Band 9 model answer
Whether contemporary life has delivered greater happiness than earlier eras is a question that divides opinion sharply. While I accept that material comfort has risen dramatically, I ultimately believe that modern life has not made us decisively happier than our ancestors.
Those who argue for present-day contentment point to undeniable improvements in living standards. Advances in medicine have extended lifespans and eliminated diseases that once devastated communities, while technology has freed millions from gruelling manual labour. People today also enjoy unprecedented personal freedom, choosing their careers, partners and beliefs with a liberty earlier generations could scarcely imagine. For many, this combination of security and autonomy represents a profound form of well-being.
Nevertheless, the opposing camp raises concerns that I find equally compelling. Despite our prosperity, rates of anxiety and loneliness have surged, suggesting that affluence alone cannot guarantee fulfilment. Earlier societies, though materially poorer, often enjoyed tight-knit communities and a clear sense of purpose that the frantic, individualistic modern world frequently erodes. Constant digital comparison, moreover, breeds a chronic dissatisfaction that our forebears never endured.
In my view, the truth lies in recognising that happiness is not simply a by-product of wealth. Although I would never wish to surrender modern healthcare or freedom, I am convinced that the relentless pace and social fragmentation of contemporary life have offset many of its gains. Genuine contentment depends on relationships and meaning, qualities that no amount of technological progress can manufacture. People today are therefore more comfortable, but not unambiguously happier than those who came before them.
Examiner’s notes
- Task Response: the position is stated unambiguously in the introduction ('not decisively happier') and sustained through a balanced discussion to a nuanced conclusion, fully addressing both the 'discuss both views' and opinion requirements.
- Cohesion and Coherence: paragraphs are signposted with sophisticated linkers such as 'Nevertheless, the opposing camp' and 'In my view', and referencing devices like 'this combination' bind ideas without mechanical repetition.
- Lexical Resource: precise, topic-specific collocations such as 'gruelling manual labour', 'social fragmentation' and 'chronic dissatisfaction' demonstrate the flexible, natural vocabulary expected at Band 9.