This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of friendship from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Friendship

Friendships that take place online are not as meaningful as those where people meet each other face to face. 

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Certain concerned parties today would argue that there is inherently less value in online friendships. In my opinion, despite the unique features possible when making friends online, in-person friendships are more meaningful due to the human element.

Supporters of making friendships in the virtual world point out the diverse possibilities for communication. In the past, an individual had little choice other than to make friends within a generally narrow range. Today, the average social media user can contact individuals with more varied interests. For instance, people who are passionate about playing old board games can locate each other on a Facebook group or through an Instagram page and become friends as a result of a shared affinity. Using the internet, these people can stay in contact and sustain a potentially rewarding intellectual friendship.

Nonetheless, it is only possible to have a truly meaningful friendship when meeting face to face. Research has shown that the body produces endorphins that elevate one’s mood through touch and in-person conversation. These are signs that there is tremendous value in real life friendships based around physical proximity. The benefits of such relationships extend to the ability to communicate with body language, eye contact, and physical contact. These features are the intrinsic value and meaning most assign to quality friendships and are completely lacking in superficial online friendships that ultimately do little more than a waste of one’s valuable time and energy.

In conclusion, although being online affords the average person a number of conveniences that can enhance a friendship, there is indeed far greater value in connecting with a person in real life. Few would dispute this claim even as many friendships become increasingly situated in online contexts.

Analysis

1. Certain concerned parties today would argue that there is inherently less value in online friendships. 2. In my opinion, despite the unique features possible when making friends online, in-person friendships are more meaningful due to the human element.

  1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
  2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. Supporters of making friendships in the virtual world point out the diverse possibilities for communication. 2. In the past, an individual had little choice other than to make friends within a generally narrow range. 3. Today, the average social media user can contact individuals with more varied interests. 4. For instance, people who are passionate about playing old board games can locate each other on a Facebook group or through an Instagram page and become friends as a result of a shared affinity. 5. Using the internet, these people can stay in contact and sustain a potentially rewarding intellectual friendship.

  1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
  2. Explain your main idea.
  3. Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
  4. Keep developing it fully.
  5. Use specific examples.

1. Nonetheless, it is only possible to have a truly meaningful friendship when meeting face to face. 2. Research has shown that the body produces endorphins that elevate one’s mood through touch and in-person conversation. 3. These are signs that there is tremendous value in real life friendships based around physical proximity. 4. The benefits of such relationships extend to the ability to communicate with body language, eye contact, and physical contact. 5. These features are the intrinsic value and meaning most assign to quality friendships and are completely lacking in superficial online friendships that ultimately do little more than a waste of one’s valuable time and energy.

  1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
  2. Explain your new main idea.
  3. Include specific details and examples.
  4. Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
  5. Finish the paragraph strong.

1. In conclusion, although being online affords the average person a number of conveniences that can enhance a friendship, there is indeed far greater value in connecting with a person in real life. 2. Few would dispute this claim even as many friendships become increasingly situated in online contexts.

  1. Summarise your main ideas.
  2. 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.

Certain concerned parties today would argue that there is inherently less value in online friendships. In my opinion, despite the unique features possible when making friends online, in-person friendships are more meaningful due to the human element.

Supporters of making friendships in the virtual world point out the diverse possibilities for communication. In the past, an individual had little choice other than to make friends within a generally narrow range. Today, the average social media user can contact individuals with more varied interests. For instance, people who are passionate about playing old board games can locate each other on a Facebook group or through an Instagram page and become friends as a result of a shared affinity. Using the internet, these people can stay in contact and sustain a potentially rewarding intellectual friendship.

Nonetheless, it is only possible to have a truly meaningful friendship when meeting face to face. Research has shown that the body produces endorphins that elevate one’s mood through touch and in-person conversation. These are signs that there is tremendous value in real life friendships based around physical proximity. The benefits of such relationships extend to the ability to communicate with body language, eye contact, and physical contact. These features are the intrinsic value and meaning most assign to quality friendships and are completely lacking in superficial online friendships that ultimately do little more than a waste of one’s valuable time and energy.

In conclusion, although being online affords the average person a number of conveniences that can enhance a friendship, there is indeed far greater value in connecting with a person in real life. Few would dispute this claim even as many friendships become increasingly situated in online contexts.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

Certain concerned parties today would argue that some people today contend that

inherently less value in intrinsically not as important as

despite regardless of

unique features possible when new ways of using it allowed as

in-person friendships face to face relationships

meaningful due to the human element valuable because you can meet in person

Supporters of people in favor of

in the virtual world online

point out argue

the diverse possibilities for communication different options for talking

In the past before

little choice other than to not much option besides to

narrow range not many options

average social media user normal person online

contact talk to

varied interests different hobbies

passionate about care a lot about

board games Monopoly, Risk, etc.

locate find

as a result of a shared affinity because of the same interest

stay in contact and sustain a potentially rewarding intellectual friendship talk to each other and possibly keep up a relationship based around ideas and talking

Nonetheless regardless

truly meaningful friendship when meeting face to face actually important relationship as you talk in person

Research has shown that studies indicate that

body produces endorphins makes you feel good and happy

elevate one’s mood through touch and in-person conversation lift your spirits by touching people and talking in person

signs signals, clues

tremendous value real importance

based around physical proximity being near a person in the real world

benefits advantages

extend to include

body language eye contact, moving your hands, touch

eye contact looking in someone’s eyes

physical contact touching

features benefits

intrinsic value real importance

assign to quality friendships consider part of a good relationship

completely lacking in superficial online friendships not present when talking on the internet

ultimately in the end

waste of one’s valuable time and energy inefficient

affords the average person a number of conveniences allows people to live easier

enhance make better

indeed far greater value in connecting with actually more importance in reaching out to

