An increasing number of people are buying what they need online. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this development?

Same questionCompare 2 different answers (Band 7)

Sample Response

1

The trend of buying necessities online has grown significantly in recent years. This developmentphenomenon presents both advantages and disadvantages Deletethat are worth considering.

2

One advantage is thatOn the positive side, online shopping can save consumers time and effortsaves time and effort. People can order products anytime and have them delivered to their doorstep, which is especially useful for those with tight schedules or limited mobility. Furthermore, e-commerce websites often provide access to a widerbroader range of goods, including importedinternational products, and make prices easy to compareallow for easy price comparisons, which can help buyers make cost-effective purchasing decisionscost-effective decisions.

3

HoweverNevertheless, there are notable drawbacks. Online shoppers cannot touch or try products before buying, which sometimes results in receiving items that do not meet expectations. Consumers also risk overspendingThere is also the risk of overspending, as the convenience of one-click purchasingpurchases can encourage unnecessary purchasesbuying. Finally, online transactions carry security risks, including potential fraud or identity theft, which can make online shopping less securemake shopping less safe.

4

To conclude, online shopping offers undeniable benefits in terms of convenience and product variety, but it also has disadvantages related to product suitabilityquality, overspending, and security. Consumers must weigh these factors carefully to make informed purchasing decisions.

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 7.0

The response is strongest in its clear, balanced structure and accurate language, with relevant advantages and disadvantages presented in an easy-to-follow sequence. Its main limitation is the substantial shortfall in length, which leaves several ideas asserted rather than fully explored. The highest-priority improvement is to extend each main point with a specific example and a fuller explanation of its consequences.

Band score breakdown

IELTS Writing Criteria Scores

TR

Task Response

6.0
Scoring rule

The response addresses both sides directly with several relevant points, but the substantial under-length response limits their development and support.

Next step

Extend the strongest advantage and disadvantage with specific examples and explain their wider consequences.

CC

Coherence and Cohesion

7.0
Scoring rule

The four-paragraph structure creates clear progression, and cohesive devices guide the reader smoothly without becoming intrusive.

Next step

Develop the internal progression of each body paragraph by moving from claim to explanation and then to a concrete example.

LR

Lexical Resource

7.0
Scoring rule

Vocabulary is varied and generally precise, with appropriate expressions for convenience, consumer choice, overspending, and security risks.

Next step

Use a slightly wider range of topic-specific language when expanding the economic and social consequences of online shopping.

GRA

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

7.0
Scoring rule

A good range of complex sentence forms is controlled accurately, and errors are rare enough not to affect clarity.

Next step

Maintain this accuracy while adding more varied conditional or comparative structures to develop relationships between ideas.

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IELTS Writing Task 2

An increasing number of people are buying what they need online. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this development?

Your response

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40:00

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