Spoken communication is always more powerful than written communication. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sample Response
Whether written or oral communication isWhether written or oral is a more powerful form of communication has long been a subject of debate. Personally, I argue that neither formneither of the forms can be considered superiorcould be said to be superior since there are nuances that can only be conveyed through either the spoken or the written mediumthrough either the spoken or written medium.
On the one hand, speeches have always been used as athe primary method of addressing large audienceslarge masses of people, for they are more effective at conveying passion and excitementfeelings of passion and excitement. Speakers, by lowering and increasing the volume of their voice, can alter the energy of an audience that writers cannot do as easily through the written word. It is no coincidencemistake that many political leadersevery political leader conveys their ideas and inspires their people through speeches: successful politicians of the past, such as Obama or Tony Blair, were also great orators who couldcan excite a crowd.crowd?
On the other hand, the distanceseparation and impartiality of the written form allow the medium to paint more vividcolorful and detailed worlds. The impersonal nature of writing also allows the written form to convey things that would be rejected through the spoken word, and engage in darker, more mature content that provokes the mind. Many people still read books becauseThis is why many people still read books since they help to paint a more vivid picture of the subject theysubject, they are trying to convey. Due to the added layer of engagement required in reading rather than listening, the reader can discover worlds more in-depth then we would the listener.
Overall, I argue that spoken and written communicationspeeches and the written word have different uses becausefor they have distinct strengths and weaknesses, and it cannot be said that one is more powerful than the other.
Why this response received Band 7.0
The essay offers a clear, nuanced answer and uses a balanced structure to explain the distinct strengths of spoken and written communication. The discussion of speech is more concrete than the abstract and occasionally unclear discussion of writing, and several malformed comparisons or punctuation choices interrupt accuracy. The highest-priority improvement is to support the written-medium argument with a specific example and express its comparisons more precisely.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
A clear position is maintained and both media are discussed relevantly, although the case for writing is less concretely developed.
Add a specific example showing when written communication has greater impact and connect it directly to the central comparison.
Coherence and Cohesion
The four-paragraph structure gives the argument clear progression, and the contrasting sides are easy to follow.
Improve the progression within the writing paragraph by separating its distinct claims and linking each one to communicative power.
Lexical Resource
The response demonstrates a broad, suitably academic vocabulary, though some word choices and comparative expressions are awkward or imprecise.
Use more natural collocations when describing impartiality, reader engagement, and the depth achieved through reading.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Complex structures are attempted frequently and meaning remains clear, but punctuation, clause control, and comparison errors recur.
Revise run-on sentences and malformed comparisons, checking punctuation and forms such as 'than' in comparative structures.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Spoken communication is always more powerful than written communication. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.