vocabulary is used with very natural and sophisticated control. Rare minor errors occur only as ‘slips’.
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Grammatical Range and Accuracy: A wide range of structures is used with full flexibility and accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free.
Key strengths of this essay include:
- Clear introduction setting out the topic and essay structure
- Balanced discussion of both viewpoints with specific supporting arguments
- Personal opinion clearly stated and supported
- Sophisticated vocabulary and sentence structures
- Effective use of topic sentences and linking phrases
- Thoughtful conclusion summarizing main points and restating opinion
Sample Essay 2 (Band 6-7)
The idea of putting limits on how long politicians can serve is a topic that many people have different opinions about. Some think it’s a good idea to stop politicians from being in power for too long, while others believe it’s not necessary and might even cause problems. This essay will look at both sides of this argument and give my own thoughts.
People who support term limits say that they are important for keeping democracy healthy. They think that when politicians stay in power for a long time, they might become lazy or corrupt. Term limits can bring new ideas into politics and stop the same people from controlling everything for too many years. It also gives a chance for different people to become leaders, which might make the government better represent everyone.
However, there are also arguments against term limits. Some people say that experienced politicians know a lot about how to run the government and make good laws. If we force them to leave just because of term limits, we might lose their knowledge and skills. Also, people argue that we already have elections to remove bad politicians, so we don’t need extra rules to limit their time in office.
In my opinion, I think term limits can be a good thing if they are done carefully. While it’s true that we might lose some experienced leaders, I believe it’s more important to make sure that power doesn’t stay with the same people for too long. Maybe we could have term limits that are long enough to let politicians gain experience, but not so long that they forget about the people they represent. This way, we can have both new ideas and some experienced leaders in the government.
To conclude, the question of term limits for politicians is not easy to answer. There are good points on both sides of the argument. I think that having some kind of limit on how long politicians can serve might be helpful, but it needs to be done in a way that balances the need for new ideas with the value of experience.
Balancing political renewal and experience through term limits
Essay Analysis (Band 6-7)
This essay demonstrates good performance across the marking criteria:
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Task Response: The essay addresses all parts of the task, though some aspects are covered more fully than others. The writer’s position is clear, but supporting ideas could be more fully extended.
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Coherence and Cohesion: There is a clear overall progression, though some paragraphs are better linked than others. Basic cohesive devices are used effectively, but there could be more variety.
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Lexical Resource: A sufficient range of vocabulary is used for the task. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, though there may be occasional inaccuracies in word choice or spelling.
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Grammatical Range and Accuracy: A mix of simple and complex sentence forms is used. There are some errors, but they do not impede communication.
Key strengths of this essay include:
- Clear structure with introduction, body paragraphs for each view, and conclusion
- Personal opinion is stated and supported
- Good use of topic sentences to introduce main ideas
- Some use of cohesive devices to link ideas
Areas for improvement:
- More specific examples to support arguments
- Greater range of sophisticated vocabulary and complex sentence structures
- More nuanced discussion of the issues
Key Vocabulary
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Term limits (noun) – Restrictions on the length of time a person can serve in an elected office
Pronunciation: /tɜːrm ˈlɪmɪts/ -
Incumbency (noun) – The holding of an official position, especially a political office
Pronunciation: /ɪnˈkʌmbənsi/ -
Entrenchment (noun) – The state of being firmly established and difficult to change
Pronunciation: /ɪnˈtrentʃmənt/ -
Complacency (noun) – A feeling of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one’s achievements
Pronunciation: /kəmˈpleɪsənsi/ -
Turnover (noun) – The rate at which employees leave a workforce and are replaced
Pronunciation: /ˈtɜːrnˌoʊvər/ -
Stagnation (noun) – The state of not flowing or moving; lack of activity, growth, or development
Pronunciation: /stæɡˈneɪʃn/ -
Counterproductive (adjective) – Having the opposite of the desired effect
Pronunciation: /ˌkaʊntərprəˈdʌktɪv/ -
Governance (noun) – The action or manner of governing
Pronunciation: /ˈɡʌvərnəns/ -
Constituents (noun) – The people who live and vote in an area represented by a politician
Pronunciation: /kənˈstɪtʃuənts/ -
Renewal (noun) – The replacing or repair of something that is worn out, run-down, or broken
Pronunciation: /rɪˈnuːəl/
Conclusion
The topic of term limits for politicians is likely to remain relevant in future IELTS Writing Task 2 exams. To prepare, practice writing essays on related themes such as:
- The ideal length of political terms
- The role of experience in effective governance
- Methods to prevent corruption in long-serving politicians
- The impact of frequent leadership changes on policy continuity
Remember to always address all parts of the question, provide balanced arguments, and clearly state your own opinion. Practice writing your own essay on this topic and share it in the comments for feedback and discussion. This active engagement will help improve your writing skills and prepare you for success in the IELTS exam.
