Despite the increased access to education, a significant number of people cannot read or write. What are the disadvantages and what action should the government take?
Sample Response
In this day and age, despite the increased access to educationenhanced accessibility of education, a substantial number of individuals remain unable to read or write. This essay will explain the consequencesdelineate the ramifications of this phenomenon and propose practical measures the government should takeactionable measures the government should undertake to address the issue. One significant consequence of illiteracy is the limited employment opportunitieslimited employment opportunities available to affected individuals. Many positions in today’s job market requireA multitude of positions in today’s job market necessitate reading and writing proficiency; therefore, those lacking these essential skills are often confined to low-skilled and poorly compensated roles. This situation not only hampers their ability to provide adequately for their families but also perpetuates cycles of poverty. Additionally, illiterate individuals face challenges in completing everyday tasksmanaging everyday activities. For instance, interpreting public transport schedules or comprehending medical instructions can cause confusion and even endanger their personal safetypose substantial difficulties, which may result in confusion and even pose risks to their personal safety. To mitigate these issues, it is imperative for the government to implement targeted measuresimplement a series of strategic initiatives. First and foremost, the provision of free educational programs specifically designed for adults who did not have the opportunity to acquire literacy skills during their formative years is essential. These programs should be readily accessible and tailored totailored to cater to the diverse needs of various communities. Secondly, collaborating with employers to facilitate on-the-job training focused on enhancing reading and writing abilities can significantly benefit those currently in the workforce. By fostering skill development in a practical context, individuals can improve their literacy while simultaneously maintaining their employment. Furthermore, launching public awareness campaigns that emphasize the critical importance of literacy can motivate individuals to seek educational opportunities and support, thereby creating a culture that values and prioritizes literacy. In conclusion, the implications of illiteracy manifest in numerous adverse ways, including limited employment prospects and difficulties in performing routine tasks. To tackle this pressing issue, the government ought to establish free educational programs, collaborate with businesses to provide essential training, and run campaigns to raise awarenessconduct initiatives aimed at raising awareness about the value of literacy. Such actions will not only empower individuals but also contribute to the overall development of society.
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response fully addresses both parts of the task through specific disadvantages and a well-developed range of government measures, using highly controlled and varied language. The main weakness is its single-block presentation, which obscures the otherwise clear progression between problems and solutions. The highest-priority improvement is to organise the material into purposeful paragraphs and slightly reduce formulaic, overformal phrasing.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The disadvantages are clearly explained and the proposed government actions are relevant, specific, and consistently developed.
Deepen the causal explanation of how the awareness campaign would convert public interest into participation in literacy programmes.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas follow a clear problem-to-solution sequence with effective transitions, but the absence of paragraph breaks limits visible organisation.
Use separate paragraphs for the introduction, disadvantages, measures, and conclusion, grouping each stage around one controlling purpose.
Lexical Resource
The response uses broad, precise topic vocabulary and generally natural collocations, although some phrasing is more elaborate than necessary.
Prefer direct wording where formal expressions such as delineate the ramifications add weight without improving precision.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Complex and varied sentence forms are handled with consistently strong accuracy and clear punctuation.
Polish the few long sentences by trimming stacked modifiers and repeated structures to maximise clarity.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Despite the increased access to education, a significant number of people cannot read or write. What are the disadvantages and what action should the government take?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.