Some people think history has nothing or little to tell us, but others think that studying history can help us better understand the present. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Sample Response
The value of history, especially whether it provides essential insights into current events, is a topic of ongoing debate. Even though some might argue that it has little relevance to modern life, I firmly support the view that understanding history is crucial for comprehending the present.
On the one hand, there are reasons to downplay the merit of knowing history. The proponents of this claim, firstly, may point to the fact that contemporary society is far removed from the past. Technological advancement and social change might have made historical lessons obsolete, for several driving elements of the world, such as geopolitics and the digital economy, are unlike anything experienced by pre-industrial societies. Furthermore, history may hinder progress by keeping society fixated on outdated ideas and conflicts, rather than encouraging innovation and forward-thinking. With too much dwelling on the past, whether success or failure, and insufficient motivation for progress, society will likely fail to produce breakthroughs for the lives of its members.
However, it would be ill-advised to discard history on those grounds. Today, the knowledge from this subject continues to provide invaluable context for understanding current events and societal trends. Many ongoing political struggles and conflicts are deeply rooted in feuds that were well-recorded in history. Therefore, only by examining the causes and consequences of those past disputes can mankind formulate proper strategies for addressing them in the present. History, in addition, is an encyclopedia of human behavior, governance, and ethics that remain relevant despite changes in technology and society. Understanding the successes and failures of past civilizations can guide world leaders in making informed decisions, especially ones that benefit not only their current but also future generations.
In conclusion, even though a case can be made for dismissing history as irrelevant, mankind does a disservice to itself by doing so, for this subject offers valuable insights for the present day. As history is so consequential for navigating the modern era, it should remain a fundamental component of education and public discourse.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Streamline the transition Original: The proponents of this claim, firstly Suggested revision: Proponents of this view Why it matters: This phrasing introduces the opposing view more directly and avoids the awkward placement of the sequencing adverb.
- 2. Use the plural form Original: advancement Suggested revision: advances Why it matters: The plural noun more naturally refers to the many developments that have changed society.
- 3. Clarify the causal phrase Original: for several driving elements of the world Suggested revision: because several forces shaping the world Why it matters: This replacement expresses the causal relationship in a more natural and precise way.
- 4. Improve the collocation Original: produce breakthroughs for the lives of its members Suggested revision: produce breakthroughs that improve people's lives Why it matters: Breakthroughs typically improve lives rather than occur for lives.
- 5. Name the subject directly Original: the knowledge from this subject Suggested revision: knowledge of history Why it matters: The more direct phrase is clearer and uses the natural preposition with knowledge.
- 6. Use precise historical wording Original: feuds that were well-recorded in history Suggested revision: disputes documented in historical records Why it matters: This wording avoids the awkward idea of conflicts being recorded in history itself.
- 7. Repair the paired structure Original: especially ones that benefit not only their current but also future generations Suggested revision: especially decisions that benefit both present and future generations Why it matters: The revision removes the unclear pronoun reference and makes the paired objects grammatically parallel.
- 8. Use inclusive wording Original: mankind does a disservice to itself Suggested revision: humanity does itself a disservice Why it matters: Humanity is a more inclusive and natural collective noun in this context.
- 9. Sentence rewrite Original: The value of history, especially whether it provides essential insights into current events, is a topic of ongoing debate. Suggested revision: Whether history provides essential insights into current events is a topic of ongoing debate. Why it matters: The original appositive beginning does not connect grammatically to the noun phrase it follows.
- 10. Sentence rewrite Original: With too much dwelling on the past, whether success or failure, and insufficient motivation for progress, society will likely fail to produce breakthroughs for the lives of its members. Suggested revision: By dwelling too much on past successes or failures and showing insufficient motivation for progress, society will likely fail to produce breakthroughs that improve people's lives. Why it matters: The rewrite supplies parallel objects for dwelling and replaces the awkward opening construction.
- 11. Sentence rewrite Original: History, in addition, is an encyclopedia of human behavior, governance, and ethics that remain relevant despite changes in technology and society. Suggested revision: In addition, history is a record of human behavior, governance, and ethical choices that remain relevant despite changes in technology and society. Why it matters: This version places the connector naturally and replaces the strained encyclopedia metaphor with a precise description.
Suggested Rewrites
- The proponents of this claim, firstly Proponents of this view
- advancement advances
- for several driving elements of the world because several forces shaping the world
- produce breakthroughs for the lives of its members produce breakthroughs that improve people's lives
- the knowledge from this subject knowledge of history
- feuds that were well-recorded in history disputes documented in historical records
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response is strongest in its balanced, clearly signposted discussion and sustained position, with both perspectives developed through relevant causal reasoning. Its main limitation is that several claims remain broad and somewhat abstract, and a few expressions are less natural than the otherwise precise style. The highest-priority improvement is to support the central arguments with a more concrete historical example and tighten occasional awkward collocations.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
Both views and a clear opinion are fully addressed through relevant, well-developed reasoning.
Add one specific historical case to make the support more concrete and persuasive.
Coherence and Cohesion
The essay progresses logically through a clear introduction, contrasting body sections, and a consistent conclusion.
Make the movement from general claims to supporting details slightly more explicit within each body paragraph.
Lexical Resource
A wide and precise vocabulary conveys complex ideas effectively, despite a few slightly awkward collocations.
Replace expressions such as broad references to the world's driving elements with more natural, exact wording.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A broad range of complex structures is used accurately and with strong control throughout.
Refine occasional compressed constructions so that sophisticated sentences remain fully natural as well as accurate.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Some people think history has nothing or little to tell us, but others think that studying history can help us better understand the present. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.