In recent years, more and more people are choosing to read e-books rather than paper books. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages of this trend?
Sample Response
These days, there is a growing trend of individuals preferring to read e-books over printed bookstraditional printed books. In my opinion, the advantages of e-reading far outweigh the disadvantages primarily because e-books are portablebecause of their portabilityeasy portability, accessibility and potential to reduce paper usepositive impact on the environment.
To begin with, e-books offer a high degree of portability and convenience. With the ability to read on mobile devices, laptops or other handheld deviceshand-held devices, one can easily access books from virtually anywhere. Furthermore, the need to carry heavy printed booksphysically carry heavy books is eliminated, thereby making reading a easiermore effortless and streamlined process. Additionally, many publishing companies have begun to shift towards e-book production due to the lower production costsreduced costs associated with their production, resulting in e-books being more affordable than traditional printed books, particularly for students.
E-books are also instantly availableFurthermore, e-books are more easily accessible through online purchases, making them readily available to readers at any time. Additionally, they are more environmentally friendly as they require no paper or printing ink and can reduce physical distributionrequire no paper, ink, or energy to produce.
However, it should be acknowledged that there are some drawbacks to e-reading. Many literary and academicscientific works are not yet available in e-book format, making them inaccessible to individuals who prefer e-reading. It can also be difficultAdditionally, it can be difficult to find certain older books in e-book format, as they are often only available in physical libraries. For instance, once I was looking for a research paper published by one of my university lecturersone of our university teachers and could not find it online. I had to consult a physical copy in the libraryaccess it in a library.
In conclusion, while there are some disadvantages to e-reading, I believe that the advantages far outweigh them. The growing popularity of e-books is a format whose benefits outweigh its limitationstrend that will continue to gain momentum, offering readers a convenient, accessible and affordable reading experienceoffering readers convenient, accessible and affordable reading experience while also saving trees and protecting the environmentsaving trees and environment.
Why this response received Band 7.5
The essay presents a consistent position, develops several practical advantages, and gives a relevant personal example for a disadvantage in a clear paragraph structure. The comparison is weakened by some questionable claims and repetition of accessibility, while minor article and collocation errors remain; prioritise a more explicit weighing of environmental and access trade-offs and tighter factual precision.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The question is fully addressed with a clear position and relevant support, though weighing is more asserted than analysed and one environmental claim is overstated.
Explain why the combined benefits are more significant than the availability and screen-related disadvantages.
Coherence and Cohesion
Paragraphing and progression are strong, with clear control of the advantages-disadvantages structure, despite some repeated linking.
Merge the two accessibility points and use the space to deepen the comparison.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied and generally precise, with occasional awkward or absolute expressions.
Use qualified claims and accurate collocations such as 'a convenient and affordable reading experience'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Most complex sentences are accurate, but articles and number agreement cause a few errors.
Check articles before singular count nouns and plural nouns in coordinated phrases.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
In recent years, more and more people are choosing to read e-books rather than paper books. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages of this trend?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.