This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of private information online from the real IELTS exam.
An interesting and tricky IELTS topic!
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Dave
IELTS Essay: Private Information Online
Many people put their personal information online (address, telephone number, and so on) for purposes such as signing up for social networks or online banking.
Is this a positive or negative development?
The advent of a digital society has led to greater vulnerability in terms of the person information stored online. In my opinion, these associated dangers are significant but do not outweigh the benefits of a more convenient user experience.
Concerned policymakers often argue that sensitive information registered online fosters widespread fraud. The majority of individuals store some degree of information online whether it is as simple as their address and phone number or more important data such as social security numbers or banking details. Naturally, this information can be stolen. The variety of methods used to steal information, including phishing emails and actual hacking of websites, pose challenges for law enforcement and can lead to crimes such as identity theft. These novel vulnerabilities that all consumers must become aware of are likely to remain a permanent fixture of online life.
Nonetheless, the above instances are rare and storing information online allows for greater ease of access. The best evidence for this is that the vast majority of individuals have decided to store personal information online despite growing cognizance of the risks. For example, it is an afterthought to log in to a website, accept the cookies and store a username, and password. The next time the user logs in, the process only takes seconds and this small savings in terms of effort and time is justifiably meaningful in the aggregate. Moreover, in the case of online market trading platforms and banking websites, consumers are willing to divulge more confidential information to enjoy the conveniences of conducting transactions faster.
In conclusion, the tradeoffs associated with storing important data online do not make it a negative on the whole. Consumers, corporations, and governments must take steps to ensure safety, while being mindful that saving time and effort are two of the more fundamental human priorities.
Analysis
1. The advent of a digital society has led to greater vulnerability in terms of the person information stored online. 2. In my opinion, these associated dangers are significant but do not outweigh the benefits of a more convenient user experience.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Concerned policymakers often argue that sensitive information registered online fosters widespread fraud. 2. The majority of individuals store some degree of information online whether it is as simple as their address and phone number or more important data such as social security numbers or banking details. 3. Naturally, this information can be stolen. 4. The variety of methods used to steal information, including phishing emails and actual hacking of websites, pose challenges for law enforcement and can lead to crimes such as identity theft. 5. These novel vulnerabilities that all consumers must become aware of are likely to remain a permanent fixture of online life.
- 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.
- State the result.
1. Nonetheless, the above instances are rare and storing information online allows for greater ease of access. 2. The best evidence for this is that the vast majority of individuals have decided to store personal information online despite growing cognizance of the risks. 3. For example, it is an afterthought to log in to a website, accept the cookies and store a username, and password. 4. The next time the user logs in, the process only takes seconds and this small savings in terms of effort and time is justifiably meaningful in the aggregate. 5. Moreover, in the case of online market trading platforms and banking websites, consumers are willing to divulge more confidential information to enjoy the conveniences of conducting transactions faster.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- The more specific, the better.
- Add on any extra detail that you can that is related for a better task achievement score.
1. In conclusion, the tradeoffs associated with storing important data online do not make it a negative on the whole. 2. Consumers, corporations, and governments must take steps to ensure safety, while being mindful that saving time and effort are two of the more fundamental human priorities.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
The advent of a digital society has led to greater vulnerability in terms of the person information stored online. In my opinion, these associated dangers are significant but do not outweigh the benefits of a more convenient user experience.
Concerned policymakers often argue that sensitive information registered online fosters widespread fraud. The majority of individuals store some degree of information online whether it is as simple as their address and phone number or more important data such as social security numbers or banking details. Naturally, this information can be stolen. The variety of methods used to steal information, including phishing emails and actual hacking of websites, pose challenges for law enforcement and can lead to crimes such as identity theft. These novel vulnerabilities that all consumers must become aware of are likely to remain a permanent fixture of online life.
Nonetheless, the above instances are rare and storing information online allows for greater ease of access. The best evidence for this is that the vast majority of individuals have decided to store personal information online despite growing cognizance of the risks. For example, it is an afterthought to log in to a website, accept the cookies and store a username, and password. The next time the user logs in, the process only takes seconds and this small savings in terms of effort and time is justifiably meaningful in the aggregate. Moreover, in the case of online market trading platforms and banking websites, consumers are willing to divulge more confidential information to enjoy the conveniences of conducting transactions faster.
In conclusion, the tradeoffs associated with storing important data online do not make it a negative on the whole. Consumers, corporations, and governments must take steps to ensure safety, while being mindful that saving time and effort are two of the more fundamental human priorities.
Answers
advent beginning
digital society people increasingly online
greater vulnerability more risk
in terms of regarding
person information stored online data about yourself on websites
associated dangers related risks
significant massive
outweigh stronger than
convenient user experience easy for users
concerned policymakers worried officials
sensitive information registered person information on websites
fosters widespread fraud creates a lot of online crime
majority most of
some degree of some level of
data information
social security numbers ID numbers
banking details data about your banking information
naturally of course
stolen taken
variety of methods many ways
phishing emails emails designed for fraud
hacking breaking into a website
pose challenges have risks
law enforcement police
identity theft stealing information about you
novel vulnerabilities new threats
become aware of now know about
remain still
permanent fixture unchanging part
online life the online world
nonetheless regardless
rare not common
greater ease of access easier to use
vast majority of most of
despite growing cognizance of regardless of more awareness of
afterthought not considered much
accept the cookies allow websites to track you
process logging in
small savings little advantage
justifiably meaningful in the aggregate really means something all added together
online market trading platforms banks, stock brokerages online
willing will do it
divulge give over information
confidential secret
conducting transactions making purchases, etc.
