This is an IELTS Writing Task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of technology from a real past IELTS exam/test.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Technology (Real Past Exam/Test)

Some believe technology has made our lives too complex and the solution is to lead a simpler life without technology.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Real Past IELTS Tests

Many are of the opinion that technology has done more harm than good and we ought to simplify in order to lead more fulfilling lives. I agree that technology has its drawbacks but I think turning away from technology is impractical.

The main reason that technology has complicated life for people today is that it has made people perpetually available. In the past, a worker might work a 9 to 5 then come home to spend time with their family, have dinner and enjoy their private life. That simplicity is largely no longer the case. Once work ends, you can still get email notifications and phone calls from managers or co-workers. The end result is that you can never be fully present in the moment because work always threatens to pull you back.

Although life has become more complicated and this is a negative development, shutting yourself off from technology would only serve to isolate people from the world. If you want to stay in touch with friends and know about events in your area, it is essential to have a phone. You can use Facebook Messenger to cheaply chat with individuals or make group plans. Email is an indispensable element of nearly every job. Without it, you are filtering out quality jobs and predetermining manual work as your vocation.

In conclusion, although technology has hurt people, turning away from it is not feasible today without making drastic sacrifices. Instead, people ought to seek ways to compartmentalise technology in order to live happier, more satisfying lives.

Analysis

1. Many are of the opinion that technology has done more harm than good and we ought to simplify in order to lead more fulfilling lives. 2. I agree that technology has its drawbacks but I think turning away from technology is impractical.

1. Paraphrase the overall topic for the essay.
2. Include your opinion – choose a side!

1. The main reason that technology has complicated life for people today is that it has made people perpetually available. 2. In the past, a worker might work a 9 to 5 then come home to spend time with their family, have dinner and enjoy their private life. 3. That simplicity is largely no longer the case. 4. Once work ends, you can still get email notifications and phone calls from managers or co-workers. 5. The end result is that you can never be fully present in the moment because work always threatens to pull you back.

1. Write a topic sentence with a main idea at the end – for me it is being perpetually available.
2. Begin to develop it. I use a hypothetical example here.
3. Vary up your long and short sentences for effect.
4. Be specific – meniote the notifications, phone calls, etc.
5. State the result to finish the paragraph.

1. Although life has become more complicated and this is a negative development, shutting yourself off from technology would only serve to isolate people from the world. 2. If you want to stay in touch with friends and know about events in your area, it is essential to have a phone. 3. You can use Facebook Messenger to cheaply chat with individuals or make group plans. 4. Email is an indispensable element of nearly every job. 5. Without it, you are filtering out quality jobs and predetermining manual work as your vocation.

1. Write another topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Develop it with specific detail.
3. Make sure that you use really specific examples such as Facebook Messenger.
4. Keep developing the same main idea.
5. State the result again.

1. In conclusion, although technology has hurt people, turning away from it is not feasible today without making drastic sacrifices. 2. Instead, people ought to seek ways to compartmentalise technology in order to live happier, more satisfying lives.

1. Repeat your opinion.
2. Include a final thought/extra detail for full points from the IELTS examiner for task achievement.

Vocabulary

Many are of the opinion that technology has done more harm than good and we ought to simplify in order to lead more fulfilling lives. I agree that technology has its drawbacks but I think turning away from technology is impractical.

The main reason that technology has complicated life for people today is that it has made people perpetually available. In the past, a worker might work a 9 to 5 then come home to spend time with their family, have dinner and enjoy their private life. That simplicity is largely no longer the case. Once work ends, you can still get email notifications and phone calls from managers or co-workers. The end result is that you can never be fully present in the moment because work always threatens to pull you back.

Although life has become more complicated and this is a negative development, shutting yourself off from technology would only serve to isolate people from the world. If you want to stay in touch with friends and know about events in your area, it is essential to have a phone. You can use Facebook Messenger to cheaply chat with individuals or make group plans. Email is an indispensable element of nearly every job. Without it, you are filtering out quality jobs and predetermining manual work as your vocation.

In conclusion, although technology has hurt people, turning away from it is not feasible today without making drastic sacrifices. Instead, people ought to seek ways to compartmentalise technology in order to live happier, more satisfying lives.

