Students today can easily access information online, so libraries are no longer necessary. Do you agree or disagree?
Sample Response
Today, the role of libraries has come under scrutiny, leading some observers to claim that they are redundant in society. Even though traditional libraries might appear obsolete, I am inclined to disagree with this opinion.
There are reasons to believe that libraries no longer have their place in the world. Firstly, online resources are ever-expanding, and it is increasingly convenient to access them at the same time. Search engines, academic databases, and digital information archives offer troves of knowledge which can be looked up at will, when registered at an institution. All that is needed is a computer connected to the Internet, which is almost a prerequisite for every university student these days. Technology, moreover, has led to the existence of eBooks and digital newspapers, making it possible to own scholarly texts without having to go to libraries to acquire a hard copy. For that reason, some people argue that these places are inefficient, and should be repurposed as a result.
Libraries continue to be integral in some respects, however. They are not mere repositories of knowledge but also appropriate spaces for studying. The atmosphere at libraries is conducive to students’ concentration, as distraction, such as noise, is optimally controlled. This can also be relevant for facilitating education in groups, since students can exchange ideas with each other while still able to maintain their focus. Group learners, therefore, would end up being enriched both socially and in terms of critical thinking. Furthermore, as opposed to online databases, libraries are operated by librarians, who vet and classify reading materials to ensure that they are reliable. At the same time, these professionals help visitors by guiding them to those reputable sources. This makes the visitors feel welcomed, which is an experience absent from the solitude of online browsing.
In conclusion, while digital technology has introduced faster access to information compared to libraries, I disagree with dismissing their necessity. Despite the threat posed to their existence by the Internet, libraries are likely to remain pivotal in education and scholarly pursuits.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use precise social context Original: redundant in society Suggested revision: unnecessary in modern society Why it matters: “Unnecessary” states the claim more directly, while “modern” identifies the context under discussion.
- 2. Avoid vague phrasing Original: have their place in the world Suggested revision: have a place in modern society Why it matters: The revised phrase is more specific to the essay’s discussion of present-day institutions.
- 3. Correct time expression Original: access them at the same time Suggested revision: access them at any time Why it matters: The intended point is constant availability, not simultaneous access.
- 4. Clarify who is registered Original: when registered at an institution Suggested revision: by students registered at an institution Why it matters: The original modifier incorrectly appears to describe the knowledge rather than the users.
- 5. Use accurate necessity phrase Original: almost a prerequisite for every university student Suggested revision: almost essential for every university student Why it matters: A connected computer is a tool students need, rather than a condition they must satisfy before studying.
- 6. Use concise availability wording Original: led to the existence of eBooks and digital newspapers Suggested revision: enabled the widespread availability of e-books and digital newspapers Why it matters: The replacement expresses technology’s role more naturally and precisely.
- 7. Remove unnecessary comma Original: inefficient, and should Suggested revision: inefficient and should Why it matters: A comma is not needed between two predicates sharing the same subject.
- 8. Remove repeated consequence linker Original: repurposed as a result Suggested revision: repurposed Why it matters: “For that reason” already signals the consequence, so “as a result” is redundant.
- 9. Use natural adjective pattern Original: integral Suggested revision: essential Why it matters: “Essential” fits this grammatical pattern more naturally than “integral” here.
- 10. Use concise study phrase Original: appropriate spaces for studying Suggested revision: suitable study spaces Why it matters: The replacement conveys the same idea more directly and naturally.
- 11. Correct place preposition Original: at Suggested revision: in Why it matters: “In libraries” is the natural prepositional phrase for describing their internal atmosphere.
- 12. Fix number and phrasing Original: as distraction, such as noise, is optimally controlled Suggested revision: as distractions such as noise are effectively controlled Why it matters: The plural noun and verb correctly generalise the distractions, and “effectively” is the natural adverb.
Suggested Rewrites
- redundant in society unnecessary in modern society
- have their place in the world have a place in modern society
- access them at the same time access them at any time
- when registered at an institution by students registered at an institution
- almost a prerequisite for every university student almost essential for every university student
- led to the existence of eBooks and digital newspapers enabled the widespread availability of e-books and digital newspapers
Why this response received Band 7.5
The response offers a clear, nuanced disagreement and develops both the appeal of online information and the continuing educational value of libraries in a coherent argument. Its main limitation is a cluster of awkward expressions that occasionally makes otherwise sophisticated ideas less natural or precise. The highest priority is to revise collocations and compressed clauses so the strong reasoning is conveyed with consistently idiomatic clarity.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The position is clear throughout, and both the opposing rationale and the case for libraries are relevant and thoroughly developed.
Make the thesis slightly more decisive at the outset and connect each benefit of libraries even more explicitly to their continued necessity.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response is logically sequenced, with well-focused paragraphs and generally skilful use of cohesive devices and referencing.
Remove occasional redundant linking, such as combining “For that reason” with “as a result,” to sharpen progression.
Lexical Resource
The response displays a wide vocabulary and strong topic language, but several collocations sound strained or imprecise.
Replace awkward phrases such as “facilitating education in groups” and “optimally controlled” with more natural academic wording.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Complex structures are varied and mostly accurate, though a few compressed or mismatched constructions reduce precision.
Check agreement and clause attachment in phrases such as “distraction, such as noise, is” and the reduced clause beginning “when registered.”
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Students today can easily access information online, so libraries are no longer necessary. Do you agree or disagree?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.