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User-written IELTS example

Writing Academic Task 2 Band 7.0 Example

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

281 words AcademicTask 2
Task 2

Illustrative target band for this original model answer.

Plan your answer

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Ideas to explore

  • Explain how engaging content, autoplay and mobile games can make children lose track of time.
  • Discuss how family device habits and the convenience of phones may normalise frequent use.
  • Weigh potential benefits such as learning and communication against effects on sleep, physical activity and concentration.

Suggested structure

  1. Introduce the issue and give a clear view on whether the trend is positive or negative.
  2. Use the first body paragraph to explain key causes, supported by specific examples.
  3. Use the second body paragraph to evaluate consequences and acknowledge any genuine benefits.
  4. Conclude by restating the judgement and giving a practical response, such as setting reasonable limits.
Useful vocabulary & examples
immediate entertainment
Enjoyment that is available quickly and with little effort.

Games and short videos provide immediate entertainment for children.

stay connected with friends
Maintain communication and contact with other people.

Messaging apps help children stay connected with friends outside school.

face-to-face interaction
Communication between people who are physically together.

Heavy phone use may leave less time for face-to-face interaction.

set clear screen-time boundaries
Establish understandable limits on how long devices can be used.

Parents can set clear screen-time boundaries, especially before bedtime.

Task Prompt

Some children spend hours every day on their smartphones. Why is this the case? Is it a positive or negative trend?

User Essay Analysis

Review the public answer with report-style highlights.

Band 7.0

Smartphones have become an integral aspect of contemporary culture, with numerous young individuals devoting several hours to their utilization on a daily basis. The primary cause of this trend is the transition towards digital learning platforms, which schools are progressively adopting for educational purposes and evaluation. Although there are worries about the amount of time children spend using these devices, it is important to consider other reasons as well. Many children use them to watch videos, play games and communicate with friends. These activities are immediately rewarding, while notifications and endless streams of content encourage users to keep checking their screens. In addition, parents may give children phones to keep them occupied or to stay in contact when they are away from home.

This development has some benefits. Educational applications can make lessons more interactive, and children can quickly find information or practise skills. Smartphones also allow them to maintain friendships and contact family members. These advantages are most likely when adults supervise content and device use has a clear purpose. Nevertheless, I believe that spending several hours on a phone each day is mainly a negative trend, particularly when it replaces sleep, exercise or face-to-face interaction. Long periods of screen use may also make it harder for children to concentrate on schoolwork that requires sustained attention.

The solution is not to ban smartphones, since they are now useful tools for learning and communication. Instead, families and schools should set reasonable screen-time limits, encourage offline activities and help children distinguish purposeful use from habitual scrolling. Parents can also model balanced phone habits themselves. With guidance, children can benefit from digital learning without allowing entertainment and constant notifications to dominate their day.

Targeted Improvement Tips

1
Separate educational use from entertainment and social use when explaining why children spend time on smartphones; briefly show how each motivates use.
2
When discussing the negative effects, connect each effect to the amount of time spent—for example, explain that screen use becomes concerning when it displaces sleep or exercise.
3
Replace formal phrases such as “on a daily basis” with concise wording, then read the essay aloud to check that the tone stays natural and clear.

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