Some people think that the best way to improve road safety is to get drivers tested each year. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sample Response
It is argued that testing motorists’ driving skills and hazard perception on a yearly basis is the most effective method to guarantee road safety. Personally, I totally disagree with this, as some drivers will continue to drive irresponsibly and meanwhile various other measures are also useful.
The primary reason supporting my stance is that even if all drivers are tested regularly, a proportion of them will still be unlikely to adhere to traffic rules. It is often the case that drivers understand what they are supposed to do while driving. For example, they know that car indicators should be used to signal their intention to turn at an intersection and driving is prohibited after they have had more than a standard drink. However, accidents frequently occur because some refuse to behave responsibly, thereby making it impossible to maintain road safety.
Another important point I consider is that many other factors, including the great visibility of road signs and markings as well as harsh punishments, play an equally important role in the improvement of road safety. If traffic signages are properly installed and markings are clearly seen, drivers will be conscious of the speed at which they should drive and the place where they are permitted to change lanes. Similarly, with stiff penalties implemented, drivers’ reckless behaviour will be deterred as they will be frightened of being heavily fined and even imprisoned.
In conclusion, I have strong opposition to the viewpoint that in terms of ensuring road safety, no other ways are superior to forcing drivers to submit to an annual test of their ability to drive and awareness of danger. For one thing, not every driver will strictly follow traffic regulations; for another, alternative approaches, such as making roadway signs and markings easily recognisable and enforcing strict laws and regulations, are also decisive to improving road safety.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Clarify contrast Original: and meanwhile various other measures Suggested revision: while various other measures Why it matters: ‘While’ clearly contrasts irresponsible driving with the usefulness of other measures.
- 2. Use direct phrasing Original: will still be unlikely to adhere Suggested revision: may still fail to adhere Why it matters: The revision states the possibility more directly and avoids the cumbersome future construction.
- 3. Correct collocation Original: great Suggested revision: high Why it matters: ‘High visibility’ is the natural collocation for signs and markings that are easy to see.
- 4. Use countable noun Original: signages Suggested revision: signs Why it matters: ‘Signage’ is normally uncountable, while ‘signs’ correctly refers to multiple installed items.
- 5. Use natural description Original: markings are clearly seen Suggested revision: road markings are clearly visible Why it matters: The revision identifies the markings and uses the natural adjective ‘visible’.
- 6. Remove wordiness Original: the place where they are permitted Suggested revision: where they are permitted Why it matters: ‘Where’ already expresses place, so the longer noun phrase is unnecessary.
- 7. Clarify conditional clause Original: with stiff penalties implemented Suggested revision: when stiff penalties are imposed Why it matters: The finite clause clearly states the condition and uses the natural verb ‘imposed’ with penalties.
- 8. Correct deter structure Original: drivers’ reckless behaviour will be deterred Suggested revision: drivers will be deterred from driving recklessly Why it matters: People are deterred from an action; the behaviour itself cannot be the person receiving the deterrent.
- 9. Improve parallel phrasing Original: being heavily fined and even imprisoned Suggested revision: receiving heavy fines or even imprisonment Why it matters: The revision presents the two possible punishments in a clearer parallel structure.
- 10. Correct adjective pattern Original: decisive Suggested revision: crucial Why it matters: ‘Crucial to’ naturally expresses that these approaches are highly important to improvement.
- 11. Sentence rewrite Original: For example, they know that car indicators should be used to signal their intention to turn at an intersection and driving is prohibited after they have had more than a standard drink. Suggested revision: For example, they know that they should use car indicators to signal an intention to turn at an intersection and that they must not drive after consuming more than a standard drink. Why it matters: The rewrite gives the coordinated examples parallel clause structures and consistent subjects.
Suggested Rewrites
- and meanwhile various other measures while various other measures
- will still be unlikely to adhere may still fail to adhere
- great high
- signages signs
- markings are clearly seen road markings are clearly visible
- the place where they are permitted where they are permitted
Why this response received Band 8.0
The essay presents a clear disagreement and supports it with two well-developed, directly relevant arguments, while its progression and sentence control are particularly strong. The main limitation is occasional imprecision or awkwardness in otherwise varied vocabulary, especially in phrases concerning signage and enforcement. The highest priority is to refine collocations so that the sophisticated ideas are expressed with consistently natural precision.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The response fully addresses the proposition with a clear position and two relevant, well-supported lines of reasoning.
Further strengthen the argument by briefly acknowledging when annual testing might still contribute to safety before rebutting its primacy.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information and arguments are sequenced logically, with effective paragraphing and cohesive devices that make the progression easy to follow.
Make the conclusion slightly more concise to avoid restating the body arguments at unnecessary length.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is broad and generally precise, though a few unnatural collocations and forms reduce consistency.
Replace awkward expressions such as those involving signage visibility and decisiveness with more idiomatic academic phrasing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is used flexibly and with a high level of accuracy throughout.
Polish the few dense constructions in the conclusion so their grammatical relationships remain immediately transparent.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Some people think that the best way to improve road safety is to get drivers tested each year. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.