Band 7 Example

Question: Do you think people today read less than before? Why?

Idea 1

Yes, people read less now
Model Answer
Yes, I think people read less than before. These days, most people spend their free time on social media or watching short videos instead of reading books. It's much easier and more fun to watch something online than to sit down with a novel. Also, people are really busy now, so they don't have as much time to read long articles or books. They just want quick information from the internet.
Yes, I do believe people read less nowadays. With the rise of social media and short video platforms, people are more attracted to quick, entertaining content rather than sitting down with a book. Our lifestyles have become so hectic that it's hard to find time for reading long novels or even articles. Most people prefer getting information in bite-sized pieces online, which is much faster and more convenient than traditional reading.
Grammar Analysis
1. Present simple tense: Used throughout the answer ("people read less nowadays", "people are more attracted", "most people prefer") to state general truths and trends. 2. Comparative structures: "more attracted to quick, entertaining content" and "much faster and more convenient than traditional reading" use comparatives to highlight changes and preferences. 3. Gerund phrases: "sitting down with a book", "getting information in bite-sized pieces"—these gerund phrases function as objects, showing a good grasp of complex sentence structure. 4. Cause and effect: The answer uses cause-and-effect linking words ("With the rise of...", "so hectic that...") to logically connect ideas and explain reasons.
Vocabulary
  • read less nowadays
  • rise of social media
  • short video platforms
  • quick, entertaining content
  • hectic lifestyles
  • bite-sized pieces
  • faster and more convenient
  • traditional reading

Idea 2

No, people just read differently
Model Answer
I don't think people read less, but the way they read has changed. Now, people spend a lot of time reading news, blogs, and social media posts online. E-books and audiobooks also make it easier to read anywhere. So, even if people aren't reading as many paper books, they still read a lot of written content every day.
Actually, I wouldn't say people read less, but rather that their reading habits have shifted. Nowadays, people are constantly reading online—whether it's news articles, blogs, or social media updates. The availability of e-books and audiobooks has also made reading much more accessible and convenient. In fact, some people might even read more now because information is so easy to access on their phones and computers. So, while the format has changed, the amount of reading hasn't necessarily decreased.
Grammar Analysis
1. Contrast structure: "I wouldn't say people read less, but rather that their reading habits have shifted" uses a contrast structure to clearly show a change in habits rather than a decrease, making the answer nuanced and sophisticated. 2. Present continuous tense: "people are constantly reading online" uses the present continuous to describe an ongoing trend, which is natural and appropriate for IELTS Speaking. 3. Relative clause: "whether it's news articles, blogs, or social media updates" uses a relative clause to give examples, adding detail and variety to the sentence structure. 4. Modal verbs: "might even read more now" and "hasn't necessarily decreased" use modal verbs to express possibility and uncertainty, which is a higher-level grammatical feature.
Vocabulary
  • reading habits have shifted
  • constantly reading online
  • news articles
  • blogs
  • social media updates
  • availability of e-books and audiobooks
  • accessible and convenient
  • read more now
  • easy to access
  • format has changed
Analysis →