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User-written IELTS example

Writing Academic Task 2 Band 4.0 Example

Original task prompt, user essay, band score, and related examples in the same report workspace.

316 words AcademicTask 2
Task 2

Illustrative target band for this original model answer.

Plan your answer

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Ideas to explore

  • Skills-based assistance, such as teacher training or vocational education, can build local capacity beyond the duration of a grant.
  • Health, water and agricultural partnerships can target essential services and practical needs, especially when local communities help set priorities.
  • Financial support can remain valuable during emergencies and infrastructure projects when it is transparent, accountable and coordinated with other forms of assistance.

Suggested structure

  1. Introduce the issue and state a qualified position on whether non-financial assistance should be prioritised.
  2. Explain how practical or technical support can address underlying causes of poverty, using specific examples.
  3. Acknowledge why financial aid is still needed, such as emergencies or infrastructure.
  4. Conclude by presenting a balanced approach and linking it to sustainable poverty reduction.
Useful vocabulary & examples
locally led support
assistance planned or guided by the people and institutions it is intended to help

Locally led support is more likely to reflect a community's priorities.

technical expertise
specialised knowledge or practical skills in a particular area

Sharing technical expertise can help strengthen public health services.

transparent and accountable funding
financial assistance whose use is open to scrutiny and for which responsible parties can be held answerable

Transparent and accountable funding can reduce the risk of aid being poorly targeted.

underlying causes of poverty
deeper conditions that contribute to poverty, rather than its immediate symptoms

Vocational education may address some underlying causes of poverty by expanding access to skills.

Task Prompt

Rich countries often give money to poorer countries, but it does not solve poverty. Therefore, developed countries should give other types of help to the poor countries rather than financial aid. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

User Essay Analysis

Review the public answer with report-style highlights.

Band 4.0

nowadays, there has been a discussion about the developed countries giving charities to low-middle income countries. a group of society disagrees that giving money to poor countries helps them to grow. believing that there should have been other ways to donate besides financial aid. in my opinion, I completely agree as every underdeveloped country in this situation needs more than money to make long term progress. Firstly, developed countries can help by sharing knowledge and training. For example, they can support schools and teach local people useful skills, such as farming, building and computer work. When people learn these skills, they may find jobs or start small businesses, so they can earn money by themselves. This kind of support can continue helping people after the donation has finished.

Another important help is to improve basic services. Poor countries may not have enough good roads, hospitals or clean water. Rich countries could send engineers and health workers, and help local governments to build these facilities. This is better than only sending money, because money can be used in the wrong way or some people may keep it for their own benefit. However, financial aid can still be useful when there is a war, a natural disaster or a serious lack of food. In these cases, people need help quickly, and money can be used to buy what is needed.

Some people think that money is the easiest way to help, and this can be true. But if rich countries only give money, poor countries may depend on them for a long time. They should work with local people and make sure help is suitable for each country's needs. In conclusion, I completely agree that developed countries should give other types of help instead of relying on financial aid. Education, training and better services can deal with the causes of poverty and give people a more independent future.

Targeted Improvement Tips

1
Rewrite the opening as two complete sentences: introduce the debate, then state your agreement clearly.
2
Develop the training example by explaining how a particular skill can help people gain work or earn a stable income.
3
Use a final proofreading pass to check sentence fragments, sentence-start capitalisation and compound forms such as “low- and middle-income.”

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