Some people believe that history is very important and we must study the past to understand the present. Others say that it has little or no use at all. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Sample Response
Perhaps no subject in the world causes as much controversy as history does. In recent years, there has been a growing attitude toward understanding history which is to the largest extent beneficial for people of all walks of life. However, there is a view that argues against this and considers no roles for history. In this essay, I will look at both aspects and put forward my observation.
It is obvious that past experience plays a vital role in every facet of human's life. Since our past experience has been tried, we are more likely to be successful in the long run. The better and successful plan is, therefore, offered. From an educational perspective, for example, many people have obtained their qualifications through numerous methods which now they completely obsolete and other innovative means of education have been replaced. In this regard, by looking at previous decades we are more willing to benefit from past experience so as to gain prosperity and make an excellent plan for our future.
On the flip side, despite the fact that looking at history is essential to get inspiration for advancement in life, we should not overlook the sight of the fact that this might be time and money consuming. We are living in a fast-growing world and planning as well as thinking about future is the most beneficial act that we should be able to carry out. As an example, in urban planning, it is totally waste of time if history is taken into account. In addition, many materials which used in past buildings are out of access. Thus, understanding historical building cannot help to make new buildings.
As suggested above, although a few number of people believe that history is not as necessary as other issues, I agree that understanding it has manifold positive effects on our life.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Simplify degree phrase Original: to the largest extent beneficial Suggested revision: highly beneficial Why it matters: The shorter phrase expresses the intended degree naturally.
- 2. Fix complement structure Original: considers no roles for history Suggested revision: considers history to have no role Why it matters: The verb "considers" needs a clear object and complement.
- 3. State purpose clearly Original: put forward my observation Suggested revision: present my view Why it matters: The replacement accurately describes giving an opinion in an essay.
- 4. Remove incorrect possessive Original: human's Suggested revision: human Why it matters: "Human" functions as an adjective here and should not be possessive.
- 5. Fix experience collocation Original: tried Suggested revision: tested Why it matters: Experience can be tested or applied, but it is not naturally described as "tried."
- 6. Use precise study verb Original: looking at previous decades Suggested revision: studying previous decades Why it matters: "Studying" more precisely describes examining historical periods for lessons.
- 7. Clarify ability Original: more willing to benefit Suggested revision: better able to benefit Why it matters: The context concerns capacity to use past experience rather than willingness.
- 8. Fix prosperity collocation Original: gain Suggested revision: achieve Why it matters: Prosperity is conventionally achieved rather than gained.
- 9. Use formal contrast Original: On the flip side Suggested revision: On the other hand Why it matters: The replacement is a more formal transition to the opposing view.
- 10. Remove mixed expression Original: overlook the sight of the fact Suggested revision: overlook the fact Why it matters: The original combines two different expressions and is unidiomatic.
- 11. Add definite article Original: thinking about future Suggested revision: thinking about the future Why it matters: The noun "future" requires the definite article in this general expression.
- 12. Add noun article Original: it is totally waste of time Suggested revision: it is a total waste of time Why it matters: The countable noun "waste" requires an article, and "total" is adjectival.
Suggested Rewrites
- to the largest extent beneficial highly beneficial
- considers no roles for history considers history to have no role
- put forward my observation present my view
- human's human
- tried tested
- looking at previous decades studying previous decades
Why this response received Band 6.0
The essay discusses both perspectives and states a clear preference for studying history, with a recognisable attempt to connect past experience to future planning. Its main limitation is weak development: the education example is difficult to follow, and the urban-planning argument does not convincingly establish that history is useless. Prioritise two concrete, logically explained examples—one showing how historical knowledge guides present decisions and one showing when it has limited practical value.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Response
Both views and a clear final opinion are present, but the supporting examples are insufficiently developed and sometimes fail to demonstrate the claimed value or uselessness of history.
Use specific cases, such as learning from a past policy failure and deciding when obsolete construction methods offer little guidance, then explain each link explicitly.
Coherence and Cohesion
The four-paragraph structure separates the two views and conclusion clearly, though progression within the body paragraphs is weakened by unclear logical connections.
Begin each body paragraph with one precise claim and make every following sentence explain, exemplify, or conclude that same claim.
Lexical Resource
The essay attempts a reasonable range of abstract vocabulary, but frequent inaccurate combinations such as 'considers no roles', 'experience has been tried', and 'out of access' reduce precision.
Prefer natural expressions such as 'sees no role for history', 'past approaches have been tested', and 'no longer available'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Simple and complex structures are attempted, but frequent errors in relative clauses, agreement, articles, and passive constructions sometimes obscure meaning.
Rebuild faulty clauses into complete forms, especially the education sentence, and check that every relative clause contains a clear subject and finite verb.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Some people believe that history is very important and we must study the past to understand the present. Others say that it has little or no use at all. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.