All countries should reduce their consumption of fossil fuels.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 2 question on IELTSX. All countries should reduce their consumption of fossil fuels.

All Countries Reduce Consumption Fossil Fuels - IELTS Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Write at least 250 words.

A student's answer to this task, and the feedback on it

Written by an IELTSX user under exam conditions and published unedited and anonymously. Band 7.5 ยท 280 words.

Nowadays, as fossil fuels continue to dominate global energy consumption, there has been an ongoing debate as to whether countries should reduce their reliance on them. Personally, I am in complete accord with this position, as their continued use poses an increasingly urgent threat to the environment and more sustainable alternatives are becoming increasingly accessible worldwide.

First and foremost, excessive burning of fossil fuels releases, indeed, harmful gases such as CO2 into the atmosphere, contributing directly to climate change and global warming. The direct consequences of this unsustainable reliance on carbon-based energy are severe, leading to rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and the rapid melting of polar ice caps. Some countries, for instance, are gradually disappearing beneath rising seas caused by decades of unchecked carbon emissions. This alone demonstrates that the ecological consequences of fossil fuel dependency are not a distant threat.

Beyond that, the widespread transition towards cleaner, renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power presents a highly viable solution to this crisis. These alternatives, moreover, are not only considered to be eco-friendly but also far more cheaper and accessible, making the shift away from fossil fuels increasingly realistic for countries at all levels of development. Some developing nations, however, argue that abandoning fossil fuels too fast would hinder their economic progress. Nevertheless, the long term cost of environmental damage far outweighs the short term expense of transitioning to greener energy sources.

All things considered, it is my firm belief that reducing fossil fuels consumption is a necessity. As it heavily affects environment, and the long term consequences are too severe to ignore. Furthermore, alternative energy sources alredy exist and should be prioritized by governments.

Examiner feedback

The essay is a very strong response that demonstrates a high level of lexical control and a well-developed argument. It effectively addresses the prompt by weighing environmental necessity against economic concerns, resulting in a clear and persuasive position.

Task Response - 8

- The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt with a clear and consistent position throughout. - Main ideas are well-extended; the author discusses both the reasons for reduction and addresses potential counter-arguments regarding economic progress. - The argument is sophisticated, acknowledging the tension between short-term costs and long-term environmental damage.

Coherence & Cohesion - 7

- Information is organized logically with a clear progression from the environmental impact to the viability of alternatives. - Cohesive devices like 'First and foremost', 'Beyond that', and 'Nevertheless' are used appropriately to signal transitions. - Each paragraph maintains a clear central topic, though some transitions within the final paragraph are slightly abrupt.

Lexical Resource - 8

- Uses a wide range of vocabulary (e.g., 'unchecked carbon emissions', 'polar ice caps', 'hinder economic progress') with precision. - Shows awareness of style and collocation, using terms like 'in complete accord' and 'unsustainable reliance'. - Spelling is generally accurate, with only one minor typo ('alredy').

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 7

- A variety of complex structures are used, including conditional and subordinate clauses. - Frequent error-free sentences are produced, showing good control over grammar. - Minor errors exist, such as 'far more cheaper' (double comparative) and a sentence fragment in the conclusion ('As it heavily affects...').

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