Nowadays, the way many people interact with each other has changed because of technology. In what ways has technology affected the types of relationships people make? Has this become a positive or negative development?

Same questionCompare 6 different answers (Band 5.5–8)

Sample Response

1

Technological advancements in the modern era have drastically altered the way people interact and build relationships. While these innovations have undoubtedly changed the nature of human connection, I believe this shift has had mostly negative consequences, particularly in terms of emotional closeness and depth of communicationcommunication depth.

2

Technology has fundamentally reshaped how relationships are formed and maintained. With the advent of social networking platforms, messaging apps, and video calls, people can now connect with others across the globe in real time. Unlike the old days, when people mostly wrote letters, nowadays, for instance, someone living in a village in South Asia can effortlessly maintain contact with a friend or relative in England or Australia through daily video chats or instant messaging. Additionally, digital platforms have enabled the creationformation of online communities based on shared interests, allowing individuals to find emotional support and friendships with like-minded peoplefriendship from like-minded people they have never met in person. However, these relationships often lack face-to-face interactioninteractions and personal bondsbonding as a result.

3

I believe the impact of technology on relationships is largely negative. One key issue is that digital communication often leads to superficial interactions, replacing deep and meaningful conversations with short messages or social media updates. For example, many people today prefer texting over face-to-face conversations, which diminishes emotional depth and mutual understanding. Moreover, constant connectivity has created a culture of distraction. A person checking their smartphone while spending time with their partner may unintentionally signal disinterest, causing emotional distance and distresshurt. Furthermore, digital platforms cannot fully convey body language or emotional nuance, which can lead to misunderstandings and a lack of empathy in relationships.

4

In conclusion, these days, technologythese days technology offers convenience and global connectivity when people form and maintain relationshipswhile making and maintaining relationships, but such relationships lack emotion and personal bonds. I believe the decline in emotional intimacy and increased distractionthe increase in distraction are serious concerns in modern relationships.

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 8.0

The essay directly answers both questions, sustains a clear negative judgement and develops its reasoning with specific examples of global contact, online communities, distraction and lost emotional nuance. Its main limitation is minor repetition of emotional distance and a slightly awkward final sentence rather than any major gap. Tighten the conclusion and briefly weigh the acknowledged connectivity benefits against the harms to sharpen an already coherent, precise argument.

Band score breakdown

IELTS Writing Criteria Scores

TR

Task Response

8.0
Scoring rule

Both the changed forms of relationships and the writer's negative evaluation are fully developed with relevant explanation and examples.

Next step

Make the final evaluation even more nuanced by stating explicitly why the benefits of global contact do not outweigh reduced emotional depth.

CC

Coherence and Cohesion

8.0
Scoring rule

Paragraphing and progression are clear, with each section advancing a distinct part of the response and cohesive devices used effectively.

Next step

Reduce slight repetition between the introduction, negative-impact paragraph and conclusion by reserving the final synthesis for the conclusion.

LR

Lexical Resource

8.0
Scoring rule

Vocabulary is flexible, precise and well matched to technology, connectivity and emotional relationships, with only occasional repetition.

Next step

Vary repeated terms such as "emotional depth," "relationships" and "digital platforms" where a precise alternative fits naturally.

GRA

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

8.0
Scoring rule

A wide range of complex structures is used accurately, with only rare awkwardness that does not impede communication.

Next step

Refine the final sentence to "Technology makes relationships easier to form and maintain, but they may lack emotional depth and personal connection."

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IELTS Writing Task 2

Nowadays, the way many people interact with each other has changed because of technology. In what ways has technology affected the types of relationships people make? Has this become a positive or negative development?

Your response

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