In the past, people used to travel to see the differences from their home country. However, the sceneries in places around the world seem similar nowadays. What are the causes of these similarities? Do you think that the advantages of these similarities outweigh the disadvantages?

Same questionCompare 3 different answers (Band 6.5–8)

Sample Response

1

Our world has essentially become a global village, and it is only expected that things, including scenerysceneries in different places, shouldwould look similar in one way or another. I think that these similarities offercarry more advantages than disadvantages, and this essay will explain why, as well as the reasons for such similaritiesthe reason behind such similarities.

2

Globalization is perhaps the single greatestmost contributing factor which makes cities look similar, makes Western food common in distant Asian countries, and encourages people in Africa to wear clothing designed in Europeinspires Africans to wear dresses designed by European designers. For instance, the last time I travelled to Tokyo in Japan, a city that was supposed to be quite a contrast from London or New York, I could hardly believe that I was away from my homelandout of my homeland!

3

Of course, this global similarity has some disadvantagesit has some disadvantages since visitors are unable to see or experience anything “new” despiteby investing their time and money. In this way, they are losing the benefits of their unique cultural identities, and the privileges that are associated with them. ButBut, if we look at the bigger picture, we will see that such similarities are actually bringing us closer to each other by eliminatingcloser to each other, by eliminating at least some of the misunderstandings among us, as well as some invisible man-made cultural barrierssome invisible, man-made, cultural “barriers”, that once existed among uswe had, among each other. And when we have a greater sense of closenessa sense of more “closeness” among us, we will try harder to cooperate with each other to eradicate poverty and reduce suffering worldwideeradicate poverty and suffering from our world, more effectivelysooner rather than later. Here we can actually dare argue that if we had such “cooperation” among us in the past, we did not really need to deal with people like “Hitler” or “Genghis Khan”.

4

In conclusion, we do not need some sceneries or popular landmarks to become symbols of “cultural and identity separation”, rather we want them to minimize the “difference” among us. And that is exactly what happens when we find places and sceneries to be similar to each other in different countries, even though its effects are not always visible and measurable.

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 7.0

The essay answers both parts, maintains a clear view that the benefits are greater, and links globalisation to increasingly similar cities, food, and fashion. Its main limitation is that the causal analysis rests almost entirely on one broad factor, while some claimed benefits become speculative and historically exaggerated. Develop two concrete mechanisms of globalisation and support the comparison with realistic, directly relevant consequences.

Band score breakdown

IELTS Writing Criteria Scores

TR

Task Response

7.0
Scoring rule

Both questions are addressed with a clear position, a relevant cause, and developed advantages and disadvantages, although some support becomes speculative.

Next step

Explain separate mechanisms such as multinational business, global media, and standardised urban development, then use realistic evidence to weigh their effects.

CC

Coherence and Cohesion

7.0
Scoring rule

The essay is logically paragraphised and the argument progresses from cause to evaluation, though the long third paragraph contains some loose chaining and repetition.

Next step

Separate the disadvantage from the advantages and ensure each paragraph advances one clearly bounded part of the comparison.

LR

Lexical Resource

6.5
Scoring rule

Vocabulary is varied and often effective, but awkward phrases such as more closeness, cultural and identity separation, and sceneries reduce precision.

Next step

Use natural abstract nouns and collocations such as greater closeness, cultural distinctiveness, and scenery, and avoid unnecessary quotation marks.

GRA

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

6.5
Scoring rule

A range of complex structures is attempted successfully, but conditional forms, pronoun reference, punctuation, and agreement errors recur.

Next step

Review third conditional structures and break heavily punctuated sentences into shorter units with clear subjects and referents.

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IELTS Writing Task 2

In the past, people used to travel to see the differences from their home country. However, the sceneries in places around the world seem similar nowadays. What are the causes of these similarities? Do you think that the advantages of these similarities outweigh the disadvantages?

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