tradeoffs downsides
associated with related to
on the whole overall
take steps begin to
ensure safety make sure it is secure
being mindful being aware of
two of the more fundamental human priorities basic to human nature
Pronunciation
ˈædvənt
ˈdɪʤɪtl səˈsaɪəti
ˈgreɪtə ˌvʌlnərəˈbɪlɪti
ɪn tɜːmz ɒv
ˈpɜːsn ˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃən stɔːd ˈɒnˌlaɪn
əˈsəʊʃɪeɪtɪd ˈdeɪnʤəz
sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt
aʊtˈweɪ
kənˈviːniənt ˈjuːzər ɪksˈpɪərɪəns
kənˈsɜːnd ˈpɒlɪsi ˈmeɪkəz
ˈsɛnsɪtɪv ˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃən ˈrɛʤɪstəd
ˈfɒstəz ˈwaɪdsprɛd frɔːd
məˈʤɒrɪti
sʌm dɪˈgriː ɒv
ˈdeɪtə
ˈsəʊʃəl sɪˈkjʊərɪti ˈnʌmbəz
ˈbæŋkɪŋ ˈdiːteɪlz
ˈnæʧrəli
ˈstəʊlən
vəˈraɪəti ɒv ˈmɛθədz
phishing ˈiːmeɪlz
ˈhækɪŋ
pəʊz ˈʧælɪnʤɪz
lɔː ɪnˈfɔːsmənt
aɪˈdɛntɪti θɛft
ˈnɒvəl ˌvʌlnərəˈbɪlɪtiz
bɪˈkʌm əˈweər ɒv
rɪˈmeɪn
ˈpɜːmənənt ˈfɪkstʧə
ˈɒnˌlaɪn laɪf
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
reə
ˈgreɪtər iːz ɒv ˈæksɛs
vɑːst məˈʤɒrɪti ɒv
dɪsˈpaɪt ˈgrəʊɪŋ ˈkɒgnɪzəns ɒv
ˈɑːftəθɔːt
əkˈsɛpt ðə ˈkʊkiz
ˈprəʊsɛs
smɔːl ˈseɪvɪŋz
ˈʤʌstɪfaɪəbli ˈmiːnɪŋfʊl ɪn ði ˈægrɪgɪt
ˈɒnˌlaɪn ˈmɑːkɪt ˈtreɪdɪŋ ˈplætfɔːmz
ˈwɪlɪŋ
daɪˈvʌlʤ
ˌkɒnfɪˈdɛnʃəl
kənˈdʌktɪŋ trænˈzækʃənz
treɪd ɒf
əˈsəʊʃɪeɪtɪd wɪð
ɒn ðə həʊl
teɪk stɛps
ɪnˈʃʊə ˈseɪfti
ˈbiːɪŋ ˈmaɪndfʊl
tuː ɒv ðə mɔː ˌfʌndəˈmɛntl ˈhjuːmən praɪˈɒrɪtiz
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:
The a___________t of a d_____________________y has led to g________________________y i____________________f the p____________________________e. In my opinion, these a__________________s are s________________t but do not o_____________h the benefits of a more c_________________________________e.
C_________________________s often argue that s____________________________________d online f________________________d. The m______________y of individuals store s__________________f information online whether it is as simple as their address and phone number or more important d_____a such as s_________________________s or b__________________s. N_______________y, this information can be s____________n. The v_______________________s used to steal information, including p_________________s and actual h____________g of websites, p_____________________s for l___________________t and can lead to crimes such as i_________________t. These n__________________________s that all consumers must b________________________f are likely to r___________n a p______________________e of o______________e.
N____________________s, the above instances are r____e and storing information online allows for g__________________________s. The best evidence for this is that the v___________________f individuals have decided to store personal information online d_________________________f the risks. For example, it is an a_________________t to log in to a website, a_____________________s and store a username, and password. The next time the user logs in, the p__________s only takes seconds and this s______________s in terms of effort and time is j__________________________________________e. Moreover, in the case of o______________________________s and banking websites, consumers are w__________g to d_________e more c_______________l information to enjoy the conveniences of c_______________________s faster.
In conclusion, the t___________s a__________________h storing important data online do not make it a negative o_____________e. Consumers, corporations, and governments must t___________s to e_____________y, while b________________l that saving time and effort are t______________________________________________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/tag/identity-theft/
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Emails
- Do you communicate via emails?
- Do you prefer getting texts or emails?
- Have you ever received an email that made you happy?
- Is email popular in your country?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related topic below and then check with my sample answer:
In many workplaces, online communication is now more common than face-to-face meetings.
Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?
Hi Dave, I have a question regarding one main idea per paragraph. For example, in the third paragraph you have mentioned this:
“Moreover, in the case of online market trading platforms and banking websites, consumers are willing to divulge more confidential information to enjoy the conveniences of conducting transactions faster.”
Add on any extra detail that you can that is related for a better task achievement score.
You mentioned in one of your blogs where – not to write additional idea towards the end of the paragraph because it may not be well-developed and it can affect the coherence and cohesion so, I don’t understand why there was an extra detail in this paragraph? Like, do we have to bring in more ideas for better task achievement because it seems contradicting on what you are writing.
Hey, I’m just looking at the first paragraph, is ‘person information’ a collocation?