Newspapers Are Less Important Nowadays – IELTS Writing Task 2

Nehasri Ravishenbagam

8 min read

Updated On Aug 02, 2024

Get access to the expert-curated IELTS Writing Task 2 Agree/disagree esample answers of 'Newspapers Are Less Important Nowadays'

Question
Structure Breakdown
Band 7 Sample Answer For IELTS Writing Task 2 Question – Newspapers Are Less Important Nowadays
Band 8 Sample Answer For IELTS Writing Task 2 Question – Newspapers Are Less Important Nowadays
Band 9 Sample Answer For IELTS Writing Task 2 Question – Newspapers Are Less Important Nowadays
Connectors Used in the Above Sample Answers of Newspapers Are Less Important Nowadays

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Agree Disagree essays, like ‘Newspapers Are Less Important Nowadays’, are the most common type of questions in IELTS Writing Task 2.

In contrast to classic IELTS Agree Disagree Essays, ‘To what extent do you agree or disagree’ questions do not specifically ask you to declare your level of agreement or disagreement with the statement. You can either say for or against the notion or partly agree or disagree with it. Once you’ve made up your mind, come up with two or three arguments in favour of it.

Since IELTS Writing Task 2 can be challenging for many candidates, practicing topics like, ‘Newspapers Are Less Important Nowadays’ will help you acquaint yourself with the format of structuring an IELTS Agree Disagree essay. Also, if you want to practice regularly, check out the IELTS Writing Practice Tests.

Let’s have a look at the Agree Disagree essay – ‘Newspapers Are Less Important Nowadays’ – with three expert-curated sample answers for different IELTS band scores.

Question

You should spend 40 minutes on this task.
Newspapers are less important nowadays because we have up-to-date access to the news on the internet. Do you agree or disagree?
You should write at least 250 words.

Structure Breakdown

Essay Type

Agree or Disagree Essay

Introduction

Paraphrase the question
Give your opinion
Write the thesis statement

Main Body Paragraph 1

First main point
Detailed explanation of why you support the point
Relevant examples, if any

Main Body Paragraph 2

Second main point
Detailed explanation of why you support the point
Relevant examples, if any

Conclusion

Summarise your opinion. Give recommendations, if any.

Band 7 Sample Answer For IELTS Writing Task 2 Question – Newspapers Are Less Important Nowadays

A growing number of people are indeed using the Internet to find out the latest news. While newspapers are still popular, I strongly disagree that most people will continue to rely on them as a source of news.

The first reason for my view relates to the increasing use of the Internet around the world. Recently, a growing number of people have accessed online news via technological gadgets such as smartphones or tablets, so they do not need to buy a newspaper to obtain news. Even in more remote corners of the world, access to the Internet is becoming more widespread and the online community is growing daily.

Secondly, online news is always up-to-date while printed news needs time for editing, printing and delivering. In this fast-changing world, readers tend to expect updated information about what has just happened or is happening around them. Online news can be broadcast immediately with vivid pictures and relevant stories, making it more appealing to readers than printed news.

Finally, the Internet is a repository of information for people to dig for information that they need. Digital information can be stored in mass quantity, which allows Internet users to search for events that occurred in the past. In contrast, newspapers are generally hard to preserve because of the destructive effects of the environment and their sheer bulk makes storage difficult. This once again confirms the edge of online news.

In conclusion, I firmly believe that the Internet is even now replacing newspapers as the principal medium for accessing all the latest news. (258 Words)

Band 7 Vocabulary

Rely

Meaning: Depend on with trust or confidence.

Example: I strongly disagree that most people will continue to rely on newspapers as a primary source of news.

Accessed

Meaning: Entered or reached.

Example: People have accessed online news via technological gadgets like smartphones.

Widespread

Meaning: Found or distributed over a large area or among a large number of people.

Example: Access to the Internet is becoming more widespread even in remote corners of the world.

Up-to-date

Meaning: Current; reflecting the latest information.

Example: Online news is always up-to-date, meeting the expectations of readers in a fast-changing world.

Broadcast

Meaning: Transmit or air (a program or some information) by radio or television.

Example: Online news can be broadcast immediately with vivid pictures and relevant stories.

Repository

Meaning: A place where things are stored or held.

Example: The Internet serves as a repository of information for people to dig for what they need.

Sheer

Meaning: Complete; absolute; nothing other than.

Example: The sheer bulk of newspapers makes storage difficult.

Edge

Meaning: An advantage or superiority.

Example: This once again confirms the edge of online news over traditional newspapers.

Principal

Meaning: Main or most important.

Example: The author firmly believes that the Internet is now replacing newspapers as the principal medium for accessing the latest news.

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Band 8 Sample Answer For IELTS Writing Task 2 Question – Newspapers Are Less Important Nowadays

In the modern world, obtaining news on the Internet has become an accelerating trend. I have faith in the likelihood of this trend overshadowing the traditional way of reading newspapers to become the most crucial source of news.

Firstly, the most obvious proof supporting my viewpoint is the decline in the popularity of traditional newspapers. Conventional newspapers are characterized by a thorough and time-consuming process of editing, printing, and distributing. This turns out to be a weakness that causes newspapers to fail to meet the instant quest for news of modern newsreaders. In addition, because printed newspapers are geographically limited, their reach and exposure levels are becoming substantially lower than those of online news.

