Nowadays, in many countries young people don’t communicate with older people as much as they used to. Why is this happening? How could this situation be improved?

Same question Compare 2 different answers (Band 7.5–8)

Sample Response

Globally, youth today interact less frequently with older generations than in the past. This trend can be attributed to the rapid development of technology and increasingly busy lifestyles. However, certain measures, such as leveraging technology for communication and organizing regular family gatherings, can help bridge this generational gap. There are several reasons why communication between people from different generations is declining. The foremost one is the widespread use of modern technology. Young people are often absorbed in social media, online entertainment, and digital interactions, reducing face-to-face conversations with older family members. Additionally, older individuals may not be as familiar with digital platforms, making communication even more challenging. Another significant factor is the hectic lifestyle of young people. Many are occupied with academic pressures, career commitments, and social activities, leaving them with little time to engage in meaningful conversations with older generations. To address this issue, several solutions can be implemented. Chief among them is using technology to enhance communication between generations. Encouraging older family members to use messaging apps or video calls can help maintain regular contact despite physical distances. Moreover, digital literacy programs for the elderly can make technology more accessible and user-friendly. In addition, organizing regular family gatherings can strengthen intergenerational bonds. Setting aside time for meals, celebrations, or simple weekend visits can create opportunities for younger and older family members to share experiences and engage in deeper conversations. In conclusion, while technology and busy lifestyles have contributed to reduced communication between young and old generations, solutions such as using digital tools effectively and promoting family gatherings can help address this issue. By fostering stronger connections, societies can preserve the wisdom and values passed down through generations.

IELTS Writing Correction

  • 1. Use natural noun phrase Original: youth today Suggested revision: young people today Why it matters: Young people is more natural and precise here than the collective noun youth.
  • 2. Simplify the wording Original: leveraging technology for communication Suggested revision: using technology to communicate Why it matters: The verb phrase is clearer and less abstract than the nominal expression.
  • 3. Remove wordiness Original: people from different generations Suggested revision: different generations Why it matters: The shorter phrase conveys the same meaning more directly.
  • 4. Name the reason clearly Original: The foremost one Suggested revision: The main reason Why it matters: Reason is a clearer reference than the vague substitute one.
  • 5. Clarify the result Original: reducing face-to-face conversations with older family members Suggested revision: reducing opportunities for face-to-face conversations with older family members Why it matters: The revision makes clear that digital absorption reduces opportunities rather than conversations themselves.
  • 6. Use plural lifestyles Original: the hectic lifestyle of young people Suggested revision: young people's hectic lifestyles Why it matters: The plural form better matches a general statement about many young people.
  • 7. Improve list collocation Original: occupied with academic pressures, career commitments, and social activities Suggested revision: busy with academic work, career commitments, and social activities Why it matters: Academic work fits naturally with busy with and keeps the three list items parallel.
  • 8. Use natural phrasing Original: despite physical distances Suggested revision: despite being physically distant Why it matters: This phrasing expresses separation between people more naturally.
  • 9. Clarify the benefit Original: make technology more accessible and user-friendly Suggested revision: make digital tools easier for older people to use Why it matters: The revision identifies both the relevant technology and its intended users.
  • 10. Use concise wording Original: rapid development of technology Suggested revision: rapid technological development Why it matters: The adjective form expresses the same idea more concisely.
  • 11. Use precise description Original: busy Suggested revision: demanding Why it matters: Demanding more clearly conveys why these lifestyles leave less time for communication.
  • 12. Use standard phrasing Original: this Suggested revision: the Why it matters: The definite article is more natural for the general divide already identified.

Suggested Rewrites

  • youth today young people today
  • leveraging technology for communication using technology to communicate
  • people from different generations different generations
  • The foremost one The main reason
  • reducing face-to-face conversations with older family members reducing opportunities for face-to-face conversations with older family members
  • the hectic lifestyle of young people young people's hectic lifestyles
Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 7.5

The response addresses both parts directly, develops practical causes and solutions, and uses precise, varied language with strong grammatical control. Its main limitation is presentation: the entire argument appears as one continuous paragraph, which weakens the visibility of the otherwise clear progression. The highest-priority improvement is to divide the essay into an introduction, focused body paragraphs for causes and solutions, and a concise conclusion.

Band score breakdown

IELTS Writing Criteria Scores

TR

Task Response

8.0
Scoring rule

Both questions are answered directly through relevant, sufficiently developed causes and practical solutions.

Next step

Deepen one cause or solution with a more specific real-world illustration to make the support even more compelling.

CC

Coherence and Cohesion

6.5
Scoring rule

Ideas progress logically through clear signposting, but presenting the whole response as one paragraph substantially weakens organization.

Next step

Use separate paragraphs for the introduction, causes, solutions, and conclusion so each stage of the argument is immediately visible.

LR

Lexical Resource

8.0
Scoring rule

Vocabulary is varied, precise, and natural, with effective topic-specific choices such as digital literacy and intergenerational bonds.

Next step

Refine the few slightly broad expressions by selecting even more context-specific wording where possible.

GRA

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

8.0
Scoring rule

A wide range of complex structures is used accurately, and errors are rare and do not impede communication.

Next step

Maintain this control while varying sentence openings and checking minor article and number choices during proofreading.

Put the feedback to work

Write this task while it is fresh

Try the same task now. It helps you remember the feedback and write better next time.

IELTS Writing Task 2

Nowadays, in many countries young people don’t communicate with older people as much as they used to. Why is this happening? How could this situation be improved?

Your response

Words0
40:00

Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.