Some people say that your first impressions when you meet someone are always right. To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Sample Response
Two lines of thought exist when it comes to the significance of first impressions, and for many, they form the basis for judging someone’s personality and background. I believe that first impressions are important to some extent; however, my support is in the favour of knowing the person better instead of establishing judgments just on looks and items of clothing as I support the more holistic way of getting to know people.
To begin with, I believe that first impressions give just a glimpse of somebody’s character and not the whole picture. There could be a variety of underlying factors and reasons for which a person might behave in a particular way. If someone, for example, does not initiate a conversation and does not smile at a party where it is required to mingle, it could be because the person is ill or has some sort of personal crisis going on. Judging by first impressions, that person can be easily labelled as arrogant and unfriendly. However, if someone makes an effort to know the person and the reason behind being a recluse in the party, the former judgment is entirely reversed. In addition, outer appearances change and evolve but the inner personality remains almost the same. People who form their perceptions on the basis of fleeting outer appearances are often mistaken.
On the contrary, in some instances, for example, a job interview, first impressions are of foremost importance. Recruiters are specifically trained to sort potential employees based on the first impression. The initial impression not only includes the way of dressing but also the way a person speaks and carries himself. In such a case, judging someone from the first impression is justified.
To conclude, although there are instances where first impressions matter, and need to be taken into account, I strongly believe that it is always prudent to get to know a person better before jumping to a conclusion.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Remove redundancy Original: underlying factors and reasons for which Suggested revision: underlying factors that explain why Why it matters: The revision removes the overlap between “factors” and “reasons” and creates a natural clause.
- 2. Clarify who mingles Original: at a party where it is required to mingle Suggested revision: at a party where guests are expected to mingle Why it matters: The original wording leaves unclear who is required to mingle.
- 3. Use the phrasal verb Original: makes an effort to know the person Suggested revision: makes an effort to get to know the person Why it matters: “Get to know” accurately describes the gradual process of learning about someone.
- 4. Use precise wording Original: the reason behind being a recluse in the party Suggested revision: why they are withdrawn at the party Why it matters: “Withdrawn” describes the temporary behaviour more precisely than the noun “recluse.”
- 5. Clarify the reference Original: former Suggested revision: initial Why it matters: “Initial” refers more directly to the first impression being reconsidered.
- 6. Use accurate transition Original: On the contrary Suggested revision: However Why it matters: The paragraph qualifies the preceding argument rather than asserting its direct opposite.
- 7. Fix example structure Original: for example, a job interview Suggested revision: such as a job interview Why it matters: “Such as” correctly introduces this example within the noun phrase.
- 8. Place correlative correctly Original: not only includes Suggested revision: includes not only Why it matters: Placing “not only” after the verb creates the correct parallel structure with “but also.”
- 9. Use inclusive agreement Original: himself Suggested revision: themselves Why it matters: The singular “they” form agrees with the gender-neutral noun phrase “a person.”
- 10. Remove unnecessary comma Original: matter, and need Suggested revision: matter and need Why it matters: No comma is needed before “and” when the two verbs share the same subject.
- 11. Clarify the subject Original: for many, they form the basis Suggested revision: many people use first impressions as the basis Why it matters: The revision replaces the unclear pronoun reference with an explicit subject.
- 12. Remove redundancy Original: outer appearances change Suggested revision: appearances change Why it matters: “Outer” is redundant because appearance already refers to outward qualities.
Suggested Rewrites
- underlying factors and reasons for which underlying factors that explain why
- at a party where it is required to mingle at a party where guests are expected to mingle
- makes an effort to know the person makes an effort to get to know the person
- the reason behind being a recluse in the party why they are withdrawn at the party
- former initial
- On the contrary However
Why this response received Band 7.5
The response presents a clear, nuanced position and develops its central argument effectively through a relevant example about misreading behaviour at a party. The contrasting job-interview point is considerably briefer and rests largely on assertion, while several collocations are awkward. Develop that counterpoint with fuller reasoning and refine word choice so the argument feels equally precise throughout.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The essay directly answers the extent question with a consistent position and relevant support, although the job-interview qualification is less fully developed.
Explain more precisely why an initial impression in an interview can be reliable enough to justify a hiring judgment.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas progress logically through a clear introduction, contrasting body paragraphs, and a conclusion that restates the position coherently.
Strengthen the transition into the interview example so the concession connects more explicitly to the central argument.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied and often precise, but awkward combinations such as ‘support is in the favour’ and ‘establishing judgments’ reduce naturalness.
Replace forced formal expressions with idiomatic alternatives such as ‘I favour getting to know someone better’ and ‘forming judgments’.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The response uses varied complex structures with good control, despite occasional awkward construction and unnecessary punctuation.
Edit sentence boundaries and embedded examples carefully, particularly the sentence introducing job interviews and the comma in the conclusion.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Some people say that your first impressions when you meet someone are always right. To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.