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This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of driverless vehicles, cars, buses and trucks from Cambridge IELTS 16.
Find all the other Cambridge 16 essays and tips for studying in the complete IELTS Cambridge 16 guide here.
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Dave
IELTS Cambridge 16 Essay: Driverless Vehicles
In the future all cars, buses and trucks will be driverless. The only people travelling inside these vehicles will be passengers.
Do you think the advantages of driverless vehicles outweigh the disadvantages?
A future filled with driverless vehicles is an inevitability. In my opinion, though there are concomitant moral risks, the practical import for health of such a seismic shift will be positive on the whole.
Critics of this trend suggest that machines should not be responsible for the potential loss of human life. This argument rests on the fact that when there is an accident involving humans, it is possible to either assess blame and assign punishment or accept that human error played a role. In contrast, an individual severely injured as the result of a collision caused by a machine may justly feel that all human autonomy and free will is absent from their fate. This is analogous to a natural disaster with the crucial distinction being that humanity has engineered the situation. It is human nature to prefer to control a situation rather than surrender the outcome to an autonomous machine.
Proponents of automated vehicles, on the other hand, argue the tangible ramifications concerning public safety. The evidence overwhelmingly suggests that driverless vehicles cause fewer accidents than humans. The reason for this is that humans are prone to errors related to fatigue, distractions such as smartphones, and, in some cases, altered states. Machines might experience the occasional technical error, however, they are far more consistent by comparison. In fact, the few accidents that have occurred with automated vehicles were the fault of human drivers. If all cars were driverless, this would enable a greater level of sophistication that could, theoretically, all but eliminate automobile accidents.
In conclusion, though many accidents will occur without human agency playing a role, safer roads fully justify this innovation. Companies and consumers must be wary of the influence of automation while also embracing its most transparent benefits.
Analysis
1. A future filled with driverless vehicles is an inevitability. 2. In my opinion, though there are concomitant moral risks, the practical import for health of such a seismic shift will be positive on the whole.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Critics of this trend suggest that machines should not be responsible for the potential loss of human life. 2. This argument rests on the fact that when there is an accident involving humans, it is possible to either assess blame and assign punishment or accept that human error played a role. 3. In contrast, an individual severely injured as the result of a collision caused by a machine may justly feel that all human autonomy and free will is absent from their fate. 4. This is analogous to a natural disaster with the crucial distinction being that humanity has engineered the situation. 5. It is human nature to prefer to control a situation rather than surrender the outcome to an autonomous machine.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific examples/argument.
- Vary long and short sentences and switch to a second reason.
- Stay focused on the second main idea.
1. Proponents of automated vehicles, on the other hand, argue the tangible ramifications concerning public safety. 2. The evidence overwhelmingly suggests that driverless vehicles cause fewer accidents than humans. 3. The reason for this is that humans are prone to errors related to fatigue, distractions such as smartphones, and, in some cases, altered states. 4. Machines might experience the occasional technical error, however, they are far more consistent by comparison. 5. In fact, the few accidents that have occurred with automated vehicles were the fault of human drivers. 6. If all cars were driverless, this would enable a greater level of sophistication that could, theoretically, all but eliminate automobile accidents.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Continue developing it…
- as fully as possible!
- Conclude with the furthest possible result.
1. In conclusion, though many accidents will occur without human agency playing a role, safer roads fully justify this innovation. 2. Companies and consumers must be wary of the influence of automation while also embracing its most transparent benefits.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.
A future filled with driverless vehicles is an inevitability. In my opinion, though there are concomitant moral risks, the practical import for health of such a seismic shift will be positive on the whole.
Critics of this trend suggest that machines should not be responsible for the potential loss of human life. This argument rests on the fact that when there is an accident involving humans, it is possible to either assess blame and assign punishment or accept that human error played a role. In contrast, an individual severely injured as the result of a collision caused by a machine may justly feel that all human autonomy and free will is absent from their fate. This is analogous to a natural disaster with the crucial distinction being that humanity has engineered the situation. It is human nature to prefer to control a situation rather than surrender the outcome to an autonomous machine.
Proponents of automated vehicles, on the other hand, argue the tangible ramifications concerning public safety. The evidence overwhelmingly suggests that driverless vehicles cause fewer accidents than humans. The reason for this is that humans are prone to errors related to fatigue, distractions such as smartphones, and, in some cases, altered states. Machines might experience the occasional technical error, however, they are far more consistent by comparison. In fact, the few accidents that have occurred with automated vehicles were the fault of human drivers. If all cars were driverless, this would enable a greater level of sophistication that could, theoretically, all but eliminate automobile accidents.
In conclusion, though many accidents will occur without human agency playing a role, safer roads fully justify this innovation. Companies and consumers must be wary of the influence of automation while also embracing its most transparent benefits.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
filled with full of
driverless vehicles cars that drive themselves
inevitability will definitely happen
though despite
concomitant related, coming from this
moral risks ethical considerations
practical import actual impact
seismic shift huge change
positive on the whole good overall
critics detractors
trend pattern
suggest say
responsible have a duty
potential loss possible death
argument rests on the fact that position is based in
involving having to do with
possible potential
either assess blame one option is that you can say who is responsible
assign punishment sentence them
accept recognize
human error mistakes by people
played a role had a part in
in contrast however
severely injured hurt badly
as the result of because of
collision accident
caused by happens because of
justly fair
human autonomy people choosing
free will choice
absent lacking
fate what will happen to you in life
analogous comparative to
natural disaster hurricanes, tsunamis, etc.
