This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of computer games from the real IELTS exam.
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IELTS Essay: Computer Games
Computer games are very popular for all ages and nationalities. Parents think this has little educational value and it will be harmful for children.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Computer games have become increasingly popular in an age of mobile devices and advancing graphical interfaces. While some claim there is educational value in these games, I would side with those decrying the propagation of a passive lifestyle.
Supporters of gaming can point to its alleged benefits for cognitive functioning. It is difficult to do good research in this area, but many recent studies have found optimistic results not only related to hand-eye coordination but also mental development. This is also supported by common sense because as games have become more advanced, players must now follow intricate storylines, figure out difficult puzzles and outsmart progressively intelligent artificial intelligence. Depending on the age of the gamer and the game in question it is very likely there are legitimate cognitive gains that can be attributed to the extensive playing of games.
Nonetheless, the marginal advances listed above pale in comparison to the effects of a passive lifestyle on both physical and mental health. Mobile devices and the internet generally, but videogames in particular, are the leading causes of the more sedentary lifestyles that most children and teens now lead, often extending into adulthood. This leaves them at risk of developing bad habits that could later translate into more serious health conditions. Added to this is the mental aspect. Playing games is, next to watching televisions shows, one of the least active forms of entertainment. It would be more beneficial for people of all ages to play a team sport, read a book, spend more time with family, or take up a productive and creative hobby.
In short, computer games may offer a limited range of intellectual benefits but they also come at great physical and mental cost. It is therefore up to parents and individuals themselves to opt for more constructive pastimes.
Analysis
1. Computer games have become increasingly popular in an age of mobile devices and advancing graphical interfaces. 2. While some claim there is educational value in these games, I would side with those decrying the propagation of a passive lifestyle.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Supporters of gaming can point to its alleged benefits for cognitive functioning. 2. It is difficult to do good research in this area, but many recent studies have found optimistic results not only related to hand-eye coordination but also mental development. 3. This is also supported by common sense because as games have become more advanced, players must now follow intricate storylines, figure out difficult puzzles and outsmart progressively intelligent artificial intelligence. 4. Depending on the age of the gamer and the game in question it is very likely there are legitimate cognitive gains that can be attributed to the extensive playing of games.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific examples.
- Continue to develop it as fully as possible.
1. Nonetheless, the marginal advances listed above pale in comparison to the effects of a passive lifestyle on both physical and mental health. 2. Mobile devices and the internet generally, but videogames in particular, are the leading causes of the more sedentary lifestyles that most children and teens now lead, often extending into adulthood. 3. This leaves them at risk of developing bad habits that could later translate into more serious health conditions. 4. Added to this is the mental aspect. 5. Playing games is, next to watching televisions shows, one of the least active forms of entertainment. 6. It would be more beneficial for people of all ages to play a team sport, read a book, spend more time with family, or take up a productive and creative hobby.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Switch to a second main idea if you have one.
- And develop the second idea fully.
- Conclude the paragraph or finish developing your last idea.
1. In short, computer games may offer a limited range of intellectual benefits but they also come at great physical and mental cost. 2. It is therefore up to parents and individuals themselves to opt for more constructive pastimes.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
Computer games have become increasingly popular in an age of mobile devices and advancing graphical interfaces. While some claim there is educational value in these games, I would side with those decrying the propagation of a passive lifestyle.
Supporters of gaming can point to its alleged benefits for cognitive functioning. It is difficult to do good research in this area, but many recent studies have found optimistic results not only related to hand-eye coordination but also mental development. This is also supported by common sense because as games have become more advanced, players must now follow intricate storylines, figure out difficult puzzles and outsmart progressively intelligent artificial intelligence. Depending on the age of the gamer and the game in question it is very likely there are legitimate cognitive gains that can be attributed to the extensive playing of games.
Nonetheless, the marginal advances listed above pale in comparison to the effects of a passive lifestyle on both physical and mental health. Mobile devices and the internet generally, but videogames in particular, are the leading causes of the more sedentary lifestyles that most children and teens now lead, often extending into adulthood. This leaves them at risk of developing bad habits that could later translate into more serious health conditions. Added to this is the mental aspect. Playing games is, next to watching televisions shows, one of the least active forms of entertainment. It would be more beneficial for people of all ages to play a team sport, read a book, spend more time with family, or take up a productive and creative hobby.
