IELTS Academic Writing Task 2 Topic: Advantages and Disadvantages of New Technology

Updated On Oct 19, 2021

IELTS Academic Writing Task 2 Topic: Advantages and Disadvantages of New Technology

Contents

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1 Outline
2 Sample Essay
3 Band 9 Sample Essay
- - 3.0.1 More Writing Task 2 Essay Topics

New technologies have changed the way children spend their free time. Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages

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Outline

Essay Type

Advantages Disadvantages Essay

Introduction

Introduce the given topic and reflect on what does the statement entail.
Clearly state the preferred side (Disadvantage)

Body
Paragraph 1: State the advantages of technology. (Children tend to enjoy playing computer games, and such games might help improve their cognitive development.)
Paragraph 2: State the disadvantage of technology. (One main drawback is that children who enjoy spending time in front of the computer screen are often reluctant to do exercise.)

Conclusion

Clearly conclude with the supported notion.

Sample Essay

Currently, it is true that the way children spend their leisure time has been changed by new technology. While this has several benefits, I believe that the drawbacks far outweigh them.

On the one hand, there are some advantages to children spending their spare time on advanced technologies. Firstly, many children tend to enjoy playing computer games, and such games might help improve their cognitive development. For example, strategic games require players to be good at problem-solving and be able to deal with unexpected situations, so children who play these games can better their logical thinking and problem-solving skills. Secondly, since the source of online information is huge and readily available, young people might benefit from early exposure to the Internet. If people are able to browse the Internet at a young age, they can start their learning process earlier, and as a result, can advance their knowledge as they grow up.

However, I would argue that the advantages discussed above are outweighed by the disadvantages. One main drawback is that children who enjoy spending time in front of the computer screen are often reluctant to do exercise. Low physical activity levels are likely to result in children becoming overweight, and in turn, they would end up being obese. In addition, some games tempt people to continue playing for hours, which could lead to gaming addiction. In role-playing games, for instance, people might need to stay in front of the computer for several hours in order to progress to higher levels, and therefore children may spend an excessive amount of time on games.

In conclusion, while there are some advantages to children spending time on advanced technologies, it seems to me that the disadvantages are more significant.

Band 9 Sample Essay

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Technology has been triumphant over sundry verticals nowadays which has modified the leisure time spent by the children around. Although that comes along with the pace digitization has been moving ahead with and could prove advantageous in the same regard, however, it has its major share of drawbacks that supersedes its advantages in the long marathon. In the forthcoming paragraphs, this essay will analyze both sides.

There are a few pros to children putting their hours of free time in learning the advancement of the technologies and the modus operandi of the same as that keeps them moving and aligning with the dynamic world, especially, during current times. It enhances their digital knowledge that somehow has become the need of the hour in every walks of life. Not only does it improvise their techno acumen, but also keeps them engrossed and absorbed and hence magnifies their wizardry in this domain. For instance, learning coding, programming, and web development aggrandizes their discernment and thereby, prepares them for employment opportunities.

Nevertheless, there are a plethora of significant downsides to that, as well. The exposure and access children get at such a tender age to the avenues of the digital world has often proven to be potentially hazardous to the personalities and thought processes of children using them more. It has been surveyed that teenagers are more prone and vulnerable to be fallen into the trap of cybercrimes and phishing. Moreover, vehement content and certain sites are doing more harm than good. Health demerits again are found very predominantly amongst the segment of children indulged heavily in the usage of computers, be it, obesity, dry eyes symptoms, stress, migraine, etc. Graphic violence again is one of the most pronounced dynamics when it comes to the adverse foreground. Certain games like “Bluewhale” were proscribed after multiple cases were registered against its effects on the younger generation that was reportedly committing suicide post reaching the final stage of the game.

All in all, it could be concluded that although technical expansion is a requirement right now, the pitfalls of children spending their free time on the same often overtakes its advantages and is riskier in the long run.

