Neighbours are the people who live near us. In your opinion, what are the qualities of a good neighbour? Use specific details and examples in your answer.
Sample Response
I think that my neighbour at least must be friendly. In the morning when I meet my neighbour he or she should greet me and wish me to have a great day. Also, it would be great if he did not smoke. I do not smoke and I do not like to smell a smoke from cigarettes in the morning in my bedroom if I leave the windows opened. A few years ago I lived in a small community. One of my neighbours smoked every morning in front of my windows while his dog was trampling down a beautiful lawn. It was really a terrible experience because I did not need my alarm clock to awake anymore. I was awake exactly in a few seconds after my neighbour began to smoke.
From my point of view, the ideal neighbour must always be ready to offer help. For instance, If I need to go somewhere he would offer me to babysit my children and borrow his car. One more thing, I think it would be great if he picked up my mail and watered my plants while I was on vacation.
Finally, I think good neighbours are those who become friends. From my opinion it is sufficient.
However, if talk about my "ideal" neighbour I can add some extra qualities. First of all, he should allow me to listen to loud music. I think it would be great if he did not call a police if I decided to turn on my radio fully in the late evening or in the early morning. Second of all, my "ideal" neighbour should allow me to use his backyard for my party. I understand that it is almost impossible to find such a good neighbour, but if at least half of my requirements are satisfied I will appreciate it.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Correct adverb position Original: my neighbour at least must Suggested revision: my neighbour must at least Why it matters: “At least” should follow the modal verb to modify the minimum requirement clearly.
- 2. Add clause comma Original: meet my neighbour he or she Suggested revision: meet my neighbour, he or she Why it matters: A comma is needed after the introductory dependent clause.
- 3. Correct the collocation Original: wish me to have Suggested revision: wish me Why it matters: English uses “wish someone a great day” without an infinitive.
- 4. Use uncountable noun Original: a Suggested revision: cigarette Why it matters: “Smoke” is uncountable here, and “cigarette smoke” states the source naturally.
- 5. Use adjective form Original: opened Suggested revision: open Why it matters: “Open” describes the state of the windows after “leave.”
- 6. Punctuate introductory phrase Original: A few years ago I lived Suggested revision: A few years ago, I lived Why it matters: A comma improves clarity after the introductory time phrase.
- 7. Use correct verb Original: to awake anymore Suggested revision: to wake up anymore Why it matters: “Wake up” is the appropriate verb for becoming conscious from sleep.
- 8. Correct tense and timing Original: I was awake exactly in a few seconds Suggested revision: I woke up within a few seconds Why it matters: The simple past describes the event, while “within” gives the elapsed time naturally.
- 9. Use lowercase after comma Original: If Suggested revision: if Why it matters: The conditional clause continues the same sentence, so “if” should not be capitalised.
- 10. Add clause comma Original: go somewhere he would Suggested revision: go somewhere, he would Why it matters: A comma is needed between the initial conditional clause and the main clause.
- 11. Correct verb pattern Original: offer me to babysit Suggested revision: offer to babysit Why it matters: “Offer” takes a direct infinitive when the neighbour is volunteering to perform the action.
- 12. Choose the right verb Original: borrow his car Suggested revision: lend me his car Why it matters: The neighbour would lend the car, while the writer would borrow it.
Suggested Rewrites
- my neighbour at least must my neighbour must at least
- meet my neighbour he or she meet my neighbour, he or she
- wish me to have wish me
- a cigarette
- opened open
- A few years ago I lived A few years ago, I lived
Why this response received Band 6.0
The response gives a clear personal view and supports several neighbourly qualities with concrete everyday examples, especially friendliness and practical help. Its main limitation is that the later focus on tolerating loud music and parties weakens the persuasiveness and overall progression, while frequent language errors reduce polish; prioritise selecting consistently convincing qualities, developing each in a focused paragraph, and correcting common verb and article patterns.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Response
The response identifies several relevant qualities and supports them with personal detail, though the final examples are less convincing as qualities of a good neighbour.
Select two or three clearly positive qualities and explain how each benefits both neighbours rather than focusing on personal convenience.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas are grouped into broadly distinct paragraphs and the sequence is understandable, but the brief third paragraph and renewed discussion after an apparent conclusion disrupt progression.
Give each main quality a balanced body paragraph and reserve the final paragraph for a concise overall conclusion.
Lexical Resource
The vocabulary is adequate for familiar experiences and conveys the intended meaning, but several word combinations and expressions are unnatural.
Practise natural phrases such as smell cigarette smoke, wake up, offer to babysit, lend a car, and call the police.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The response uses conditionals, relative clauses, and past narration, but recurring errors with articles, verb patterns, and sentence completeness reduce accuracy.
Focus revision on article use and verb complements, especially offer to do, allow someone to do, and wake up.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Neighbours are the people who live near us. In your opinion, what are the qualities of a good neighbour? Use specific details and examples in your answer.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.