Plan this discussion essay about technology 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:
Some people think that new technology such as virtual reality will change education for the better. Others believe traditional teaching methods cannot be improved by technology.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
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 virtual reality will transform education, while others think that traditional teaching cannot be improved by technology. In my opinion, the new tools offer real benefits, but they will supplement good teachers rather than replace them.
Those who favour technology point to its ability to make learning vivid. With a headset, a history student can walk through ancient Rome, and a biology student can explore the inside of a human cell, experiences that a textbook cannot match. Virtual reality is also safe and economical for practical subjects. Trainee surgeons, for example, can rehearse an operation repeatedly without risk to patients, and chemistry pupils can carry out dangerous experiments with no expensive equipment. Such immersive learning often improves memory and motivation, especially for students who find lectures dull.
On the other hand, critics have some valid concerns. Headsets and software are costly, so wealthy schools may benefit while poorer ones fall behind, widening existing inequalities. Long periods in a virtual environment can cause dizziness and eye strain, and they reduce face-to-face interaction. More fundamentally, education involves more than information: a teacher notices when a pupil is confused, offers encouragement and models how to think critically, and no machine currently does these things well. Traditional methods such as discussion and writing remain essential for developing argument and independent thought.
Taking both views into account, I believe the best approach is a blend. Virtual reality can be used for specific lessons where it adds clear value, while teachers continue to lead the learning and to guide students through what they experience.
In conclusion, new technology can improve education when used selectively, but it cannot replace the human relationships and traditional methods that remain at the heart of good teaching.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| virtual reality | computer-made environment |
| immersive learning | learning by being inside an experience |
| teaching aid | tool helping lessons |
| traditional method | older way of doing things |
| classroom technology | devices in lessons |
| interactive | involving two-way action |
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