This is an IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer from the real IELTS exam focused on the topic of the internet and travel.

This is an agree/disagree questions so you have a few options.

Agree and support your opinion in both paragraphs.

Disagree and support that opinion in both paragraphs.

Agree in one paragraph and disagree in the other.

But…

If you choose the last option – make 100% sure that you give a clear opinion.

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Dave

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer: The Internet & Travel (Real IELTS)

People today often use the internet to learn about the culture of other countries. This means that it is not that important to travel to those countries.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Real Past IELTS Tests

The fact that many people today use the internet to experience other countries means that it is no longer as important to actually travel to those nations. In my opinion, though travel has its benefits, this is largely true.

Proponents of travel often claim that real life experience trumps virtual experience. Compare, for instance, the recent Google Museum project which catalogues collections from famous museums in high resolution photos available to anyone with internet access. This is no doubt a positive development but it pales in comparison to the experience of walking through the Louvre and seeing the brushstrokes up close, going on a guided tour, and talking with other museum-goers. This holds true for a variety of experiences that are enhanced by being physically present in the moment.

Although there are good reasons to continue to travel on occasion, the internet allows people to access the majority of the experience remotely. The most salient example of this is the ubiquity of YouTube for internet users around the world. A child from an impoverished background, who still has internet access, probably cannot travel to other countries but they can watch travel documentaries, vlogs, and archived television shows that show cultures around the world. The makers of these videos not only bring their experience but also aggregate the most noteworthy events and individuals that even the most adventurous traveller would have difficulty finding the time to locate.

To conclude, travelling still plays a role in life but the internet has largely replaced its primary importance in life. There will come a time when the virtual world too fully overcomes the physical but for the moment it is still beneficial.

Word Count: 280

Analysis

1. The fact that many people today use the internet to experience other countries means that it is no longer as important to actually travel to those nations. 2. In my opinion, though travel has its benefits, this is largely true.

1. My first sentence simply states the topic for the essy – don’t waste time trying to make it perfect because other sentences are more important!
2. The second sentence gives my opinion. Be clear – don’t choose both sides!

1. Proponents of travel often claim that real life experience trumps virtual experience. 2. Compare, for instance, the recent Google Museum project which catalogues collections from famous museums in high resolution photos available to anyone with internet access. 3. This is no doubt a positive development but it pales in comparison to the experience of walking through the Louvre and seeing the brushstrokes up close, going on a guided tour, and talking with other museum-goers. 4. This holds true for a variety of experiences that are enhanced by being physically present in the moment.

1. My first sentence is a topic sentence with the main idea for the showl paragraph – real life experience is better.
2. The second sentence begins my example using a specific website – be as specific as possible!
3. My next sentence continues to develop my museum example and mentions another specific museum.
4. The last sentence generalises this to other experiences besides museums.

1. Although there are good reasons to continue to travel on occasion, the internet allows people to access the majority of the experience remotely. 2. The most salient example of this is the ubiquity of YouTube for internet users around the world. 3. A child from an impoverished background, who still has internet access, probably cannot travel to other countries but they can watch travel documentaries, vlogs, and archived television shows that show cultures around the world. 4. The makers of these videos not only bring their experience but also aggregate the most noteworthy events and individuals that even the most adventurous traveller would have difficulty finding the time to locate.

1. The first sentence gives my main idea for this paragraph – accessing an experience remotely is almost as good.
2. I start my example right away in the second sentence – don’t waste any time before you get to your examples!
3. My third sentnence continues to develop my main idea with a hypothetical example.
4. I conclude the paragraph by adding further detail to the reasons why expereincing travel online is as good as in real life.

1. To conclude, travelling still plays a role in life but the internet has largely replaced its primary importance in life. 2. There will come a time when the virtual world too fully overcomes the physical but for the moment it is still beneficial.

1. The first sentence of the conclusion repeats my opinion clearly.
2. My last sentence adds an extra detail that many examiners require for band 7+.

Vocabulary

Try to write a definition or synonym for the vocabulary in bold below:

The fact that many people today use the internet to experience other countries means that it is no longer as important to actually travel to those nations. In my opinion, though travel has its benefits, this is largely true.

Proponents of travel often claim that real life experience trumps virtual experience. Compare, for instance, the recent Google Museum project which catalogues collections from famous museums in high resolution photos available to anyone with internet access. This is no doubt a positive development but it pales in comparison to the experience of walking through the Louvre and seeing the brushstrokes up close, going on a guided tour, and talking with other museum-goers. This holds true for a variety of experiences that are enhanced by being physically present in the moment.

