In recent years, more and more people are choosing to read e-books rather than paper books. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages of this trend?
Sample Response
The digital age has witnessed a significant shift in reading habits, with a growing preference for electronic books over traditional printed materials. In my view, the advantages of this trend far outweigh its drawbacks. The advantages of electronic books (e-books), such as space efficiency, immediate access, and global accessibility, exceed the disadvantages, making them a superior choice over printed books.
One major advantage of e-books is their space efficiency. Unlike printed books, which require substantial physical storage space, e-books can be stored in small, portable devices such as pen drives or CDs. The convenience of carrying hundreds of books in a small pen drive makes e-books an ideal choice for individuals who value portability. For instance, students can have their entire academic library on a single pen drive, eliminating the need for dedicated storage rooms.
Despite the potential for eye strain due to prolonged screen exposure being a significant disadvantage of e-books, advancements in technology, such as vision protection screens for computers, have mitigated this concern. While the prevalence of vision problems attributed to screen time is acknowledged, the overall convenience and accessibility of e-books outweigh this relatively minor issue. Moreover, protective screens provide a viable solution to address eye strain concerns associated with digital reading.
To sum up, the transition from printed books to e-books represents a positive evolution in reading habits. E-books offer a multitude of advantages, from portability and convenience to affordability and environmental friendliness. While some concerns exist regarding eye strain, these can be effectively addressed through simple precautions and technological advancements. The benefits of ebooks far outweigh their drawbacks, making them a compelling choice for readers in the modern world.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Name the comparison Original: materials Suggested revision: books Why it matters: 'Printed books' identifies the compared format more precisely than the broader term 'materials'.
- 2. Avoid repeated definition Original: The advantages of electronic books (e-books) Suggested revision: The advantages of e-books Why it matters: The abbreviation is already clear from the preceding reference to electronic books.
- 3. Use comparison collocation Original: exceed the disadvantages Suggested revision: outweigh their disadvantages Why it matters: 'Outweigh' is the natural verb for comparing the relative importance of advantages and disadvantages.
- 4. Correct storage preposition Original: in Suggested revision: on Why it matters: Digital files are normally described as being stored 'on' a device.
- 5. Correct device preposition Original: in Suggested revision: on Why it matters: Use 'on' rather than 'in' when referring to data stored on a drive.
- 6. Clarify stored content Original: their entire academic library Suggested revision: all their academic reading materials Why it matters: This wording describes the digital content more directly and avoids implying a physical library.
- 7. Remove redundant phrasing Original: provide a viable solution to address Suggested revision: can help reduce Why it matters: 'Provide a solution to address' is redundant, while the replacement states the same function concisely.
- 8. Use measured wording Original: a multitude of advantages Suggested revision: several advantages Why it matters: 'Several' is more precise and appropriately measured for the listed benefits.
- 9. Hyphenate consistently Original: The benefits of ebooks Suggested revision: The benefits of e-books Why it matters: Use the standard hyphenated spelling already established throughout the response.
- 10. Sentence rewrite Original: Despite the potential for eye strain due to prolonged screen exposure being a significant disadvantage of e-books, advancements in technology, such as vision protection screens for computers, have mitigated this concern. Suggested revision: Although prolonged screen exposure can cause eye strain, a significant disadvantage of e-books, technological advances such as protective computer screens have helped mitigate this concern. Why it matters: The rewrite removes the tangled 'despite ... being' structure and states the contrast clearly.
- 11. Sentence rewrite Original: While the prevalence of vision problems attributed to screen time is acknowledged, the overall convenience and accessibility of e-books outweigh this relatively minor issue. Suggested revision: Although screen time is associated with vision problems, the convenience and accessibility of e-books outweigh this relatively minor drawback. Why it matters: The rewrite replaces the vague passive opening with a direct concession linked clearly to the comparison.
Suggested Rewrites
- materials books
- The advantages of electronic books (e-books) The advantages of e-books
- exceed the disadvantages outweigh their disadvantages
- in on
- in on
- their entire academic library all their academic reading materials
Why this response received Band 7.0
The response maintains a clear judgement and organises its discussion around a developed benefit and a relevant disadvantage that is explicitly weighed against it. Its main limitation is that several benefits announced in the introduction and conclusion, including affordability and environmental value, are never developed in the body. The priority is to align the stated scope with the evidence by developing those benefits or removing the unsupported claims.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The task is addressed with a clear position and developed discussion of portability and eye strain, though several claimed advantages receive no supporting analysis.
Develop affordability, accessibility, or environmental impact in the body, or limit the thesis and conclusion to the advantages actually explained.
Coherence and Cohesion
The essay progresses logically through distinct stages, but repetition across the introduction and conclusion and an imbalanced body slightly weaken cohesion.
Use the conclusion to synthesise the comparison rather than introduce or repeat undeveloped advantages.
Lexical Resource
The response uses a good range of relevant vocabulary with generally accurate word choice, although some expressions are repetitive or slightly unnatural.
Vary repeated terms such as advantage, convenience, and eye strain, and choose more natural contemporary examples than pen drives or CDs.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Complex and simple structures are varied and generally accurate, with only occasional awkward constructions that do not hinder communication.
Simplify heavily nominalised openings such as the despite clause about eye strain so the grammatical relationship is more direct and natural.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
In recent years, more and more people are choosing to read e-books rather than paper books. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages of this trend?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.