Public libraries will soon no longer be housed in a building as all facilities and books will be available online for all to access. What are the advantages and disadvantages of public libraries existing online?
Sample Response
The public library of the future may turn into an e-library as all resources and books will be accessible online for everyone. The distinct advantage of public online libraries is that individuals have access to a wide range of books and resources. However, the disadvantage is that it can cause the digital divide.
One benefit of the public online library is that it provides individuals with a vast array of resources and books. Conventional public libraries do not have the flexibility to include a wide variety of content because of physical space constraints, whereas online libraries can store a diverse range of content in the cloud space, including e-books, audiobooks, magazines, blogs, articles, academic journals, research papers, podcasts, and videos, to mention but a few. Moreover, digital libraries allow individuals to gain instant access to all the contents from anywhere with an Internet connection. This is because digital contents are stored on remote servers and accessible through the Internet. For example, people can access their favourite e-books from any place at any time.
On the other hand, the main drawback to public digital libraries is that they can cause the digital divide. That is to say that not everyone has equal access to technology, such as computers, smartphones, or reliable Internet connection, thereby limiting the accessibility of books and facilities for people from lower-income households or backward areas with limited Internet infrastructure. For instance, an individual living in a rural area without Internet access may not be able to reap advantages from the facilities provided by public online libraries.
To conclude, while the benefit of public digital libraries is that they allow people to get immediate access to a diverse range of digital content, the drawback is that they can bring forth digital divides.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use precise phrasing Original: turn into an e-library Suggested revision: become entirely digital Why it matters: The revision describes the proposed change more directly and formally.
- 2. Avoid redundant category order Original: all resources and books Suggested revision: all books and other resources Why it matters: Books are a type of resource, so this ordering makes the relationship clearer.
- 3. Use concise complement Original: for Suggested revision: to Why it matters: With “accessible,” the direct complement “to everyone” is more concise.
- 4. Use natural wording Original: The distinct advantage Suggested revision: A major advantage Why it matters: This is a more natural way to introduce one important benefit among possible benefits.
- 5. Clarify the pronoun Original: it can cause the digital divide Suggested revision: this shift can widen the digital divide Why it matters: The explicit noun phrase clarifies what may worsen unequal access.
- 6. Order modifiers naturally Original: the public online library Suggested revision: an online public library Why it matters: This modifier order and indefinite article are more natural for a general example.
- 7. Clarify category relation Original: resources and books Suggested revision: books and other resources Why it matters: The revision avoids presenting books and resources as wholly separate categories.
- 8. Choose a precise verb Original: include Suggested revision: hold Why it matters: “Hold” more accurately describes a library's capacity for storing material.
- 9. Use standard term Original: space Suggested revision: storage Why it matters: “Cloud storage” is the established term for remotely stored digital material.
- 10. Tighten the list ending Original: to mention but a few Suggested revision: among others Why it matters: This shorter expression closes the already long list more efficiently.
- 11. Use uncountable content Original: all the contents Suggested revision: all this content Why it matters: “Content” is normally uncountable when referring collectively to digital material.
- 12. Use uncountable content Original: contents Suggested revision: content Why it matters: The collective noun “content” should remain singular in this context.
Suggested Rewrites
- turn into an e-library become entirely digital
- all resources and books all books and other resources
- for to
- The distinct advantage A major advantage
- it can cause the digital divide this shift can widen the digital divide
- the public online library an online public library
Why this response received Band 7.5
The response gives a clear, well-organised account of one major advantage and one major disadvantage, with relevant explanations and examples that make both ideas easy to follow. Its main limitation is lexical repetition and a few imprecise or unnatural forms around content, access, and the digital divide. The best improvement would be to broaden the discussion slightly while editing repeated wording and collocations for greater precision.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
Both sides of the task are addressed directly through clearly developed central ideas and relevant illustrative examples.
Add a second distinct implication on each side to make the evaluation broader without sacrificing depth.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response has clear paragraph purposes, strong logical sequencing, and cohesive links that rarely draw attention to themselves.
Trim repeated references to online libraries and digital content so cohesion relies less on lexical repetition.
Lexical Resource
A good range of topic-specific vocabulary conveys meaning precisely overall, despite several awkward collocations and repeated terms.
Refine expressions such as cloud space, reap advantages, and bring forth digital divides while varying content and access.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Complex sentences are varied and generally well controlled, with only occasional errors involving articles and countability.
Check uncountable nouns such as content and supply missing articles in phrases such as a reliable Internet connection.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Public libraries will soon no longer be housed in a building as all facilities and books will be available online for all to access. What are the advantages and disadvantages of public libraries existing online?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.