This is an IELTS Writing Task 2 sample answer essay from the real past IELTS test/exam on the topic of social media and face-to-face interaction.
Topics like this come up a lot, just a few weeks ago there was a question on social media and there is another one on spoken communication that I wrote a PDF about (that you can access through my Patreon).
Read below to see how I handled it and remember to keep checking out the recent writing topics here!
Dave
Before reading, do some listening practice by taking notes on vocabulary/ideas with the audio of my essay:
IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Face to Face Interaction (Real Past IELTS Tests/Exams)
The use of social media is replacing face-to-face interaction among many people in society.
Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
Real Past IELTS Test/Exam
Many people today believe that social media has largely supplanted traditional face-to-face interpersonal relationships, leading to worsening communication skills. I fully agree with this point of view though I concede the advantages of social media for entrepreneurs.
Social media has been a boon for anyone interested in starting their own business. In the past, if someone wanted to start a business the avenues were more limited and likely presupposed some inherited capital. Social media, beginning with Facebook and now being brought to fruition with apps like Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, opens up possibilities for content creators to communicate with their audience around the world. This applies to larger than life success stories like Justin Bieber, who went viral and rose from relative obscurity to global stardom, as well as more modest examples like the various Instagram artists and models who interact and generate income and publicity from their loyal fan bases.
Despite the aforementioned advantages, social media has degraded the general quality of communication. Those most affected are young users. In school, children and teenagers must develop their interpersonal skills by telling jokes, engaging in playful banter, and arguing about personal and political topics. Over time, some people distinguish themselves as great storytellers or compelling speakers while others at least improve their communication skills. In contrast, young people today are more likely to communicate by texting and interacting through fleeting comments as they impatiently scroll through their various feeds. They do not get quality feedback on their output and so develop haphazardly, not knowing whether or not their jokes and points ever really connect.
In conclusion, social media has hurt communication, overshadowing all its economic utility. Parents ought to limit phone use for children and themselves in order to fight the rising influence of technology that humanity is not evolved enough to deal with responsibly.
Word count: 298
Analysis
1. Many people today believe that social media has largely supplanted traditional face-to-face interpersonal relationships, leading to worsening communication skills. 2. I fully agree with this point of view though I concede the advantages of social media for entrepreneurs.
- Paraphrase the overall topic for the essay. Show off a bit if you are confident, if not keep it simple and fast!
- State your opinion clearly. I included my main ideas here but you don’t have to.
1. Social media has been a boon for anyone interested in starting their own business. 2. In the past, if someone wanted to start a business the avenues were more limited and likely presupposed some inherited capital. 3. Social media, beginning with Facebook and now being brought to fruition with apps like Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, opens up possibilities for content creators to communicate with their audience around the world. 4. This applies to larger than life success stories like Justin Bieber, who went viral and rose from relative obscurity to global stardom, as well as more modest examples like the various Instagram artists and models who interact and generate income and publicity from their loyal fan bases.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear, single main idea at the end.
- Begin to develop it. I start by comparing now to the past to strengthen my point.
- Here I write specifially about the apps people use and how they can help people start a business.
- I add in some more specific examples and finish developing my main idea fully. This is a really long sentence – only write sentences this long if you can do it clearly and your grammar is really strong.
1. Despite the aforementioned advantages, social media has degraded the general quality of communication. 2. Those most affected are young users. 3. In school, children and teenagers must develop their interpersonal skills by telling jokes, engaging in playful banter, and arguing about personal and political topics. 4. Over time, some people distinguish themselves as great storytellers or compelling speakers while others at least improve their communication skills. 5. In contrast, young people today are more likely to communicate by texting and interacting through fleeting comments as they impatiently scroll through their various feeds. 6. They do not get quality feedback on their output and so develop haphazardly, not knowing whether or not their jokes and points ever really connect.
- A new topic sentence with a new main idea related to communication. Read more about topic sentences here.
- Start to develop and focus your main idea. Use a variety of short and long sentences to give the reader a breath.
- Develop your idea as specifically as possible – avoid being general!
- You can describe the result or how this changes over time as I do here.
