Plan this advantages and disadvantages essay about language 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:
Many people now write on computers or phones instead of writing by hand, and children spend less time practising handwriting.
Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
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.
Computers and phones have largely replaced pens and paper, and children now spend less time on handwriting. In my opinion, the advantages of typing outweigh the disadvantages, but handwriting should not be abandoned.
The benefits of typing are clear. It is faster than writing by hand, and documents can be edited, corrected and reorganised with a few keystrokes, which saves a great deal of effort. Typing is also a necessary skill for almost every modern job, from office work to programming, and printed text is uniformly readable, whereas some people's handwriting is almost impossible to decipher. Digital files can be stored, searched and shared instantly, which makes collaboration simpler.
On the other hand, there are some worries about the decline of handwriting. Research suggests that students who take notes by hand remember information better than those who type, probably because writing is slower and forces them to summarise ideas in their own words. Handwriting also develops fine motor skills in young children, and the physical act of forming letters helps them to recognise and remember them. In addition, a handwritten note or letter feels personal and expressive in a way that an email does not, and an individual's handwriting is part of their identity.
Nevertheless, I believe these concerns can be addressed without rejecting technology. Schools can teach handwriting in the early years, when it is most important for development, and encourage students to write notes by hand when they are studying, while introducing typing from the age of about ten, once the basics are secure. Used together, the two methods complement each other.
In conclusion, typing is faster, more flexible and essential for modern life, and its advantages are greater, but handwriting retains cognitive and personal value and should still be taught.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| handwriting | writing with a pen |
| keyboard skills | ability to type |
| spelling mistakes | errors in spelling |
| fine motor skills | small hand movements |
| autocorrect | tool that fixes typing errors |
| legible | clear enough to read |
Answer random Part 1, 2 and 3 questions on an exam timer.
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Compare an IELTS band with TOEFL, Duolingo and PTE scores and CEFR levels.
Look up the IELTS score a university asks for, with the source.