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This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay from IELTS Cambridge 15 on the topic of printed newspapers/books and reading online.
It’s an interesting question and was a lot of fun to write about!
Here are some other recent questions from IELTS Cambridge 15:
Writing Task 1 Tests 1-4:
Writing Task 2 Tests 1-4
IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay Cambridge 15: Owning or Renting a Home (IELTS Cambridge 15)
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Dave
Before reading, listen to the audio and take notes:
IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay IELTS Cambridge 15: Printed Newspapers and Reading Online
In the future, nobody will buy printed newspapers or books because they will be able to read everything they want online without paying.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Cambridge IELTS 15
The popularity of physical newspapers and books is in steep decline, nearing irrelevance. In my opinion, although select segments of the population still value books, the move towards free online media is inevitable.
The argument against this is that certain individuals continue to pay for print versions. These tend to be older people and only applies to the most well-known books and newspapers. For example, The New York Times still generates sizeable revenue from subscriptions and is one of the only magazines in the United States currently publishing a daily, physical edition. Moreover, hard copies of books are still popular. The vast majority of middle-aged and older people relish the texture and character of actual books and lack the technological know-how to download E-Books. Even many younger people prefer reading paperbacks and hardcovers to reduce eye strain.
Nonetheless, someday nearly everyone will read solely online. The clearest evidence for this can be seen in the number of publishers resigned to discontinue printing such as The Boston Globe, The Atlantic, and The Independent. Those still in print have seen circulation drop precipitously as individuals access the same news for free, more conveniently on their mobile devices. This same trend is occurring slowly with E-Books due to the rise of Amazon’s online platforms. Companies charging for online subscriptions have found their readership is trending towards obsolescence as competitors are willing to post free content and earn profits through targeted advertising. These are entrenched habits for young people and it is only a matter of time until print media disappears entirely.
In conclusion, a rapid decline in publishing cannot be halted as reading habits have changed irrevocably. This means websites will have to become as reliable and responsible as newspapers.
Analysis
1. The popularity of physical newspapers and books is in steep decline, nearing irrelevance. 2. In my opinion, although select segments of the population still value books, the move towards free online media is inevitable.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- State a clear opinion and try to include at least one of your main ideas.
1. The argument against this is that certain individuals continue to pay for print versions. 2. These tend to be older people and only applies to the most well-known books and newspapers. 3. For example, The New York Times still generates sizeable revenue from subscriptions and is one of the only magazines in the United States currently publishing a daily, physical edition. 4. Moreover, hard copies of books are still popular. 5. The vast majority of middle-aged and older people relish the texture and character of actual books and lack the technological know-how to download E-Books. 6. Even many younger people prefer reading paperbacks and hardcovers to reduce eye strain.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Give an example.
- Switch over to write about books too.
- Develop that idea specifically.
- Finish developing your main idea.
1. Nonetheless, someday nearly everyone will read solely online. 2. The clearest evidence for this can be seen in the number of publishers resigned to discontinue printing such as The Boston Globe, The Atlantic, and The Independent. 3. Those still in print have seen circulation drop precipitously as individuals access the same news for free, more conveniently on their mobile devices. 4. This same trend is occurring slowly with E-Books due to the rise of Amazon’s online platforms. 5. Companies charging for online subscriptions have found their readership is trending towards obsolescence as competitors are willing to post free content and earn profits through targeted advertising. 6. These are entrenched habits for young people and it is only a matter of time until print media disappears entirely.
- Write another topic sentence with another clear main idea at the end.
- Start your example right away if possible.
- Develop your example by stating the results.
- Be sure to discuss books as well.
- Continue developing your ideas.
- Conclude the paragraph with a strong statement and relate it to the overall essay topic.
1. In conclusion, a rapid decline in publishing cannot be halted as reading habits have changed irrevocably. 2. This means websites will have to become as reliable and responsible as newspapers.
- Summarise and repeat your opinion.
