Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Face-to-face communication is better than other types of communications, such as letters, emails, or telephone calls. Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
Sample Response
Humankind, through the ages, has undergone many changes from the time when people communicated only face-to-face to nowadays when a person has in use many types of communication means. Some people still prefer to use face-to-face communication despite many other sometimes more convenient ones such as phone, mail, e-mail and fax. I think to continue this essay it is essential to clarify what kind of conversation we are talking about. For example, if people are negotiating it is very important to have a face-to-face communication. It is very important to see during a negotiation how one's opponent is moving, is he nervous or relaxed, what he is doing, etc. Scientists say that the body language and facial gestures can say many things about a person, his strong and weak sides, his traits, manners and even habits. To know what kind of man one is dealing with is an essential aspect in negotiation. Many managers prefer to have face-to-face conversations with the future employees. So, in this case, they see how a person behaves. From the other side, if I need to notify my bank that I am going to close an account I do not want to spend my time driving there, waiting for my turn and talking with a representative. It is easier for me just to call or e-mail them. It saves my time and my bank's too. To summarise, from my opinion all important issues better be discussed in face-to-face conversation. It will eliminate many further misunderstandings and bring only benefits to both sides.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use natural phrasing Original: has in use many types of communication means Suggested revision: uses many means of communication Why it matters: This replacement expresses the idea in natural, concise English.
- 2. Add the article Original: such as phone, mail, e-mail and fax Suggested revision: such as the telephone, mail, email and fax Why it matters: A singular countable device normally needs an article in this list.
- 3. Use the verb form Original: have a face-to-face communication Suggested revision: communicate face to face Why it matters: Communication is uncountable here, so the verb form is more accurate.
- 4. Remove the article Original: the body language Suggested revision: body language Why it matters: Body language is used without the definite article when discussed generally.
- 5. Use precise collocation Original: gestures Suggested revision: expressions Why it matters: Facial expressions is the standard term for visible emotions on the face.
- 6. Use a precise verb Original: can say many things about a person Suggested revision: can reveal much about a person Why it matters: Reveal conveys the intended meaning more precisely than say.
- 7. Use natural nouns Original: his strong and weak sides Suggested revision: their strengths and weaknesses Why it matters: Strengths and weaknesses is the natural collocation for personal qualities.
- 8. Use inclusive reference Original: his Suggested revision: their Why it matters: Singular they avoids an unnecessary assumption about the person's gender.
- 9. Use neutral wording Original: man Suggested revision: person Why it matters: Person is a more accurate general reference than man here.
- 10. Correct the preposition Original: in Suggested revision: of Why it matters: Aspect normally takes of when identifying the activity it belongs to.
- 11. Choose precise wording Original: the future employees Suggested revision: prospective employees Why it matters: Prospective employees accurately refers to people being considered for jobs.
- 12. Use correct contrast Original: From the other side Suggested revision: On the other hand Why it matters: On the other hand is the standard linker for introducing a contrasting case.
Suggested Rewrites
- has in use many types of communication means uses many means of communication
- such as phone, mail, e-mail and fax such as the telephone, mail, email and fax
- have a face-to-face communication communicate face to face
- the body language body language
- gestures expressions
- can say many things about a person can reveal much about a person
Why this response received Band 6.5
The response presents a clear, sensible distinction between situations where face-to-face contact is valuable and those where remote communication is more efficient, and its negotiation example gives the position useful support. Its main limitation is that the discussion remains fairly narrow and sometimes relies on repetitive or awkward phrasing. The highest priority is to develop a second substantial reason with a specific example while tightening sentence structure and collocation.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
A clear qualified position is maintained and supported with relevant examples of negotiation, recruitment, and banking.
Develop another distinct reason in greater depth and ensure the conclusion reflects the essay's qualified position precisely.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas progress logically from contexts favouring direct contact to one favouring remote communication, although repetition and the single-block presentation weaken organisation.
Use purposeful paragraphs and reduce repeated sentence openings so each stage of the argument has a clearer function.
Lexical Resource
The response uses a sufficiently varied vocabulary for communication and negotiation, but several collocations and expressions are awkward.
Replace unnatural phrases with precise combinations such as 'means of communication,' 'prospective employees,' and 'in my opinion.'
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A mix of simple and complex structures communicates the argument clearly, despite recurring article, preposition, punctuation, and word-order errors.
Review article use and clause boundaries, especially in questions and long sentences, to improve grammatical control.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Face-to-face communication is better than other types of communications, such as letters, emails, or telephone calls. Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.