School children are becoming far too dependent on computers and this is having an alarming effect on reading and writing skills. Teachers need to avoid using computers in the classroom at all costs and go back to teaching basic study skills. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sample Response
Children are born into the digital world. From young age, they know how to operate computers, iPad, and TV. It is part of their daily life. School age children is no exception to the use of computers. They are confident users of computers and very dependent on them which can lead to decline in reading and writing skills. Some teachers utilise the computers well in their lessons, while others avoid the use of computers in their classrooms. I believe good balance of both is needed to help students’ reading and writing skills to improve.
Computers can help students with reading. For example, if students come across unknown words, they can search the unknow words and hear the pronunciation. If it was not for the computers, they have to find someone who knows how to pronounce the words for them. Therefore, computers can play positive role in students’ reading skills.
On the other hands, writing skills need to be improved by lots of handwritten works. If students are using computers all the time and getting the help of autocorrection, they will not improve their writing skills. They will not know how to edit as autocorrect is doing the job for them.
In conclusion, I believe that teachers should not allow students to do all the work on the computers especially writing tasks. However, teacher should not avoid the use of computer as computers can be a great help if they use it effectively. Rather than avoiding computers that students are so used to, teachers need to come up with how to use it effectively to enhance students’ reading and writing skills.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Add article Original: From young age Suggested revision: From a young age Why it matters: The singular countable phrase young age requires the article a.
- 2. Use parallel plurals Original: computers, iPad, and TV Suggested revision: computers, iPads, and televisions Why it matters: Parallel plural nouns are needed when referring generally to types of devices.
- 3. Use natural expression Original: no exception to the use of computers Suggested revision: no exception when it comes to using computers Why it matters: When it comes to using computers expresses this comparison more naturally.
- 4. Add relative-clause comma Original: dependent on them which Suggested revision: dependent on them, which Why it matters: A comma is needed before the non-defining relative clause.
- 5. Add article Original: lead to decline Suggested revision: lead to a decline Why it matters: The singular countable noun decline requires an article here.
- 6. Improve word choice Original: the computers well Suggested revision: computers effectively Why it matters: Effectively precisely describes successful classroom use, and computers is used generically.
- 7. Fix spelling and collocation Original: search the unknow words Suggested revision: look up the unknown words Why it matters: Look up is the natural verb for consulting a resource, and unknown is misspelled in the original.
- 8. Clarify possessive reference Original: the Suggested revision: their Why it matters: Their correctly links each pronunciation to the unknown words.
- 9. Fix hypothetical conditional Original: If it was not for the computers Suggested revision: If it were not for computers Why it matters: A hypothetical condition conventionally uses were, and computers is generic here.
- 10. Match conditional tense Original: they have to find Suggested revision: they would have to find Why it matters: Would have to is required in the result clause of this hypothetical conditional.
- 11. Add article Original: play positive role Suggested revision: play a positive role Why it matters: The singular countable noun role requires the article a.
- 12. Correct linking phrase Original: hands Suggested revision: hand Why it matters: The fixed contrastive expression uses the singular form hand.
Suggested Rewrites
- From young age From a young age
- computers, iPad, and TV computers, iPads, and televisions
- no exception to the use of computers no exception when it comes to using computers
- dependent on them which dependent on them, which
- lead to decline lead to a decline
- the computers well computers effectively
Why this response received Band 6.0
The response maintains a clear, balanced position and organises its discussion sensibly around benefits for reading and risks for writing. However, the two main ideas are developed only briefly, while recurring article, agreement, plural and word-form errors reduce precision. The priority is to extend each argument with fuller explanation or a concrete classroom example, then edit sentences systematically for grammatical accuracy.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The response gives a clear partial-disagreement position and relevant reasons about reading support and writing dependence, but development is limited.
Extend both body arguments with clearer consequences and specific classroom examples that demonstrate why balanced computer use is preferable.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas are arranged in a logical four-paragraph sequence, although linking is sometimes mechanical or inaccurate and the body paragraphs are brief.
Use accurate transitions and fuller internal progression so each body paragraph moves from claim to explanation and example.
Lexical Resource
The vocabulary is sufficient for the topic and includes some effective educational terms, but repetition and word-choice errors are noticeable.
Correct forms such as unknown, handwriting practice and autocorrect, and vary repeated uses of computers and skills where appropriate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The response attempts both simple and complex structures, but frequent article, agreement, plural and conditional errors reduce accuracy.
Edit systematically for subject-verb agreement, singular and plural nouns, articles and consistent tense in hypothetical sentences.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
School children are becoming far too dependent on computers and this is having an alarming effect on reading and writing skills. Teachers need to avoid using computers in the classroom at all costs and go back to teaching basic study skills. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.