In Some countries, many more people are choosing to live alone nowadays than in the past. Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

Same question Compare 2 different answers (Band 5.5–6)

Sample Response

It is observed that solitary way of life is rampant in many nations of the world these days, unlike the old days. This is as a result of situations like avoidance of people for wrong mission and disappointment from family and friends. However, I opine that it is a wrong idea because of its negative consequences like evil occurrences and depression.

In the first place, togetherness was duly cherished by the citizens of the nations. For instance, people were found of living together under the same roof because of the series of benefits attached to it. For example, people did share their problems with their housemates so as to find joint solutions to them. One other advantage of living together is supportiveness which is the act of helping one another both morally and materially. Staying in the same apartment was very common among the students, the young adults, and so on.

In another way round, the reverse is the case these days as many people are seen living solitarily. Though, in my country, research makes me understand that those who engage in lonely life do this to avoid people so as to have a chance to carry out some nefarious activities such as robbery and kidnapping. Furthermore, probably to avoid family and friends as a result of past disappointment from the relatives.

Comparing the two ways of living, I am of opinion that lonely living is detrimental because of the negative consequences related to it, such as devilish occurrence in relation to harboring weapons for evil activities. In addition to that is depression from those who have been disappointed in the past.

In conclusion, living together in the past years is more beneficial than the idea current days of staying alone because of the evils connected to loneliness.

IELTS Writing Correction

  • 1. Add missing article Original: solitary way of life Suggested revision: a solitary way of life Why it matters: A singular countable noun phrase requires an article here.
  • 2. Use neutral wording Original: rampant Suggested revision: widespread Why it matters: Widespread is a more natural description of a common lifestyle trend.
  • 3. Use formal wording Original: the old days Suggested revision: the past Why it matters: The past is more precise and appropriately formal in this context.
  • 4. Use natural phrasing Original: opine Suggested revision: believe Why it matters: I believe expresses the opinion more naturally in an academic essay.
  • 5. Clarify the judgement Original: a wrong idea Suggested revision: a negative development Why it matters: This phrase states the evaluation more precisely and matches the task wording.
  • 6. Improve passive phrase Original: togetherness was duly cherished Suggested revision: togetherness was highly valued Why it matters: Highly valued is the natural collocation for describing social appreciation.
  • 7. Avoid awkward repetition Original: citizens of the nations Suggested revision: people in these countries Why it matters: This wording is clearer and avoids the unnatural nations and citizens combination.
  • 8. Correct word form Original: found Suggested revision: fond Why it matters: Fond, rather than found, means having a liking for something.
  • 9. Correct the article Original: the Suggested revision: a Why it matters: The first mention of a nonspecific series requires the article a.
  • 10. Use simple past Original: people did share Suggested revision: people shared Why it matters: The emphatic auxiliary is unnecessary for this straightforward past statement.
  • 11. Use precise noun Original: supportiveness Suggested revision: mutual support Why it matters: Mutual support is the natural term for people helping one another.
  • 12. Use concise phrasing Original: Staying in the same apartment Suggested revision: Sharing accommodation Why it matters: This phrase conveys the intended idea of living together more directly.

Suggested Rewrites

  • solitary way of life a solitary way of life
  • rampant widespread
  • the old days the past
  • opine believe
  • a wrong idea a negative development
  • togetherness was duly cherished togetherness was highly valued
Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 6.0

The response maintains a clear negative position and uses a recognisable essay structure, with relevant discussion of companionship and isolation. Its main limitation is that several claims about solitary living are implausible, repetitive, or only briefly supported, while frequent awkward phrasing reduces precision. The highest-priority improvement is to develop two credible consequences with clear causal explanations and specific, realistic examples.

Band score breakdown

IELTS Writing Criteria Scores

TR

Task Response

6.0
Scoring rule

The task is addressed with a consistent negative position, but the main reasons are repetitive and sometimes weakly supported or implausible.

Next step

Develop two credible negative effects of living alone through clear cause-and-effect reasoning and realistic examples.

CC

Coherence and Cohesion

6.0
Scoring rule

The response follows a clear paragraph sequence, although progression is somewhat mechanical and several ideas repeat rather than build.

Next step

Give each body paragraph one distinct controlling idea and use linking expressions only where they clarify the logical relationship.

LR

Lexical Resource

5.5
Scoring rule

There is some range of less common vocabulary, but frequent inaccurate collocations and word choices make the language unnatural.

Next step

Prioritise precise, conventional combinations such as social isolation, emotional support, and risk of depression instead of forcing uncommon expressions.

GRA

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

5.5
Scoring rule

A mix of simple and complex structures is attempted, but recurring article, agreement, preposition, and sentence-boundary errors weaken control.

Next step

Proofread each sentence for a complete main clause, then check articles, verb agreement, and prepositions systematically.

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IELTS Writing Task 2

In Some countries, many more people are choosing to live alone nowadays than in the past. Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

Your response

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