Some people think that robots are very important to human's future development, while others think that they are dangerous and have negative effects on society.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 2 question on IELTSX. Some people think that robots are very important to human's future development, while others think that they are dangerous and have negative effects on society.

Robots Important Human Development vs Dangerous Negative - IELTS Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Write at least 250 words.

A student's answer to this task, and the feedback on it

Written by an IELTSX user under exam conditions and published unedited and anonymously. Band 7.5 · 357 words.

There has been considerable debate among members of society over whether the arrival of technological advancements – robots – has had a negative or positive impact. While many individuals hold the belief that these developments are harmful, leading to severe consequences, I concur with those who contend that robots play a vital role in improving human life in the future.

Those who emphasize the danger posed by robots believe that these technologies may be unreliable in many circumstances. A survey entitled "What Might Happen in the Future?", conducted in the United States, reported that a number of experiments failed due to technical glitches, resulting in serious consequences that are difficult to prevent. One striking example of such danger can be seen on highways, where robotic electric vehicles may fail to distinguish between obstacles and pedestrians. As a result, they might strike a pedestrian during traffic congestion, mistaking a person for an inanimate object. Since robots pose evident risks that threaten human life and cannot always be trusted, people should not rely on them blindly.

Nevertheless, robots also have positive impacts on the lives of future generations. This can be seen in many critical situations in hospitals, where robots can perform life-saving procedures when human intervention is insufficient. Moreover, there are many tasks, particularly in mines, that require great physical strength and involve significant risks. These tasks can be performed by robots, thereby eliminating risks to human workers. Furthermore, due to human limitations, people cannot work continuously at high intensity, whereas robots do not require rest, which contributes to higher productivity in companies. Therefore, it should be noted that robots facilitate not only individuals with life-saving assistance but also businesses that are willing to merchandise their goods in a faster and more efficient way.

In conclusion, although some believe that technological inventions such as robots, have detrimental effects on community life, I side with those who assert that they serve as a crucial factor, contributing to the high standards of living. This is because the creation of these advancements helps address numerous problems, mainly life-threatening risks caused by complicated and demanding jobs, and improves productivity at the workplace.

Examiner feedback

This is a strong Band 7.5 performance. The essay is well-structured and addresses the prompt with mature examples. To reach Band 8.0, the writer should focus on more precise collocations and ensuring that complex grammatical constructions are perfectly polished.

Task Response - 8

The essay sufficiently addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the dangers and the benefits of robots before reaching a clear conclusion. - Ideas are well-developed with relevant examples, such as the mention of autonomous vehicles and applications in mining/medicine. - The student's position is clear from the introduction and is maintained consistently throughout the response.

Coherence & Cohesion - 8

The response is organized logically with a clear progression from the introduction to the conclusion. - Paragraphing is used effectively, with each body paragraph focusing on a distinct side of the argument. - Cohesive devices (e.g., 'Nevertheless', 'Moreover', 'Furthermore') are used naturally to link ideas, though 'merchandise their goods' is a slightly awkward transition in context.

Lexical Resource - 7

A good range of vocabulary is used, including less common items like 'technical glitches', 'inanimate object', and 'detrimental effects'. - There are some minor issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'merchandise their goods' (where 'produce' or 'distribute' might be better) and 'facilitate not only individuals' (awkward phrasing). - Spelling is accurate throughout.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 7

The essay uses a variety of complex structures, such as relative clauses and conditional-style reasoning. - Most sentences are error-free, but there are minor punctuation errors (e.g., the unnecessary comma after 'robots' in the conclusion) and slight phrasing issues in complex structures. - Grammar control is generally high, allowing for clear communication of nuanced ideas.

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