IELTS Writing Task 2: Natural Disasters - Band 6.5 Sample with Full Breakdown
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Prompt
Some people believe that governments should invest more in preventing natural disasters, while others think that money should be spent on other priorities. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Model Answers
Band 6.5 Answer
Sample Answer
Natural disasters are becoming more frequent and severe, so some people argue that governments should invest more in prevention. However, others believe that money should be spent on other priorities. Both views have merit, but I believe that prevention is more important.
On one hand, investing in disaster prevention can save lives and reduce damage. For example, building better infrastructure and early warning systems can help communities prepare for disasters. Additionally, preventing disasters can save money in the long run by reducing the cost of recovery. However, some people argue that money spent on prevention could be used for other priorities, such as education or healthcare. They believe that natural disasters are unpredictable and that it is better to focus on immediate needs.
In my opinion, prevention is more important. While it is true that natural disasters are unpredictable, investing in prevention can still save lives and reduce damage. For example, better infrastructure can make communities more resilient to disasters, and early warning systems can give people time to evacuate. Additionally, preventing disasters can save money in the long run by reducing the cost of recovery. Therefore, I believe that governments should invest more in preventing natural disasters.
Scoring Breakdown
- Task Response (TR): The response addresses the task and presents a clear position, but the arguments are not fully developed. (Band 6)
- Coherence and Cohesion (CC): The response is organized into paragraphs, but the use of cohesive devices is limited. (Band 6)
- Lexical Resource (LR): The response uses a mix of appropriate and less precise vocabulary. (Band 6)
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA): The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but there are frequent grammatical errors. (Band 6)
Band 7.0 Answer
Sample Answer
Natural disasters are a growing concern, and there is a debate about whether governments should invest more in prevention or focus on other priorities. Both views have valid points, but I believe that prevention is crucial.
Those who argue for investing in disaster prevention point out that it can save lives and reduce damage. For instance, building better infrastructure and early warning systems can help communities prepare for disasters. Moreover, preventing disasters can save money in the long run by reducing the cost of recovery. However, others argue that money spent on prevention could be used for other priorities, such as education or healthcare. They believe that natural disasters are unpredictable and that it is better to focus on immediate needs.
In my opinion, prevention is more important. While it is true that natural disasters are unpredictable, investing in prevention can still save lives and reduce damage. For example, better infrastructure can make communities more resilient to disasters, and early warning systems can give people time to evacuate. Additionally, preventing disasters can save money in the long run by reducing the cost of recovery. Therefore, I believe that governments should invest more in preventing natural disasters.
Scoring Breakdown
- Task Response (TR): The response addresses the task and presents a clear position with developed arguments. (Band 7)
- Coherence and Cohesion (CC): The response is well-organized and uses a range of cohesive devices effectively. (Band 7)
- Lexical Resource (LR): The response uses a mix of appropriate and less precise vocabulary, with some less common lexical items. (Band 7)
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA): The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, with some grammatical errors but generally good control. (Band 7)
Band 8.0 Answer
Sample Answer
The increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters have sparked a debate about whether governments should prioritize prevention or allocate resources to other areas. While both views have merit, I firmly believe that investing in disaster prevention is more beneficial.
Proponents of investing in disaster prevention argue that it can save lives and minimize damage. For example, constructing robust infrastructure and implementing early warning systems can enhance community preparedness. Furthermore, preventive measures can yield long-term financial benefits by reducing recovery costs. However, critics contend that funds earmarked for prevention could be better spent on other critical areas such as education or healthcare. They assert that the unpredictable nature of natural disasters makes prevention efforts less effective.
I strongly believe that prevention should be the priority. Although natural disasters are indeed unpredictable, proactive measures can significantly mitigate their impact. For instance, resilient infrastructure can enhance community resilience, and early warning systems can facilitate timely evacuations. Additionally, the long-term financial savings from preventive measures outweigh the initial investment. Therefore, governments should allocate more resources to disaster prevention.
Scoring Breakdown
- Task Response (TR): The response addresses the task and presents a clear position with fully developed arguments and examples. (Band 8)
- Coherence and Cohesion (CC): The response is well-organized and uses a wide range of cohesive devices effectively. (Band 8)
- Lexical Resource (LR): The response uses a mix of appropriate and less precise vocabulary, with some less common lexical items used effectively. (Band 8)
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA): The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, with some grammatical errors but generally good control. (Band 8)
Vocabulary Highlights
- Frequent: Happening often. Example: Natural disasters are becoming more frequent.
- Severe: Very serious or extreme. Example: Natural disasters are becoming more severe.
- Invest: To spend money or time on something. Example: Governments should invest more in prevention.
- Prevention: The act of stopping something from happening. Example: Investing in disaster prevention can save lives.
- Infrastructure: The basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society. Example: Building better infrastructure can help communities prepare for disasters.
- Resilient: Able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions. Example: Better infrastructure can make communities more resilient to disasters.
- Evacuate: To leave a place of danger. Example: Early warning systems can give people time to evacuate.
- Unpredictable: Not able to be predicted. Example: Natural disasters are unpredictable.
- Immediate: Happening or done without delay. Example: It is better to focus on immediate needs.
- Priorities: Things that are considered more important than others. Example: Money should be spent on other priorities.
- Allocate: To distribute something as needed. Example: Governments should allocate more resources to disaster prevention.
- Mitigate: To make something less severe. Example: Proactive measures can significantly mitigate the impact of natural disasters.
- Robust: Strong and sturdy. Example: Constructing robust infrastructure can enhance community preparedness.
- Earmarked: Designated for a specific purpose. Example: Funds earmarked for prevention could be better spent on other critical areas.
- Yield: To produce or provide. Example: Preventive measures can yield long-term financial benefits.
- Proactive: Taking action to control a situation rather than just responding to it. Example: Proactive measures can significantly mitigate the impact of natural disasters.
- Facilitate: To make something easier. Example: Early warning systems can facilitate timely evacuations.
- Outweigh: To be more important or significant than something else. Example: The long-term financial savings from preventive measures outweigh the initial investment.
- Allocate: To distribute something as needed. Example: Governments should allocate more resources to disaster prevention.
- Proponents: People who support a particular idea or cause. Example: Proponents of investing in disaster prevention argue that it can save lives.
- Critics: People who express disapproval of something. Example: Critics contend that funds earmarked for prevention could be better spent on other critical areas.
- Assert: To state something confidently. Example: They assert that the unpredictable nature of natural disasters makes prevention efforts less effective.
- Enhance: To increase or improve something. Example: Constructing robust infrastructure can enhance community preparedness.
- Timely: Done at the right time. Example: Early warning systems can facilitate timely evacuations.
- Initial: Happening at the beginning. Example: The long-term financial savings from preventive measures outweigh the initial investment.
Common Mistakes
- Lack of Clear Position: Some students fail to present a clear position on the issue, making it difficult to evaluate their response.
- Inadequate Development of Arguments: Students often present arguments without sufficient development or examples, leading to a lower score.
- Poor Organization: Responses that are poorly organized or lack clear paragraphs can be difficult to follow and may receive a lower score for coherence and cohesion.
- Limited Vocabulary: Using a limited range of vocabulary can result in a lower score for lexical resource. Students should aim to use a variety of appropriate and less common lexical items.
- Grammatical Errors: Frequent grammatical errors can detract from the overall quality of the response and result in a lower score for grammatical range and accuracy.
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