- Again, keep it specific – this will help your cohesion and coherence, task achievement and vocabulary scores!
- Finish developing your point – don’t worry about summarising, it’s not important.
1. In conclusion, social media has hurt communication, overshadowing all its economic utility. 2. Parents ought to limit phone use for children and themselves in order to fight the rising influence of technology that humanity is not evolved enough to deal with responsibly.
- Repeat your opinion.
- Add in an extra detail/final thought for full points for task achievement.
Vocabulary
What do the words in below mean?
Many people today believe that social media has largely supplanted traditional face-to-face interpersonal relationships, leading to worsening communication skills. I fully agree with this point of view though I concede the advantages of social media for entrepreneurs.
Social media has been a boon for anyone interested in starting their own business. In the past, if someone wanted to start a business the avenues were more limited and likely presupposed some inherited capital. Social media, beginning with Facebook and now being brought to fruition with apps like Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, opens up possibilities for content creators to communicate with their audience around the world. This applies to larger than life success stories like Justin Bieber, who went viral and rose from relative obscurity to global stardom, as well as more modest examples like the various Instagram artists and models who interact and generate income and publicity from their loyal fan bases.
Despite the aforementioned advantages, social media has degraded the general quality of communication. Those most affected are young users. In school, children and teenagers must develop their interpersonal skills by telling jokes, engaging in playful banter, and arguing about personal and political topics. Over time, some people distinguish themselves as great storytellers or compelling speakers while others at least improve their communication skills. In contrast, young people today are more likely to communicate by texting and interacting through fleeting comments as they impatiently scroll through their various feeds. They do not get quality feedback on their output and so develop haphazardly, not knowing whether or not their jokes and points ever really connect.
In conclusion, social media has hurt communication, overshadowing all its economic utility. Parents ought to limit phone use for children and themselves in order to fight the rising influence of technology that humanity is not evolved enough to deal with responsibly.
Answers
largely mostly
supplanted taken the place of
traditional face-to-face interpersonal relationships talking and interacting normally with people
worsening becoming bad
concede admit
entrepreneurs people who start their own businesses
boon lift
avenues pathways
limited not many ways
presupposed had to have/prerequisite
inherited capital money you get from your parents/relatives
brought to fruition become the finished product
opens up possibilities allows for lots of different methods
content creators people who make videos, music, podcasts, etc.
applies is true for
larger than life success stories famous stories of wildy successful people
viral all over the internet
relative obscurity not widely known
global stardom superstar
modest examples humble stories
generate create/make
publicity attention
loyal fan bases devoted fans
aforementioned just talked about
degraded getting worse
general quality overall level
engaging in playful banter chatting/joking with each other
distinguish set yourself apart
storytellers people who tell stories
compelling speakers moving speakers
at least at the minimum
fleeting comments unimportant interactions
impatiently scroll quickly go through
feeds online updates on Facebook, Instagram
quality feedback constructive criticism
output what you say/write
develop haphazardly mutate/no structured growth
connect resonate with
overshadowing stronger than
economic utility ability to make money
rising influence becoming more important
not evolved enough underdeveloped
deal with responsibly handle maturely
Pronunciation
ˈlɑːʤli
səˈplɑːntɪd
trəˈdɪʃənl feɪs-tuː-feɪs ˌɪntəˈpɜːsən(ə)l rɪˈleɪʃənʃɪps
ˈwɜːsnɪŋ
kənˈsiːd
ˌɒntrəprəˈnɜːz
buːn
ˈævɪnjuːz
ˈlɪmɪtɪd
ˌpriːsəˈpəʊzd
ɪnˈhɛrɪtɪd ˈkæpɪtl
brɔːt tuː fru(ː)ˈɪʃən
ˈəʊpənz ʌp ˌpɒsəˈbɪlɪtiz
ˈkɒntɛnt kri(ː)ˈeɪtəz
əˈplaɪz
ˈlɑːʤə ðæn laɪf səkˈsɛs ˈstɔːriz
ˈvaɪərəl
