One of the most important issues facing the world today is a shortage of food and some think genetically modified foods are a possible solution. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sample Response
To tackle food shortages, many scientists recommend genetically modified (GM) food as a solution. Despite some concerns regarding this solution, I strongly believe that this is the future for food security.
The first benefit that GM foods offer is that it has significantly higher yield compared to traditional crops. GM foods have their genes altered to reproduce their cells quicker, leading to faster crop productions. Also, GM foods are capable of withstanding harsh environments, such as during winters and dry summers. Another benefit of consuming more GM foods is that they require fewer pesticides, contrary to popular belief. Because scientists design GM foods to be resistant to common pests, farmers do not need to spray pesticides as regularly as they would growing traditional crops.
However, despite these benefits, there are some concerns that researchers should revisit before populating GM foods. The first concern is the impact GM crops have on the ecosystem. Because these crops are known to be resistant to pests, it could lead to the eradication of pest species. As a result, this can disrupt the ecosystem’s balance. The second concern is that, due to GM crops’ high efficiency and rapid growth, they can easily become an invasive species with unhealthy farming practices. This problem, aside from damaging the ecosystem, also has adverse effects on the economy. For example, if one plot destined to grow a certain plant gets invaded by another species, farmers will experience a loss of income.
In conclusion, although admittedly, there are some legitimate concerns for GM foods, I still strongly agree that GM crops are the most feasible solution to the global food shortage.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Fix pronoun agreement Original: is that it has Suggested revision: is that they have Why it matters: The pronoun must agree with the plural subject ‘GM foods’.
- 2. Use plural noun Original: yield Suggested revision: yields Why it matters: The general comparison between multiple crops requires the plural count noun ‘yields’.
- 3. Clarify growth description Original: reproduce their cells quicker Suggested revision: grow more quickly Why it matters: The original wording is unnatural and obscures the intended claim about faster growth.
- 4. Use uncountable noun Original: productions Suggested revision: production Why it matters: ‘Production’ is uncountable when referring generally to the process or output.
- 5. Improve seasonal phrasing Original: during winters and dry summers Suggested revision: in harsh winters and dry summers Why it matters: This creates a concise, parallel description of the two difficult seasons.
- 6. Correct logical subject Original: Another benefit of consuming more GM foods Suggested revision: Another benefit of GM crops Why it matters: The reduced need for pesticides is a feature of the crops rather than a benefit of consuming more food.
- 7. Complete comparison clause Original: as they would growing traditional crops Suggested revision: as they would when growing traditional crops Why it matters: ‘When’ is needed to introduce the activity used for comparison.
- 8. Use precise verb Original: revisit Suggested revision: address Why it matters: Concerns are normally addressed or investigated rather than revisited in this context.
- 9. Correct word choice Original: before populating GM foods Suggested revision: before expanding the use of GM foods Why it matters: ‘Populating’ cannot naturally describe the wider adoption of a type of food.
- 10. Fix number and condition Original: become an invasive species with unhealthy farming practices Suggested revision: become invasive under poor farming practices Why it matters: This avoids making the plural crops a single species and clearly states the relevant condition.
- 11. Use formal transition Original: Also Suggested revision: Furthermore Why it matters: ‘Furthermore’ links this additional benefit more formally to the preceding point.
- 12. Remove unsupported aside Original: contrary to popular belief Suggested revision: Delete Why it matters: This aside invokes an unsubstantiated public belief without contributing to the explanation.
Suggested Rewrites
- is that it has is that they have
- yield yields
- reproduce their cells quicker grow more quickly
- productions production
- during winters and dry summers in harsh winters and dry summers
- Another benefit of consuming more GM foods Another benefit of GM crops
Why this response received Band 7.5
The essay offers a clear, consistent position and develops a substantial case through relevant benefits, risks, and a concrete economic example, all arranged with strong progression. Its main weakness is imprecise language in several otherwise sophisticated sentences, including awkward descriptions of production and crop spread; the highest-priority improvement is to refine collocations and grammatical reference so the nuanced argument reads with consistently natural precision.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The position is clear throughout and the response develops relevant advantages and concerns in enough detail to answer the question convincingly.
Tie the discussion of ecological risks more explicitly to why GM crops remain the most feasible response to food shortages.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas are sequenced clearly within focused paragraphs, and cohesive devices guide the reader without obscuring the argument.
Make the concessive relationship between the benefits and concerns even tighter by explicitly weighing them before the conclusion.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied and topic-specific, but several collocations and word forms, such as 'crop productions' and 'populating GM foods', are imprecise.
Review noun forms and established agricultural collocations to replace awkward phrasing with more natural, exact choices.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The essay uses a wide range of sentence structures with good control, although occasional agreement, pronoun-reference, and comparison errors remain.
Check plural agreement and reference consistently, particularly when 'GM foods' or 'crops' is followed by a singular pronoun.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
One of the most important issues facing the world today is a shortage of food and some think genetically modified foods are a possible solution. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.