IELTS Writing Task 2: Following Rules - Band 6.5 Sample with Full Breakdown
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The Prompt
Some people argue that following rules is essential for a peaceful society, while others believe that breaking rules is necessary for progress. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Band 6.5 Sample Answer
Rules are the foundation of any society, and following them is crucial for maintaining order and harmony. However, some people argue that breaking rules is necessary for progress. In this essay, I will discuss both views and give my opinion.
On one hand, following rules is essential for a peaceful society. Rules provide a framework for behavior, ensuring that people act in a predictable and acceptable manner. For example, traffic rules prevent accidents and keep roads safe. Similarly, laws against theft and violence protect individuals and their property. Without rules, society would descend into chaos, and people would live in fear.
On the other hand, breaking rules can sometimes lead to progress. Throughout history, many significant advancements have been made by people who challenged the status quo. For instance, civil rights activists broke laws to fight for equality, and scientists like Galileo defied religious dogma to advance our understanding of the universe. These individuals broke rules to achieve greater goals, and their actions ultimately benefited society.
In my opinion, while breaking rules can lead to progress, it should only be done when the benefits outweigh the risks. Not all rules are unjust, and blindly breaking them can lead to negative consequences. For example, breaking traffic rules can endanger lives, and breaking laws can lead to imprisonment. Therefore, it is important to carefully consider the potential outcomes before breaking any rule.
In conclusion, following rules is generally necessary for a peaceful society, but breaking them can sometimes lead to progress. It is important to strike a balance between the two and only break rules when it is truly necessary.
Scoring Breakdown
Task Response (Band 6.0)
- Presents a clear position throughout the response.
- Presents, extends, and supports main trends/details, though some may be irrelevant or unclear.
- Presents a conclusion that is appropriate to the question.
Coherence and Cohesion (Band 6.0)
- Uses cohesive devices effectively, but there may be some under- or over-use.
- Arranges information and ideas coherently, though there may be some unclear or illogical progression.
- Uses paragraphing, but there may be some unclear or illogical paragraphing.
Lexical Resource (Band 6.5)
- Uses a mix of simple and complex vocabulary.
- Attempts to use less common lexical items but may not always use them appropriately.
- Makes some errors in word choice and collocation.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy (Band 6.5)
- Uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms.
- Makes some errors in grammar and punctuation, but they do not impede understanding.
- Uses a mix of tenses and sentence structures appropriately.
Vocabulary Highlights
- Foundation (noun): the basis or groundwork of anything. Example: Rules are the foundation of any society.
- Harmony (noun): a consistent, orderly, or pleasing arrangement of parts. Example: Following rules is crucial for maintaining order and harmony.
- Framework (noun): a basic structure underlying a system, concept, or text. Example: Rules provide a framework for behavior.
- Predictable (adjective): able to be predicted or foretold. Example: Rules ensure that people act in a predictable and acceptable manner.
- Descend (verb): to move or fall downwards. Example: Without rules, society would descend into chaos.
- Status quo (noun): the existing state or condition. Example: Challenging the status quo can lead to progress.
- Dogma (noun): a principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true. Example: Scientists like Galileo defied religious dogma.
- Advancements (noun): the process of developing or moving forward. Example: Many significant advancements have been made by people who challenged the status quo.
- Outweigh (verb): to be greater in number, amount, or importance. Example: Breaking rules should only be done when the benefits outweigh the risks.
- Blindly (adverb): without thought or consideration. Example: Blindly breaking rules can lead to negative consequences.
- Imprisonment (noun): the state of being confined in prison. Example: Breaking laws can lead to imprisonment.
- Strike a balance (idiom): to achieve a balance between two opposing forces or influences. Example: It is important to strike a balance between following and breaking rules.
- Chaos (noun): complete confusion and disorder. Example: Without rules, society would descend into chaos.
- Activists (noun): a person who campaigns vigorously for some kind of social or political change. Example: Civil rights activists broke laws to fight for equality.
- Ultimately (adverb): used to emphasize the final outcome or conclusion. Example: Their actions ultimately benefited society.
Common Mistakes Students Make
- Not addressing both views: Some students focus solely on one side of the argument and fail to discuss the opposing view.
- Lack of examples: Students often present their arguments without providing sufficient examples to support their points.
- Poor organization: Some responses lack clear paragraphing and logical progression of ideas.
- Overuse of simple vocabulary: Students often rely on basic vocabulary and fail to use a mix of simple and complex lexical items.
- Grammatical errors: Common grammatical errors include subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, and article usage.
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