Maintaining public libraries is a waste of money since there is computer technology. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sample Response
It is often argued that maintaining public libraries is no longer necessary in today’s world because advances in computer technologythe development of computer technology has allowed us to access information online much more easilyget information on the Internet in a much easier way. While I accept that there are clear advantages of online sources over physical librariesclear benefits of online libraries over public libraries, I believe that it is still worth spending money on maintaining public libraries.
There are two main advantages of online sources of information. Firstly, online sources can store far more information than traditional librariesthe storage of information in online sources is much greater in comparison with any traditional libraries. This meetsfacilitates the research needs of individuals in various fields of knowledgedifferent aspects in the information world. Secondly, researchers can easily acquire information on the internet whenever they want without the need to visit a libraryattend the library, as they did in the pastlike in the past. This is therefore particularly beneficial to those who have a hectic schedule and cannot visit these places during the operating hours.
However, the maintenance of local libraries is still necessary because of their distinctivedistinguishing features which can never be replacedsubstituted by online sources. Libraries, in some countries, are still one of the most popular ways for senior citizens to access informationone of the most popular means of accessing information among senior citizens, regardless of the availability of online information. In fact, many of these people are uncomfortable with technologythese people are mostly technophobes, or in other words, incapable of using technology, and therefore the physical libraries are their preferred option. Furthermore, public libraries can be considered a more reliable source of information, compared with online sources. Indeed, there is an influx of inaccurate and unreliable information on the Internet, while the sources in libraries are often more carefully categorized and selected by library staff members.
In conclusion, despite the obvious benefits of computer technology in providing information, in my opinion, there are sufficient grounds to reject the view that spending money on maintaining public libraries is unnecessary.
Why this response received Band 7.0
The response presents a clear, consistent position and supports it through a well-organised comparison of online access with the continuing value of physical libraries. Its main limitation is that several supporting claims remain general and some vocabulary combinations are awkward. The highest-priority improvement is to develop each central reason with a more specific illustration while choosing more natural collocations.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The response fully addresses the question, maintains a clear position, and develops relevant reasons on both sides of the issue.
Strengthen the argument by illustrating the accessibility and reliability claims with one precise, concrete example.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas progress logically through clearly focused paragraphs, with cohesive devices supporting an easy-to-follow argument.
Use a little more implicit referencing and fewer overt sequencing expressions to make the progression feel less signposted.
Lexical Resource
A varied vocabulary conveys the argument precisely overall, although several combinations such as attending a library and facilitating research needs sound unnatural.
Prioritise natural academic collocations, especially for accessing libraries, meeting research needs, and comparing information capacity.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex sentence structures is used with strong control, and the few grammatical slips do not impede meaning.
Refine article use, comparison structures, and noun agreement in phrases such as comparisons with traditional libraries.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Maintaining public libraries is a waste of money since there is computer technology. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.