This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of technological devices from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Technological Devices

Many people think technological devices such as smart phones, tablets and mobile phones bring more disadvantages than advantages.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

The availability of new technologies to the average citizen in the form of consumer electronics brings with it both advantages and disadvantages. In my opinion, though these devices are convenient, their use is a negative overall given the impact on mental health.

Proponents of phones and tablets can point to the all but limitless functionality they provide. It is possible, just by owning a small, affordable device that fits in your pocket, to instantly capture video, take photos, send emails, check social media, make phone calls, watch movies, listen to music, play games and use a wide variety of productivity applications. There is no arguing with the near miraculous achievements found in smartphones and tablets. Used properly, these save time and widen the possible outlets for self-expression and creativity. An amateur film-maker, for example, can shoot and edit digital video directly on their phone, add in sound effects and post it easily to a website like YouTube.

Nonetheless, the potential of phones is hindered by their corrosive effect. It is almost impossible to use a phone as a tool to enhance creativity and productivity because it is also home to applications designed to prey on the weaknesses of the human psyche. Companies like Facebook tap into a natural human desire for affirmation and trigger addictive dopamine bursts as rewards for posting selfies. Those not addicted to social media, may find themselves wasting hours playing videogames, receiving roughly the same chemical incentive. Over time, users become dependent on unhealthy habits that humans have not had time to evolve counters for and the ostensible convenience of these handheld devices becomes an excuse, rather than a reason, to own one.

In conclusion, phones and tablets open up new possibilities but their abuse has led to a generation of dependent users. It is up to individuals, not organisation and governments, to limit their screen time to preserve their mental well-being.

Analysis

1. The availability of new technologies to the average citizen in the form of consumer electronics brings with it both advantages and disadvantages. 2. In my opinion, though these devices are convenient, their use is a negative overall given the impact on mental health.

  1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
  2. Write a clear opinion and include your main ideas if possible. Read more about introductions here.

1. Proponents of phones and tablets can point to the all but limitless functionality they provide. 2. It is possible, just by owning a small, affordable device that fits in your pocket, to instantly capture video, take photos, send emails, check social media, make phone calls, watch movies, listen to music, play games and use a wide variety of productivity applications. 3. There is no arguing with the near miraculous achievements found in smartphones and tablets. 4. Used properly, these save time and widen the possible outlets for self-expression and creativity. 5. An amateur film-maker, for example, can shoot and edit digital video directly on their phone, add in sound effects and post it easily to a website like YouTube.

  1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
  2. Use specific details to support your main idea.
  3. Vary long and short sentences.
  4. State the results to keep developing.
  5. Write a specific example for further support.

1. Nonetheless, the potential of phones is hindered by their corrosive effect. 2. It is almost impossible to use a phone as a tool to enhance creativity and productivity because it is also home to applications designed to prey on the weaknesses of the human psyche. 3. Companies like Facebook tap into a natural human desire for affirmation and trigger addictive dopamine bursts as rewards for posting selfies. 4. Those not addicted to social media, may find themselves wasting hours playing videogames, receiving roughly the same chemical incentive. 5. Over time, users become dependent on unhealthy habits that humans have not had time to evolve counters for and the ostensible convenience of these handheld devices becomes an excuse, rather than a reason, to own one.

  1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea.
  2. Explain your main idea.
  3. Develop it with specific examples.
  4. Continue developing it by considering all the effects.
  5. Conclude with a strong statement.

1. In conclusion, phones and tablets open up new possibilities but their abuse has led to a generation of dependent users. 2. It is up to individuals, not organisation and governments, to limit their screen time to preserve their mental well-being.

  1. Summarise your main ideas and repeat your opinion.
  2. Add in a final thought/detail. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean?

The availability of new technologies to the average citizen in the form of consumer electronics brings with it both advantages and disadvantages. In my opinion, though these devices are convenient, their use is a negative overall given the impact on mental health.

