Music has always been and continues to be the universal language of mankind. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sample Response
Everyone has the inborn ability to appreciate music and there is a well-known quote that music has always been and continues to be the universal language of mankind. Considering the extensive use of music in diverse realms and its vital role in cultural exchange, I quite agree with this opinion.
The most important reason to illustrate music is a universal language is that it can be applied in almost all kinds of human activities and allows people to express certain emotions. No matter in the past or future, music has always been functioning as the language to bring out resonance among human beings without extra interpretation or explanation. For instance, a fanfare of trum pets is often the symbol of morale on battlefields, while soft music may easily evoke a sense of solemn in funerals. Therefore, it is music that plays an irreplaceable role in conveying emotions and touching mankind’s hearts, from joy to anger, sorrow and happiness.
Another factor that cannot be ignored is that music can be appreciated and understood across generations and cultures, which means it can effectively excrete the hurdle between humans. Although sometimes the lyrics can hardly be comprehended, the rhythm of music is able to virtually accomplish communication. In addition, music, as a kind of intangible cultural heritage, also provides a platform for different nations to negotiate, amalgamate and assimilate, eliminating cultural gaps and leading to better mutual understanding among humans. Increasing cooperation among musicians from different cultural backgrounds is a great step forward towards cultural exchange across diverse races and ethnic groups.
In conclusion, as an extensively used and universally accepted language, music greatly enriches human life and promotes communication.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. State agreement precisely Original: I quite agree with this opinion Suggested revision: I strongly agree with this view Why it matters: The revision expresses the degree of agreement more directly and uses a natural academic collocation.
- 2. Fix clause structure Original: reason to illustrate music is a universal language Suggested revision: reason why music is a universal language Why it matters: Use 'reason why' to introduce the proposition being explained.
- 3. Use natural phrasing Original: applied in almost all kinds of human activities Suggested revision: used in almost every kind of human activity Why it matters: 'Used in' is the natural collocation for music's role in activities.
- 4. Fix time linker Original: No matter in the past or future Suggested revision: Whether in the past or the future Why it matters: 'Whether ... or ...' correctly links the two time periods.
- 5. Use concise tense Original: has always been functioning as the language Suggested revision: has always functioned as a language Why it matters: The present perfect simple suits a continuing general role, and the indefinite article is required.
- 6. Clarify emotional effect Original: bring out resonance among human beings Suggested revision: create a shared emotional response among people Why it matters: The original collocation is unnatural and obscures the intended shared response.
- 7. Improve expression Original: extra Suggested revision: requiring Why it matters: The revision states more naturally that music can communicate directly.
- 8. Correct trumpet phrase Original: a fanfare of trum pets Suggested revision: a trumpet fanfare Why it matters: This substantive rephrasing corrects the broken word and uses the standard expression.
- 9. Clarify symbolism Original: the symbol of morale on battlefields Suggested revision: a symbol of high morale on battlefields Why it matters: The indefinite article and modifier make the intended meaning precise.
- 10. Use noun form Original: a sense of solemn in funerals Suggested revision: a sense of solemnity at funerals Why it matters: 'Solemnity' is the required noun, and events take the preposition 'at'.
- 11. Remove redundant range Original: from joy to anger, sorrow and happiness Suggested revision: across emotions such as joy, anger, and sorrow Why it matters: The revision avoids treating the overlapping ideas of joy and happiness as separate endpoints.
- 12. Correct word choice Original: excrete the hurdle between humans Suggested revision: remove barriers between people Why it matters: 'Excrete the hurdle' is semantically incorrect; the revision conveys overcoming barriers.
Suggested Rewrites
- I quite agree with this opinion I strongly agree with this view
- reason to illustrate music is a universal language reason why music is a universal language
- applied in almost all kinds of human activities used in almost every kind of human activity
- No matter in the past or future Whether in the past or the future
- has always been functioning as the language has always functioned as a language
- bring out resonance among human beings create a shared emotional response among people
Why this response received Band 7.0
The response maintains a clear agreement and is organised around two relevant reasons, with effective progression and a useful battlefield-and-funeral example. Its main weakness is imprecise vocabulary and collocation, which sometimes obscure otherwise strong ideas. The priority is to choose simpler, idiomatic wording and develop each claim about cross-cultural communication with more specific explanation.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
A clear position is maintained and supported by relevant ideas about emotional expression and communication across cultures.
Develop the cross-cultural argument with a more specific example that demonstrates how music overcomes a communication barrier.
Coherence and Cohesion
The essay has clear paragraphing and logical progression, with cohesive devices generally used appropriately.
Strengthen the links among the several claims in the second body paragraph so they form one more tightly developed line of reasoning.
Lexical Resource
The response shows good range, but recurring inaccurate word choices and collocations reduce precision and naturalness.
Prefer accurate, idiomatic expressions such as overcome barriers and create a solemn atmosphere instead of forcing uncommon vocabulary.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Varied complex sentences are generally well controlled, although occasional malformed clauses and prepositional errors remain.
Proofread clause openings and comparison structures, especially constructions such as no matter whether in the past or future.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Music has always been and continues to be the universal language of mankind. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.