Life is now better that it was 100 years ago. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Sample Response
It is certainly true that there has been a huge change that took place in our ways of living with the time and it is now more developed and convenient than the past. Although I agree with the given statement but I do not agree completely. In my point of view, both of times have their own significances and people are similarly enjoyed and suffered in both eras.
First of all, regarding the past, a century ago people probably had a peaceful life. At that time, the proportion of crimes was significantly low. For example, folks usually lived in their community despite having any fear of burglary, stealing, kidnaping or terrorist attacks, which are the most common incidences at present. Secondly, a century ago, there was no problem of traffic congestions, as there were very negligible numbers of four wheelers running on British roads. Moreover, during that time family bonds were very strong. Such as, there was almost zero incidence of family breakdown while nowadays it is remarked as one kind of tradition.
In the present time, there is an improved lifestyle and this mostly enjoyed by the city people. This is due to the advent of modern technology. For instance, the internet brings people together and makes their work faster where within a millisecond people can send their message to people of another part of the world. To add with, health facilities have developed in such a way that, death ratio is remarkably low in developed countries because saving the life has now become very easy.
To conclude, I believe that, both of the eras bear its importance. In one hand, people are living in a high-tech era, where every single comfort is now in their hand but at the same time, family bonds are loosening gradually. On the other hand, a century ago, people lived a fearless and enjoyable life but without the lights of technological comfort and advent.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Fix tense and redundancy Original: there has been a huge change that took place Suggested revision: huge changes have taken place Why it matters: The revision removes the redundant combination of “has been” and “took place” and keeps the present-perfect time frame.
- 2. Use natural phrase Original: our ways of living Suggested revision: our way of life Why it matters: “Way of life” is the conventional expression for general living patterns.
- 3. Fix time phrase Original: with the time Suggested revision: over time Why it matters: “Over time” is the correct expression for gradual change.
- 4. Make comparison parallel Original: it is now more developed and convenient than the past Suggested revision: life is now more developed and convenient than it was in the past Why it matters: The comparison must contrast life now with life in the past rather than with the past itself.
- 5. Remove double conjunction Original: Although I agree with the given statement but Suggested revision: Although I agree with the statement, Why it matters: “Although” already marks the contrast, so “but” must not be used in the same construction.
- 6. Fix viewpoint phrase Original: In my point of view Suggested revision: From my point of view Why it matters: The fixed expression begins with “from”.
- 7. Correct determiner phrase Original: both of times Suggested revision: both periods Why it matters: “Both of” cannot directly modify the ungrammatical phrase “times” in this context.
- 8. Use uncountable noun Original: their own significances Suggested revision: their own significance Why it matters: “Significance” is uncountable when referring generally to importance.
- 9. Use active verbs Original: people are similarly enjoyed and suffered Suggested revision: people experienced similar enjoyment and suffering Why it matters: People experience these conditions; they are not passively “enjoyed and suffered”.
- 10. Use standard measure Original: the proportion of crimes Suggested revision: the crime rate Why it matters: “Crime rate” is the appropriate expression for the frequency of crime.
- 11. Correct negative meaning Original: despite having any fear Suggested revision: without any fear Why it matters: “Despite having” means fear existed, which contradicts the intended claim that residents felt safe.
- 12. Use crime noun Original: stealing Suggested revision: theft Why it matters: The list requires the noun naming the offence rather than the activity form.
Suggested Rewrites
- there has been a huge change that took place huge changes have taken place
- our ways of living our way of life
- with the time over time
- it is now more developed and convenient than the past life is now more developed and convenient than it was in the past
- Although I agree with the given statement but Although I agree with the statement,
- In my point of view From my point of view
Why this response received Band 6.0
The response presents a qualified position and considers relevant contrasts between the two eras, including crime, traffic, family life, communication, and healthcare. Its main limitation is that several broad claims are weakly supported or exaggerated, while frequent grammatical and collocational errors reduce precision. Prioritise a clearer degree of agreement and develop two balanced comparisons with credible evidence rather than listing loosely substantiated differences.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Response
A qualified view is maintained and both past and present are discussed, but the degree of agreement is not sharply defined and several claims lack convincing support.
State exactly how far life has improved and develop two comparison areas with realistic explanations or examples.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response uses clear thematic paragraphs and broadly logical progression, though some linking is mechanical and a few supporting sentences are fragmented or loosely attached.
Use one comparison focus per body paragraph and connect each example directly to the paragraph's central claim.
Lexical Resource
There is adequate vocabulary for social and technological change, but recurrent awkward collocations, word-form errors, and spelling lapses reduce precision.
Use natural phrases such as crime rate, traffic congestion, family breakdown, standard of living, and life expectancy.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A mixture of sentence forms is attempted, but frequent errors in agreement, articles, verb forms, countability, and subordinate structures remain noticeable.
Review clause construction and subject-verb agreement, especially in sentences using although, while, and paired comparison structures.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Life is now better that it was 100 years ago. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.