Some people say that in our modern age, it is unnecessary to teach children about the skills of handwriting. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sample Response
The dominance of technology has changed many people's views on teaching students the art of writing as they believe that the skill of handwriting is no longer necessary in modern times. But I personally disagree that modernisation and the use of technology have made handwriting skills obsolete. I firmly believe that good handwriting of pupils is one of the essential skills for academic success.
To begin with, good penmanship leads to better school performance in most cases. Also, it puts a solid impression on the readers or examiners. When an examiner reads an answer that is neatly presented with nice handwriting, it gives a positive impression to the mind of the examiner. This leads to a better score for the examinee. To exemplify this particular impression, 71 per cent of learners who have clear and nice handwriting, have good academic records and a reputation among schoolmates and teachers.
Moreover, only reading and speaking skills are not enough for better academic performance. Practising the topics by writing them on paper could be a much more efficient way to learn. For example, in mathematics, it is helpful to practice the problems and learn the formulas by writing. Additionally, writing is also a pivotal part of communication and this skill is necessary because research shows that when children learn how to do it, they also learn how to express themselves.
To conclude, it can be summarized that learning to write is indispensable and should be taught to children. Amid the sea of typed materials and digital data, handwritten materials have their own dominance, hence, handwriting skills should not be ignored.
[Penned by - Sruchi ]
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use precise term Original: the art of writing Suggested revision: handwriting Why it matters: The task concerns handwriting specifically, so this term is more precise.
- 2. Clarify the subject Original: as they believe Suggested revision: because some people believe Why it matters: The original pronoun could refer ambiguously to either technology or people.
- 3. Use formal transition Original: But I personally disagree Suggested revision: However, I disagree Why it matters: This transition links the contrasting position more smoothly and concisely.
- 4. Use possessive form Original: good handwriting of pupils Suggested revision: pupils' good handwriting Why it matters: The possessive form expresses the relationship naturally.
- 5. Remove vague ranking Original: one of the essential skills Suggested revision: an essential skill Why it matters: The singular phrasing states the intended importance more directly.
- 6. Correct the collocation Original: puts a solid impression on Suggested revision: makes a strong impression on Why it matters: English uses the collocation 'make a strong impression on'.
- 7. Remove unnecessary articles Original: the readers or examiners Suggested revision: readers or examiners Why it matters: The nouns refer to people generally, so definite articles are unnecessary.
- 8. Use natural phrasing Original: To exemplify this particular impression Suggested revision: To illustrate this point Why it matters: This phrase introduces the example more naturally and precisely.
- 9. Remove incorrect comma Original: , have good academic records Suggested revision: have good academic records Why it matters: A comma must not separate the subject noun phrase from its verb.
- 10. Place alone correctly Original: only reading and speaking skills are not enough Suggested revision: reading and speaking skills alone are not enough Why it matters: Placing 'alone' after the subject clearly expresses insufficiency.
- 11. Use natural collocation Original: Practising the topics Suggested revision: Reviewing topics Why it matters: Topics are normally reviewed rather than practised.
- 12. Make claim concise Original: could be a much more efficient way Suggested revision: can be an efficient way Why it matters: The revision removes unnecessary hedging and comparison.
Suggested Rewrites
- the art of writing handwriting
- as they believe because some people believe
- But I personally disagree However, I disagree
- good handwriting of pupils pupils' good handwriting
- one of the essential skills an essential skill
- puts a solid impression on makes a strong impression on
Why this response received Band 7.0
The response presents a clear position throughout and supports it with two relevant lines of argument about academic performance and learning. Its main limitation is that some support is asserted rather than convincingly demonstrated, particularly the unexplained statistic and broad claims about examiners. The highest-priority improvement is to develop each reason with more credible, specific explanation while refining several awkward collocations.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
A clear disagreement is maintained and supported with relevant ideas, although some claims and examples lack convincing development.
Replace the unsupported statistic and generalisations with a fully explained, plausible example showing why handwriting still matters.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response progresses logically through a clear introduction, two focused body paragraphs, and a consistent conclusion.
Strengthen internal progression by linking supporting sentences through their ideas rather than relying on additive markers such as 'Also' and 'Additionally'.
Lexical Resource
A sufficiently wide vocabulary conveys the argument clearly, with effective items such as 'penmanship', 'obsolete', and 'indispensable'.
Improve collocational precision by replacing phrases such as 'puts a solid impression' and 'have their own dominance' with natural alternatives.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A range of complex sentence forms is used with generally good control, and the remaining errors do not impede meaning.
Review agreement, article use, and sentence boundaries, especially in long sentences joined with commas and 'hence'.
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
Some people say that in our modern age, it is unnecessary to teach children about the skills of handwriting. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.