Proponents of phones and tablets can point to the all but limitless functionality they provide. It is possible, just by owning a small, affordable device that fits in your pocket, to instantly capture video, take photos, send emails, check social media, make phone calls, watch movies, listen to music, play games and use a wide variety of productivity applications. There is no arguing with the near miraculous achievements found in smartphones and tablets. Used properly, these save time and widen the possible outlets for self-expression and creativity. An amateur film-maker, for example, can shoot and edit digital video directly on their phone, add in sound effects and post it easily to a website like YouTube.

Nonetheless, the potential of phones is hindered by their corrosive effect. It is almost impossible to use a phone as a tool to enhance creativity and productivity because it is also home to applications designed to prey on the weaknesses of the human psyche. Companies like Facebook tap into a natural human desire for affirmation and trigger addictive dopamine bursts as rewards for posting selfies. Those not addicted to social media, may find themselves wasting hours playing videogames, receiving roughly the same chemical incentive. Over time, users become dependent on unhealthy habits that humans have not had time to evolve counters for and the ostensible convenience of these handheld devices becomes an excuse, rather than a reason, to own one.

In conclusion, phones and tablets open up new possibilities but their abuse has led to a generation of dependent users. It is up to individuals, not organisation and governments, to limit their screen time to preserve their mental well-being.

Answers

availability can be used now

new technologies more advanced tech

average citizen normal person

in the form of manifested in

consumer electronics phones, tablets, etc.

