Living with Friends vs Family: PTE Essay Question with Sample Answers - Page 2

Your task

Read the essay question below, then write 200 to 300 words in response.

“‘Living with friends can bring just as many benefits as living with family.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Support your point of view with reasons and/or examples from your own experience.”

30 community answers with AI feedback

SCORE 25/26

In the modern era, the way people choose to live has become a topic of discussion. Some people believe that living with family provides more advantages, while others think that living with friends can offer similar benefits. In my opinion, living with friends can be just as beneficial as living with family because it helps people develop independence and emotional support. Firstly, living with friends teaches individuals how to become more responsible and independent. People who live with friends usually learn how to manage expenses, divide household tasks, and more important decisions on their own. This experience can improve communication and cooperation skills. For example, many students who live with friends away from home become more confident and mature in handling daily responsibilities. Therefore, living with friends can positively influence personal development. Secondly, friends can provide emotional support and companionship during difficult situations. Individuals who live with supportive friends often feel less lonely and stressed. In addition, friends usually understand each other's problems and help create a comfortable living environment. As a result, people may feel happier and more motivated in their daily lives. However, some people argue that living with family is more beneficial because family members provide unconditional love, emotional security, and financial support. Although this opinion is understandable, close friendships can also create strong emotional connections and a sense of belonging. In conclusion, although family relationships are extremely important, i believe that living with friends can provide many similar benefits because it encourages independence, emotional support, and personal growth.
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AI Feedback

Form:

Form score is 2

Content:

The essay fully addresses the prompt, reformulates the issue, and expands on points with relevant examples.

Grammar:

The essay shows consistent grammatical control with rare and minor errors.

Spelling:

Contains exactly one spelling error ('i believe' should be 'I believe').

Vocabulary Range:

Good command of a broad lexical repertoire is evident.

General Linguistic Range:

A variety of expressions and vocabulary are used appropriately, with ideas expressed clearly and precisely.

Development Structure Coherence:

The essay has a clear, logical structure with a well-developed introduction and conclusion, and ideas are cohesively organized.

SCORE 25/26

I agree that living with friends can bring similar benefits to living with family. For instance, shared responsibilities and expenses can ease financial burdens and promote sense of independence. Friends can offer emotional support and companionship, reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation. Additionally, living with friends can foster stronger bonds and lasting memories through shared experiences and daily interactions. Moreover, friends can provide diverse perspectives and ideas, enriching personal growth and problem-solving. In my experience, living with friends in college allowed us to divide household chores, cook meals together, and support each other through challenging times. We developed a sense of community and accountability, which enhanced our overall well-being. However, it's essential to acknowledge that living with friends requires effective communication, compromise, and boundaries to maintain harmony. When done successfully, living with friends can be a rewarding and enriching experience that promotes personal growth, social connections, and a sense of belonging. Ultimately, the benefits of living with friends can be comparable to those of living with family, offering a unique and valuable experience that can shape one's life in meaningful ways. With mutual respect and understanding, friends can become a chosen family.
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Form:

Form score is 1

Content:

The essay fully addresses the prompt, presenting a comprehensive argument with relevant examples and details.

Grammar:

The essay shows consistent grammatical control with rare and minor errors.

Spelling:

Spelling is correct throughout the essay.

Vocabulary Range:

The essay demonstrates a good command of a broad lexical repertoire, including idiomatic expressions.

General Linguistic Range:

A variety of expressions and vocabulary are used appropriately, conveying ideas with precision and clarity.

Development Structure Coherence:

The essay has a clear and logical structure with a well-developed introduction and conclusion, and ideas are cohesively organized.

SCORE 24/26

In today's society, it's believed that living with friends can bring as many benefits as living with family. While some people agree with this interpretation but others might disagree with it, considering the different points of argument. In this essay, both sides of the topic will be discussed, followed by my opinion. Firstly, living with friends can bring just as many benefits as living with family is not accurate. Family is the only place where someone gets accepted for who they actually are. This is because there are parents who care and take responsibility for their offspring, and provide for them even if they are not living up to their expectations. For instance, if we try to understand the psychology of a baby, it always feels at ease around the mother, which shows family provides comfort. Additionally, people are more emotionally attached to their family members compared to their friends. This can be seen in instances where someone's close family member passes away. On the other hand, some people might argue that living with friends can bring more benefits, like shared responsibilities, personal growth, and social cohesiveness. While the claims are true to some extent but the merits outweigh the demerits. This is because one might feel lonely staying at a place where they don't belong, so there is no place for emotional support. For instance, people living with friends in metropolitan cities face more mental health issues due to the lack of emotional expression when compared to those living with their families. In conclusion, while there are some notable benefits to living with friends, no one can replace a family or the benefits that it brings along the way. In my opinion, I disagree with the statement provided in the question.
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AI Feedback

Form:

Form score is 2

Content:

The essay fully addresses the prompt, discussing both sides of the argument and providing relevant examples and reasoning.