crucial distinction key difference
engineered the situation created the event
human nature how people are
prefer would rather
control have power over
rather than instead of
surrender give over power to
outcome result
autonomous freedom
proponents supporters
automated vehicles driverless cars, self-driving cars
on the other hand however
argue claim
tangible ramifications real impact
concerning having to do with
public safety the health of people
overwhelmingly clearly
driverless vehicles self-driving automobiles
prone have a tendency to
errors mistakes
fatigue tiredness
distractions ways to lose attention
in some cases sometimes
altered states drunk, under the influence of a substance
occasional sometimes
technical error computer mistake
far more consistent much more reliable
by comparison compared to that
in fact actually
occurred happened
fault mistake
enable allow for
greater level higher
sophistication complexity
theoretically hypothetically
all but eliminate automobile accidents nearly gotten rid of
safer roads fewer accidents
justify give good reason
innovation change
wary worried about
influence effect on
embracing welcoming
most transparent benefits very clear advantages
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
fɪld wɪð
ˈdraɪvələs ˈviːɪklz
ɪnˌɛvɪtəˈbɪlɪti
ðəʊ
kənˈkɒmɪtənt
ˈmɒrəl rɪsks
ˈpræktɪkəl ˈɪmpɔːt
ˈsaɪzmɪk ʃɪft
ˈpɒzətɪv ɒn ðə həʊl
ˈkrɪtɪks
trɛnd
səˈʤɛst
rɪsˈpɒnsəbl
pəʊˈtɛnʃəl lɒs
ˈɑːgjʊmənt rɛsts ɒn ðə fækt ðæt
ɪnˈvɒlvɪŋ
ˈpɒsəbl
ˈaɪðər əˈsɛs bleɪm
əˈsaɪn ˈpʌnɪʃmənt
əkˈsɛpt
ˈhjuːmən ˈɛrə
pleɪd ə rəʊl
ɪn ˈkɒntrɑːst
sɪˈvɪəli ˈɪnʤəd
æz ðə rɪˈzʌlt ɒv
kəˈlɪʒən
kɔːzd baɪ
ˈʤʌstli
ˈhjuːmən ɔːˈtɒnəmi
friː wɪl
ˈæbsənt
feɪt
əˈnæləgəs
ˈnæʧrəl dɪˈzɑːstə
ˈkruːʃəl dɪsˈtɪŋkʃən
ˌɛnʤɪˈnɪəd ðə ˌsɪtjʊˈeɪʃən
ˈhjuːmən ˈneɪʧə
priˈfɜː
kənˈtrəʊl
ˈrɑːðə ðæn
səˈrɛndə
ˈaʊtkʌm
ɔːˈtɒnəməs
prəˈpəʊnənts
ˈɔːtəmeɪtɪd ˈviːɪklz
ɒn ði ˈʌðə hænd
ˈɑːgjuː
ˈtænʤəbl ˌræmɪfɪˈkeɪʃənz
kənˈsɜːnɪŋ
ˈpʌblɪk ˈseɪfti
ˌəʊvəˈwɛlmɪŋli
ˈdraɪvələs ˈviːɪklz
prəʊn
ˈɛrəz
fəˈtiːg
dɪsˈtrækʃənz
ɪn sʌm ˈkeɪsɪz
ˈɔːltəd steɪts
əˈkeɪʒənl
ˈtɛknɪkəl ˈɛrə
fɑː mɔː kənˈsɪstənt
baɪ kəmˈpærɪsn
ɪn fækt
əˈkɜːd
fɔːlt
ɪˈneɪbl
ˈgreɪtə ˈlɛvl
səˌfɪstɪˈkeɪʃən
θɪəˈrɛtɪkəli
ɔːl bʌt ɪˈlɪmɪneɪt ˈɔːtəməʊbiːl ˈæksɪdənts
ˈseɪfə rəʊdz
ˈʤʌstɪfaɪ
ˌɪnəʊˈveɪʃən
ˈweəri
ˈɪnflʊəns
ɪmˈbreɪsɪŋ
məʊst trænsˈpeərənt ˈbɛnɪfɪts
Vocabulary Practice
I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:
A future f_____________h d____________________s is an i______________y. In my opinion, t_________h there are c______________t m____________s, the p________________t for health of such a s_____________t will be p__________________e.
C_______s of this t______d s________t that machines should not be r____________e for the p____________s of human life. This a_________________________t when there is an accident i___________g humans, it is p__________e to e__________________e and a__________________t or a_____t that h_____________r p________________e. I_____________t, an individual s_______________d a_____________________f a c_________n c___________y a machine may j________y feel that all h________________y and f__________l is a_________t from their f____e. This is a_____________s to a n______________r with the c__________________n being that humanity has e_____________________________n. It is h________________e to p_______r to c________l a situation r___________n s____________r the o_________e to an a______________s machine.
P___________s of a_________________s, o__________________d, a_______e the t________________________s c_____________g p_______________y. The evidence o_________________y suggests that d___________________s cause fewer accidents than humans. The reason for this is that humans are p______e to e_______s related to f_________e, d____________s such as smartphones, and, i_______________s, a_______________s. Machines might experience the o____________l t___________________r, however, they are f______________________________________n. I__________t, the few accidents that have o____________d with automated vehicles were the f_______t of human drivers. If all cars were driverless, this would e________e a g_____________l of s_______________n that could, t______________y, a___________________________________________s.
In conclusion, though many accidents will occur without human agency playing a role, s___________s fully j__________y this i___________n. Companies and consumers must be w____y of the i__________e of automation while also e____________g its m_________________________s.
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
https://www.wired.com/story/guide-self-driving-cars/
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Public Transport (Model answer available on my Patreon)
- Does your city use a lot of public transport?
- When was the last time you used public transport?
- Will you still use public transport in the future?
- What would you like to change about the public transport in your city?
Writing Practice
Practice with the same basic topic below and then check with my sample answer:
Today different types of robots are being developed which can serve as companions and workers to help at work and at home.
Is this a positive or negative development?
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