brings with it also includes

convenient easy to use, helpful

negative overall given not good on the whole because

mental health psychological state

proponents supporters

point to argue

all but almost

limitless functionality unlimited uses

affordable cheap

fits in your pocket can be put in your pocket, can be carried

instantly capture video right away shoots videos

wide variety of productivity applications many types of programs for saving time

there is no arguing with it is indisputable

near miraculous achievements almost impossible successes

found in on

used properly not abused

save time more efficient

widen the possible outlets increase the avenues for

self-expression expressing yourself

creativity art

amateur film-maker not professional movie maker

edit digital video directly work on videos right after shooting on their phones

add in sound effects put in sounds

post it share it online

hindered by slowed by

corrosive effect impact that hurts

enhance creativity make one more creative

home to has

designed to prey on made to take advantage of

weaknesses drawbacks

human psyche psychology

tap into exploit

natural human desire part of human nature

affirmation reassurance

trigger addictive dopamine bursts make you feel happy

posting selfies putting up pictures you took of yourself

addicted can’t stop using

wasting hours not using time well

receiving roughly getting abotu the same

chemical incentive bursts of happiness

dependent rely on

unhealthy habits not good for you

evolve counters for find ways to defend oneself from

ostensible convenience seemingly good for you

handheld devices phones, tablets

excuse a reason for doing something

rather than a reason instead of a real cause

open up new possibilities allows for new opportunities

abuse not use properly

generation group of people born around now

up to responsible for

limit restrict

screen time time spent on computers, phones

preserve maintain

mental well-being mental health

Pronunciation

əˌveɪləˈbɪlɪti 
njuː tɛkˈnɒləʤiz 
ˈævərɪʤ ˈsɪtɪzn 
ɪn ðə fɔːm ɒv 
kənˈsjuːmər ɪlɛkˈtrɒnɪks 
brɪŋz wɪð ɪt 
kənˈviːniənt
ˈnɛgətɪv ˈəʊvərɔːl ˈgɪvn 
ˈmɛntl hɛlθ
prəˈpəʊnənts 
pɔɪnt tuː 
ɔːl bʌt 
ˈlɪmɪtlɪs ˌfʌŋkʃəˈnælɪti 
əˈfɔːdəbl 
fɪts ɪn jɔː ˈpɒkɪt
ˈɪnstəntli ˈkæpʧə ˈvɪdɪəʊ
waɪd vəˈraɪəti ɒv ˌprɒdʌkˈtɪvɪti ˌæplɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)nz
ðeər ɪz nəʊ ˈɑːgjuːɪŋ wɪð 
nɪə mɪˈrækjʊləs əˈʧiːvmənts 
faʊnd ɪn 
juːzd ˈprɒpəli
seɪv taɪm 
ˈwaɪdn ðə ˈpɒsəbl ˈaʊtlɛts 
sɛlf-ɪksˈprɛʃən 
ˌkriːeɪˈtɪvɪti
ˈæmətə(ː) fɪlm-ˈmeɪkə
ˈɛdɪt ˈdɪʤɪtl ˈvɪdɪəʊ dɪˈrɛktli 
æd ɪn saʊnd ɪˈfɛkts 
pəʊst ɪt 
ˈhɪndəd baɪ 
kəˈrəʊsɪv ɪˈfɛkt
ɪnˈhɑːns ˌkriːeɪˈtɪvɪti 
həʊm tuː 
dɪˈzaɪnd tuː preɪ ɒn 
ˈwiːknɪsɪz 
ˈhjuːmən ˈsaɪki(ː)
tæp ˈɪntuː 
ˈnæʧrəl ˈhjuːmən dɪˈzaɪə 
ˌæfɜːˈmeɪʃ(ə)n 
ˈtrɪgər əˈdɪktɪv ˈdəʊpəmiːn bɜːsts 
ˈpəʊstɪŋ ˈsɛlfiz
əˈdɪktɪd 
ˈweɪstɪŋ ˈaʊəz 
rɪˈsiːvɪŋ ˈrʌfli 
ˈkɛmɪkəl ɪnˈsɛntɪv
dɪˈpɛndənt 
ʌnˈhɛlθi ˈhæbɪts 
ɪˈvɒlv ˈkaʊntəz fɔː 
ɒsˈtɛnsəbl kənˈviːniəns 
ˌhændˈhɛld dɪˈvaɪsɪz 
ɪksˈkjuːs
ˈrɑːðə ðæn ə ˈriːzn
ˈəʊpən ʌp njuː ˌpɒsəˈbɪlɪtiz 
əˈbjuːs 
ˌʤɛnəˈreɪʃən 
ʌp tuː 
ˈlɪmɪt 
skriːn taɪm 
prɪˈzɜːv 
ˈmɛntl wɛl-ˈbiːɪŋ

Listening Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

The a_____________y of n_____________________s to the a_____________n i_________________f c_____________________s b______________t both advantages and disadvantages. In my opinion, though these devices are c_____________t, their use is a n________________l g_______n the impact on m______________h.

P_____________s of phones and tablets can p_________o the a_______t l______________________y they provide. It is possible, just by owning a small, a____________e device that f__________________t, to i_____________________o, take photos, send emails, check social media, make phone calls, watch movies, listen to music, play games and use a w______________________________________s. T_____________________h the n________________________________s f____________n smartphones and tablets. U________________y, these s____________e and w_____________________s for s______________________n and c___________y. An a____________________r, for example, can shoot and e____________________y on their phone, a______________________s and p_________t easily to a website like YouTube.

Nonetheless, the potential of phones is h____________y their c___________________t. It is almost impossible to use a phone as a tool to e_____________________y and productivity because it is also h__________o applications d__________________________n the w_____________s of the h___________________e. Companies like Facebook t_________o a n_______________________e for a______________n and t_______________________________s as rewards for p_____________s. Those not a____________d to social media, may find themselves w_________________s playing videogames, r____________________y the same c___________________e. Over time, users become d_______________t on u__________________s that humans have not had time to e__________________r and the o_______________________e of these h__________________s becomes an e__________e, r____________________n, to own one.

In conclusion, phones and tablets o_______________________s but their a________e has led to a g______________n of dependent users. It is u____o individuals, not organisation and governments, to l_________t their s__________e to p__________e their m________________g.

Listening Practice

Listen below about the effects of social media on your brain:

Reading Practice

Read below about the effects of mobile phones on teenagers:

https://www.momjunction.com/articles/side-effects-of-mobile-phones-on-teenagers_00352682/

Speaking Practice

Answer the following questions from the real speaking exam:

Time Management

  1. How can people manage their time better now compared to the past?
  2. What are the differences in what people do with their time now?
  3. How has technology helped people to save time?
  4. What are the qualities of a person with good time management?
  5. Will people have more free time in the future?

Writing Practice

Write about the following topic then check with my sample answer:

Some people believe that smartphones are destroying social interaction today.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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