Grammar:

Consistent grammatical control is demonstrated with rare errors.

Spelling:

Spelling is correct throughout the essay.

Vocabulary Range:

Good command of a broad lexical repertoire is evident throughout the essay.

General Linguistic Range:

A variety of expressions and vocabulary are used appropriately, with only occasional errors.

Development Structure Coherence:

The essay has a clear structure with an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion, though transitions between ideas could be smoother.

SCORE 24/26

I largely agree that living with friends offers benefits on par with family, primarily through fostering independence, deeper personal growth, and strong shared interests. However, family generally provides an unmatched, lifelong safety net. Both environments serve distinct, valuable roles in our overall development and happiness. Sharing a living space with friends during pivotal years- such as during university or early careers in bustling hubs like New Delhi-can be incredibly rewarding for several reasons. Like living with peers forces you to learn crucial life skills, manage household finances and resolve conflicts independently, which accelerates personal maturity. As per my personal experience moving in with roommates taught me how to budget for shared utilities, divide chores fairly, and resolve conflicts calmly. These are crucial life skills I might have avoided learning for longer if I had stayed in comfort of my family home. However, it is important to acknowledge the caveats. While living with friends is rewarding, it can occasionally lead to tension over finances or differing standards of cleanliness. This situation reminds us why some individuals prefer the unconditional support and structure of a traditional family home. Overall, friends may not replace the lifelong bond of a family, but the lived experience, personal development makes it an equally beneficial arrangement.
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AI Feedback

Form:

Form score is 2

Content:

The essay fully addresses the prompt with a well-supported argument and relevant examples.

Grammar:

Consistent grammatical control with rare errors.

Spelling:

Spelling is correct throughout.

Vocabulary Range:

Good command of a broad lexical repertoire suitable for the topic.

General Linguistic Range:

A variety of expressions are used appropriately, with clear communication throughout.

Development Structure Coherence:

The essay has a clear structure with logical flow, but some transitions between ideas could be smoother.

SCORE 24/26

Living with friends can bring just as many benefits as living with family. Many people argue about whether this statement is correct or not. In my view, living with friends brings as many benefits as living with family. Firstly, there is someone who looks after us if we fall ill. This is because friends treat us like their own family. For example, when I was in 11th grade, I lived at a hostel, and at the time when I fell ill, my friend took care of me by buying medicines from a medical store. As a result, we feel more relaxed and stress-free when we are living with a friend. Secondly, we can share our daily routines and problems with them. This is because friends do not judge each other. For instance, in my hostel days i used to share my daily routines and problems with my friend who is also my roommate. As a result, it brings a healthier environment around us. On the other hand, it could be argued that we have to complete our daily chores by ourselves because we are not living with our parents. However, it makes us more independent. Therefore, the positives of living with friends outweigh the negatives. In conclusion, living with friends really brings just as many benefits as living with family. People should live with friends at least once in their life.
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AI Feedback

Form:

Form score is 2

Content:

The essay fully addresses the prompt with a clear argument supported by relevant examples.

Grammar:

The essay shows consistent grammatical control with rare errors.

Spelling:

Spelling is correct throughout.

Vocabulary Range:

Demonstrates a good command of a broad lexical repertoire appropriate for the topic.

General Linguistic Range:

A variety of expressions and vocabulary are used appropriately, with clear communication of ideas.

Development Structure Coherence:

The essay has a conventional structure with clear paragraphs and logical flow, though some transitions could be smoother.

