Some people think that schools should stop teaching students by using books, because students find them boring and children can learn from films, TV, video games, and computers instead.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 2 question on IELTSX. Some people think that schools should stop teaching students by using books, because students find them boring and children can learn from films, TV, video games, and computers instead.

Schools Stop Using Books Films TV Games Computers Instead - IELTS Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

To what extent do you agree?

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 · 260 words.

Nowadays, many people believe that educational institutions should stop teaching children through books, as pupils find them boring and children can gain knowledge from movies, TV, digital games and computers instead. I strongly disagree with this stance.

To begin with, one important factor is that books enhance reading abilities and increase attention span. This is because reading books requires pupils to concentrate for an extended period and process information independently.  For instance, history or science books contain a vast amount of information and students need to remain focused for a long time.  As a consequence, they can develop critical thinking and reading skills. Another important factor is the quality of information. The majority of books contain more detailed information compared with films and video games, which simplifies the information. Consequently, with books pupils can gain a deeper understanding of academic subjects.

On the other hand, videos and animations can easily explain complex processes. This is because some processes are difficult to explain with simple words and pictures. For example, it is difficult for pupils to understand how planets move, how volcanoes erupt or how car engines work. As a solution, videos can demonstrate the movement of objects or enable them to see the process in real time. As a result, with technology children can easily and more effectively obtain difficult information.

To sum up, I strongly believe that books are a more effective way of learning and should not be replaced by technology, since they foster reading ability and expand attention span, although schools could utilize technology as a supplementary tool.

Examiner feedback

This is a strong response that clearly argues for the retention of books while acknowledging the benefits of modern technology. The essay is well-structured and demonstrates a high level of grammatical accuracy and logical flow, placing it firmly in the Band 7 range.

Task Response - 7

- Addresses all parts of the task and presents a clear position throughout the response. - Supports main ideas with relevant examples (history/science books, planetary movement, volcanoes). - The argument is well-developed, although it could further address the 'boring' aspect of books mentioned in the prompt to provide a more nuanced rebuttal.

Coherence & Cohesion - 7

- Information is organized logically with a clear progression from the introduction to the conclusion. - Each paragraph has a clear central topic (cognitive benefits of books vs. illustrative benefits of visual media). - Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'For instance', and 'As a result' are used appropriately, though somewhat mechanically.

Lexical Resource - 7

- Uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision (e.g., 'attention span', 'process information independently', 'supplementary tool'). - Demonstrates awareness of style and collocation, though some repetition of 'information' and 'pupils' occurs. - Spelling and word formation are accurate throughout.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 7

- A variety of complex structures are used, such as conditional structures and subordinate clauses. - The majority of sentences are error-free, demonstrating good control over grammar and punctuation. - There is a high level of accuracy, though more sophisticated syntactic variety could be employed for higher bands.

Related prompts

Start Practice