Young people’s use of computers and mobile phones to communicate has a negative impact on their reading and writing skills. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sample Response
The increasing use of computers and mobile phones among young people for communication has raised concerns regarding its impact on their reading and writing skills. While some people believe that this trend negatively affects literacy skills, I side with those who argue that it offers new avenues for language development.
One concern is that digital communication has introduced a simplified form of language that includes abbreviations, slang, and emojis, which may diverge from traditional language skills. As a result, young people often rely on this informal style of language even in formal settings. Additionally, the quick, bite-sized nature of digital content might negatively affect the attention span required for in-depth reading and understanding. This could potentially weaken this generation’s formal writing skills, which are crucial for academic and professional success.
However, these drawbacks are balanced by significant benefits. The digital era has led to an increase in the quantity and diversity of reading and writing. Young individuals come across various forms of text online, which exposes them to different language styles and vocabulary. The interactive nature of digital platforms also encourages active engagement with text, fostering improved language skills. Moreover, digital communication equips young people with a different set of language skills, such as being able to effectively and concisely convey information. They are also better able to read between the lines to decipher the deeper meanings of a text conversation.
In conclusion, while the informal nature of digital communication poses challenges to traditional reading and writing skills, it also offers opportunities for developing a broader set of literacy skills. I believe that the negative influence of digital devices on young users’ language skills is insignificant compared to the benefits they bring.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Correct comparison Original: which may diverge from traditional language skills Suggested revision: which may depart from traditional language norms Why it matters: A form of language can depart from conventions or norms, rather than from skills.
- 2. Use concise phrasing Original: informal style of language Suggested revision: informal language style Why it matters: The shorter noun phrase expresses the same idea more naturally.
- 3. Clarify content quality Original: the quick, bite-sized nature Suggested revision: the fast-paced, bite-sized nature Why it matters: Fast-paced describes the way digital content is consumed more precisely than quick.
- 4. Improve collocation Original: the attention span required for in-depth reading and understanding Suggested revision: the sustained attention required for in-depth reading and comprehension Why it matters: Sustained attention and reading comprehension form more natural academic collocations.
- 5. Clarify abstract nouns Original: quantity and diversity of reading and writing Suggested revision: amount and variety of reading and writing people do Why it matters: The revision makes clear that the increase concerns people's literacy activity.
- 6. Use natural wording Original: individuals Suggested revision: people Why it matters: Young people is the more natural term in this context.
- 7. Clarify clause link Original: which exposes them to different language styles and vocabulary Suggested revision: exposing them to different language styles and vocabulary Why it matters: A participle clause links the exposure clearly to encountering the texts.
- 8. Strengthen phrasing Original: fostering improved language skills Suggested revision: thereby improving their language skills Why it matters: The revision states the result more directly and naturally.
- 9. Choose precise modifier Original: a different set of language skills Suggested revision: an additional set of language skills Why it matters: Additional conveys that digital communication extends rather than merely changes the skill set.
- 10. Improve parallel structure Original: such as being able to effectively and concisely convey information Suggested revision: such as the ability to convey information effectively and concisely Why it matters: The noun phrase fits more smoothly after set of language skills.
- 11. Use precise wording Original: deeper meanings of a text conversation Suggested revision: implicit meaning in a text conversation Why it matters: Implicit meaning expresses the unstated content that readers infer in a conversation.
Suggested Rewrites
- which may diverge from traditional language skills which may depart from traditional language norms
- informal style of language informal language style
- the quick, bite-sized nature the fast-paced, bite-sized nature
- the attention span required for in-depth reading and understanding the sustained attention required for in-depth reading and comprehension
- quantity and diversity of reading and writing amount and variety of reading and writing people do
- individuals people
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response presents a clear, nuanced position and develops both the risks and benefits of digital communication through a fluent, logically structured argument. Its main limitation is that several claims remain general rather than being demonstrated with specific examples or deeper causal explanation. The highest-priority improvement is to support the central benefits with one concrete, carefully analysed example.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The question is fully addressed through a clear position and relevant, well-developed consideration of both drawbacks and benefits.
Strengthen the support for the benefits by analysing one specific real-world example rather than relying mainly on general claims.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas progress logically across well-focused paragraphs, with cohesive devices used naturally and effectively.
Make the causal link between online exposure and improved literacy slightly more explicit within the benefits paragraph.
Lexical Resource
A wide and precise vocabulary supports nuanced discussion, with only occasional slightly broad or awkward phrasing.
Refine combinations such as references to the quantity of reading and deeper meanings in text conversations for greater precision.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is handled accurately, and errors are rare and non-impeding.
Continue refining long sentences so that modifiers and references remain maximally concise and unambiguous.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Young people’s use of computers and mobile phones to communicate has a negative impact on their reading and writing skills. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.