These days, many people keep pets like dogs and cats as their companions at their houses, and this trend is getting popular. Why do you think pet ownership is increasing? What are the advantages of keeping pets as companions?

Same questionCompare 2 different answers (Band 7.5–8)

Sample Response

1

In recent years, the ownership of pets, like dogs and cats, has been on the rise, with athe growing number of individuals choosing to bring furry friends into their households. This essay will first discuss how emotional bonding and social media influence are the main reasons for this trendprimary causes of this growing phenomenon, and then discuss how it can benefitproves to be advantageous to human health - both mental and physical.

2

The reasons behind this phenomenon are emotional attachment and social-media influencethe emotional connection and social media influence. Pets have always been deemed charming companionsdeemed as charming companions, but their significance has grown even more lately. Many people now consider their pets to be members of the family, finding emotional solace and unswerving loyalty in their furry companions. In addition, the riseLikewise, the rise of social media sites has also contributed to the increase in pet ownership. Captivating stories and adorable videos flood our social media news feedsfeed, encouraging individuals to adopt a pet of their own. For instance, social media platforms like Facebook have even led to the emergence of pet influencers, a trend that haspet influencers, which has in turn contributed to the appeal of pet ownershipthe popularity and appeal of pet ownership.

3

Having pets as friends offers significant advantagesoffers some real advantages, such as stress reduction and health benefits. The social interaction between individuals and pets boosts the levels of the feel-good hormone oxytocin, the hormone associated with bonding mothers to babies. For example, a recent study reveals that 86 per centan amazing 86 per cent of post-traumatic stress disorder patients accompanied by a serviceserving dog report a significant decrease in symptoms, and 38 per cent are able to reduce their medicationmedications. Moreover, the oxytocin-boosting benefits of keeping pets also help hold owners’ blood pressure at bay. Pet owners thus reapKeeping pets thus reaps many health benefits.

4

In conclusion, a growing number of people are keeping pets in their homes because of emotional support and social media influence. It has remarkable benefits including reducing anxiety and reducing high blood pressurepreventing blood pressure.

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 7.5

The essay fully addresses both questions through clear causes and well-developed mental and physical health benefits, with logical paragraphing and a specific supporting illustration. Its main limitations are comparatively minor: scientific claims and statistics lack context, and several collocations become imprecise near the conclusion. Qualify the evidence, add a direct everyday benefit such as increased exercise, and refine phrases concerning service dogs and blood-pressure reduction.

Band score breakdown

IELTS Writing Criteria Scores

TR

Task Response

8.0
Scoring rule

Both the growth in ownership and the advantages of pets are directly and substantially developed through relevant explanation and examples.

Next step

Strengthen the physical-health discussion with a clearly explained everyday mechanism, such as owners walking dogs more regularly.

CC

Coherence and Cohesion

7.5
Scoring rule

The introduction, two focused body paragraphs, and conclusion create clear progression, with cohesive links that rarely draw attention away from the ideas.

Next step

Reduce repeated references to the same causes and benefits so the conclusion synthesises rather than restates the body.

LR

Lexical Resource

7.0
Scoring rule

Vocabulary is varied and often precise, including "emotional solace," "unswerving loyalty," and "stress reduction," but several collocations are inaccurate.

Next step

Use "regarded as," "service dog," "keep high blood pressure at bay," and "pet ownership brings benefits."

GRA

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

7.0
Scoring rule

A wide range of structures is generally controlled, although minor article, reference, and agreement errors remain noticeable in several sentences.

Next step

Clarify pronoun reference and agreement, especially in the thesis and conclusion, and check articles in phrases such as "a growing number."

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

These days, many people keep pets like dogs and cats as their companions at their houses, and this trend is getting popular. Why do you think pet ownership is increasing? What are the advantages of keeping pets as companions?

Your response

Words0
40:00

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