In some parts of the world, it is becoming popular to research the history of one's own family.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 2 question on IELTSX. In some parts of the world, it is becoming popular to research the history of one's own family.

Popular Research History Own Family Reasons Positive Negative Development - IELTS Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Why might people want to do this? Is it a positive or negative development?

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 8 ยท 278 words.

Nowadays, in some parts of the world, a growing number of people become curious about their families' history. I strongly believe that this is a positive development, as it allows people to discover more about their own background and preserve family history for future generations.

Tracing one's ancestry allows individuals to find out about their distant relatives and uncover some truth about the past. For example, adopted children are eager to find their biological parents or long-lost family members to reveal their family's origins and heritage. In this regard, DNA testing kits have made it easier to learn more information about personal background. As a result, finding one's biological parents and relatives allows individuals to understand their roots and discover fascinating stories passed down through generations.

Learning more about family background enables people to strengthen a sense of identity and foster a stronger connection to their culture. Individuals want to understand their origins, ethnic background, and their ancestral culture, which plays an important role in shaping their identity. For instance, in today's world, genealogy websites have grown enormously in popularity, where people can take a DNA test and uncover surprising truths about their family roots, which leads to developing an interest in their family's culture and language. As a result, exploring family roots helps create shared experiences and conversations and build a family tree, which enables them to preserve their family's history and identity.

In conclusion, people are eager to trace their family history in order to uncover truths about their family roots. I believe that this is a positive development, as it not only preserves valuable family history but also gives individuals a stronger sense of identity.

Examiner feedback

This is a strong Band 8 response. The essay effectively addresses both parts of the prompt with a clear, well-supported argument and demonstrates high-level control over both grammar and vocabulary. Minor refinements in tense and lexical variety would be needed to reach Band 9.

Task Response - 8

- The response addresses all parts of the task, explaining both why the trend is occurring and why it is positive. - A clear position is maintained throughout the essay. - Main ideas are well-extended and supported with relevant examples like DNA kits and genealogy websites.

Coherence & Cohesion - 8

- Ideas are sequenced logically with a clear progression from personal origins to broader cultural significance. - Cohesive devices such as 'For instance' and 'In this regard' are used effectively to link ideas. - Paragraphing is sufficient and appropriate, with each paragraph focusing on a clear central topic.

Lexical Resource - 8

- A good range of vocabulary is used, including specific terms like 'genealogy', 'lineage', 'heritage', and 'biological parents'. - Word choice is mostly precise, although 'become curious' could be refined to 'are becoming curious'. - Spelling and word formation are accurate with no noticeable errors.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 8

- A wide range of structures is used with good control, including relative clauses and complex subordinating conjunctions. - The majority of sentences are error-free, showing a high degree of accuracy. - Punctuation is used correctly throughout the essay to enhance clarity.

Related prompts

Start Practice