Technology Development | Writing for Academic IELTS PDF Download

When tackling an IELTS Writing Task 2 agree/disagree question, like the one about technology’s impact on people’s lives, you’ve got room to flex your opinion. This example shows how to approach a tricky topic—whether older or newer tech changes have shaped ordinary lives more—and still nail the task. Let’s break it down with a clear question, common pitfalls, and a sample answer that bends the rules smartly.

Take a look at the question below:
Q. 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?

Hint:

This question can trip you up if you’re not careful. Here’s what to avoid:

• Mixing Up “Ordinary People”: Don’t write about scientists or CEOs—“ordinary” means everyday folks like you and me.
• Missing “Ever Will”: This hints at the future—don’t just guess about tech not invented yet; focus on what’s already here.
• Old vs. New Confusion: Decide what’s “earlier” (e.g., fridges from decades ago) vs. “recent” (e.g., mobile internet)—don’t blur them.
• Going Off-Topic: Listing tech pros and cons without picking a side misses the point—answer the “more influence” bit.

Flexibility with your opinion

You don’t have to pick what the examiner might like—your opinion is yours, and they can’t mark you down for it. Just make sure it’s clear, answers the question, and stays the same all the way through. Most people might:

• Say older tech had the bigger impact and explain why.
• Or argue that newer tech wins and back it up.

But you can twist it! Maybe it’s not old vs. new—maybe some old tech rocks, and some new tech does too. It depends on what you’re talking about. As long as your essay explains this and compares both, you’re golden.

Sample Answer

Technology has reshaped our world over time, and some say older advances helped ordinary people more than newer ones ever will. I partly agree—it depends on the type of tech we’re looking at.

Take-home gadgets—some older inventions have been game-changers. Things like washing machines, fridges, and TVs came along ages ago, and now almost every home has them. They make life easier every day—washing clothes by hand is history! Sure, they’ve gotten fancier, but their big impact started way back.

Then there’s medicine. New stuff like gene research is exciting, but it’s not helping regular folks much yet—it’s years off. The real life-savers are older breakthroughs, like treating diseases or doing organ transplants. These have kept people alive for decades and still do.

But flip to recent tech, and phones stand out. They started simple, just for calls, but now they’re mobile and online. That’s huge—people use them for everything: chatting worldwide, shopping, learning. This shift in the last few decades has changed daily life.

So, I’d say it’s not about old or new—both matter. Older tech like home tools and medical fixes have massive benefits, but newer stuff like phones do, too. It all depends on what tech you mean.”

How It Works

This essay’s structure keeps it flexible yet tight:

• Intro: Says “it depends”—partly agrees, sets the stage.
• Body 1: Older home tech (big win back then).
• Body 2: Older medical tech (still key).
• Body 3: Newer phone tech (huge now).
• Conclusion: Ties it back—both old and new count, depending.

The writer doesn’t pick one side—they argue it’s about the tech type, comparing old and new examples to prove it. That’s flexibility done right.

Why It’s Smart

• Stick to “old wins” or “new wins,” but this shows you don’t have to.
• As long as your view is clear (e.g., “depends on the tech”), consistent, and backed up with examples, you’re hitting Task Achievement hard.
• Toss in words like “game-changers” or “breakthroughs” (Lexical Resource), and you’re on track for a top score.
• Play it your way—just keep it sharp and on-point!