- Finish summarising and include a final thought.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
The popularity of physical newspapers and books is in steep decline, nearing irrelevance. In my opinion, although select segments of the population still value books, the move towards free online media is inevitable.
The argument against this is that certain individuals continue to pay for print versions. These tend to be older people and only applies to the most well-known books and newspapers. For example, The New York Times still generates sizeable revenue from subscriptions and is one of the only magazines in the United States currently publishing a daily, physical edition. Moreover, hard copies of books are still popular. The vast majority of middle-aged and older people relish the texture and character of actual books and lack the technological know-how to download E-Books. Even many younger people prefer reading paperbacks and hardcovers to reduce eye strain.
Nonetheless, someday nearly everyone will read solely online. The clearest evidence for this can be seen in the number of publishers resigned to discontinue printing such as The Boston Globe, The Atlantic, and The Independent. Those still in print have seen circulation drop precipitously as individuals access the same news for free, more conveniently on their mobile devices. This same trend is occurring slowly with E-Books due to the rise of Amazon’s online platforms. Companies charging for online subscriptions have found their readership is trending towards obsolescence as competitors are willing to post free content and earn profits through targeted advertising. These are entrenched habits for young people and it is only a matter of time until print media disappears entirely.
In conclusion, a rapid decline in publishing cannot be halted as reading habits have changed irrevocably. This means websites will have to become as reliable and responsible as newspapers.
Answers
physical newspapers actually printed papers
steep decline decreasing quickly
irrelevance not important anymore
select segments certain parts of
value importance
move movement/development
free online media websites, blogs
inevitable can’t be stopped
certain individuals some people
tend to be are usually
only applies just relates to
most well-known famous
generates sizeable revenue makes a lot of money
subscriptions signing up to receive regularly
currently publishing now releasing
edition copy of a book/magazine
hard copies physical book
vast majority most of
middle-aged 40s or 50s
relish really enjoy
texture how it feels
actual books real, physical books
lack not having
technological know-how ability to use tech
download E-Books purchase and keep online books
paperbacks soft cover, physical books
hardcovers hard, large cover books
reduce eye strain not hurt your eyes so much
read solely online only read online
clearest evidence best instance
resigned accepted
discontinue printing stop publishing
still in print continuing to publish
circulation drop precipitously sales falling a lot
mobile devices smartphones, tablets
trend pattern
occurring happening
rise increase
Amazon’s online platforms Kindle, Audible, etc.
charging paying for
readership people who read
trending towards obsolescence starting to disappear
competitors other publishers
post free content put up articles for no charge
earn profits make money
targeted advertising ads at specific people/groups
entrenched habits can’t change habits
only a matter of time until will eventually happen
entirely completely
rapid decline quickly decrease
halted stopped
reading habits how people read
irrevocably can’t be reversed
reliable can be trusted
Pronunciation
Listen and repeat:
ˈfɪzɪkəl ˈnjuːzˌpeɪpəz
stiːp dɪˈklaɪn
ɪˈrɛlɪvəns
sɪˈlɛkt ˈsɛgmənts
ˈvæljuː
muːv
friː ˈɒnˌlaɪn ˈmiːdiə
ɪnˈɛvɪtəbl
ˈsɜːtn ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəlz
tɛnd tuː biː
ˈəʊnli əˈplaɪz tuː
məʊst wɛl-nəʊn
ˈʤɛnəreɪts ˈsaɪzəbl ˈrɛvɪnjuː
səbˈskrɪpʃənz
ˈkʌrəntli ˈpʌblɪʃɪŋ
ɪˈdɪʃən
hɑːd ˈkɒpiz
vɑːst məˈʤɒrɪti
ˈmɪdlˈeɪʤd
ˈrɛlɪʃ
ˈtɛksʧə
ˈækʧʊəl bʊks
læk
ˌtɛknəˈlɒʤɪk(ə)l ˈnəʊhaʊ
ˌdaʊnˈləʊd ˈiːbʊks
ˈpeɪpəbæks
ˈhɑːdˌkʌvəz
rɪˈdjuːs aɪ streɪn
riːd ˈsəʊlli ˈɒnˌlaɪn
ˈklɪərɪst ˈɛvɪdəns
rɪˈzaɪnd
ˌdɪskənˈtɪnju(ː) ˈprɪntɪŋ
stɪl ɪn prɪnt
ˌsɜːkjʊˈleɪʃən drɒp prɪˈsɪpɪtəsli
ˈməʊbaɪl dɪˈvaɪsɪz
trɛnd
əˈkɜːrɪŋ
raɪz
ˈæməzənz ˈɒnˌlaɪn ˈplætfɔːmz.
