# Families eating together less: IELTS Writing Task 2 samples

Writing Task 2 - Society

In many families, members rarely sit down to eat a meal together. Why has this happened? What effect does this have on family relationships?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Source: Sample answers and examiner notes are written by Testmigo.

## Band 6 sample

In the past, families always eat dinner together, but nowadays in many families people rarely sit at the table at the same time. This essay will discuss why this has happened and what effect it has on the relationships in the family.

There are a few reasons for this change. The first reason is work. Many parents work long hours or they have shifts, so they come home late at night when the children already ate. For example, my father works in a hospital and he often works in the evening, so we can only eat together on the weekend. The second reason is that children are also busy. After school they have tuition classes, sport training or music lessons, and they eat something quick before or after. Moreover, fast food and ready meals is very easy to buy, so each person can eat when he want. Also, many people prefer to eat in front of the TV or their phone.

This situation has some negative effects on family relationships. When families do not eat together, they lose the time to talk about their day. Parents may not know if their child have a problem at school or with friends, and children can feel lonely. Family members become more like people who share a house, not a close family. However, it is not always bad, because some families spend time together in other ways, like going out at the weekend.

In conclusion, families eat together less because of busy jobs, children's activities and convenience food. I think this make the relationship weaker, so families should try to have at least some meals together every week, even if it is not every day.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 6 essay answers both questions, and the example of a father who works evening shifts in a hospital makes the first reason concrete. The other reasons, however, are listed briefly, and the effects paragraph states consequences without explaining how they develop. Errors such as "families always eat" for the past, "the children already ate" and "each person can eat when he want" are noticeable but do not block meaning. For Band 7, the writer would extend each effect and control tenses more accurately.

## Band 7 sample

The image of a family gathered around the dinner table every evening is becoming less common in many parts of the world. This essay will examine the main reasons for this change and argue that, on the whole, it weakens family relationships, although the effect can be reduced.

One key reason is the nature of modern work. Many parents now work long or irregular hours, such as night shifts or evening meetings, and in households where both parents are employed, finding a time when everyone is at home can be difficult. Children's schedules have also become much busier, with after-school tutoring, sports practice and other activities often running into the evening. In addition, the wide availability of convenience food means that family members no longer need to wait for one shared meal; each person can simply heat something up when they are hungry. Screens play a part too, since many people prefer to eat while watching a series or checking their phones.

The main effect of this trend is a loss of everyday communication. A shared meal is one of the few times when family members talk without a particular purpose, and these casual conversations are often when children mention worries about school or friendships. Without them, parents may only notice problems once they have become serious. Regular meals also give a sense of routine and belonging, which can be especially important for young children. That said, families who cannot eat together every day can still stay close by protecting other shared time, such as weekend outings.

In conclusion, families eat together less because of demanding jobs, busy children and convenient food. This tends to reduce communication and weaken family bonds, so it is worth making an effort to share meals whenever possible.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 7 essay answers both questions with a clear line of argument: the change usually weakens relationships, but its effect can be reduced. The explanation of why casual mealtime conversation matters is well developed. However, the point about routine and belonging is only stated, and the reasons paragraph relies on "In addition" and "too" to add items. A Band 8 essay would develop every effect equally and show how the causes connect to one another, not only list them.

The Band 8 and 9 samples are free with an account on the [topic page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/writing/topics/task-2/families-eating-together).

## Common questions

### How many words should I write?

At least 150 words for Task 1 and 250 for Task 2. Writing a little more is fine; an answer under the minimum loses marks.

### Can I use these sample answers in my test?

No. Memorised material is marked down and you will not get this exact question. Use the samples to see what each band does with the same task.