Some people enjoy change, and they look forward to new experiences. Others like their lives to stay the same, and they do not change their usual habits. Compare these two approaches to life. Which approach do you prefer? Explain why?
Sample Response
Some people like to live in the same house, have the same job and habit all their lives. However, others aspire to changes and new experience. Personally, for the several reasons, which I will explain bellow, I prefer the first approach to life. First of all, changes in one's life bring many benefits. One tries new things, gains new knowledge and experience. I think it is great because without changes life becomes boring. I always try to make changes in my life. Moreover, when I feel that my life is boring I do not feel well about it. I feel like I spent those days for nothing. I did not do anything exciting, I learnt nothing interesting and I just wasted my time. Second of all, people need changes. Furthermore, we need obstacles to overcome and reach our goals. I believe that changes make us stronger, more persistent, more self-confident, and more patient. Also, I feel that all people who succeeded in life like changes and new experience because it is impossible to be the best at some field without perfecting the present knowledge and gain new experience. People catch every opportunity to learn more and change their life for the best. From the other side, people who like their lives to stay the same are very permanent. They have the same job all their life, the same habits, the same weekends and even the same years in years out. I think it is boring. What will they tell their children about their lives? What kind of contribution will they make for the society? I think such people are just afraid of changes. I think curiosity and aspiration to the new experience are two of the main reasons of human evolution. People always wanted to break limits and gain more knowledge and experience. So, people who enjoy change are the engine of human development.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use the plural habit Original: habit Suggested revision: habits Why it matters: The plural context refers to multiple recurring behaviours.
- 2. Use natural number and collocation Original: others aspire to changes and new experience Suggested revision: others seek change and new experiences Why it matters: 'Change' is uncountable generally, while individual experiences are countable.
- 3. Remove the unnecessary article Original: for the several reasons Suggested revision: for several reasons Why it matters: The quantifier 'several' does not take 'the' in this general phrase.
- 4. Correct the spelling Original: bellow Suggested revision: below Why it matters: 'Below' means later in the text; 'bellow' means to shout.
- 5. Use change as uncountable Original: changes Suggested revision: change Why it matters: The essay discusses change generally rather than several specified changes.
- 6. Fix noun and clause boundary Original: without changes life Suggested revision: without change, life Why it matters: 'Change' is uncountable here, and a comma closes the introductory phrase.
- 7. Use the emotional adjective Original: well Suggested revision: good Why it matters: 'Feel good about' describes an emotional reaction; 'feel well' usually describes health.
- 8. Use the hypothetical connector Original: I feel like I spent Suggested revision: I feel as if I spent Why it matters: 'As if' introduces the perception that the time was wasted.
- 9. Use a natural activity phrase Original: for Suggested revision: doing Why it matters: The gerund phrase states how the days were spent.
- 10. Use the standard sequence Original: Second of all Suggested revision: Secondly Why it matters: 'Secondly' is the standard formal sequencing connector.
- 11. Use change as uncountable Original: changes make us stronger Suggested revision: change makes us stronger Why it matters: The general concept 'change' is uncountable and takes a singular verb.
- 12. Use present tense Original: succeeded Suggested revision: succeed Why it matters: The sentence makes a general claim, so the present simple is required.
Suggested Rewrites
- habit habits
- others aspire to changes and new experience others seek change and new experiences
- for the several reasons for several reasons
- bellow below
- changes change
- without changes life without change, life
Why this response received Band 5.5
The response’s strongest feature is its energetic, sustained explanation of why change can promote personal growth and wider human progress. Its main limitation is that the contrasting preference is initially ambiguous and the stable-life approach receives only a dismissive, weakly developed comparison; the highest-priority improvement is to state the preference consistently and examine both approaches through balanced, specific reasoning.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The response discusses both approaches and gives substantial reasons for valuing change, but the opposing view is underdeveloped and the stated preference is initially contradictory.
State the chosen approach unambiguously and develop a fair comparison by explaining at least one genuine advantage of a stable life.
Coherence and Cohesion
The argument has a generally understandable sequence, but it is presented as one long paragraph with mechanical transitions and some repetitive progression.
Organise the comparison into clear paragraphs and use topic sentences to distinguish the two approaches and the final judgement.
Lexical Resource
The response shows some useful range, but recurrent spelling and collocation problems reduce precision and naturalness.
Correct recurring combinations such as “new experiences,” “in a field,” and “change their lives for the better.”
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A mixture of simple and complex sentences communicates the main meaning, though article, plural, preposition, and verb-form errors recur.
Edit systematically for noun number and article use, then check that coordinated verb forms remain grammatically parallel.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Some people enjoy change, and they look forward to new experiences. Others like their lives to stay the same, and they do not change their usual habits. Compare these two approaches to life. Which approach do you prefer? Explain why?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.