SCORE 23/26

Living arrangements play a significant role in shaping an individual's emotional well-being and lifestyle. While living with family has traditionally been valued for providing security and emotional support, I strongly agree that living with friends can offer comparable benefits, especially for young adults. One major advantage of living with friends is the sense of independence it provides. Sharing accommodation with peers encourages individuals to develop essential life skills such as financial management, conflict resolution, and responsibility. For example, when I lived with friends during my studies, we learned to divide household tasks and manage expenses efficiently, which prepared us for independent living. Moreover, friends often share similar interests and routines, creating a relaxed and enjoyable living environment. In addition, living with friends can offer strong emotional support. Friends can be highly understanding during stressful situations because they often experience similar challenges, such as academic pressure or career uncertainty. Having an open conversation and mutual encouragement helps reduce stress and promotes mental well-being. In many cases, friendships formed through shared living experiences become as strong as family bonds. However, it is important to acknowledge that living with family has its own advantages, including unconditional support and cultural continuity. Families can provide stability during difficult times, particularly for younger individuals. Nevertheless, this does not diminish the value of friendships in creating a supportive home environment. In conclusion, while living with remains important, living with friends can bring equally meaningful benefits in terms of independence, emotional support and personal growth; therefore, I believe that living with friends can be just as rewarding as living with family, depending on an individual's stage of life and circumstances.
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AI Feedback

Form:

Form score is 2

Content:

The essay adequately addresses the prompt with a persuasive argument and relevant ideas, though it could further expand on points with more specificity.

Grammar:

The essay demonstrates consistent grammatical control with rare errors.

Spelling:

Spelling is correct throughout the essay.

Vocabulary Range:

Good command of a broad lexical repertoire appropriate for the topic.

General Linguistic Range:

A variety of expressions and vocabulary are used appropriately, with occasional errors that do not obscure meaning.

Development Structure Coherence:

The essay has a logical structure with a clear argument, developed systematically with an introduction and conclusion, but some transitions could be smoother.

SCORE 23/26

Nowadays there is a growing trend that youngsters often like to live with friends instead of with family members. They reckon that both have the same advantages; hence, they prefer to live with peers. However, I tend to disagree with this idea of living with non-blood members, and I strongly believe that staying with family is the healthiest option. The following paragraphs will illustrate reasons for my opinion with relevant examples. On the one hand, there are people, especially younger ones, who want to stay with friends rather than with parents and siblings. They have this notion that friends are like brothers or sisters and can hang out with them without any restrictions. Because family members often restrict some sort of activity, whereas friends tend to encourage the same activity. Not only this, they think that they can share personal things with friends that cannot be shared with their families. Hence, today's teenagers love to share their beds with friends. On the other hand, I would say that living with family is far more beneficial than staying with friends. This is because no one can replace blood relations with friends, and they are the ones who discourage wrong things and motivate for righteous things. Moreover, friends are not so reliable and trustworthy, because they can stay for a short time, whereas family members are attached to us till our life ends. Furthermore, some friends stay as long as their purpose still exists and then leave. Therefore, the safer option is to be with family and enjoy the relationship benefits for the lifetime. In conclusion, though some prefer to stay with friends, living with family provides values and education that cannot be obtained from friends. Hence, I believe being with family is the best thing in life.
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AI Feedback

Form:

Form score is 2

Content:

The essay adequately addresses the prompt with a clear stance and supporting details, though it could expand more on the benefits of living with friends.

Grammar:

The essay shows consistent grammatical control with rare errors.

Spelling:

Spelling is correct throughout according to standard conventions.

Vocabulary Range:

Good command of vocabulary relevant to the topic, with no significant lexical shortcomings.

General Linguistic Range:

A variety of expressions and vocabulary are used appropriately, with clear communication and minor errors.

Development Structure Coherence:

The essay has a clear structure with an introduction, body, and conclusion. Ideas are logically organized with appropriate use of connective devices.

SCORE 23/26

Living a peaceful life with family and friends is all that everyone desires in their life. Living with friends for a certain phase of life can be beneficial in many ways, just as living with your family. And I agree with the fact that living with friends can teach an individual a lot of different life lessons. Firstly, it's true that a family nourishes a person's personality till their school phase of life, and provides them with the best comforts in life. One doesn't need to care about managing household stuff like cooking, cleaning, etc. For example, till the phase a person matures and leaves their hometown for career growth or jobs and separates from family, the family provides all the comfort. As a whole, living with family usually makes a person emotionally strong and happy. Nevertheless, one can never get the comfort and emotional support by living with friends as compared to living with family. But there are a lot of life lessons that one gets after moving away from the family comfort zone. From my personal example, I learned a lot in my life to shape my personality once I had moved out from my hometown and left my family, and lived in a hostel and flat with friends during my college and job phase. This specific phase made me more disciplined, self-sufficient, and confident in life. Moreover, during this phase, one enjoys a certain freedom, like travelling/exploring with friends, cafe dining, etc. In conclusion, both life phases of living with family and friends play an equal role in one's life. The lessons and enjoyment one gets from living with friends are equally important in life as living with family. So, according to my point of view, one must live a phase in life with their friends.
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AI Feedback

Form:

Form score is 2

Content:

The essay adequately addresses the prompt with a persuasive argument and relevant ideas, but lacks depth in some areas.