ˈʧɑːʤɪŋ
ˈriːdəʃɪp
ˈtrɛndɪŋ təˈwɔːdz ˌɒbsəˈlɛs(ə)ns
kəmˈpɛtɪtəz
pəʊst friː ˈkɒntɛnt
ɜːn ˈprɒfɪts
ˈtɑːgɪtɪd ˈædvətaɪzɪŋ
ɪnˈtrɛnʧt ˈhæbɪts
ˈəʊnli ə ˈmætər ɒv taɪm ənˈtɪl
ɪnˈtaɪəli.
ˈræpɪd dɪˈklaɪn
ˈhɔːltɪd
ˈriːdɪŋ ˈhæbɪts
ɪˈrɛvəkəbli.
rɪˈlaɪəbl
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
The popularity of p__________________________s and books is in s__________________e, nearing i_________________e. In my opinion, although s_______________________s of the population still v__________e books, the m________e towards f________________________a is i________________e.
The argument against this is that c________________________s continue to pay for print versions. These t_______________e older people and o_______________s to the m_______________________n books and newspapers. For example, The New York Times still g__________________________e from s____________________s and is one of the only magazines in the United States c____________________________g a daily, physical e____________n. Moreover, h________________s of books are still popular. The v________________y of m_______________d and older people r___________h the t__________e and character of a_______________s and l_______k the t_________________________w to d________________________s. Even many younger people prefer reading p_______________________s and h_______________s to r____________________n.
Nonetheless, someday nearly everyone will r___________________e. The c________________________e for this can be seen in the number of publishers r_______________d to d___________________g such as The Boston Globe, The Atlantic, and The Independent. Those s_________________t have seen c_________________________________y as individuals access the same news for free, more conveniently on their m___________________s. This same t_________d is o_______________g slowly with E-Books due to the r______e of A__________________________s. Companies c______________g for online subscriptions have found their r________________p is t______________________________e as c__________________s are willing to p___________________________t and e___________________s through t_________________________g. These are e______________________s for young people and it is o____________________________l print media disappears e________________y.
In conclusion, a r_______________e in publishing cannot be h___________d as r____________________s have changed i___________________y. This means websites will have to become as r_______________e and responsible as newspapers.
Listen and check:
Listening Practice
Listen about the future of print publishing below:
Reading Practice
You can see all the data about the decline in newspapers here:
Speaking Practice
Answer the following questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Books
Do you like reading books?
What kind of books do you like most?
What sort of books did you read as a child?
Is it important to read?
Real Past IELTS Exam
Writing Practice
Write about the following related topic and then check with my sample answer:
Some people think that newspapers are the best way to learn news. However, others believe that they can learn news better through other media.
Discuss both views and give your opinion
Real Past IELTS Exam
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Hi Dave, I am Liam, a 17 years old boy that is about to take IELTS academic exam next month. Therefore, I would appreciate a lot if you could tell me my essay is 6.5+. I don’t really need an exact band score, just need it to be over 6.5 so that I can apply for university. Nowadays, people have many ways to read for information. Some people believe that in the future, no one will purchase magazines and other printed papers due to the availability of the Internet. In my opinion, I agree with this idea. Firstly, reducing newspapers… Read more »
Hi Liam, best of luck first of all!
Your claims are too strong – don’t say that anything will happen – only God knows that!
You’re not quite at the band 6.5 level yet but if you work on your ideas then I think your language ability is not far off.