Machine translation (MT) is slower and less accurate than human translation and there is no immediate or predictable likelihood of machines taking over this role from humans. Do you agree or disagree?
Sample Response
It’s an irrefutable fact that technology has transformed the lifestyle of mortals since its inception. Machine translation is perceived to be one such aspect of technology that could revolutionize the entire translation methodology adopted for ages but the way this transformation would impact the traditional translators is in the periphery of doubts. The following crumb discourses this fragile topic.
To set the ball rolling, the infusion of technology into every walk of life has made the life of humans no less than a bed of roses. Traditionally translation was a very cumbersome task but with the advent of technology, various applications have been developed that enable us to understand any language with a click of a button. Cost-effectiveness, ease of availability, and confidentiality of data have made this by-product of artificial intelligence extremely popular. Gone are the days, when people refrained from going to places that were linguistically alien to them. Instead, this new version of the technology has thinned the cultural gap which was directly proportional to the lingual of a person.
Not all that glitters is gold, this statement holds true in this case as well. Viruses and Bugs are the grey areas of technological advancements that have been nightmares of various software giants. Crucial information if leaked might prove to be hazardous for any institution. Language is the subjective aspect, a word can be used at multiple places deciphering different meanings. Dialogues have different accents which are still beyond the ability of machines to conquer. A study by the linguistic department on the threat to translators by technology conducted over a population of language experts further crystal cleared the thought process, Almost 84% of linguistics claimed that until the next decade artificial language decoding cannot bypass manual accuracy and pace.
So, finally what clinches my mind for the aforementioned discussion is the fact that although modernization might have crept into our lives there are still irregularities that are hard to negate. Human translators have been bridging the communication gap and will continue to do so without any threat from developing codes.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Replace incorrect wording Original: crumb discourses Suggested revision: discussion examines Why it matters: The original words do not form a meaningful academic expression.
- 2. Use a formal opener Original: To set the ball rolling Suggested revision: To begin with Why it matters: This transition is clearer and more appropriate for an academic essay.
- 3. Use concise wording Original: the life of humans Suggested revision: human life Why it matters: The shorter noun phrase is more natural.
- 4. Correct the expression Original: no less than a bed of roses Suggested revision: considerably easier Why it matters: The idiom is misused and obscures the intended claim about convenience.
- 5. Add introductory comma Original: Traditionally translation Suggested revision: Traditionally, translation Why it matters: An introductory adverb should be separated from the main clause by a comma.
- 6. Add clause comma Original: task but with Suggested revision: task, but with Why it matters: A comma is needed before 'but' when it joins two independent clauses.
- 7. Avoid overgeneralisation Original: understand any language Suggested revision: understand many languages Why it matters: 'Any language' makes an absolute claim that the sentence does not support.
- 8. Correct the idiom Original: with a click of a button Suggested revision: at the click of a button Why it matters: The fixed expression uses the preposition 'at'.
- 9. Use a precise term Original: this by-product of artificial intelligence Suggested revision: this application of artificial intelligence Why it matters: Machine translation is an application rather than a by-product of artificial intelligence.
- 10. Remove the comma Original: Gone are the days, when Suggested revision: Gone are the days when Why it matters: The defining 'when' clause should not be separated from its noun by a comma.
- 11. Correct the collocation Original: thinned Suggested revision: narrowed Why it matters: A gap is conventionally described as narrowed rather than thinned.
- 12. Replace incorrect noun Original: the lingual of a person Suggested revision: a person's language Why it matters: 'Lingual' is not a countable noun meaning the language someone speaks.
Suggested Rewrites
- crumb discourses discussion examines
- To set the ball rolling To begin with
- the life of humans human life
- no less than a bed of roses considerably easier
- Traditionally translation Traditionally, translation
- task but with task, but with
Why this response received Band 6.0
The response presents a recognisable position and separates the advantages and limitations of machine translation into clear paragraphs. However, much of the discussion is indirect, the claim about speed receives little focused analysis, and frequent strained expressions weaken precision. Prioritise a direct comparison of human and machine accuracy and speed, then support the conclusion about future replacement with specific, logically connected evidence in natural language.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The response reaches a relevant conclusion, but its treatment of machine speed, accuracy, and likely replacement is uneven and partly indirect.
Address each element of the claim directly and develop the prediction about replacement with specific reasoning rather than a broad assertion.
Coherence and Cohesion
The paragraph structure is clear, although progression is weakened by tangents and some abrupt or faulty sentence connections.
Give each body paragraph one explicit claim about the prompt and connect every example back to that claim.
Lexical Resource
The response attempts a broad vocabulary, but frequent miscollocations and unnatural idioms often reduce precision.
Prefer accurate, natural terms such as language ability, clarify, and human translators over elaborate but unsuitable expressions.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A mix of simple and complex structures communicates the main meaning, despite recurring article, punctuation, and sentence-boundary errors.
Revise comma splices and incomplete clause patterns, then check articles and agreement in each sentence.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Machine translation (MT) is slower and less accurate than human translation and there is no immediate or predictable likelihood of machines taking over this role from humans. Do you agree or disagree?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.