Some people prefer to plan activities for their free time very carefully. Others choose not to make any plans at all for their free time. Compare the benefits of planning free-time activities with the benefits of not making plans. Which do you prefer - planning or not planning for your leisure time? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your choice.
Sample Response
The pace of life has reached such a dizzy height today that finding time for leisure has itself become cumbersome. When it comes to free time, some among the mass opine that it should be spent with diligence and prudence. However, others oppose this argument and insist that free time should not be something planned. Now the below discourse throws light on pros and cons of planning one's free time accommodating both views.
In the midst of the arisen of a new world order, planning and strategies play a vital role in our day to day life. Strategy and being strategically optimistic is considered essential factors of becoming successful, in this context, a leisure time spent with a proper plan is a leisure time spent wisely. A proper prudence, prior to spending your free time can invariably reduce the wastage of time and money involved. To exemplify, a well planned and organised vacation could save a lot of money and time on the hotel, transportation and so on. The monitory loss, on an unorganised holiday more or less is an explicit these days. Lost moments, are irreversible and planning one's holiday acknowledges the value of time. In addition to this, with a proper planning, one could avail the privilege of being an early bird, for instance, spending one;s time on shopping where there are more offers will be beneficial compared to navigating by the Sun.
On the contrary, some argue that free time should be spent instinctively and should not be biased to planning and prejudices. Such prerequisites spoil the enjoyment factor involved.They insist that not to plan, is the best plan to spend one's free time. According to them, leisure time should not get pre-indulged with definite plans as this would make it another mechanical day being spent in some other places than the office. All that would take place on a leisure day should be impulsive, and not envisaged.
Now, from an objective analysis of the above-mentioned points, I would prefer to spend my free time in a well organised and judicious manner. As the saying goes "time and tide waits for none", proper planning will ensure less wastage of time. Moreover, such a habit comes with additional benefits of financial gains and much more. To conclude, it is apparent from the above that planning one's leisure time is imperative and rather ubiquitous nowadays.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use natural collocation Original: dizzy height Suggested revision: dizzying pace Why it matters: "Dizzying pace" is the natural expression for the speed of modern life.
- 2. Use natural noun phrase Original: some among the mass Suggested revision: some people Why it matters: This phrase is unnatural and obscures the simple reference to a group of people.
- 3. Clarify intended meaning Original: spent with diligence and prudence Suggested revision: used carefully and purposefully Why it matters: The revision expresses the idea of planned leisure more directly and naturally.
- 4. Fix word order Original: the below discourse Suggested revision: the following discussion Why it matters: English normally places "below" after a noun, while "the following discussion" is natural here.
- 5. Use precise academic wording Original: throws light on pros and cons Suggested revision: examines the advantages and disadvantages Why it matters: The revision is more precise and appropriately formal for the essay's purpose.
- 6. Use correct noun form Original: arisen Suggested revision: emergence Why it matters: "Arisen" is a participle and cannot function as the noun required after "the."
- 7. Use natural collocation Original: A proper prudence Suggested revision: Careful planning Why it matters: "Prudence" is uncountable here and does not naturally describe making a leisure plan.
- 8. Simplify awkward wording Original: prior to spending your free time Suggested revision: before using your free time Why it matters: The revision expresses the timing relationship in a more natural way.
- 9. Use concise wording Original: the wastage of time and money Suggested revision: waste of time and money Why it matters: "Waste" is the more natural noun in this context.
- 10. Fix expense phrasing Original: on the hotel, transportation Suggested revision: on hotels, transportation Why it matters: The generic expense category does not take "the" here.
- 11. Remove incorrect comma Original: Lost moments, are Suggested revision: Lost moments are Why it matters: A comma must not separate the subject from its verb.
- 12. Choose logical verb Original: acknowledges Suggested revision: reflects Why it matters: Planning can reflect the value placed on time, whereas it cannot itself acknowledge that value.
Suggested Rewrites
- dizzy height dizzying pace
- some among the mass some people
- spent with diligence and prudence used carefully and purposefully
- the below discourse the following discussion
- throws light on pros and cons examines the advantages and disadvantages
- arisen emergence
Why this response received Band 6.0
Your response presents a clear preference and gives a reasonably developed explanation of how planning can save time and money, supported by a relevant holiday example. The comparison is uneven because the benefits of spontaneity receive much less development, while frequent awkward word choices and grammatical slips make several sentences unnatural; prioritise precise, idiomatic phrasing and develop the unplanned side with a specific explanation or example.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The response addresses both approaches and states a clear preference, but the benefits of not planning are only briefly explained.
Develop the unplanned approach with a specific reason and example so the comparison is more balanced.
Coherence and Cohesion
The four-paragraph structure and overall progression are clear, although some transitions are mechanical and several sentences connect ideas awkwardly.
Use simpler logical links and ensure each sentence advances the paragraph's central idea naturally.
Lexical Resource
The response attempts a broad vocabulary, but frequent inaccurate collocations and word choices make the expression unnatural.
Choose familiar, precise words and check collocations instead of relying on overly formal expressions.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A mix of sentence forms is attempted, but recurring errors in agreement, articles, punctuation, and clause structure weaken control.
Proofread each complex sentence for a complete clause, accurate agreement, and correctly placed punctuation.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Some people prefer to plan activities for their free time very carefully. Others choose not to make any plans at all for their free time. Compare the benefits of planning free-time activities with the benefits of not making plans. Which do you prefer - planning or not planning for your leisure time? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your choice.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.