Bonus questions:

Computers are being used in almost all sectors and we are becoming more dependent on this machine. What are the possible future usages of computers and what are the benefits and drawbacks of the extensive usages of computers in our life?
We are becoming increasingly dependent on computers. They are used in business, crime detection and even to fly planes. What things will they be used for in future? Is this dependence on computers a good thing or should we be more suspicious of their benefits?
Modern technology now allows rapid and uncontrolled access and exchange of information. Far from being beneficial, this is a danger to our society. What is your view?
Earlier technological developments brought more benefits and changed the lives of ordinary people more than recent developments ever will. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
The presence of technology in the classroom has become more and more apparent and offers students tremendous resources with which to supplement their education. Given time, technology will completely replace the traditional teacher in the classroom.
The internet has brought about many changes into our day to day life. Nowadays we are doing things such as mailing, contacting, banking and communication much faster. Do these developments have more advantages than disadvantages?

Practice IELTS Writing Task 2 based on Essay types

IELTS Opinion Essay

IELTS Discussion Essay

IELTS Problem Solution Essay

IELTS Direct Question Essay

IELTS Advantage and Disadvantage Essay

IELTS Band 9 Essays

Zuhana

Nafia Zuhana is an experienced content writer and IELTS Trainer. Currently, she is guiding students who are appearing for IELTS General and Academic exams through ieltsmaterial.com. With an 8.5 score herself, she trains and provides test takers with strategies, tips, and nuances on how to crack the IELTS Exam. She holds a degree in Master of Arts – Creative Writing, Oxford Brookes University, UK. She has worked with The Hindu for over a year as an English language trainer.

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Post your Comments

3 Comments

Maimuna Zaman

Posted on Aug 21, 2021

The development of new technologies has drastically changed the way children spend their free time. This fact has both advantages and disadvantages and in this essay, I will discuss both. In my opinion, I firmly believe the disadvantages outweigh the advantages and that is because the emergence of these new technologies have had bad effects on children’s health and turned them into lazy sloth bears.
To begin with, the arrival of this modern machinery has been beneficial for the little ones. Machines like computers, laptops, tablets, i-phones provide an open window for these little ones to grasp more knowledge and broaden their horizons. In their free time they can read articles, books apart from their academic guides on computers, laptops and learn about geography, astronomy and other things. With the advancement of science, they can socialise with kids from other countries and learn their cultures and languages.
On the contrary, the development of this modern automation had an immense amount of bad effects on kids’ lives. For instance, in their spare hours, they stay indoors playing video games instead of going out and participating in outdoor activities. As a result, young ones are falling prey to obesity and laziness at a very young age. According to some recent reports and studies in the US heart problems, obesity and other ailments have become common in teenagers now. To put it more simply, in the past teenagers used to be more active and their life expectancy rates used to be higher as they used to spend their spare hours playing outdoor games like football, cricket and many different sports.
To conclude, like the two sides of a coin there are both benefits and downfalls to the emergence of modern automation. As mentioned earlier in the essay, I hold the view that the disadvantages of this contemporary machinery outweigh the advantages as they have awful effects on children’s well-being.

Adithya Sridhar

Posted on Aug 18, 2021

Yes, I agree to the fact that the spare time of children are easily influenced by the modern technological advancements. However, these evolving technologies help them stay updated to the digital world, still it is a wolf under the skin of a sheep as its negative impacts outweigh the benefits.
On one hand, the digitalization of the world has demanded the parents and the society to make their kids indulge with techs which would help them survive in the modern world. The gaming sector has also started evolving targeting the younger generation with survival and strategy games that help in unlocking the logical and aptitude thinking in children. There are games and applications that are developed even for the newborns that would enhance their cerebral activity with multiple colors and patterns.
On the other hand, I would have to lend my voice to the fact that the digital era has totally disrupted the physical growth and activities of the children. Before the technical advancements, children would step out and play their favorite sport along with their real friends whatsoever the weather be. But the kids of these generation are deprived of the fun from outdoor and indoor games as they spend their leisure time in playing virtual games with virtual people who may be real or could be a bot. These have lead to medical and mental health problems like childhood obesity, retinal damage, syndromes.
In conclusion, even though the modern technology has improved the way and the pace in which a child learns and spend its free time, it also has its own adverse effects on the factors that are beyond our imagination.