The authority often builds new schools, colleges and universities in residential areas. Some people think that residential areas are good places for such educational institutions while others oppose the idea. In your opinion what are the advantages and disadvantages of establishing educational institutions in residential areas?
Sample Response
Educational institutions, like schools, colleges and universities, are essential for enlightening students and preparing them for their future careers, and this is why easy accessibility to such establishments is always preferred. Some people argue that having such institutions in residential areas has numerous benefits while others point out the disadvantages of it. This essay deals with both the advantages and disadvantages of this situation.
To outline the advantages, having educational entities in a residential area means local people can save a significant amount of time each day that would otherwise be wasted on commuting. It also keeps road traffic under control as fewer people would be on road travelling to and from their children's school. Moreover, students would be less exhausted from travelling to and from their schools and focus more on their studies and lessons. This has a significantly positive impact on improving the overall education in a country.
Among the demerits, this situation could have dire consequences on the residential areas where those institutions will be located. Over time, it will cause traffic congestion, and air pollution, and create unbearable noise that will make the area less livable. New businesses would start to emerge, more people would move to the area and the rent would go higher making it less affordable for the local people. The very concept of a residential area would lose its meaning, and the people will suffer terribly from chaos and congestion.
From the discussion on the topic, we can deduce that establishing educational institutions in an area which is designated for residents is not a pragmatic approach and will increase people's woes. Therefore, educational institutions should be located in places that are neither far away from residential areas nor within the community where people live. The location should be selected carefully considering students, commuters, parents and local people.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use formal exemplification Original: like schools, colleges and universities Suggested revision: such as schools, colleges and universities Why it matters: “Such as” introduces examples more formally in an academic essay.
- 2. Choose precise vocabulary Original: enlightening students Suggested revision: educating students Why it matters: “Educating” states the function of these institutions more precisely.
- 3. Use concise wording Original: easy accessibility Suggested revision: easy access Why it matters: The noun phrase “easy access” is more concise and idiomatic.
- 4. Remove vague pronoun Original: the disadvantages of it Suggested revision: their disadvantages Why it matters: The possessive form refers back to the institutions more smoothly.
- 5. Keep terminology consistent Original: educational entities Suggested revision: educational institutions Why it matters: Using the established term is clearer and more natural in this context.
- 6. Use neutral wording Original: wasted on commuting Suggested revision: spent commuting Why it matters: This wording expresses the time cost without unnecessary evaluation.
- 7. Add the article Original: on road Suggested revision: on the road Why it matters: The fixed expression requires the definite article.
- 8. Match the plural context Original: their children's school Suggested revision: their children’s schools Why it matters: The plural better matches the general reference to many families and institutions.
- 9. Avoid overstatement Original: less exhausted from travelling Suggested revision: less tired from travelling Why it matters: “Less tired” is a more measured description of the commuting effect.
- 10. Complete parallel structure Original: focus more Suggested revision: could focus more Why it matters: Repeating the modal makes the second result parallel with “would be less exhausted.”
- 11. Use adjective modifier Original: a significantly positive impact Suggested revision: a significant positive impact Why it matters: The noun “impact” needs the adjective “significant,” not the adverb “significantly.”
- 12. Correct the preposition Original: consequences on the residential areas Suggested revision: consequences for residential areas Why it matters: “Consequences for” is the correct collocation when naming who or what is affected.
Suggested Rewrites
- like schools, colleges and universities such as schools, colleges and universities
- enlightening students educating students
- easy accessibility easy access
- the disadvantages of it their disadvantages
- educational entities educational institutions
- wasted on commuting spent commuting
Why this response received Band 7.5
The essay presents a clear, well-organised discussion of both benefits and drawbacks, with a considered final position and strong topic-focused paragraphs. Its main limitation is that some claims remain broad and the opposing traffic effects are not fully reconciled; the highest-priority improvement is to explain the conditions under which local access reduces commuting yet a large institution could still create congestion.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Response
Both sides are addressed directly and the conclusion is clear, though some supporting claims are general or insufficiently qualified.
Develop the traffic comparison more precisely by distinguishing local journeys from the wider influx of staff and students.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas are sequenced logically in focused paragraphs, and cohesive devices guide the discussion without obscuring the argument.
Make the relationship between the contrasting traffic claims explicit so the argument progresses without apparent tension.
Lexical Resource
A broad range of topic vocabulary conveys the argument effectively, with occasional awkward choices such as 'among the demerits'.
Prefer more natural academic collocations, such as 'turning to the disadvantages' and 'rents would rise'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The response uses varied complex structures with strong control, although a few article, punctuation, and clause-level slips remain.
Edit minor constructions such as 'on road' and check punctuation in coordinated lists for greater precision.