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?
This response is estimated at Band 7.5. Can you write a better one?
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Sample Response
Musing on and planning forabout the future are some of the most common activities among people, and many argue that this is a waste of time and we should concentrate on theour present. I, however, disagree and believe that thinking and planning about the future is one of the cardinal rules for success because it enables our subconscious mind to perform optimallyenables the optimal performance of our subconscious mind and helps us work towards future goals.
One compelling reason to support the idea that we should plan for the future is that it is of paramount importanceplays a paramount importance in achieving success. To illustrate, most self-help authors argueavow that the subconscious mind works like a guided missile - once a target for the future is set, it follows the path that would lead to the achievement of that objectivethose objectives. A person’s mind without a thorough plan would be derailed from the track that would lead to the realisation of their dreams. This example challengesdebunks the idea that planning for and pondering on the future is a waste of time.
Another important reason is that individuals who plan ahead of time are better equipped to deal with the unexpected difficultiescurve balls that life throws at them than their counterparts who choose to live in the moment. For instance, before deciding upon the mentor to be hired for one of my research projects, I spent a painstaking amount of time, gathering information about authorities, and whom to contact, in case the selected mentor did not have a credential that he or she boasts about having. Since I took the time to do this, when my selected mentor did turn out to be a fraudster, I knew immediately who to report him to. Thus, as my personal experience taught me, planning in advance can save us from the worst scenarios that could play out.
As a result, due to the higher probability of achieving one’s goals and improved ability to deal with unexpected outcomes, it is clear that planning for and thinking about the future is not a waste of time. I feel that people should devote enough time to practisingpractice this.
Why this response received Band 7.5
The response presents a clear position and develops two distinct, relevant reasons with specific support, while maintaining an assured and coherent argument throughout. Its main limitation is that some ambitious wording is imprecise or unnatural, and the second example becomes unnecessarily elaborate. The highest-priority improvement is to choose more natural collocations and express supporting details more concisely so that the argument remains precise and persuasive.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The position is clear throughout, and both reasons are relevant, well explained, and supported with specific examples.
Make the supporting examples more concise and explicitly connect each detail to why future planning is valuable.
Coherence and Cohesion
The argument progresses logically through a clear introduction, two focused body paragraphs, and a consistent conclusion.
Streamline the longer sentences in the second body paragraph so that the sequence of ideas is easier to follow.
Lexical Resource
A broad vocabulary conveys precise distinctions, although several ambitious collocations sound unnatural or are used inaccurately.
Replace awkward phrases such as “plays a paramount importance” with natural collocations and favour precision over ornate wording.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex sentence forms is handled with strong control, with only occasional punctuation and construction problems.
Review comma placement and coordination in long sentences to remove minor disruptions and sharpen grammatical control.