Plan this opinion essay about society with the ideas and outline below, write it on a 40-minute timer, then compare it with a band-8 model answer.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Friendships made online can be just as meaningful as friendships made face to face.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
GoPrep wrote this practice question in the style of the exam. It is not an official IELTS question.
Pick two or three points from one or both columns. You do not need all of them, and your own examples score better than memorised ones.
Spend the first few minutes planning, then write.
0 words of 250 minimum
Your answer stays on this page only. Copy it before you leave.
Write your own answer first, then compare: how it answers the exact question, what each paragraph does, and which phrases you could borrow.
Some people believe that friendships formed online can be just as meaningful as those made face to face. I agree to a large extent, although I think in-person contact still has its own special value.
The main reason for agreeing is that friendship depends on shared interests, honesty and support, not on physical presence. The internet allows people to find others who share a rare hobby, illness or experience, something they might never find in their own town. A teenager who is shy at school, for instance, may form a close friendship in an online community of fellow musicians, and they can talk daily, share personal problems and give each other real encouragement. Online friendships also overcome distance. Friends who live in different countries can stay in touch through video calls and messages, and many have sustained relationships for years and even travelled to meet each other. For people with disabilities or those who are housebound, online contact can be a vital source of companionship.
Nevertheless, there are limitations. Digital communication lacks body language, tone and the shared experiences of simply spending time together, and misunderstandings occur more easily. People may also present an idealised version of themselves online, making it harder to build deep trust, and online friends cannot offer practical help such as visiting someone who is ill. Therefore, the strongest friendships often combine both, beginning online and then being strengthened by meeting in person where possible.
In conclusion, online friendships can be genuinely meaningful because they are based on shared interests and emotional support, but they usually become richest when supplemented by face-to-face contact. I therefore largely agree with the statement.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| virtual friendship | friendship kept up through the internet |
| face-to-face contact | meeting in person |
| shared interests | hobbies two people both enjoy |
| genuine connection | real bond between people |
| body language | information given by gestures and posture |
| lose touch | stop communicating |
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