Some feel that it is a waste of time to plan for the future and it is more important to focus on the present. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sample Response
There is a growing sentiment todayThere is growing sentiment today that making plans for the future can distract people from the present momenttake one out of the present moment. Although it is important to have some general future goals, individuals ought to prioritise the presentindividuals ought to prioritise right now.
The clear advantage of having goals is that they guidedictate and align your actions. A useful example supporting thisA good counter-example to support this comes from aimless individuals without any fixed aspirations. It is not uncommon for recent university graduates to feel lost and drift from job to job. This can be a rewarding experience but if this continues for too long,if it continues too long then one will likely remain in low-paying positions and fall behind one’s peers. A clear goal can motivate someone to choose a long-term vocationmotivate a decision on long-term vocation and force one to put in the hard work required to excel.
Despite the general advantages of having some long-term goals listed above, obsessing over the future can weaken one’s connection with the presentimpair connection with the present. There are many famous literary examples of this that reveal underlying tensions between capitalist striving and individual contentment, as illustrated in the novelsuch as in the famous novel Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis. The titular character Babbitt has spent most of his life looking to the future and accomplishing middle class goals. He grows dissatisfied with this life because he no longer feels a vibrant connection to the present moment and his true feelings. His suppressionsuspension of his deepest desires to meet extrinsic goals set by society alienates him from the present. This is commonly referred to as a mid-life crisis and is very common among driven individuals who reach thea pinnacle of success.
In conclusion, emphasis on future goals is one source of modern unhappiness. Individuals must carefully select their goals to distinguish between the life they want and the life they are expected to want.
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response presents a thoughtful, consistently developed position, using a relevant practical example and a well-integrated literary illustration to explore the value and risks of future planning. Its main limitation is that the final recommendation is slightly less explicit than the nuanced priority stated in the introduction. The highest-priority improvement is to restate that precise degree of agreement clearly in the conclusion.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The response fully addresses the question with a clear nuanced position and well-developed, relevant support.
Restate the exact degree of agreement in the conclusion so the final recommendation fully matches the thesis.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas progress logically through well-focused paragraphs, and cohesive links are clear and unobtrusive.
Make the transition from the benefits of goals to the risks of obsession even more directly comparative.
Lexical Resource
A wide and precise vocabulary conveys abstract ideas naturally, with only occasional slightly awkward collocations.
Refine phrases such as deciding on a long-term vocation to make already sophisticated word choices fully idiomatic.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex sentence forms is used accurately and flexibly, with only minor lapses.
Polish punctuation in longer conditional sentences to maintain complete control at clause boundaries.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Some feel that it is a waste of time to plan for the future and it is more important to focus on the present. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.