Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-13
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
In the future nobody will buy printed newspapers or books because they will be able to read everything they want online without paying. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Student answer (Band 6.5)
Introduction of smartphone, and tablet devices have enabled users to read newspapers and books online, and because of this, some people think that printed newspapers or books will become obsolete in future. In this essay, I shall discuss how online news portals and libraries will slowly eliminate the printed copy trend.
The reason why I chose to agree with the statement that nobody will buy printed newspapers or books in future is because the internet is gradually becoming the world's largest open library. With the click of a mouse, users can now access websites that offer millions of books without any hassle to go to a store. Besides, there are numerous websites which sell books in PDF format for users to download for free and read on their electronic devices. In recent times, book lovers don't have to carry the extra weight of a printed copy of a book because they have the access to download a PDF format on their smartphones.
As for newspapers, every news channel now has their own website and online portals, as well as social media handles where they publish news articles for free of cost. Viewers can read the latest news updates just by scrolling through their phone instantly. Some portals even offer live news update so that users can keep up with latest news and views. As a result, people don't have to wait for a printed copy to read the detailed news from the day before. This accessibility to instant news updates will slowly eliminate the printed copy trend within probably the next 10-15 years.
In conclusion, there are enough supporting facts to say that there is a possibility of printed newspapers or books will become extinct in the future. The availability of books and news updates throughout the internet strengthens the argument more.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5
Your position is clear: you agree that online access will make printed publications obsolete, and you support this with relevant points about downloadable books and instant news. The response addresses both books and newspapers, with examples such as online libraries and news portals. This meets the task well, but the two sides are not equally developed: the discussion focuses on convenience and availability, while the claim that everything will be free online is not examined. The conclusion also softens your position by saying there is only “a possibility” of extinction, which is less definite than your introduction. To strengthen the response, explain why free access will be widespread and consider a counterpoint, such as readers who prefer print or paid online content.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The essay has a clear overall structure, moving from an introduction to separate paragraphs on books and newspapers, followed by a conclusion. This makes the main progression easy to follow. Linking phrases such as “Besides,” “As for newspapers,” and “As a result” help connect points, although some transitions feel formulaic and the reasoning within paragraphs could be developed more smoothly. For example, the move from free PDF downloads to the reduced weight of books is understandable but would benefit from a clearer explanation of how this supports the prediction that print will disappear. The conclusion repeats the central idea rather than drawing together the main reasons. Use more precise referencing and vary transitions to make the connections less mechanical.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.0
You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “online news portals,” “download,” “latest news updates,” and “printed copy.” These choices make the subject clear, and some phrases show an attempt to be specific. However, several expressions are imprecise or unnatural, such as “for free of cost,” “the printed copy trend,” and “the access to download a PDF format.” Repetition of “online,” “printed,” and “news” also limits flexibility. Aim for more natural collocations and a wider range of terms, such as “digital platforms,” “print publications,” and “access digital editions.” More precise vocabulary would help express the argument with greater fluency, while the current choices generally remain understandable.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0
The response includes a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including clauses introduced by “because,” “where,” and “so that.” Most ideas remain clear, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “Introduction of smartphone, and tablet devices” needs an article and has unnecessary punctuation, while “there is a possibility of printed newspapers or books will become extinct” combines incompatible structures; use “there is a possibility that … will become extinct.” In “users can keep up with latest news,” an article is needed before “latest news.” Sentence boundaries and punctuation are mostly controlled, but these errors show that complex phrasing is not consistently accurate. Review articles, clause patterns, and agreement, then proofread longer sentences.
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