Some people think that radio is more enjoyable and practical than TV. What is your opinion?
Sample Response
Television and radio have different intrinsic characteristics. While radio predates television by more than thirty years, it remains more practical in terms of mobility and accessibility, indeed having gained new life by often being relayed via the internet. In its various forms of free air, satellite, and cable, television is certainly more entertaining by virtue of its visual and immersive nature.
Compared to what is broadcast on the radio, television programs are more enjoyable because they usually present various topics in video format. The majority of radio programs, such as the BBC World Service, are limited to reporting current affairs, but television, on the other hand, screens more appealing subjects. These include the latest films, documentaries, talk shows, interviews, and so on. Additionally, television programs are televised not only in audio formats, like what the radio does, but also in video format. This provides its audiences with a more pleasing experience.
Having said that, it is true that the radio is more practical, primarily because of its portability, which allows people to enjoy it on the move and it is not as costly as television. It is commonplace these days that people can download a radio application to their smartphones. They can then listen to it through this channel wherever they go, whereas viewing television is more complicated as it at least requires people to have a television. In addition, subscribing to cable television usually incurs a fee, but this is not applicable when it comes to the radio.
To reiterate, it is my belief that the radio is less enjoyable than television because it has a wider coverage on various subjects and broadcasts programs in audio and video format. Still, it is more practical, as people can listen to it on the go and it costs less so that people can access it with ease.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Choose natural verb Original: screens more appealing subjects Suggested revision: offers more appealing content Why it matters: Television offers or presents content rather than screening subjects.
- 2. Use collective singular Original: audiences Suggested revision: audience Why it matters: The collective singular is more natural when referring generally to television viewers.
- 3. Correct preposition Original: to Suggested revision: onto Why it matters: Use 'onto' for transferring an application to a device.
- 4. Name the medium Original: through this channel Suggested revision: through the app Why it matters: Referring directly to the app is clearer and more precise than 'this channel'.
- 5. Make phrasing concise Original: not applicable when it comes to the radio Suggested revision: does not generally apply to radio Why it matters: This replacement expresses the comparison more directly and naturally.
- 6. Clarify pronoun reference Original: because it has a wider coverage on various subjects Suggested revision: because television has wider coverage of various subjects Why it matters: Naming television removes the ambiguous pronoun and 'coverage of' is the correct collocation.
- 7. Express cause clearly Original: it costs less so that people can access it with ease Suggested revision: its lower cost makes it easy to access Why it matters: The original purpose construction does not clearly express the causal relationship.
- 8. Avoid vague wording Original: present various topics in video format Suggested revision: present a range of topics visually Why it matters: The revision is more concise and avoids the vague combination 'various topics in video format'.
- 9. Streamline the contrast Original: but television, on the other hand, Suggested revision: whereas television Why it matters: Using one contrast marker avoids the redundant combination of 'but' and 'on the other hand'.
- 10. Use plural form Original: format Suggested revision: formats Why it matters: The noun should be plural because it refers to two distinct formats.
- 11. Sentence rewrite Original: Additionally, television programs are televised not only in audio formats, like what the radio does, but also in video format. Suggested revision: Additionally, television programmes are presented not only through sound, as radio programmes are, but also through images. Why it matters: This rewrite fixes the faulty comparison, avoids repetition, and makes the parallel structure grammatical.
- 12. Sentence rewrite Original: Having said that, it is true that the radio is more practical, primarily because of its portability, which allows people to enjoy it on the move and it is not as costly as television. Suggested revision: Having said that, radio is more practical because it is portable, can be enjoyed on the move, and is less costly than television. Why it matters: The rewrite repairs the coordination after the relative clause and states the three linked points clearly.
Suggested Rewrites
- screens more appealing subjects offers more appealing content
- audiences audience
- to onto
- through this channel through the app
- not applicable when it comes to the radio does not generally apply to radio
- because it has a wider coverage on various subjects because television has wider coverage of various subjects
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response presents a clear, well-developed comparative position, with especially effective organization and relevant explanations of each medium’s advantages. Its main limitation is occasional imprecision in claims and wording, including a confusing pronoun in the conclusion that briefly blurs which medium offers wider subject coverage. Prioritize sharpening factual comparisons and checking reference words so every supporting point reinforces the nuanced position unambiguously.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The response directly answers the question with a clear nuanced position and develops relevant reasons for television's enjoyment value and radio's practicality.
Make each comparative claim fully precise and avoid broad unsupported assertions about the range of radio programming.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas progress logically through a clear introduction, two focused body paragraphs, and a conclusion, with cohesive devices used effectively.
Reduce minor repetition of key nouns and ensure every pronoun in the conclusion has an unmistakable referent.
Lexical Resource
A broad and generally precise vocabulary supports detailed comparison, although a few phrases such as 'free air' and 'wider coverage on' are awkward.
Refine collocations for broadcasting and media so ambitious wording remains consistently natural and exact.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The response uses a wide range of complex structures with strong control, while occasional coordination and reference problems do not impede meaning.
Check long coordinated sentences and comparative clauses for cleaner structure and clearer subject reference.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Some people think that radio is more enjoyable and practical than TV. What is your opinion?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.