Some people like to travel with a companion. Other people prefer to travel alone. Which one do you prefer? Use specific reasons and details to explain your choice. White not less than 250 words.
Sample Response
Some people prefer to travel with a companion. However, other people like to travel alone. Personally, I think these two options have their advantages and disadvantages. I state my opinion on the following points. From the one side, travelling with a companion can bring many benefits. First of all, travelling with a companion is safer for several reasons. If travellers got lost in a strange city it is easier to find a way back. They can support and help each other if something happened and one of them is hurt. As for me, I prefer to travel with a companion if we travel by car. I think it is very dangerous to be on a strange road by one's self. One more reason to have a companion in a car is that they can change each other if one of them is tired. Second of all, travelling with a companion is more exciting and interesting. They can share all beautiful moments and new experiences. Finally, it helps to save some money because companions can share all expenses on gas, hotels, etc. From the other side, travelling alone can bring many benefits too. For example, one does not have to do things he does not want to. If one is tired he does not have to go to a bar with his friend only because he does not want to leave him alone. Moreover, sometimes I personally want to be alone and enjoy all beauty around me. I can relax and contemplate about my life sitting on a beautiful cliff. To sum up, I think travelling with a companion is better. However, sometimes I prefer to be alone by myself in a strange city. It gives me the feeling of adventure and I like that.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Preview reasons naturally Original: I state my opinion on the following points Suggested revision: I will explain my opinion through the following points Why it matters: The revision uses a natural future preview and an appropriate preposition.
- 2. Use correct contrast Original: From the one side Suggested revision: On the one hand Why it matters: The established paired transition is "on the one hand".
- 3. Use present tense Original: got Suggested revision: get Why it matters: The sentence describes a general possibility, so the present tense is required.
- 4. Add conditional comma Original: a strange city it Suggested revision: a strange city, it Why it matters: A comma should separate the initial conditional clause from the main clause.
- 5. Match general condition Original: happened Suggested revision: happens Why it matters: The present tense matches the general possibility expressed by "can".
- 6. Avoid pronoun shift Original: if we travel by car Suggested revision: when travelling by car Why it matters: The impersonal phrase avoids shifting abruptly from "I" to "we".
- 7. Use unfamiliar road Original: on a strange road Suggested revision: on an unfamiliar road Why it matters: A road is unfamiliar rather than strange when the traveller does not know it.
- 8. Use oneself Original: by one's self Suggested revision: by oneself Why it matters: The reflexive pronoun is written as the single word "oneself".
- 9. Use reason for Original: reason to have a companion Suggested revision: reason for having a companion Why it matters: The noun "reason" is naturally followed by "for" plus a gerund here.
- 10. Clarify driving turns Original: they can change each other Suggested revision: they can take turns driving Why it matters: "Change each other" does not express alternating as the driver.
- 11. Use formal sequencer Original: Second of all Suggested revision: Secondly Why it matters: "Secondly" is more concise and suitably formal.
- 12. Add definite article Original: share all beautiful moments Suggested revision: share all the beautiful moments Why it matters: The specific moments experienced during the trip require "the".
Suggested Rewrites
- I state my opinion on the following points I will explain my opinion through the following points
- From the one side On the one hand
- got get
- a strange city it a strange city, it
- happened happens
- if we travel by car when travelling by car
Why this response received Band 6.0
The response gives a clear overall preference for travelling with a companion and supports it with several specific benefits, including safety, shared driving, enjoyment, and reduced costs, while acknowledging the appeal of solo travel. Its main limitation is that all ideas are compressed into one paragraph and the preference is qualified somewhat confusingly; the highest-priority improvement is to organise focused paragraphs and make every comparison reinforce the final choice.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The preferred option is identified and supported by several relevant, specific reasons, although the final qualification slightly weakens decisiveness.
State the preferred form of travel consistently and use the benefits of solo travel only to sharpen the comparison.
Coherence and Cohesion
The sequence from companion travel to solo travel and conclusion is understandable, but the absence of paragraph breaks seriously reduces organisation.
Use separate paragraphs for the preferred option, the contrasting option, and the final comparative judgment.
Lexical Resource
The response has adequate vocabulary for travel, safety, cost, independence, and experience, but repetition and inaccurate collocations limit precision.
Use natural phrases such as travel alone, take turns driving, share expenses, admire the scenery, and reflect on life.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A mix of sentence structures communicates meaning clearly, despite recurring tense, conditional, pronoun, article, and preposition errors.
Keep tense relationships consistent in hypothetical examples and check pronoun reference whenever one and travellers are used.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Some people like to travel with a companion. Other people prefer to travel alone. Which one do you prefer? Use specific reasons and details to explain your choice. White not less than 250 words.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.