Some believe that it is good for a country’s culture to import films and TV programmes, while others think it is better for a country to have their own films and TV programmes. Discuss both views and give your own opinion
Sample Response
There has been a difference of opinion regarding the merits of foreign movies and TV channels to the culture of a country as people believe domestic products would be better. From my perspective, both of those categories are equally important.
On the one hand, people usually believe foreign films and TV telecasts can contribute to the cultural diversity of a nation. Fascinating social norms and practices, such as public hugging which is common in the US, can follow the wave to other nations as Hollywood blockbusters are becoming more popular. This phenomenon is believed to benefit the richness of the host country’s traditional backgrounds. Moreover, the import of international movies and TV shows could perfect the flaws of the country’s sets of beliefs. In Vietnam, for example, the ceremony of funerals is often perpetuated with ongoing depraved customs such as gambling and drinking. Since the arrival of TV shows from more developed nations, which triggers a new and civilized way of thinking, such practices have been gradually aborted.
On the other hand, it appears to me that producing local movies and TV programs has the same importance. Citizens of a country would be able to acquire knowledge about their own culture. Apparently, profound insights of traditional values can be vividly conveyed in cinemas and on the media if the content is made by local people. The second point to be considered is that this way can relieve the worry of cultural assimilation which has emerged as a detriment to the existence of a country’s traditional beliefs and customs. In fact, if exotic practices are absorded thoughtlessly, it might lead to the oblivion of the long-standing ethics, which emphasizes the necessity for domestic products.
In conclusion, I would argue that both types of films and TV telecasts play an equal role in a country’s culture.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Wrong preposition Original: to the culture of a country Suggested revision: for a country's culture Why it matters: The preposition 'for' correctly expresses the benefit being evaluated.
- 2. Clarify contrast Original: as people believe Suggested revision: while others believe Why it matters: A contrast marker is needed to distinguish the two groups of people.
- 3. Use precise noun Original: both of those categories Suggested revision: both approaches Why it matters: 'Approaches' refers more precisely to importing and producing screen content.
- 4. Natural media term Original: telecasts Suggested revision: programmes Why it matters: 'TV programmes' is the natural term for the imported content being discussed.
- 5. Unnatural expression Original: can follow the wave Suggested revision: can spread Why it matters: 'Spread' directly and naturally describes practices moving between countries.
- 6. Fix collocation Original: benefit the richness of the host country’s traditional backgrounds Suggested revision: enrich the host country’s cultural traditions Why it matters: The revision uses natural collocations and gives 'traditions' a clear cultural meaning.
- 7. Fix contradictory phrase Original: perfect the flaws of the country’s sets of beliefs Suggested revision: address flaws in the country’s belief systems Why it matters: Flaws can be addressed, whereas 'perfect the flaws' is semantically contradictory.
- 8. Natural noun phrase Original: ceremony of funerals Suggested revision: practice of holding funerals Why it matters: The revised phrase expresses the intended funeral custom naturally.
- 9. Wrong verb choice Original: is often perpetuated with ongoing Suggested revision: is often accompanied by Why it matters: A ceremony can be accompanied by practices, while 'perpetuated with ongoing' is not idiomatic.
- 10. More precise wording Original: depraved customs Suggested revision: harmful practices Why it matters: 'Harmful practices' states the criticism clearly without the imprecise moral label 'depraved'.
- 11. Fix comparison form Original: producing local movies and TV programs has the same importance Suggested revision: producing local movies and TV programmes is equally important Why it matters: The adjective construction 'is equally important' is the grammatical comparison here.
- 12. Improve collocation Original: acquire knowledge about Suggested revision: gain knowledge of Why it matters: 'Gain knowledge of' is more natural in this context.
Suggested Rewrites
- to the culture of a country for a country's culture
- as people believe while others believe
- both of those categories both approaches
- telecasts programmes
- can follow the wave can spread
- benefit the richness of the host country’s traditional backgrounds enrich the host country’s cultural traditions
Why this response received Band 7.0
The response presents a clear, balanced position and organizes two relevant perspectives into a logical discussion. Its main limitation is lexical control: ambitious wording frequently produces unnatural or imprecise collocations, which sometimes weakens otherwise sensible explanations. The highest-priority improvement is to favor accurate, natural phrasing and to develop each example with a more explicit link to how imported or domestic media affects national culture.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
Both views and an equal-weight position are clearly addressed with relevant explanation and examples.
Make each example's cultural effect more precise and explicitly connect it to the argument.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response progresses logically through a clear introduction, two focused body paragraphs, and a concise conclusion.
Use less formulaic signposting and strengthen the internal links between claims, examples, and their implications.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied and ambitious, but numerous unnatural collocations and occasional spelling errors reduce precision.
Prioritize natural word combinations and check choices such as verbs used for customs, beliefs, and cultural change.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A good range of complex structures is used with generally clear and controlled meaning despite occasional errors.
Improve agreement, article use, and clause control in longer sentences, especially those containing conditional or relative clauses.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Some believe that it is good for a country’s culture to import films and TV programmes, while others think it is better for a country to have their own films and TV programmes. Discuss both views and give your own opinion
Your response
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