Grammar:

The essay shows consistent grammatical control with rare errors.

Spelling:

Spelling is correct throughout the essay.

Vocabulary Range:

Good command of a broad lexical repertoire is evident, appropriate for the topic.

General Linguistic Range:

A variety of expressions and vocabulary are used appropriately, with clear communication throughout.

Development Structure Coherence:

The essay has a conventional structure with clear argumentation, though some transitions could be smoother.

SCORE 23/26

It is often argued whether living with friends is equally advantageous as living with family members. While some say staying with family members is more secured and comfortable, others believe living with friends is more advantageous as it offers ecstatic and thrilling experience. In my point of view, sharing accommodation with peers outweigh family residence for unique memories and unparalleled joy. On the one hand, residing with parents provides security and financial stability. It also offers emotional security and family bonding, as parents are present all the time to satisfy our needs and support us if we face hardships in life. Moreover, most of our expenses are reduced because of them and individual does not feel foreign or alienated in their own home and land in family setting. For instance, domestic responsibilities such as laundry and household maintenance are expertly handled by parents. This allows young adults to focus on their career development without facing the burden of routine chores. On the other hand, sharing house with friends offers unparalleled freedom and fosters priceless shared moments that enrich life experiences even though if we live with them in a foreign land. Unlike parental homes, there are no restrictions or judgements, moreover, one can openly share thoughts and emotions without fears which gives a sense of relief and comfort. Even mundane tasks become enjoyable adventures when shared with supportive peers. For instance, recent surveys revealed that most of the young adults prefer living with their friends. In conclusion, while residing with family undoubtedly provides stress-free living, cohabiting with friends proves more advantageous overall.
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AI Feedback

Form:

Form score is 2

Content:

The essay adequately addresses the prompt with a persuasive argument, highlighting main points and providing relevant examples.

Grammar:

The essay shows consistent grammatical control with no errors that lead to misunderstandings.

Spelling:

Spelling is correct throughout the essay.

Vocabulary Range:

Demonstrates a good command of broad lexical repertoire relevant to the topic.

General Linguistic Range:

A variety of expressions and vocabulary are used appropriately, with clear ideas and occasional minor errors.

Development Structure Coherence:

The essay has a conventional structure with clear introduction, conclusion, and logical paragraphs. Connective devices are used effectively.

SCORE 23/26

The topic “Living with friends can bring just as many benefits as living with family” is in much debate these days. I completely agree with this statement owing to today’s lifestyle conditions. I would like to further elaborate on this in the following lines. To start with, in today’s fast paced world, many children tend to live far away from their homes from a very young age because of many reasons like studies or jobs etc. Now, in such situations, they have no other option other than to live with friends. As a result of which, friends grow together collectively as a family. They provide the comfort of staying at one’s own home, giving the required emotional support in times of need. Since they will be of a similar age group, they can understand each other well and grow together by experiencing various situations together. Another remarkable benefit of staying with friends would be the concept of self-reliability. Children, when they stay away from family, will learn to do things on their own rather than always looking upto someone. They will learn to cook, clean and handle tasks. Even if they fail initially, they will be supported by their peers in their tasks. These mates will also look after them in their time of need such as illness or difficult situations. Overall, this will make them ready to face the world. To conclude, I would like to say that although family is the most important thing in an individual’s life, having good quality of friends will make you feel at home even when you are away from your own home. Therefore, I end my essay by saying that, staying with friends has benefits similar to that of staying with family.
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AI Feedback

Form:

Form score is 2

Content:

The essay adequately addresses the prompt with a persuasive argument and relevant ideas, but lacks depth in some areas.

Grammar:

The essay shows consistent grammatical control with rare errors.

Spelling:

Spelling is correct throughout according to standard conventions.

Vocabulary Range:

Good command of a broad lexical repertoire is evident throughout the essay.

General Linguistic Range:

A variety of expressions and vocabulary are used appropriately. Ideas are expressed clearly with minor errors.

Development Structure Coherence:

The essay has a conventional structure with clear arguments, introduction, and conclusion. Some transitions are abrupt.

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