IELTS Free Online Writing Practice - question and a sample response with a breakdown of the scoring according to the scoring standards
IELTS.WORK Free Online Writing Practice # 1713936637
IELTS Writing Task 2 question and a sample response with a breakdown of the scoring according to the IELTS scoring standards:
Task:
"Discuss the impact of industrial agriculture on soil health."
In this question, candidates are asked to take a stance and analyze the effects of industrial agriculture on soil health. To address this topic effectively, they should consider both the positive and negative impacts of industrial agriculture practices.
Here is a sample response:
Model Answer:
Industrial agriculture, characterized by large-scale monoculture farming, intensive livestock operations, and heavy reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, has been criticized for its potential adverse effects on soil health. While it is true that industrial agriculture can increase crop yield and productivity, which are essential to feed the world's growing population, it comes at a significant cost to the environment, particularly the soil.
On one hand, the large-scale monoculture farming practiced in industrial agriculture leads to the loss of biodiversity in the soil. As farmers grow single crops over vast tracts of land, they disrupt the natural ecosystem and reduce the variety of plants that can coexist in the same area. This lack of biodiversity reduces the soil's resilience and ability to recover from environmental stresses such as drought or pest infestations. Additionally, heavy reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides depletes the soil of essential nutrients and beneficial microorganisms that help maintain its health.
On the other hand, while industrial agriculture can lead to soil degradation in some cases, it also contributes to increased crop yield and food security. The use of advanced farming techniques and technologies allows farmers to produce more food with fewer resources, which is critical as global population continues to rise. Furthermore, industrial agriculture can help address food shortages in developing countries by providing a stable source of nutrition for millions of people.
In conclusion, while industrial agriculture has undoubtedly contributed to increased crop yield and food security, it also comes at the cost of soil health. As we continue to feed the world's growing population, it is essential that we find sustainable solutions that prioritize both agricultural productivity and environmental conservation.
Scoring:
- Task Response (4): The candidate has addressed all parts of the question and provided a well-rounded response. They have discussed the positive and negative impacts of industrial agriculture on soil health, as well as proposed potential solutions.
- Coherence and Cohesion (5): The candidate's response is logically structured and flows smoothly from one point to another. They have effectively used cohesive devices such as conjunctions, transitions, and restatements to create a coherent paragraph structure.
- Lexical Resource (4.5): The candidate has demonstrated an extensive vocabulary and a good range of synonyms, but occasionally uses less precise language or repetitive phrasing. There may be some errors in grammar or syntax that slightly reduce the overall lexical quality.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy (4.5): The candidate's response demonstrates a good command of complex grammar structures and a range of sentence types, but there are minor errors in grammar or punctuation that occur infrequently and do not impede the overall understanding of the response.
- Spelling and Punctuation (5): The candidate's response is free from spelling and punctuation errors, contributing to a high level of accuracy and readability.
Overall
Score: 4.3/5
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