IELTS Writing Task 2: Racism - Band 7.0 Sample with Full Breakdown

Related guides:

• IELTS Writing Task 2 Renewable Energy Two Part Question…
• IELTS Writing Task 2: Recycling (Discussion) — Band 6/7/8/9…
• IELTS Writing Task 2: Climate Change Discussion Sample Band…
• IELTS Writing Task 2 Renewable Energy Agree Disagree Sample…
• IELTS Writing Task 2 Deforestation Two Part Question Sample…

The Prompt

Some people believe that racism is no longer a major problem in modern societies. Others argue that racism still exists and is a significant issue. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Note: This is a paraphrased version of a common IELTS Writing Task 2 question.

Band 7.0 Sample Answer

Racism has been a persistent issue throughout history, but some people argue that it is no longer a significant problem in today's societies. While it is true that many countries have made progress in combating racism, I believe that it still exists and continues to affect people's lives.

On one hand, there are several reasons why people might think racism is no longer a major problem. Firstly, laws and policies have been implemented in many countries to prevent discrimination based on race. For example, the United States has the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits racial discrimination in various areas of life. Additionally, there has been an increase in awareness and education about racism, leading to more people recognizing and speaking out against it. Social media platforms have also provided a space for marginalized voices to be heard, raising awareness about ongoing racial issues.

However, despite these advancements, racism still persists in many forms. One of the most visible manifestations is institutional racism, where policies and practices within institutions disadvantage certain racial groups. For instance, studies have shown that people with ethnic-sounding names are less likely to get job interviews compared to those with traditionally white-sounding names, even with identical qualifications. Moreover, hate crimes based on race continue to occur, and many people still experience racial slurs and discrimination in their daily lives. These examples demonstrate that racism is still a significant issue that needs to be addressed.

In conclusion, while progress has been made in combating racism, it is evident that it still exists and affects many people's lives. It is crucial for societies to continue working towards eliminating racism and promoting equality for all.

Scoring Breakdown

Task Response (TR): Band 7

• Presents a clear position throughout the response
• Presents, extends, and supports main trends/arguments but with some limitations
• Provides relevant, appropriate, and sufficient support for the position
• Concludes with a clear summary that is consistent with the position

Coherence and Cohesion (CC): Band 7

• Arranges information and ideas coherently
• Uses cohesion adequately, though there may be some ambiguity or less precise references
• Uses a mix of cohesive devices appropriately, but some may be mechanical or overused

Lexical Resource (LR): Band 7

• Uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision
• Uses less common lexical items with some awareness of style and collocation
• May make some errors in word choice and collocation, but they do not impede communication

Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA): Band 7

• Uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms
• Makes some errors in grammar and punctuation, but they do not obscure meaning
• Has a good control of basic grammar and punctuation, with some minor errors

Vocabulary Highlights

1. Persistent: continuing firmly or obstinately, especially despite difficulty or opposition

• Example: Racism has been a persistent issue throughout history.

1. Manifestations: the way in which something is shown or expressed

• Example: One of the most visible manifestations is institutional racism.

1. Disadvantage: to put someone in a worse position or condition

• Example: Institutional racism disadvantages certain racial groups.

1. Hate crimes: crimes that are motivated by bias against race, color, religion, or national origin

• Example: Hate crimes based on race continue to occur.

1. Racial slurs: insulting or contemptuous words used to refer to a person or group on the basis of race or ethnicity

• Example: Many people still experience racial slurs and discrimination in their daily lives.

1. Eliminating: to remove or get rid of something completely

• Example: It is crucial for societies to continue working towards eliminating racism.

1. Promoting: to support or actively encourage something to happen or develop

• Example: Promoting equality for all.

1. Implemented: to put something into effect or to make something happen

• Example: Laws and policies have been implemented in many countries to prevent discrimination based on race.

1. Prohibits: to officially forbid something, especially by law

• Example: The Civil Rights Act prohibits racial discrimination.

1. Marginalized: treated as unimportant or insignificant by the majority of people or institutions

• Example: Social media platforms have provided a space for marginalized voices to be heard.

1. Raising awareness: making people conscious of an issue or situation

• Example: Raising awareness about ongoing racial issues.

1. Identical: exactly the same

• Example: People with ethnic-sounding names are less likely to get job interviews compared to those with identical qualifications.

1. Addressing: to deal with a problem or difficult situation

• Example: These examples demonstrate that racism is still a significant issue that needs to be addressed.

1. Advantages: a favorable or beneficial circumstance or opportunity

• Example: While progress has been made in combating racism, it is evident that it still exists and affects many people's lives.

1. Crucial: of great importance

• Example: It is crucial for societies to continue working towards eliminating racism.

1. Equality: the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, or opportunities

• Example: Promoting equality for all.

1. Combating: to take action to reduce, prevent, or overcome something bad or undesirable

• Example: While progress has been made in combating racism.

1. Recognizing: to identify someone or something from previous encounters or knowledge

• Example: There has been an increase in awareness and education about racism, leading to more people recognizing and speaking out against it.

1. Speaking out: to express one's opinions or thoughts publicly, especially in protest or opposition

• Example: Speaking out against racism.

1. Platforms: a place, time, or opportunity for something to be done or expressed

• Example: Social media platforms have provided a space for marginalized voices to be heard.

