Many customs and traditional ways of behaviour are no longer relevant to modern life and no longer worth keeping.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 2 question on IELTSX. Many customs and traditional ways of behaviour are no longer relevant to modern life and no longer worth keeping.

Relevance of customs and traditional ways of behavior to modern life - 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 9 ยท 352 words.

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Many customs and traditional behaviours are indeed losing their relevance in today's fast-changing world, yet I strongly disagree that they are no longer worth keeping. While some traditions clearly belong to the past, most of them still carry profound value for individuals and societies.

On one hand, I admit that certain traditional practices have become outdated or even harmful. For instance, in some cultures, women are still expected to follow strict dress codes or stay at home instead of pursuing careers. Such customs directly contradict modern values like equality and individual freedom. Similarly, traditions involving animal cruelty, such as bullfighting or certain sacrificial rituals, are rightly criticised in an era that prioritises animal welfare. These examples show that not all traditions deserve to survive, and blindly following them can hold back social progress.

However, dismissing all traditions would be a grave mistake. Many customs serve essential functions that modern life cannot replace. Take family reunions during Lunar New Year or Christmas, for example. These are not just empty rituals; they strengthen family bonds, provide emotional support, and remind us of our roots in an increasingly disconnected world. Without such traditions, many people would feel isolated and lose their sense of belonging. Moreover, traditional behaviours like respecting elders, showing hospitality, or helping neighbours are timeless moral values that modern societies desperately need. They create trust and cohesion, which no amount of technology can substitute.

Furthermore, traditions connect us to our history and identity. They are living links to our ancestors, offering a sense of continuity in a rapidly changing world. Losing them entirely would mean losing part of who we are as communities and nations. Instead of discarding traditions, we should adapt them to modern contexts. For example, many religious festivals now incorporate environmental awareness, turning ancient celebrations into platforms for contemporary causes.

In conclusion, while I agree that some outdated customs should be abandoned, I firmly believe that most traditional behaviours remain highly relevant. They provide identity, moral guidance, and social cohesion that modern life alone cannot offer. The solution is not to erase the past but to evolve it wisely.

Examiner feedback

This is an exceptional essay that meets all the criteria for a Band 9. It demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the prompt, presents a logical and nuanced argument, and uses language with a high degree of precision and naturalness.

Task Response - 9

- Fully addresses all parts of the task by distinguishing between customs that are obsolete and those that remain essential. - Presents a fully developed and nuanced position with well-supported ideas. - The distinction between 'harmful' traditions and 'essential' functions shows mature critical thinking.

Coherence & Cohesion - 9

- Paragraphing is managed skilfully, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of the argument. - Cohesive devices are used naturally and unobtrusively to guide the reader through the logic. - Progression from the acknowledgment of outdated customs to the defense of valuable ones is seamless.

Lexical Resource - 9

- Uses a wide range of vocabulary with natural and sophisticated control (e.g., 'profound value', 'social cohesion', 'sense of continuity'). - Lexical items are used with precision, and collocations are used effectively. - Rare minor slips do not detract from the overall high quality of word choice.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 9

- Demonstrates a wide range of structures with full flexibility and precision. - The essay is virtually error-free, with sophisticated control of grammar and punctuation. - Complex sentence structures are used naturally to convey nuanced meanings.

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