In short, computer games may offer a limited range of intellectual benefits but they also come at great physical and mental cost. It is therefore up to parents and individuals themselves to opt for more constructive pastimes.
Answers
increasingly popular more and more common
an age of mobile devices people using smartphones
advancing graphical interfaces newer machines and graphics
educational value importance of education
side with agree with
decrying criticising
propagation spreading
passive lifestyle not living an active life
supporters people in favour of
point to argue about
alleged benefits supposed advantages
cognitive functioning intellectual development
research studies
recent studies new research
optimistic results hopeful findings
hand-eye coordination reacting quickly
mental development brain functioning
supported in favour of
common sense logical
follow intricate storylines understand complex plots
figure out understand
outsmart be smarter than
progressively intelligent artificial intelligence more smart computers
depending on it concerns whether or not
gamer person who plays games
in question being discussed now
legitimate cognitive gains real intellectual advances
attributed to caused by
extensive long time, detailed
nonetheless regardless
marginal advances small gains
listed above detailed before
pale in comparison not important relative to
passive lifestyle not active living
physical and mental health related to the body and mind
mobile devices smartphones, tablets
generally in general
in particular especially
leading causes main reasons behind
sedentary lifestyles not active
lead live
extending into adulthood getting older
at risk worried
later translate after that become
serious health conditions important health problems
added to this is combined with
aspect part
next to behind
least active forms very passive
all ages kids, teens, grownups, elderly
take up start doing
productive useful
creative imaginative
may offer a limited range give some
come at great physical and mental cost hurt a person in terms of physical and mental health
therefore thus
opt for choose
constructive pastimes better hobbies
Pronunciation
ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli ˈpɒpjʊlə
ən eɪʤ ɒv ˈməʊbaɪl dɪˈvaɪsɪz
ədˈvɑːnsɪŋ ˈgræfɪkəl ˈɪntəˌfeɪsɪz
ˌɛdju(ː)ˈkeɪʃənz ˈvæljuː
saɪd wɪð
dɪˈkraɪɪŋ
ˌprɒpəˈgeɪʃən
ˈpæsɪv ˈlaɪfˌstaɪl
səˈpɔːtəz
pɔɪnt tuː
əˈlɛʤd ˈbɛnɪfɪts
ˈkɒgnɪtɪv ˈfʌŋkʃənɪŋ
rɪˈsɜːʧ
ˈriːsnt ˈstʌdiz
ˌɒptɪˈmɪstɪk rɪˈzʌlts
hænd-aɪ kəʊˌɔːdɪˈneɪʃən
ˈmɛntl dɪˈvɛləpmənt
səˈpɔːtɪd
ˈkɒmən sɛns
ˈfɒləʊ ˈɪntrɪkɪt ˈstɔːriz laɪnz
ˈfɪgər aʊt
aʊtˈsmɑːt
prəʊˈgrɛsɪvli ɪnˈtɛlɪʤənt ˌɑːtɪˈfɪʃ(ə)l ɪnˈtɛlɪʤəns.
