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Truthfulness in Relationships Essay

This truthfulness in relationships essay question appeared recently in the IELTS test.

It is about whether always telling the truth is the most important factor in any relationship:

Always telling the truth is the most important consideration in any relationship between people.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Making Comparisons

Truth Essay

In a question phrased like this, you'll notice you are given a superlative adjective: 

  • the most important consideration

You should use this to help you think about how to construct your essay and the ideas you might have. Ask yourself some questions related to this in order to brainstorm ideas:

  • What does being truthful actually mean? (e.g. what about white lies*)
  • Is truthfulness the most important thing?
  • What other things could be important?
  • Are these other things more important?

*a lie about a small or unimportant matter that someone tells to avoid hurting another person

If you think there are other more important things or things that are as important, then you probably disagree with the statement .

Importance of Truthfulness Essay

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Always telling the truth is the most important consideration in any relationship between people.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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

Write at least 250 words.

Model Answer

In any relationship, the importance of truthfulness is a topic that often sparks debates. While some argue that always telling the truth is the most crucial aspect, I believe that the significance of truthfulness should be considered in relation to other factors. 

Undoubtedly, honesty plays a vital role in fostering trust and building strong connections between people. When individuals are truthful with each other, it establishes a foundation of transparency and integrity. This creates a sense of security and allows for open communication, which is essential for healthy relationships.

However, it is essential to recognise that truthfulness is not an absolute concept and must be balanced with other considerations. In certain situations, revealing the complete truth can be harmful or unnecessary. For example, when delivering bad news, such as a terminal illness diagnosis, it is crucial to consider the emotional well-being of the recipient. While honesty should be prioritised, the delivery of information must be done with sensitivity.

Furthermore, maintaining trust in a relationship involves more than just truthfulness. In some cases, withholding the truth may be necessary to protect the well-being of the other person or the relationship itself. If, for instance, someone asks you about a new hairstyle they have, it could be damaging to the relationship to tell them you do not like it, so a white lie may be the best option to avoid hurting them. Thus factors such as respect, empathy, and understanding also contribute significantly.

In conclusion, while truthfulness is important in relationships, it should be considered in conjunction with other factors. Balancing truthfulness with empathy, sensitivity to the situation, and the overall well-being of the relationship is crucial and promotes healthier and more harmonious relationships.

(282 Words)

Comments

This truthfulness essay would achieve a high IELTS band score.

It has carefully considered the question and given a clear and coherent response to it. Although the writer agrees truthfulness is important, s/he explains how it's not this simple. It needs to be considered in its particular context and sometimes a lie might be the best choice to maintain a healthy relationship.

So if you get an agree / disagree question, look carefully to see if it's suggesting that something is the most important thing, or a similar phrase. You can then use this as the basis to think about other ideas for the essay.

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