Some people think distance-learning programmes can never be as good as courses taken in person. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sample Response
Education means imparting knowledge to a person. There are several kinds of learning programmes available in the scenario. Some people agree with the viewpoint that distance-learning programmes cannot serve as a good tool compared to other direct courses, while others have objections about it. But I agree with this opinion that distance learning is not as good as the traditional class-based teaching system.
On the one hand, there are some benefits of distance-learning programmes over other methods. Firstly, this is the most convenient method of learning. That is, students can learn based on their comfort and time and there are not specific classroom studies or curricular activities. Hence, they can choose a course at any time and complete it when they wish to do the same. Another advantage is that this method helps to save money. This is because, people can study whenever they want, so can continue job and study at same time period. Thus it helps especially those from a poor financial background. As a result, it acts as time and money saver.
On the other hand, it is fairly easy to understand the drawbacks of distance-learning. Firstly, it lacks the first-hand teaching experience from an expert. Since self-studying is the mode of learning students does not get clear teaching guidance from the teachers. Thus it is a big loss to the learning process for students. Secondly, there is a chance of misguidance and wrong perceptions about the subjects. To make it clearer, there is no direct contact with teachers, students read the contents, perceive and understand in such a way how they can. So that it may misguide pupil. Moreover, these kinds of learning process affect the dignity and dedication of other direct learning processes and even pull down the value of students of the direct learning system.
To conclude, I agree with the opinion that distance-learning programmes can never be as good as courses taken in person. The government should exercise certain criteria or policies to uphold the dignity of direct courses.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use natural context phrase Original: available in the scenario Suggested revision: available today Why it matters: “In the scenario” is not idiomatic for describing current educational options.
- 2. Use precise comparison Original: cannot serve as a good tool compared to other direct courses Suggested revision: cannot be as effective as in-person courses Why it matters: The replacement makes the comparison grammatical and uses the task’s precise terminology.
- 3. Use direct wording Original: have objections about it Suggested revision: disagree Why it matters: “Disagree” expresses the opposing view more naturally and concisely.
- 4. Remove redundant structure Original: agree with this opinion that Suggested revision: agree that Why it matters: “Agree that” introduces the proposition directly without the redundant noun phrase.
- 5. Use concise term Original: the traditional class-based teaching system Suggested revision: traditional classroom teaching Why it matters: This standard phrase conveys the same contrast more economically.
- 6. Use natural collocations Original: learn based on their comfort and time Suggested revision: learn at their convenience and according to their schedules Why it matters: The original combinations with “comfort” and “time” are not idiomatic.
- 7. Fix negative construction Original: there are not specific classroom studies Suggested revision: there are no fixed classroom sessions Why it matters: “There are no” is the correct construction, and “sessions” expresses scheduled classes clearly.
- 8. Remove vague wording Original: when they wish to do the same Suggested revision: whenever they wish Why it matters: “Do the same” is unnecessarily vague because completing the course is already stated.
- 9. Remove incorrect comma Original: This is because, people Suggested revision: This is because people Why it matters: No comma should separate “because” from the clause it introduces.
- 10. Add subject and verb Original: so can continue job Suggested revision: so they can continue working Why it matters: The coordinated clause needs a subject, and “continue working” is the correct verb pattern.
- 11. Fix time expression Original: at same time period Suggested revision: at the same time Why it matters: The fixed expression requires “the,” and “period” is redundant.
- 12. Place linker clearly Original: Thus it helps especially those Suggested revision: Thus, it especially helps those Why it matters: The transition needs a comma, and the adverb belongs before the verb phrase.
Suggested Rewrites
- available in the scenario available today
- cannot serve as a good tool compared to other direct courses cannot be as effective as in-person courses
- have objections about it disagree
- agree with this opinion that agree that
- the traditional class-based teaching system traditional classroom teaching
- learn based on their comfort and time learn at their convenience and according to their schedules
Why this response received Band 6.0
The response presents a clear position and organises relevant advantages and disadvantages into a readily understandable argument. Its main limitation is that several claims, especially those about the dignity and value of direct education, are asserted vaguely rather than developed convincingly, while recurring language errors reduce precision. The highest priority is to explain each disadvantage with a concrete, logical consequence and express it in more natural sentence structures.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Response
The response addresses the question with a clear position and relevant ideas, but some supporting claims are vague, repetitive, or insufficiently developed.
Develop the strongest reasons with specific explanations or examples and remove the unsupported claim that distance learning diminishes the dignity of direct courses.
Coherence and Cohesion
The four-paragraph structure and contrasting discussion provide clear overall progression, although linking is sometimes mechanical and some sentences connect ideas loosely.
Use fewer formulaic sequencing phrases and make the logical relationship between each claim and its consequence more explicit.
Lexical Resource
The vocabulary is adequate for discussing education and includes some less common items, but awkward collocations and imprecise word choices recur.
Replace unnatural phrases such as direct courses and perceive in such a way with precise, idiomatic academic wording.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A mixture of simple and complex structures is attempted, but frequent errors in agreement, articles, punctuation, and sentence construction weaken control.
Prioritise accurate subject-verb agreement and complete clause structure, particularly in sentences that explain causes and results.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Some people think distance-learning programmes can never be as good as courses taken in person. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.