Although there are good reasons to continue to travel on occasion, the internet allows people to access the majority of the experience remotely. The most salient example of this is the ubiquity of YouTube for internet users around the world. A child from an impoverished background, who still has internet access, probably cannot travel to other countries but they can watch travel documentaries, vlogs, and archived television shows that show cultures around the world. The makers of these videos not only bring their experience but also aggregate the most noteworthy events and individuals that even the most adventurous traveller would have difficulty finding the time to locate.

To conclude, travelling still plays a role in life but the internet has largely replaced its primary importance in life. There will come a time when the virtual world too fully overcomes the physical but for the moment it is still beneficial.

Answers

no longer as important less relevant

actually in fact

largely mostly

proponents supporters

trumps invalidates

catalogues records

high resolution photos good photos

internet access ability to use the internet

no doubt definitely

pales in comparison to is not as good as

brushstrokes the physical marks from the artist’s paintbrush

guided tour museum tour

museum-goers people going to the museum

holds true is true

enhanced better

on occasion sometimes

remotely somewhat

most salient example best example

ubiquity common

impoverished poor

vlogs video blogs

archived television shows old TV programmes

makers people who make/create

aggregate choose the best to showcase

noteworthy stands out

adventurous traveller enterprising traveller

finding the time making time for

plays a role has something to do with

overcomes stronger than

beneficial good for

Pronunciation

nəʊ ˈlɒŋgər æz ɪmˈpɔːtənt 
ˈækʧʊəli 
ˈlɑːʤli 
prəˈpəʊnənts 
trʌmps 
ˈkætəlɒgz 
haɪ ˌrɛzəˈluːʃən ˈfəʊtəʊz 
ˈɪntəˌnɛt ˈæksɛs
nəʊ daʊt 
peɪlz ɪn kəmˈpærɪsn tuː 
brʌʃ strəʊks 
ˈgaɪdɪd tʊə
mju(ː)ˈzɪəm-ˈgəʊəz
həʊldz truː 
ɪnˈhɑːnst 
ɒn əˈkeɪʒən
rɪˈməʊtli
məʊst ˈseɪliənt ɪgˈzɑːmpl 
ju(ː)ˈbɪkwɪti 
ɪmˈpɒvərɪʃt 
v:lɒgz
ˈɑːkaɪvd ˈtɛlɪˌvɪʒən ʃəʊz 
ˈmeɪkəz 
ˈægrɪgɪt 
ˈnəʊtˌwɜːði 
ədˈvɛnʧərəs ˈtræv(ə)lə 
ˈfaɪndɪŋ ðə taɪm 
pleɪz ə rəʊl 
ˌəʊvəˈkʌmz 
ˌbɛnɪˈfɪʃəl

Listen and repeat:

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

The fact that many people today use the internet to experience other countries means that it is ___________________ to ___________________ travel to those nations. In my opinion, though travel has its benefits, this is ___________________ true.

___________________ of travel often claim that real life experience ___________________ virtual experience. Compare, for instance, the recent Google Museum project which ___________________ collections from famous museums in ___________________ available to anyone with ___________________. This is ___________________ a positive development but it ___________________ the experience of walking through the Louvre and seeing the ___________________ up close, going on a ___________________, and talking with other ___________________. This ___________________ for a variety of experiences that are ___________________ by being physically present in the moment.

Although there are good reasons to continue to travel ___________________, the internet allows people to access the majority of the experience ___________________. The ___________________ of this is the ___________________ of YouTube for internet users around the world. A child from an ___________________ background, who still has internet access, probably cannot travel to other countries but they can watch travel documentaries, ___________________, and ___________________ that show cultures around the world. The ___________________ of these videos not only bring their experience but also ___________________ the most ___________________ events and individuals that even the most ___________________ would have difficulty ___________________ to locate.

To conclude, travelling still ___________________ in life but the internet has largely replaced its primary importance in life. There will come a time when the virtual world too fully ___________________ the physical but for the moment it is still ___________________.

Listen and check:

Listening Practice

Watch the first 3 minutes of the clip below and answer the questions:

1. What is his main reason for travelling to Thailand?
2. What does the Songkran festival mark?
3. How long does it last?
4. Why is he interested in Songkran?
5. What are the roots of Songkran?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54V84dcSBNA

Answers:

1. To experience its unique conntection to water.
2. The start of the Thai new year and the end of the rainy season.
3. 3 days.
4. To see how it relates to Thailand’s relationship to water.
5. Farmers gave thanks for their harvest and to mark new beginnings

Reading Practice

Choose an article from The Atlantic related to travel and comment a short summary of it in the comments below for feedback:

https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/categories/travel/

You can also practice with these ideas: how to read the news and improve your IELTS reading score.