Some people consider thinking about and planning for the future to be a waste of time. They argue that people should simply live in the moment. Do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Same questionCompare 2 different answers (Band 7–7.5)

Sample Response

1

Some people believe that planning for the future is unnecessary and that individuals should concentrate on living in the present moment. However, I disagree with this view and believe that it is crucial for individuals to plan for the future as in today's fast-paced world, the concept of time management and planning for the future has become more important than ever.

2

Planning for the future helps individuals set goals and work towards achieving them. Without a plan, individuals may find themselves driftingaimlessly wandering through life, unsure of where they are going or what they want to achieve. Having a clear vision of what they want to accomplish, individuals can take concrete steps to achieve their goals, leading to a more fulfilling life.

3

AdditionallySecondly, planning for the future helps individuals anticipatehelps individuals to anticipate and prepare for potential obstaclesany obstacles that may arise. Whether it is saving money for unexpected expensesfor a rainy day, planning for retirement or building an emergency fund, preparing for the future ensures that individuals have the resources they need to cope with unexpected difficultiesweather any storms that may come their way. Planning for the future can also help individuals feel more secure and confident about what lies aheadsecure and confident about their future. Knowing that they have a plan in place and are taking active steps towards achieving their goals can give individuals a sense of control over their lives and help reduce stress and anxiety.

4

On the other hand, focusing solely on the present may lead to short-term gratification at the expense of long-term stability and happiness. Without a plan, individuals may find themselves living from paycheck to paycheckconstantly living paycheck to paycheck or struggling to make ends meet, which can be a source of stress and anxiety.

5

In conclusion, while it is important to enjoy the present moment, I strongly believe that planning for the future is necessary for a fulfilling life. By setting goals, preparing for obstacles and building a sense of security and confidence, individuals can lead more meaningful and fulfilling lives.

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 7.0

The response presents a clear position and develops a coherent case for future planning through relevant points about goals, preparedness, and security. Its main limitation is that the support remains fairly general and repeats similar ideas about fulfilment and anxiety; the highest-priority improvement is to develop fewer reasons with more specific explanation or illustration and reduce repetition.

Band score breakdown

IELTS Writing Criteria Scores

TR

Task Response

7.0
Scoring rule

The position is clear throughout, and the main reasons are relevant and sufficiently developed, though some support remains general and repetitive.

Next step

Develop one or two central reasons more deeply with a precise real-world illustration or a fuller causal explanation.

CC

Coherence and Cohesion

7.0
Scoring rule

Ideas progress logically through well-defined paragraphs, although repeated wording and somewhat mechanical transitions reduce cohesion slightly.

Next step

Use more varied referencing and connect overlapping points about security, stress, and fulfilment more economically.

LR

Lexical Resource

7.0
Scoring rule

Vocabulary is varied and generally precise, with effective phrases such as aimlessly wandering and long-term stability, despite noticeable repetition of key nouns.

Next step

Paraphrase recurring terms such as individuals, future, and planning while keeping word choice natural and exact.

GRA

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

7.0
Scoring rule

A good range of complex sentences is used with generally strong control, though the long opening sentence and a few participial structures are awkward.

Next step

Reshape overloaded sentences into cleaner clause structures and check that introductory participial phrases attach naturally to their subjects.

Put the feedback to work

Write this task while it is fresh

Try the same task now. It helps you remember the feedback and write better next time.

IELTS Writing Task 2

Some people consider thinking about and planning for the future to be a waste of time. They argue that people should simply live in the moment. Do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Your response

Words0
40:00

Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.