Many people believe that we have become a 'disposable' society, throwing things away rather than repairing them and reusing them. Why do you think that is? What are some of the possible problems this can cause?
Sample Response
There are arguments to suggest that people have become a great consumer of products without the initiative to recycle the old items, which are not functioning anymore. There are reasons behind this trend and a considerable number of repercussions in the society. Primarily, it could be argued that the advent of technology has an enormous contribution to the attitude of some individuals about personal equipment. It is often claimed that some factories have adopted the use of machines in manufacturing products such as appliances and cell phones, therefore they can hasten the reproduction but with low quality. Some businessmen have gathered the raw materials to other countries, which may provide frugal spare parts. Because of the cheap materials, these shop owners can decrease the price of their products that could be amenable to the public. Furthermore, there is a strong argument that asserts that the behaviour of the mankind has changed in this contemporary period due to advancement in technology. For instance, some people might not be so eager to bring their defected instruments to the repair centre because of the new model that may arise in the market. On the other hand, it is widely believed that there are negative effects of being nonchalant about the possibilities that a non-functional product could be use again. Firstly, it would contribute to the pollution because those products are certainly made from plastic and hazardous chemicals. To illustrate, a stock of cell phones cannot be disposed of easily through incineration. It would be a difficult problem if there was a surplus of those personal goods. These cell phones contain batteries which are deleterious to human’s health. Secondly, there is a view that this trend might be adopted by the next generation since the progress of technology is inevitable. For example, some youngsters might acclimatise to the view and habit of the seniority, thus this trend will be handed to their next offspring. To conclude, the advent of technology and the cheap products have piqued some people to be dissuaded from reusing superannuated items. It is the environment and the virtue of the next generation that will be affected by this trend.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use plural consumers Original: a great consumer of products Suggested revision: heavy consumers of products Why it matters: The plural subject people requires a plural complement, and heavy conveys high consumption.
- 2. Use willingness phrase Original: without the initiative to recycle Suggested revision: with little willingness to recycle Why it matters: Willingness accurately describes whether people choose to recycle.
- 3. Use concise item description Original: the old items, which are not functioning anymore Suggested revision: non-functioning items Why it matters: The concise adjective phrase removes the unnecessary article and relative clause.
- 4. Correct preposition and article Original: repercussions in the society Suggested revision: repercussions for society Why it matters: Repercussions are for society, and society takes no article in this general sense.
- 5. Use correct contribution verb Original: has an enormous contribution to Suggested revision: has contributed greatly to Why it matters: Contribute is the natural verb for describing a major influence.
- 6. Clarify attitudes and devices Original: the attitude of some individuals about personal equipment Suggested revision: some individuals' attitudes toward personal devices Why it matters: The possessive plural and toward form a natural phrase, while devices is more precise than equipment.
- 7. Use neutral business term Original: businessmen Suggested revision: businesses Why it matters: Businesses identifies the commercial actors without assuming their owners' gender.
- 8. Correct sourcing phrase Original: gathered the raw materials to other countries Suggested revision: sourced raw materials from other countries Why it matters: Materials are sourced from a place rather than gathered to it.
- 9. Use price adjective Original: frugal spare parts Suggested revision: inexpensive components Why it matters: Frugal describes economical people or behaviour, not low-priced parts.
- 10. Use natural price verb Original: decrease Suggested revision: lower Why it matters: Lower is the standard verb for reducing a price.
- 11. Express affordability Original: amenable Suggested revision: affordable Why it matters: Affordable conveys that the reduced prices are within consumers' means.
- 12. Remove incorrect articles Original: the behaviour of the mankind Suggested revision: human behaviour Why it matters: Human behaviour is the natural general expression and needs no articles.
Suggested Rewrites
- a great consumer of products heavy consumers of products
- without the initiative to recycle with little willingness to recycle
- the old items, which are not functioning anymore non-functioning items
- repercussions in the society repercussions for society
- has an enormous contribution to has contributed greatly to
- the attitude of some individuals about personal equipment some individuals' attitudes toward personal devices
Why this response received Band 6.0
The response's strongest feature is that it answers both questions with relevant causes and consequences, including cheap mass production, rapid model replacement, pollution, and battery hazards. The main limitation is that several causal links become muddled through imprecise wording, while the point about future generations remains vague. The highest priority is to explain one clear cause-and-effect chain from inexpensive replacement to growing waste and specific environmental or health harm.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The response covers causes and problems with relevant examples, although some explanations are unclear and the second consequence is only partly developed.
Show exactly how disposable habits create a distinct long-term problem for future generations instead of merely stating that the habit will continue.
Coherence and Cohesion
The causes and effects are ordered recognisably and linked throughout, but the single-paragraph format and formulaic transitions weaken progression.
Group the causes and consequences into separate paragraphs and make each paragraph follow a clear claim-explanation-example sequence.
Lexical Resource
The response attempts a wide range of topic vocabulary, but frequent inaccurate collocations and word choices obscure intended meanings.
Prefer precise everyday terms such as low-cost materials, faulty devices, attractive prices, and harmful waste over forced formal wording.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Complex sentences are used often, but recurring errors in articles, agreement, verb forms, prepositions, and clause linking reduce accuracy.
Break overloaded sentences into shorter units and check verb forms and prepositions in each clause.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Many people believe that we have become a 'disposable' society, throwing things away rather than repairing them and reusing them. Why do you think that is? What are some of the possible problems this can cause?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.