Is freedom of speech necessary in a free society?
This response is estimated at Band 8.0. Can you write a better one?
Write yours and get clear feedback on all four criteria.
- Closest to official scores
- What to fix on each criterion
- Feedback in about 20 seconds · free
Sample Response
In the last decade, there has been considerable debate over the role of free speech in a free society. Some object to absolute freedom of speech. Others advocate free speech, arguing that freedom of speecharguing that the freedom of speech is the single most important political right of citizens in a civilized society. Whilst I believe that there are strong arguments on both sides, I would suggest that freedom of speech should be protected in all but extreme circumstances.
Freedom of speech is importantThe freedom of speech is important at all levels of societyat all levels in a society. Yet it is most important for government. A government which does not know what the people feel and think is in a dangerous position. This is how the communist regimes of Eastern Europe were toppled in the 1980s. The same is happening again in other regions of the world today. Governments that muzzleThe governments that muzzle free speech run thea risk of pushing their people to behave destructively or to rebel.
Furthermore, without free speech no political action is possible and no resistance to injustice and oppression is possible. Without free speech elections would have no meaning at all. Candidates' policiesPolicies of contestants become known to the public and are shaped by public opinionbecome responsive to public opinion only by virtue of free speech. Between elections,Between elections the freely expressed opinions of citizens help restrain oppressive rule. Without this freedom it is futile to expect political freedom and, consequently, economic freedomor consequently economic freedom.
In conclusion, I believe that the importance of free speech as a basic and valuable characteristic of a free society cannot be underestimated. It may be challenging for society to allow differences of opinion to be expressed openlyallow differences of opinion out into the open; however, the consequences of restricting free speech are likely to be more damaging in the longer term.
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response presents a clear, well-sustained position and develops the political importance of free speech through relevant explanation and examples. Its main limitation is that the qualification about extreme circumstances is introduced but never explored, while a few claims are broader than the support provided. The highest-priority improvement is to define those exceptional limits and examine them briefly, making the argument more nuanced and fully aligned with the thesis.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The response answers the question directly with a clear position and well-developed, relevant reasons about political accountability and freedom.
Define the extreme circumstances mentioned in the thesis and explain why limits would be justified in those cases.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas progress logically through a clear introduction, two focused body paragraphs, and a consistent conclusion, with cohesive links used effectively.
Make the relationship between the two body arguments more explicit so the second develops rather than partly restates the first.
Lexical Resource
A wide and precise vocabulary supports the argument effectively, including strong expressions related to government, oppression, and political rights.
Reduce repetition of free speech and refine occasional broad or awkward wording such as policies becoming responsive to public opinion.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is used accurately and flexibly, with only rare minor awkwardness that does not impede meaning.
Refine the few densely coordinated sentences to make their grammatical relationships even more precise and natural.