Some people feel that with the rise of artificial intelligence, computers and robots will take over the roles of teachers. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Sample Response
With ever increasing technological advances, computers and robots are replacing human roles in different areas of society. This trend can also be seen in education, where interactive programs can enhance the educational experience for children and young adults. Whether, however, this revolution can also take over the role of the teacher completely is debatable, and I oppose this idea as it is unlikely to serve students well.
The roles of computers and robots can be seen in many areas of the workplace. Classic examples are car factories, where a lot of the repetitive precision jobs done on assembly lines have been performed by robots for many years, and medicine, where diagnosis, and treatment, including operations, have also been assisted by computers for a long time. According to the media, it won’t also be long until we have cars that are driven automatically.
It has long been discussed whether robots and computers can do this in education. It is well known that the complexity of programs can now adapt to so many situations that something can already be set up that has the required knowledge of the teacher, along with the ability to predict and answer all questions that might be asked by students. In fact, due to the nature of computers, the knowledge levels can far exceed a teacher’s and have more breadth, as a computer can have equal knowledge in all the subjects that are taught in school, as opposed to a single teacher’s specialisation. It seems very likely, therefore, that computers and robots should be able to deliver the lessons that teachers can, including various ways of differentiating and presenting materials to suit varying abilities and ages of students.
Where I am not convinced is in the pastoral role of teachers. Part of teaching is managing behaviour and showing empathy with students, so that they feel cared for and important. Even if a robot or computer can be programmed to imitate these actions, students will likely respond in a different way when they know an interaction is part of an algorithm rather than based on human emotion.
Therefore, although I feel that computers should be able to perform a lot of the roles of teachers in the future, they should be used as educational tools to assist teachers and not to replace them. In this way, students would receive the benefits of both ways of instruction.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use broader expression Original: many areas of the workplace Suggested revision: many areas of work Why it matters: 'Areas of work' fits examples drawn from multiple industries more naturally than the singular 'workplace'.
- 2. Use concise formal wording Original: a lot of the repetitive precision jobs Suggested revision: many repetitive precision tasks Why it matters: 'Tasks' is more precise than 'jobs' for individual assembly-line operations.
- 3. Remove incorrect comma Original: diagnosis, and treatment Suggested revision: diagnosis and treatment Why it matters: A comma should not separate two coordinated nouns in this phrase.
- 4. Fix adverb and preposition Original: won’t also be long until Suggested revision: also won’t be long before Why it matters: This word order and the conjunction 'before' form the standard time expression.
- 5. Use logical subject Original: the complexity of programs can now adapt Suggested revision: increasingly sophisticated programs can now adapt Why it matters: Programs can adapt, whereas their complexity cannot perform that action.
- 6. Replace vague wording Original: something can already be set up Suggested revision: systems can already be developed Why it matters: 'Systems' names the technological subject more precisely than 'something'.
- 7. Fix comparison structure Original: deliver the lessons that teachers can Suggested revision: deliver lessons as teachers can Why it matters: Use 'as' rather than 'that' to compare how two subjects perform the same action.
- 8. Clarify educational process Original: ways of differentiating and presenting materials Suggested revision: ways of adapting and presenting material Why it matters: 'Adapting material' states the intended adjustment for different learners more directly.
- 9. Use natural collocation Original: ways Suggested revision: forms Why it matters: 'Forms of instruction' is the more natural academic collocation.
- 10. Sentence rewrite Original: In fact, due to the nature of computers, the knowledge levels can far exceed a teacher’s and have more breadth, as a computer can have equal knowledge in all the subjects that are taught in school, as opposed to a single teacher’s specialisation. Suggested revision: In fact, because of their nature, computers can possess knowledge that is broader than a teacher's, covering all the subjects taught in school rather than a single teacher's specialisation. Why it matters: The rewrite gives the comparison parallel terms and removes the unclear claim that knowledge levels themselves possess breadth.
- 11. Sentence rewrite Original: Where I am not convinced is in the pastoral role of teachers. Suggested revision: Where I am not convinced is that computers can fulfil teachers' pastoral role. Why it matters: The revised complement clearly states the specific proposition that the writer doubts.
Suggested Rewrites
- many areas of the workplace many areas of work
- a lot of the repetitive precision jobs many repetitive precision tasks
- diagnosis, and treatment diagnosis and treatment
- won’t also be long until also won’t be long before
- the complexity of programs can now adapt increasingly sophisticated programs can now adapt
- something can already be set up systems can already be developed
Why this response received Band 8.5
The essay gives a clear, nuanced position and develops a persuasive distinction between tasks technology can perform and the human pastoral role of teachers. Language is flexible and highly controlled, and the argument progresses smoothly. The main limitation is the extended workplace paragraph, which delays the direct educational analysis; prioritizing task-specific evidence from the outset would make the response more focused and efficient.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The position is clear and well developed through relevant analysis, although the workplace examples occupy substantial space without directly addressing education.
Replace or shorten the general automation discussion and use that space for a more direct educational example or deeper qualification.
Coherence and Cohesion
The essay is logically sequenced with effective paragraphing and cohesive control, though the second paragraph creates a slight detour from the central task.
Move directly from the introduction to technology's educational capabilities so every paragraph advances the core argument.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is broad, precise, and natural across the response, with only occasional slightly awkward phrasing.
Refine minor combinations such as knowledge levels having more breadth to make an already sophisticated style fully idiomatic.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is handled accurately and flexibly, with only rare punctuation or word-order slips.
Proofread for small issues such as unnecessary commas and adverb placement while preserving the varied sentence patterns.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Some people feel that with the rise of artificial intelligence, computers and robots will take over the roles of teachers. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.