Some people dislike changes in their society and in their own lives and want things to stay the same. Why do some people want things to stay the same? Why should change be regarded as something positive?
Sample Response
The resistance to change is a deeply ingrained aspect of human nature, stemming from a complex interplay of psychological, social, and cultural factors. While the desire for stability and familiarity provides individuals with a sense of security, it also inhibits progress and innovation by perpetuating stagnation and complacency. Understanding the underlying motivations behind the aversion to change is crucial in fostering a culture of adaptability and resilience in both personal and societal contexts.
At the heart of the resistance to change lies the innate fear of the unknown. Human beings possess a natural inclination towards certainty and predictability, seeking comfort in the familiar and routine. Consequently, any deviation from the established norms or routines can trigger feelings of anxiety and apprehension. Individuals may fear the potential consequences of change, such as loss of control, failure, or uncertainty about the future. For example, employees may resist organizational changes due to concerns about job security or their ability to adapt to new roles and responsibilities.
Furthermore, the reluctance to embrace change may also stem from a psychological need for control. Individuals derive a sense of empowerment from their ability to influence and shape their environment. However, change disrupts this perceived control by introducing unfamiliar variables and uncertainties. Consequently, individuals may resist change as a means of preserving their autonomy and sense of agency. For instance, individuals may resist changes in their personal relationships or social dynamics out of a desire to maintain the status quo and avoid potential conflicts or disruptions.
Despite the inherent challenges associated with change, it is essential to recognize its transformative potential and embrace it as a catalyst for growth and progress. Change stimulates innovation, fosters adaptation, and propels societies forward. By overcoming their resistance to change, individuals can cultivate resilience, expand their horizons, and unlock new opportunities for personal and collective development. Embracing change requires a willingness to step outside of one’s comfort zone, confront uncertainties, and embrace the unknown with courage and optimism.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use concise wording Original: a deeply ingrained aspect of human nature Suggested revision: a deeply ingrained human tendency Why it matters: The replacement expresses the same idea more directly.
- 2. Improve the preposition Original: in Suggested revision: for Why it matters: Crucial for more naturally introduces the outcome that the understanding supports.
- 3. Make nouns parallel Original: the familiar and routine Suggested revision: the familiar and the routine Why it matters: Repeating the article makes both coordinated adjectives function clearly as nouns.
- 4. Parallel the examples Original: such as loss of control, failure, or uncertainty about the future Suggested revision: such as losing control, failing, or facing uncertainty about the future Why it matters: Using three gerund phrases gives the list a consistent grammatical structure.
- 5. Remove linker redundancy Original: may also stem from a psychological need Suggested revision: may stem from a psychological need Why it matters: Furthermore already signals an additional reason, so also is unnecessary.
- 6. Use natural abstractions Original: unfamiliar variables and uncertainties Suggested revision: unfamiliar factors and uncertainty Why it matters: Factors and the uncountable form uncertainty are more idiomatic in this general claim.
- 7. Make the purpose direct Original: as a means of preserving Suggested revision: to preserve Why it matters: The infinitive states the same purpose more concisely.
- 8. Strengthen the reference Original: Despite the inherent challenges associated with change Suggested revision: Despite these challenges Why it matters: The demonstrative phrase links directly to the difficulties developed in the preceding paragraphs.
- 9. Avoid repeated wording Original: By overcoming their resistance to change Suggested revision: By overcoming this resistance Why it matters: The demonstrative reference maintains cohesion without repeating the full phrase.
- 10. Use natural phrasing Original: confront uncertainties Suggested revision: face uncertainty Why it matters: The uncountable noun and the verb face form a more idiomatic expression here.
- 11. Use precise wording Original: propels societies forward Suggested revision: advances societies Why it matters: The direct verb expresses societal progress more concisely in formal prose.
- 12. Sharpen the contrast Suggested revision: Open by distinguishing the need for control from the preceding fear of uncertainty, then keep the explanation and example in that sequence. Why it matters: A clearer contrast would make the progression between these closely related reasons easier to follow.
Suggested Rewrites
- a deeply ingrained aspect of human nature a deeply ingrained human tendency
- in for
- the familiar and routine the familiar and the routine
- such as loss of control, failure, or uncertainty about the future such as losing control, failing, or facing uncertainty about the future
- may also stem from a psychological need may stem from a psychological need
- unfamiliar variables and uncertainties unfamiliar factors and uncertainty
Why this response received Band 8.5
The response demonstrates highly controlled language and a clear progression from psychological causes of resistance to the positive potential of change. Its main limitation is imbalance: the reasons for preferring stability receive much more detailed explanation and illustration than the benefits of change. The highest-priority improvement is to develop the final part with a specific example showing how change produces innovation or personal growth in practice.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
Both questions are answered directly with a well-established explanation of resistance and a relevant account of change as a source of growth.
Give the positive case for change an equally concrete example and fuller development to balance the two parts of the task.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response is logically sequenced, with clear paragraph focus and cohesive progression from causes to the value of change.
Create a more proportionate structure by expanding the positive-change discussion or combining the two closely related cause paragraphs.
Lexical Resource
A wide and precise vocabulary conveys abstract psychological and social ideas naturally, with strong control of collocation and register.
Reduce repetition of key words such as change, individuals, and resist by using selective referencing or more varied formulations.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Sentence structures are wide-ranging, flexible, and consistently accurate, with assured control of complex clauses and punctuation.
Preserve this high level of accuracy while varying sentence openings slightly to make the prose feel even less patterned.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Some people dislike changes in their society and in their own lives and want things to stay the same. Why do some people want things to stay the same? Why should change be regarded as something positive?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.