Few would dispute this claim even as not many would argue this point

increasingly situated in online contexts more and more on the internet

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

ˈsɜːtᵊn kənˈsɜːnd ˈpɑːtiz təˈdeɪ wʊd ˈɑːɡjuː ðæt 
ɪnˈhɛrᵊntli lɛs ˈvæljuː ɪn 
dɪsˈpaɪt
juːˈniːk ˈfiːʧəz ˈpɒsəbᵊl wɛn
ɪn-ˈpɜːsᵊn ˈfrɛndʃɪps
ˈmiːnɪŋfʊl djuː tuː ðə ˈhjuːmən ˈɛlɪmənt
səˈpɔːtəz ɒv
ɪn ðə ˈvɜːʧuəl wɜːld
pɔɪnt aʊt
ðə daɪˈvɜːs ˌpɒsəˈbɪlətiz fɔː kəˌmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃᵊn
ɪn ðə pɑːst
ˈlɪtᵊl ʧɔɪs ˈʌðə ðæn tuː
ˈnærəʊ reɪnʤ
ˈævərɪʤ ˈsəʊʃᵊl ˈmiːdiə ˈjuːzə
ˈkɒntækt
ˈveərɪd ˈɪntrɛsts
ˈpæʃᵊnət əˈbaʊt
bɔːd ɡeɪmz
ləʊˈkeɪt
æz ə rɪˈzʌlt ɒv ə ʃeəd əˈfɪnəti
steɪ ɪn ˈkɒntækt ænd səsˈteɪn ə pəˈtɛnʃᵊli rɪˈwɔːdɪŋ ˌɪntᵊlˈɛkʧuəl ˈfrɛndʃɪp
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
ˈtruːli ˈmiːnɪŋfʊl ˈfrɛndʃɪp wɛn ˈmiːtɪŋ feɪs tuː feɪs
rɪˈsɜːʧ hæz ʃəʊn ðæt
ˈbɒdi ˈprɒdjuːsɪz 
ˈɛlɪveɪt wʌnz muːd θruː tʌʧ ænd ɪn-ˈpɜːsᵊn ˌkɒnvəˈseɪʃᵊn
saɪnz
trɪˈmɛndəs ˈvæljuː
beɪst əˈraʊnd ˈfɪzɪkᵊl prɒkˈsɪməti
ˈbɛnɪfɪts
ɪksˈtɛnd tuː
ˈbɒdi ˈlæŋɡwɪʤ
aɪ ˈkɒntækt
ˈfɪzɪkᵊl ˈkɒntækt
ˈfiːʧəz
ɪnˈtrɪnsɪk ˈvæljuː
əˈsaɪn tuː ˈkwɒləti ˈfrɛndʃɪps
kəmˈpliːtli ˈlækɪŋ ɪn ˌsuːpəˈfɪʃᵊl ˈɒnˌlaɪn ˈfrɛndʃɪps
ˈʌltɪmɪtli
weɪst ɒv wʌnz ˈvæljəbᵊl taɪm ænd ˈɛnəʤi
əˈfɔːdz ði ˈævərɪʤ ˈpɜːsᵊn ə ˈnʌmbər ɒv kənˈviːniənsɪz
ɪnˈhɑːns
ɪnˈdiːd fɑː ˈɡreɪtə ˈvæljuː ɪn kəˈnɛktɪŋ wɪð
fjuː wʊd dɪsˈpjuːt ðɪs kleɪm ˈiːvᵊn æz
ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli ˈsɪʧueɪtɪd ɪn ˈɒnˌlaɪn ˈkɒntɛksts

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:

C_________________________________________________________t there is i____________________________n online friendships. In my opinion, d________e the u______________________________n making friends online, i___________________________s are more m______________________________________t.

S_________________f making friendships i______________________________________________________________n. I_____________t, an individual had l__________________________o make friends within a generally n______________e. Today, the a______________________________r can c__________t individuals with more v___________________s. For instance, people who are p_________________t playing old b_______________s can l_________e each other on a Facebook group or through an Instagram page and become friends a__________________________y. Using the internet, these people can s_____________________________________________________________p.

N_____________s, it is only possible to have a t__________________________________________________________e. R__________________________t the b________________________s that e__________________________________________________________n. These are s____s that there is t__________________e in real life friendships b___________________________________y. The b________s of such relationships e__________o the ability to communicate with b_____________e, e_____________t, and p________________t. These f___________s are the i_____________e and meaning most a_________________________s and are c_____________________________________________________s that u________________y do little more than a w___________________________________________________y.

In conclusion, although being online a________________________________________________s that can e___________e a friendship, there is i____________________________________________h a person in real life. F______________________________________________s many friendships become i________________________________________s.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.businessinsider.com/steve-jobs-jony-ive-apple-relationship-friendship-stories-anecdotes-2019-7

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Friends

  1. Do you prefer to have a lot of friends or a small group of friends?
  2. What do you usually do with your friends?
  3. Do you have a best friend?
  4. How do friends in your country stay in touch?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topics below:

Some people believe that family is more important than friends.

To what extent do you agree and disagree?

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