Apparently, it is online press, not the traditional one, which helps news seekers all over the globe access local news as well as global news published by a variety of internationally prestigious newspapers including BBC, New York Times, and Wall Street Journal. Such availability of online news far outweighs that of printed news, steadily dominating the news industry.

Moreover, the advantages of online news significantly surpass those of printed newspapers. In this era of advanced technology and communication, the omnipresence of the Internet and the availability of Internet devices have boosted the popularity of online news to the extent that the concept of buying and reading a printed newspaper would become obsolete and inconvenient. Online platforms which facilitate fast-moving and immediate news updates will certainly become the utmost solution to satisfy increasing demand and busy news seekers. Thanks to Internet-based platforms, news about an incident happening half the world away could be retrieved within a few seconds after its commencement, which renders news updates one day later on conventional newspapers out of date.

In conclusion, even though printed newspapers still hold an important role, I firmly support the tendency that they will be overshadowed by online news. (310 Words)

Band 8 Vocabulary

Accelerating

Meaning: Increasing in speed or rate.

Example: The trend of obtaining news on the Internet is accelerating in the modern world.

Overshadowing

Meaning: Casting a shadow over; dominating or surpassing.

Example: The dominance of online news is overshadowing the traditional way of reading newspapers.

Quest

Meaning: A search or pursuit.

Example: Modern newsreaders have an instant quest for news, which traditional newspapers struggle to meet.

Geographically

Meaning: In terms of or concerning geography or location.

Example: Printed newspapers are geographically limited, impacting their reach and exposure.

Outweighs

Meaning: To be more significant or important than something else.

Example: The availability of online news far outweighs that of printed news in the modern era.

Obsolete

Meaning: No longer in use or valid; outdated.

Example: The concept of buying and reading a printed newspaper is becoming obsolete.

Inconvenient

Meaning: Causing difficulty or discomfort; not convenient.

Example: Reading a printed newspaper is considered inconvenient in comparison to online platforms.

Fast-moving

Meaning: Changing rapidly or progressing quickly.

Example: Online platforms facilitate fast-moving and immediate news updates.

Band 9 Sample Answer For IELTS Writing Task 2 Question – Newspapers Are Less Important Nowadays

Unlock Band 9 Sample Answer and Vocabulary!

The advent of the Internet and other forms of media in the twenty-first century has unquestionably brought about a transition in the way people seek knowledge and information. Newspapers, the one form of media which was once considered highly important, have now entered a state of significant and rapid decline in many places across the world. This has led to suggestions that newspapers will soon become a thing of the past. My way of thinking is that the death of newspapers is almost certain.

Firstly, many people are against reading newspapers because the process of making it is not environmentally sustainable. Even though newspapers today are losing their readerships, a staggering number of trees are being cut down every day to produce them. On the other hand, using digital tools to spread knowledge does not necessitate cutting down trees, or disrupting animal lives and certainly proves to be more environmentally friendly. Secondly, readers of newspapers are likely to receive out-of-date or incorrect information. The process of making a newspaper is long and complicated, involving many stages such as writing, editing, printing and distribution. This means that by the time newspapers hit the shelves, there might be some changes to the events covered and it will already be too late to make any adjustments.

Nevertheless, some are skeptical about the view that newspapers will die out and they argue that newspapers are a more reliable source of information than other types of media such as the Internet. However, the truth is that many journalists today display poor professionalism and low morality. Many do not think twice about writing incorrect information to increase the readership. This shows that the information in the newspapers is not any more trustworthy than on the Internet.

To conclude, these points have strongly corroborated my view that the decline of newspapers is not overstated and there will be no place for newspapers shortly.

(314 Words)

Band 9 Vocabulary

Unquestionably

Meaning: Without a doubt; certainly.

Example: The impact of the Internet on traditional media is unquestionably significant.

Sustainable

Meaning: Capable of being maintained over the long term without harming the environment.

Example: Digital media is considered more environmentally sustainable than traditional newspapers.

Out-of-date

Meaning: No longer current or applicable; obsolete.

Example: Newspapers may deliver out-of-date information due to the time-consuming production process.

Skeptical

Meaning: Doubtful or questioning the truth of something.

Example: Some individuals are sceptical about the imminent death of newspapers.

Professionalism

Meaning: The skill, competence, or character expected of a professional.

Example: The decline of newspapers is sometimes attributed to a lack of professionalism among journalists.

Morality

Meaning: Principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behaviour.

Example: The argument is made that some journalists lack morality, contributing to the decline of trust in newspapers.

Trustworthy

Meaning: Worthy of trust or confidence; reliable.

Example: The reliability of information in newspapers is questioned due to issues of trust in journalism.

Overstated

Meaning: Exaggerated or represented as being greater than is reasonable.

Example: The author believes that the decline of newspapers is not overstated and is a genuine concern for the industry.

Connectors Used in the Above Sample Answers of Newspapers Are Less Important Nowadays

Connectors, also known as connectives or transition words, are words or phrases that link ideas or parts of a sentence or paragraph together. Here are some of the connectors used in the above sample answers:

Firstly
On the other hand
Secondly
Nevertheless
Apparently
Moreover
Finally
Recently
In conclusion
To conclude

Remember to proofread your essay for grammar, vocabulary, and spelling errors. Combined with practice, these tips will help you write well-structured and coherent IELTS Writing Task 2 Agree/Disagree essays like the ‘Newspapers Are Less Important Nowadays – IELTS Writing Task 2.’