Which of the following viewpoint do you agree with? With the recent development in technology like e-books some people feel that the printed media like books, newspapers and magazine will soon be a thing of the past. Others feel that those forms of media will never disappear. What’s your opinion?
Sample Response
Some people hold a view that traditional media, such as books, newspapers, and magazines will become obsolete as it happened in the case of the grandfather of CDs - VINYL RECORDS. While others, like me, still prefer a tangible printed book over an electronic ebook reader device and thus find it difficult to imagine that printed version would go out of fashion completely.
To begin with, the overwhelming majority of people are doomed to spending endless hours in front of a computer screen, as most of the jobs require working with computers nowadays. I strongly feel that there is an urge to take a break from the intensity of technology, especially when the information we are looking for can be found in printed material. Who wouldn’t miss out a bookstore atmosphere, interaction with a real, knowledgeable shop seller eager to provide personal recommendations on books? The smell of the ink, the rustle of the pages flipping through your fingers, embellishment of our rooms filled with literary pieces on our bookshelves? I personally can hardly envisage an electronic device used as a substitute for my books.
To flip the coin, it’s undeniably true that newspapers, magazines in digital format are less time-consuming to get. Ebooks are not only easily portable and accessible, but also the prices for online books are much lower compared to the cost we pay for printed word. They avoid the hassle of waiting in the line and it’s a huge time saver. Needless to say that the advantages of Ebooks seem to exceed the disadvantages.However, printed books serve as a physical entity, we pass them on, give them friends as a gift which is always considered as a valuable present. I am not certain if I got overly excited about getting a link to an Ebook.
To sum it up, technological advances, such as E-books amazon kindle, are spreading the speed of the light and will definitely continue providing us with its comfort and multiple functions, but I firmly believe that printed word will never vanish from our bookshelves entirely. I am sure Cicero who once said, a room without a book is like a body without a soul,” would totally agree with me.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use infinitive pattern Original: doomed to spending Suggested revision: required to spend Why it matters: 'Required to spend' expresses the work obligation with the correct verb pattern.
- 2. Remove unnecessary article Original: most of the jobs Suggested revision: most jobs Why it matters: A general plural noun after 'most' does not take 'the'.
- 3. Use natural need phrase Original: urge Suggested revision: need Why it matters: 'Need' is the appropriate noun for a necessary respite from screens.
- 4. Clarify technology exposure Original: intensity of technology Suggested revision: constant use of technology Why it matters: The revision states the source of fatigue more precisely.
- 5. Use correct miss phrase Original: miss out a bookstore atmosphere Suggested revision: miss the atmosphere of a bookstore Why it matters: 'Miss' takes the valued experience directly, whereas 'miss out' requires 'on'.
- 6. Use correct occupation noun Original: shop seller Suggested revision: bookseller Why it matters: 'Bookseller' is the standard term for a person who sells books.
- 7. Use gerund construction Original: envisage an electronic device used as Suggested revision: envisage using an electronic device as Why it matters: The verb 'envisage' naturally takes a gerund phrase here.
- 8. Use standard contrast phrase Original: To flip the coin Suggested revision: On the other hand Why it matters: 'To flip the coin' is not an idiomatic transition.
- 9. Join list items Original: newspapers, magazines in digital format Suggested revision: newspapers and magazines in digital format Why it matters: The two coordinated nouns require the conjunction 'and'.
- 10. Remove unnecessary article Original: waiting in the line Suggested revision: waiting in line Why it matters: 'Wait in line' is the fixed expression in this context.
- 11. Fix plural reference Original: it’s a huge time saver Suggested revision: they are significant time-savers Why it matters: The plural pronoun agrees with e-books, and the plural noun matches the subject.
- 12. Fix introductory phrase Original: Needless to say that Suggested revision: Needless to say, Why it matters: The fixed introductory expression takes a comma rather than a 'that' clause.
Suggested Rewrites
- doomed to spending required to spend
- most of the jobs most jobs
- urge need
- intensity of technology constant use of technology
- miss out a bookstore atmosphere miss the atmosphere of a bookstore
- shop seller bookseller
Why this response received Band 6.5
The essay maintains a clear view that print will survive and supports it with vivid reasons about sensory appeal, screen fatigue, accessibility, and gift value. Its main limitation is frequent awkward or inaccurate phrasing, sentence fragments, and punctuation problems, which sometimes disrupt otherwise relevant ideas. Prioritise expressing the same argument through complete, controlled sentences and more natural comparisons between digital convenience and print’s lasting appeal.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Response
The response presents a clear opinion, considers digital media's advantages, and develops several reasons why printed books will remain valued.
Explain more directly why digital convenience will not eliminate newspapers and magazines as well as books.
Coherence and Cohesion
The essay has a recognisable progression and relevant paragraphing, but rhetorical fragments and abrupt or inaccurate transitions weaken cohesion.
Use direct topic sentences and replace “To flip the coin” with a precise transition to the benefits of digital media.
Lexical Resource
The vocabulary is broad and vivid, but numerous unnatural collocations and imprecise expressions reduce clarity and control.
Use natural phrases such as “bookshop atmosphere,” “bookseller,” “easier to obtain,” and “spreading at great speed.”
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Complex structures are attempted frequently, but fragments, comma splices, missing articles, agreement errors, and faulty comparisons are noticeable.
Turn the rhetorical fragments into complete sentences and proofread punctuation around quotations and contrasting clauses.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Which of the following viewpoint do you agree with? With the recent development in technology like e-books some people feel that the printed media like books, newspapers and magazine will soon be a thing of the past. Others feel that those forms of media will never disappear. What’s your opinion?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.