In the future, nobody will buy printed newspapers or books because they will be able to read everything they want online without paying. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Sample Response
The popularity of physical newspapers and books is declining steeplyin steep decline, nearing irrelevance. In my opinion, although select segments of the population still value books, the move towards free online media is inevitable.
The argument against this is that certain individuals continue to pay for print versions. These tend to be older people and only applies to the most well-known books and newspapers. For example, The New York Times still generates sizeable revenue from subscriptions and is one of the few publicationsone of the only magazines in the United States currently publishing a daily physical editiona daily, physical edition. Moreover, hard copies of books are still popular. The vast majority of middle-aged and older people relish the texture and character of actual books and lack the technological know-how to download e-booksdownload E-Books. Even many younger people prefer reading paperbacks and hardcovers to reduce eye strain.
Nonetheless, someday nearly everyone will read solely online. The clearest evidence for this can be seen in the number of publishers that have decided to discontinue print publicationpublishers resigned to discontinue printing such as The Boston Globe, The Atlantic, and The Independent. Those still in print have seen circulation drop precipitously as individuals access the same news more conveniently and free of chargefor free, more conveniently on their mobile devices. This same trend is occurring slowly with e-bookswith E-Books due to the rise of Amazon’s online platforms. Companies charging for online subscriptions have found their subscription model is becoming obsoletereadership is trending towards obsolescence as competitors are willing to post free content and earn profits through targeted advertising. These are entrenched habits for young people and it is only a matter of time until print media disappears entirely.
In conclusion, a rapid decline in print publishinga rapid decline in publishing cannot be halted as reading habits have changed irrevocably. This means websites will have to become as reliable and responsible as newspapers.
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response presents a clear, nuanced position and develops both the continuing appeal of print and the long-term shift online with specific, logically connected support. Its main limitation is occasional overstatement and imprecise evidence, including broad claims about publishers and the disappearance of print. The highest priority is to qualify predictions and verify examples while preserving the essay's strong progression, precise vocabulary, and varied sentence control.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The response directly answers the question with a clear degree of agreement and develops both the remaining demand for print and the predicted online transition in depth.
Qualify absolute predictions and ensure that every publication example precisely supports the claim being made.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas progress logically through a clear introduction, counter-position, main argument, and conclusion, with cohesion managed smoothly throughout.
Make the final sentence connect more directly to the central prediction rather than introducing a secondary point about website responsibility.
Lexical Resource
A wide and precise vocabulary conveys nuanced arguments effectively, with only occasional strained expressions or inaccurate labels.
Replace overextended phrases such as readership becoming obsolete with more exact descriptions of declining paid circulation or subscriptions.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The response uses a wide range of complex structures with strong control, and the few grammatical slips do not impede communication.
Proofread agreement and reference carefully, particularly in sentences where a plural subject is followed by a singular verb.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
In the future, nobody will buy printed newspapers or books because they will be able to read everything they want online without paying. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.