ˈrɛlətɪv əbˈskjʊərɪti
ˈgləʊbəl ˈstɑːdəm
ˈmɒdɪst ɪgˈzɑːmplz
ˈʤɛnəreɪt
pʌbˈlɪsɪti
ˈlɔɪəl fæn ˈbeɪsiːz
əˌfɔːˈmɛnʃənd
dɪˈgreɪdɪd
ˈʤɛnərəl ˈkwɒlɪti
ɪnˈgeɪʤɪŋ ɪn ˈpleɪfʊl ˈbæntə
dɪsˈtɪŋgwɪʃ
ˈstɔːrɪˌtɛləz
kəmˈpɛlɪŋ ˈspiːkəz
æt liːst
ˈfliːtɪŋ ˈkɒmɛnts
ɪmˈpeɪʃəntli skrəʊl
fiːdz
ˈkwɒlɪti ˈfiːdbæk
ˈaʊtpʊt
dɪˈvɛləp ˈhæpˈhæzədli
kəˈnɛkt
ˌəʊvəˈʃædəʊɪŋ
ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ju(ː)ˈtɪlɪti
ˈraɪzɪŋ ˈɪnflʊəns
nɒt ɪˈvɒlvd ɪˈnʌf
diːl wɪð rɪsˈpɒnsəbli
Listen and repeat:
Vocabulary Practice
Many people today believe that social media has ____________ ____________, leading to ____________ communication skills. I fully agree with this point of view though I ____________ the advantages of social media for ____________.
Social media has been a ____________ for anyone interested in starting their own business. In the past, if someone wanted to start a business the ____________ were more ____________ and likely ____________ some ____________. Social media, beginning with Facebook and now being ____________ with apps like Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, ____________ for ____________ to communicate with their audience around the world. This ____________ to ____________ like Justin Bieber, who went ____________ and rose from ____________ to ____________, as well as more ____________ like the various Instagram artists and models who interact with and ____________ income and ____________ from their ____________.
Despite the ____________ advantages, social media has ____________ the ____________ of communication. Those most affected are young users. In school, children and teenagers must develop their interpersonal skills by telling jokes, ____________, and arguing about personal and political topics. Over time, some people ____________ themselves as great ____________ or ____________ while others ____________ improve their communication skills. In contrast, young people today are more likely to communicate by texting and interacting through ____________ as they ____________ through their various ____________. They do not get ____________ on their ____________ and so ____________, not knowing whether or not their jokes and points ever really ____________.
In conclusion, social media has hurt communication, ____________ all its ____________. Parents ought to limit phone use for children and themselves in order to fight the ____________ of technology that humanity is ____________ to ____________.
Listen and check:
Listening Practice
Listen to the former Facebook executive below on how social media is ripping society apart:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78oMjNCAayQ
Reading Practice
Read about another former Facebook employee and his thoughts on how Facebook exploits human vulnerabilities:
Speaking Practice
These questions are from Speaking Part 3 (from the real speaking exam), try using all the new ideas and vocabulary you just learned to answer them:
Mobile Phones and Smartphones
- What are the advantages of smartphones?
- Should children be allowed to own smartphones?
- Do you thinks have a major or minor impact on mental health?
- Where in your country is it not appropriate to use a phone?
- Do you think smartphone usage may decline in the future?
The use of social media is replacing face-to-face interaction among many people in society.
Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
Nowadays, technology has changed our world in many aspects, such as the way of interacting with people. Many people believe that the use of social media has been improved over the years and the majority of people are using it in their everyday lives. However, it is undeniable that our way of handling communication in the real world has been affected by this transformation. Despite some disadvantages, I strongly believe that social media is beneficial in our society for various reasons.
To start with, it is worth considering that the use of social media brought us to a safer world in terms of communication by not having a face-to-face conversation with strangers. Besides, it allowed the society to have freedom of speech and expression. People now can comment on thoughts and express feelings to a certain issue that can only be seen on social media. Moreover, this kind of method can save time and money as well as letting people have the ability to multitask. A recent study shows that technology nowadays has a positive impact on our mental capacity in terms of interaction with other people unlike the traditional form of communication.
