With the rapid advancement of communication technology: smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices, some people believe that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 2 question on IELTSX. With the rapid advancement of communication technology: smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices, some people believe that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.

Smartphones Tablets Mobile Devices Disadvantages Outweigh Advantages - IELTS Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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 6.5 ยท 263 words.

In modern life, communication technology is developing very fast. Many people use smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices every day. Some people think that these devices have more disadvantages than advantages. I disagree with this opinion because I believe the benefits are more important.

On the one hand, mobile devices have some disadvantages. First, they can make people less social in real life. For example, when people use smartphones all the time, they do not talk to family or friends face to face. Second, these devices can be bad for health. If people spend many hours looking at screens, their eyes can become tired and they may not sleep well. Also, some people use mobile devices too much and this can cause addiction.

However, I believe the advantages are stronger. The main benefit is that mobile devices help people communicate easily. For instance, people can call or message each other from anywhere in the world. This is very useful for work and for keeping in touch with family. Another advantage is that people can get information quickly. With a smartphone, you can search the internet and find answers to any question. Moreover, mobile devices are useful for education. Students can watch videos, read e-books and learn online. Finally, these devices help in emergencies. If someone has an accident, they can call for help immediately.

In conclusion, although mobile devices have some disadvantages like less face-to-face communication and health problems, I believe the advantages are more important. They help us communicate, learn and stay safe. Therefore, I disagree that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.

Examiner feedback

This is a solid Band 6.5 essay. It is well-organized, clearly addresses the prompt, and contains very few grammatical errors. The main factor preventing a higher score is the 'safe' nature of the vocabulary and sentence structures; while accurate, the language is somewhat basic for an academic context. Increasing the use of more academic synonyms and more complex argument development would elevate the score.

Task Response - 7

- Addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the drawbacks and the benefits of mobile devices. - Presents a clear position throughout the essay, stating a preference for the advantages in the introduction and maintaining this through to the conclusion. - Main ideas are relevant and supported with examples (e.g., eye strain, emergency calls, and educational use). - To reach a higher band, the ideas could be more 'fully extended' with deeper analysis of how these technologies impact society on a more complex level.

Coherence & Cohesion - 7

- Information and ideas are organized logically with a clear progression from the negative aspects to the positive ones. - Each paragraph has a clear central topic. - Cohesive devices (e.g., 'On the one hand', 'However', 'Moreover') are used appropriately, though they are somewhat mechanical and predictable. - Referencing is generally clear, though more sophisticated substitution could be used to avoid repeating 'mobile devices' or 'people' too often.

Lexical Resource - 6

- The vocabulary is adequate for the task and allows for clear communication of ideas. - Usage is accurate with very few errors in spelling or word formation. - However, the range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and relies on common words (e.g., 'good', 'bad', 'easy', 'find answers'). - Lacks the 'less common lexical items' or 'sophisticated control' required for Band 7 or higher.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 7

- Produces a variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences ('If people spend...') and relative clauses. - Most sentences are error-free, and the writer shows good control over grammar and punctuation. - To improve, the writer should attempt more varied sentence openings and more sophisticated grammatical constructions to demonstrate a wider range.

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