Common Mistakes Students Make

1. Not presenting a clear position: Students often try to present both sides equally without taking a clear stance, which can result in a lower Task Response score.

1. Lack of specific examples: General statements without supporting details can weaken the argument and reduce the Lexical Resource and Task Response scores.

1. Poor organization: Without a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion, the Coherence and Cohesion score can suffer.

1. Overusing simple sentence structures: Using only simple sentences can limit the Grammatical Range and Accuracy score. Students should aim to use a mix of simple and complex sentences.

1. Incorrect word choice and collocation: Using words incorrectly or inappropriately can negatively impact the Lexical Resource score.

Get Your Own Response Scored by AI on English AIdol

Want to see how your response would score? Try English AIdol's AI scoring tool to get instant feedback on your IELTS Writing Task 2 responses.

FAQs

Q: What is the difference between a Band 6.0 and a Band 7.0 response?

A: A Band 6.0 response presents a position but may not extend or support it adequately. The language may be less precise, and there may be more frequent errors in grammar and vocabulary. A Band 7.0 response presents a clear position with some development, uses a mix of simple and complex vocabulary accurately, and shows some organization with occasional coherence issues.

Q: How can I improve my vocabulary for IELTS Writing Task 2?

A: To improve your vocabulary, read widely from various sources such as newspapers, books, and academic journals. Make a list of new words and their meanings, and practice using them in sentences. Additionally, learn common collocations and phrases to enhance your lexical resource score.

Q: What is the ideal length for an IELTS Writing Task 2 response?

A: The ideal length for an IELTS Writing Task 2 response is at least 250 words. However, it's not just about the length; the quality of your arguments, vocabulary, and grammar is more important. Aim for a well-structured response with clear ideas and supporting details.

Q: How can I improve my coherence and cohesion in IELTS Writing Task 2?

A: To improve your coherence and cohesion, use a clear structure with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Use cohesive devices such as linking words, pronouns, and conjunctions to connect your ideas. Additionally, ensure that your ideas flow logically and that each paragraph focuses on one main idea.

Q: What are some common mistakes students make in IELTS Writing Task 2?

A: Some common mistakes students make in IELTS Writing Task 2 include not presenting a clear position, lack of specific examples, poor organization, overusing simple sentence structures, and incorrect word choice and collocation. To avoid these mistakes, practice writing regularly and get feedback on your responses.

Q: How is IELTS Writing Task 2 scored?

A: IELTS Writing Task 2 is scored based on four criteria: Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Each criterion is scored on a band scale from 0 to 9, and the average of the four scores determines your overall band score for the task.

Q: Can I use personal experiences in IELTS Writing Task 2?

A: While you can use personal experiences to support your arguments, it's important to ensure that they are relevant and add value to your response. However, relying solely on personal experiences without any supporting evidence or examples may weaken your argument and result in a lower score.

Stats Callouts

Label: Average Band Score for IELTS Writing Task 2 Value: 5.5 Source: IELTS Global Statistics Report 2023

Label: Percentage of test-takers achieving Band 7.0 or above in IELTS Writing Task 2 Value: 35% Source: IELTS Global Statistics Report 2023

Label: Most common mistake in IELTS Writing Task 2 Value: Lack of specific examples Source: Cambridge Assessment English Research Notes

Target Keywords

• IELTS Writing Task 2 racism Band 7.0 sample answer
• IELTS Writing Task 2 racism essay
• IELTS Writing Task 2 Band 7.0 sample
• IELTS Writing Task 2 scoring criteria
• IELTS Writing Task 2 vocabulary

Internal Link Suggestions

• Anchor Text: IELTS Writing Task 2 Band 8.0 sample answer

Target Topic: IELTS Writing Task 2 Band 8.0 sample answer with full breakdown

• Anchor Text: IELTS Writing Task 2 Band 6.0 sample answer

Target Topic: IELTS Writing Task 2 Band 6.0 sample answer with full breakdown

• Anchor Text: IELTS Writing Task 2 Band 9.0 sample answer

Target Topic: IELTS Writing Task 2 Band 9.0 sample answer with full breakdown

• Anchor Text: IELTS Writing Task 2 scoring criteria explained

Target Topic: IELTS Writing Task 2 scoring criteria explained in detail

• Anchor Text: IELTS Writing Task 2 vocabulary list

Target Topic: IELTS Writing Task 2 vocabulary list with definitions and examples

• Anchor Text: Common mistakes in IELTS Writing Task 2

Target Topic: Common mistakes in IELTS Writing Task 2 and how to avoid them

• Anchor Text: IELTS Writing Task 2 tips and strategies

Target Topic: IELTS Writing Task 2 tips and strategies to improve your score

• Anchor Text: IELTS Writing Task 1 vs. IELTS Writing Task 2

Target Topic: IELTS Writing Task 1 vs. IELTS Writing Task 2: key differences and similarities

• Anchor Text: IELTS Writing Task 2 sample answers for different topics

Target Topic: IELTS Writing Task 2 sample answers for different topics and question types

• Anchor Text: How to structure IELTS Writing Task 2

Target Topic: How to structure IELTS Writing Task 2 for a higher score

• Anchor Text: IELTS Writing Task 2 time management tips

Target Topic: IELTS Writing Task 2 time management tips to complete the task within 40 minutes

Howto Steps

Empty array as this is not a how-to page