dɪˈpɛndɪŋ ɒn
ˈgeɪmə
ɪn ˈkwɛsʧən
lɪˈʤɪtɪmɪt ˈkɒgnɪtɪv geɪnz
əˈtrɪbjuːtɪd tuː
ɪksˈtɛnsɪv
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
ˈmɑːʤɪnəl ədˈvɑːnsɪz
ˈlɪstɪd əˈbʌv
peɪl ɪn kəmˈpærɪsn
ˈpæsɪv ˈlaɪfˌstaɪl
ˈfɪzɪkəl ænd ˈmɛntl hɛlθ
ˈməʊbaɪl dɪˈvaɪsɪz
ˈʤɛnərəli
ɪn pəˈtɪkjʊlə
ˈliːdɪŋ ˈkɔːzɪz
ˈsɛdntəri ˈlaɪfˌstaɪlz
liːd
ɪksˈtɛndɪŋ ˈɪntuː əˈdʌlthʊd
æt rɪsk
ˈleɪtə trænsˈleɪt
ˈsɪərɪəs hɛlθ kənˈdɪʃənz
ˈædɪd tuː ðɪs ɪz
ˈæspɛkt
nɛkst tuː
liːst ˈæktɪv fɔːmz
ɔːl ˈeɪʤɪz
teɪk ʌp
prəˈdʌktɪv
kri(ː)ˈeɪtɪv
meɪ ˈɒfər ə ˈlɪmɪtɪd reɪnʤ
kʌm æt greɪt ˈfɪzɪkəl ænd ˈmɛntl kɒst
ˈðeəfɔː
ɒpt fɔː
kənˈstrʌktɪv ˈpɑːstaɪmz
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
Computer games have become i__________________r in a_________________________s and a_____________________________s. While some claim there is e___________________e in these games, I would s_____________h those d_________g the p__________n of a p________________e.
S______________s of gaming can p________o its a________________s for c_________________________g. It is difficult to do good r_______h in this area, but many r___________________s have found o_____________________s not only related to h____________________n but also m_______________________t. This is also s____________d by c________________e because as games have become more advanced, players must now f_______________________________s, f____________t difficult puzzles and o________________t p____________________________________________________e. D_________________n the age of the g_______r and the game i________________n it is very likely there are l____________________________s that can be a_____________________o the e_____________e playing of games.
N__________________s, the m___________________s l___________________e p_________________________n to the effects of a p_____________________e on both p________________________________h. M____________________s and the internet g_____________y, but videogames i____________________r, are the l__________________s of the more s_______________________s that most children and teens now l______d, often e__________________________________d. This leaves them a______k of developing bad habits that could l________________________e into more s_______________________________s. A_______________________s the mental a________t. Playing games is, n______o watching televisions shows, one of the l______________________s of entertainment. It would be more beneficial for people of a____________s to play a team sport, read a book, spend more time with family, or t________p a p___________________e and c______________e hobby.
In short, computer games m___________________________e of intellectual benefits but they also c_________________________________t. It is t_______________e up to parents and individuals themselves to o________r more c__________________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.brainandlife.org/articles/how-do-video-games-affect-the-developing-brains-of-children/
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Playing
- When you were a child, where did you like to play?
- Did you prefer playing indoors or outdoors?
- What kinds of games did you play?
- Do kids benefit more from playing outside?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related topic below and then check with my sample answer:
Some people believe that smartphones are destroying social interaction today.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Excellent!
Thanks a lot, Adenike!
As video games become more popular all over the world, with players across all ages participating in this leisure, parents are starting to worry that they do not offer enough mental stimulation to their offsprings and that it would be detrimental to their overall well-being. Although playing virtual games endlessly can ruin children’s mental health, there are more benefits to this past-time activity that parents may not realize aside from being just fun.
Parents usually think about mindless shooting games when they say that video games do not develop their children’s mental fortitude. However, not all computer games lack the educational value that parents seek. For instance, Duo Lingo, is a mobile game with around a million players across the world, allowing players to learn a language for free. This could turn into an invaluable skillset that could be very useful later in life.
On the other hand, while it is true that playing without limit in front of a computer could result in addiction and physical stress such as eye strains and headaches, this is not to say that computer games, in general, are dangerous for children. As a matter of fact, playing sports outdoor such as football or skateboarding, are found to be more dangerous due to their physical nature which could ultimately result in multiple injuries. Conversely, playing video games offer a sense of relief to some parents knowing that their children are safe within the confines of their homes.
In conclusion, there are varieties of video games that encourage children to perform critical thinking and active learning, and this recreational activity should not be harmful, for as long as parents have awareness on how to guide their children properly.
I felt a bit guilty after reading your answer. I should not be encouraging video games haha. I hope you never get tired of writing these essays. They are very well written, as always.
Great writing again, Chris!
We say leisure time activity, for their offspring
Haha, I don’t always agree with what I write – just trying out the ideas!
No
AMAZING!
Great job