Also, it is quite impossible to deny the fact that social media has opened the gate to keep in touch with our loved ones away from us. Facebook, Skype, and Instagram are examples of social media sites that help us to easily and conveniently connect with people. One example of this is my personal experience considering that more of my family members are working abroad. I can now call or message them whenever I like through social media sites, unlike before that I could only communicate in long distance by using a payphone or writing a letter that could take time before receiving it.
In conclusion, advantages far outweigh the disadvantages of using social media as a form of communication rather than face-to-face interaction. In the coming years, as technology develops, there is no doubt to believe that social media could be more useful in our modern life.
Well written Jessica!
Here is some feedback:
1. Try to write a shorter introduction – maximum 3 sentences!
2. Your second paragraph is a little confused. When you write the main idea – safer – try to develop that one idea with a specific example/ideas. You jump around too much and the last sentence is unnecessary and repetitive.
3. Your third paragraph is better but try to relate it a bit more strongly to the fact that even though people must give up some face to face communication, the fact that they can communicate with people living far away makes up for the loss.
4. Good conclusion but make sure that your last sentence is about communication, not social media in general!
Thanks sir! What would be my score in this? 🙂
Hard to say exactly but you are close to what you need!
THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IS REPLACING FACE-TO-FACE INTERACTION AMONG MANY PEOPLE IN THE SOCIETY. DO YOU THINK THE ADVANTAGE OUTWEIGHS THE DISADVANTAGE?
Greater number of people today have come to the conclusion that social media use is taking the lead over face-to-face interaction, thereby reducing the quality of communication. I do agree that social media is now the thing of the day, no one bothers to see face-to-face to discuss anything, although aside the disadvantage,it is of great advantage to Business Tycoons.
Social media has become the best way for most people to converse,no one wants to have a sit and chat together including Family members, they now have social media handles where they tackle their issues,discuss challenges for example WHATSAPP GROUPS.
What about the Young people who also have been affected seriously especially in area of academics. They get so distracted with the entertainments found on the different social media platform like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp. Most of them would tell you they are reading on Facebook but when you check they are actually watching pictures,playing videos, comedy skits etc, thereby distracting then from study.
While we hold on to the disadvantage,it was found out that theBusiness Tycoons have taken over the social media as their new business platform. They post their different businesses online,market online,and do not need to meet their prospective customers physically for payment or delivery, everything is done online.for example JUMIA,who markets online,makes provision for you to pay and delivers to you,including so many others.
In conclusion, Social media has eaten up the flavour which comes from seeing face-to-face, it has takenaway the sincerity of heart of most individuals and it has turned students especially young people into becoming too lazy to study.
I believe if parents reduce the limit at which their children use phone, it would produce more hardworking students thereby productive country. Also if families make out time to come together having physical contact other than online to discuss their issues, it will increase sincere feeling of love and unity.
Well written!
A few tips:
1. Try to write in 4 paragraphs, around 250-300 words because you will only have 40 minutes on the exam for task 2.
2. You don’t have to capitalise WhatsApp groups.
3. You should focus more on clear, relevant main ideas and support related to those main ideas, like in the structure of my sample answer.
4. Try to focus more on communication, not social media in general. How has communication changed because of social media?
Keep it up!
Thank you Sir, This was actually my first writing. Your response have given me more confidence, knowing I could do better with practice.
Thank you.
Keep doing the good work.
Keep up your hard work as well!
Although the rise of social media has brought forth a host of benefits in people’s lives, it has taken a toll on various aspects including the in-person conversations among them, which has been reduced to minimal verbal expressions. I, therefore, second the given opinion and assume that the negative impacts of the social media outrace the supposed benefits.
Your candid feedback on my introduction would be highly appreciated. Thank you so much.
Great work! Here are some corrections:
Although the rise of social media has brought forth a host of benefits, it has taken a toll on communicative ability, which has become more minimal. I, therefore, second the given opinion and believe that the negative impact of social media oustrips the supposed benefits.
Well written, be careful with making claims that are too strong such as saying that everyone’s responses are reduced to minimal verbal expressions. That is very hard to support and sounds like too strong of a claim.
Is it so-so essay?