Answers

done more harm than good hurt more than helped

lead more fulfilling lives be happier

turning away giving up

impractical not useful/unrealistic

perpetually available can always be contacted

spend time with hang out with

private life personal life

no longer the case not ture anymore

notifications updates

end result final outcome

fully present in the moment mindful, not distracted

threatens risks

pull you back bring you back to

shutting yourself off isolating

only serve to isolate keeps you away from others

stay in touch keep in touch

essential crucial

cheaply chat inexpensively communicate with

indispensable element crucial part

filtering out avoiding

predetermining manual work making it so you can’t do other jobs

vocation job/calling

feasible realistic

drastic sacrifices big cuts, giving up a lot

compartmentalise technology keep your phone in its place

more satisfying lives living happier

Pronunciation

dʌn mɔː hɑːm ðæn gʊd 
liːd mɔː fʊlˈfɪlɪŋ lɪvz
ˈtɜːnɪŋ əˈweɪ 
ɪmˈpræktɪkəl
pəˈpɛʧʊəli əˈveɪləbl
spɛnd taɪm wɪð 
ˈpraɪvɪt laɪf
nəʊ ˈlɒŋgə ðə keɪs
ˌnəʊtɪfɪˈkeɪʃənz 
ɛnd rɪˈzʌlt 
ˈfʊli ˈprɛznt ɪn ðə ˈməʊmənt 
ˈθrɛtnz 
pʊl juː bæk
ˈʃʌtɪŋ jɔːˈsɛlf ɒf 
ˈəʊnli sɜːv tuː ˈaɪsəleɪt 
steɪ ɪn tʌʧ 
ɪˈsɛnʃəl 
ˈʧiːpli ʧæt 
indispensible ˈɛlɪmənt 
ˈfɪltərɪŋ aʊt 
ˌpriːdɪˈtɜːmɪnɪŋ ˈmænjʊəl wɜːk 
vəʊˈkeɪʃən
ˈfiːzəbl 
ˈdræstɪk ˈsækrɪfaɪsɪz
compartmentalize tɛkˈnɒləʤi 
mɔː ˈsætɪsfaɪɪŋ lɪvz

Listen and repeat:

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

Many are of the opinion that technology has d_________________ and we ought to simplify in order to l _________________. I agree that technology has its drawbacks but I think t_________________ from technology is i_________________.

The main reason that technology has complicated life for people today is that it has made people p_________________. In the past, a worker might work a 9 to 5 then come home to s_________________ their family, have dinner and enjoy their p _________________. That simplicity is largely n_________________ . Once work ends, you can still get email n_________________ and phone calls from managers or co-workers. The e_________________ is that you can never be f_________________ because work always t_________________ to p_________________.

Although life has become more complicated and this is a negative development, s_________________ from technology would o_________________ people from the world. If you want to s_________________ with friends and know about events in your area, it is e_________________ to have a phone. You can use Facebook Messenger to c_________________ with individuals or make group plans. Email is an i_________________ of nearly every job. Without it, you are f_________________ quality jobs and p_________________ as your v_________________.

In conclusion, although technology has hurt people, turning away from it is not f_________________ today without making d_________________. Instead, people ought to seek ways to c_________________ in order to live happier, m_________________.

Listen and check:

Listening Practice

Watch here about someone who gave up their phone for 30 days:

Reading Practice

Here’s a related article that may also help you think of some ideas:

https://www.npr.org/2011/07/14/137472487/what-it-means-to-be-always-on-a-smartphone

Speaking Practice

Mobile Phones and Smartphones

1. What are the advantages of smartphones?
2. Should children be allowed to own smartphones?
3. Do you thinks have a major or minor impact on mental health?
4. Where in your country is it not appropriate to use a phone?
5. Do you think smartphone usage may decline in the future?

Writing Practice

Write about the following topic then check my sample answer essay below:

Many people believe that social networking sites (such as Facebook) have a huge negative impact on both individuals and society.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Real past IELTS Exams/Tests

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer: Social Networking Sites (Real IELTS Test)

IELTS Student Sample Corrections

The successful in technological development has created a more complicated life for people and in order to solve this issue and it is thought [A1] to live without the appearance of technology. In my opinion, I hold a balanced view in this issue.[A2] 

Living without technology could be the best solution to solve the complexity of our lives, especially for elderly or technophobes. The main reason is because in the present we are surrounded by technological devices, however, old people and those who do not want to adopt the great development of this will find it really hard to use, resulting in creating harder and more complex life for them. [A3] It can easily be seen that people aged 60 or above and technophobes will prefer using physical keyboard phones such as Nokia 550 rather than using state-of-the-art and newest smartphones like iPhone X or Note 8.[A4] 

However, without the need of technology, our lives could be quite hard in many situations that required devices. The main reason because by using smart devices, it helps to reduce the number of tasks needed, instead, it now becomes the responsibility of technological devices, these jobs will be done by machines, hence, increasing people’s life quality. In the past, women spent hours for household tasks, such as sweeping the floors and cooking meals for the whole family, now, these tasks are given to floor-sweeping robots and automated cookers, meaning they will have more time for leisure and their beloved.[A5] 

In conclusion, although living a life without technology could be true to solve the complicated lives in today’s world, using automated machines will handle many tasks that in the past humans needed to involve in.[A6] 

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 [A1]Many are of the opinion that we should try to…

 [A2]Not a good idea to do this! It asks to the extent you agree/disagree – make it clear that you only partly agree!

 [A3]Way too vague! We already know this – describe how it is harder or more complex!

 [A4]This is confusing because this isn’t an argument about technology v no technology it is old v new technology so it is irrelevant….

 [A5]Good paragraph in general with a clear main idea and enough support. I’m not sure about the example though because people still do household chores and cook meals… Those tasks have become EASIER – that would be a better argument.

 [A6]There is no position in this essay! Just saying ‘I hold a balanced view’ is an automatic 5 for Task Achievement regardless of everything else…