Compare the advantages and disadvantages of three of the following as media for communicating information. State which three you consider the most effective. comics books radio television film theater
Sample Response
Communication media playplays a vital role in today’s world. It enables us to stay informed of the events around the worldhappenings in the entire world, provides access to real-time information, and entertains us. There are different kinds of media in use today, namely comics, books, radio, television, film, theatre, etc. Outtheatre etc. out of these, the most effective are television, radio and booksthe television, radio and books.
Television, or TV for short, is an electronic device that enables us to see and listen at the same time to a recorded eventan act that has been recorded. RecordingsThese can be replayed any number of times. Television newsNews on a TV enables us to view current eventsview the current events occurring in different parts of the world. Video of an event can be broadcasttelecasted live as it happens through remote satellite links. A TV can also be a source of education and entertainment. Educational channels, such as the Discovery ChannelDiscovery channel, telecast several interesting programs on topics such as wildlife or the solar systemwildlife or solar system. Other channels, such as Star movies, telecast movies throughout the day.
A radio is an electronic device that uses microwave communication to send and receive information. Unlike a TV, a radio cannot display an image or a video, and the communication is limited to voice only. Typically, a radio is used tofor access information such as news and live traffic updates. The information is conveyed on fixed microwave frequency bandsfixed bands of microwave frequency called channels. A user can set the frequency of the radio to access a particular channel.
Books are the one of the oldest kind of communication medium. A book typically consists of several pages, made from wood pulp bound together. A book is typically identified by a title and an author, and optionally an ISBNan ISBN number which uniquely identifies the bookidentifies a book uniquely. A book usually contains materialcontains a material on a given topic, divided into subtopics in the form of chaptersby sub-topics in form of chapters. Books are often classified by genre, which is a theme in which the topic can be classified. Examples of genres include fiction, non-fiction, science fiction, mystery, etc.mystery etc.
Of all the communication media available today, television, radio and books are the most important and effective ones. These are also the most commonly used media in the world today and they are responsible for binding the world together. (Answer by Pankaj Kohli )
Why this response received Band 6.0
The response’s strongest feature is its clear organisation, with television, radio, and books each handled in a focused section and the selected media stated consistently. Its main limitation is that it mostly describes how the media work instead of comparing their advantages and disadvantages; the highest-priority improvement is to evaluate both strengths and weaknesses of all three using explicit comparative criteria such as reach, speed, detail, and accessibility.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The response identifies three preferred media and describes them at length, but it largely omits the required comparison of their advantages and disadvantages.
Evaluate at least one clear strength and weakness for each medium, then compare them directly to justify the final selection.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information is logically separated by medium and progresses clearly from the introduction through three focused sections to the conclusion.
Create stronger links between sections by comparing each new medium directly with those already discussed.
Lexical Resource
The response uses adequate topic vocabulary for broadcasting, communication, and publishing, though repetition and several inaccurate combinations limit flexibility.
Vary repeated words such as “typically” and correct collocations including “used to access information” and “one of the oldest media.”
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A mix of simple and complex structures conveys meaning clearly, but article, agreement, word-form, and punctuation errors recur.
Review article use and singular–plural agreement, especially in noun phrases describing books and communication media.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of three of the following as media for communicating information. State which three you consider the most effective. comics books radio television film theater
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.