Scorify.uzThe question
Children today spend a lot of time looking at screens. What are the reasons for this and what effects does it have on them?
Write at least 250 words.
What the question asks
Two questions: reasons and effects. Write one body paragraph for reasons and another for effects, using specific points.
Essay plan
- Introduction: Paraphrase and say reasons are availability, busy parents and entertainment, with mixed effects.
- Body 1: reasons: Easy access to devices, busy parents, attractive content, fewer outdoor spaces.
- Body 2: effects: Less exercise and sleep, shorter attention span, but some educational benefits.
- Conclusion: Balanced, supervised use is best.
Band 7+ sample essay
It is common to see young children watching videos or playing games on phones and tablets. This essay will explain why they spend so much time on screens and consider the effects of this habit.
There are several reasons for the trend. Devices are now cheap and available in almost every home, and many parents give a tablet to their children to keep them quiet while they work or cook. Apps and videos are designed to be attractive and addictive, with bright colours and constant rewards. In addition, in crowded cities, safe places for children to play outdoors are limited, so screens become the easiest form of entertainment.
The effects can be both negative and positive. Children who spend many hours online usually exercise less, which contributes to obesity, and they may sleep poorly if they use devices at night. Their attention span can become shorter, and they may have fewer face-to-face interactions, which are important for developing social skills. On the other hand, educational apps and programmes can help children learn languages, numbers and creative skills when used with supervision.
The key factor is the amount of time and the type of content.
Cultural and economic factors play a role as well. In families where both parents work long hours, grandparents or nannies may use devices to keep children occupied, and expensive after-school activities are not available to everyone. Therefore, solutions should include affordable clubs and play areas so that screens are not the only option.
In conclusion, children spend time on screens because of easy access, parents' busy lives and attractive content, and while heavy use is harmful, limited and supervised use can be beneficial.
277 words.
Why this essay scores well
- Task Response: every part of the question is answered and the position stays consistent from the introduction to the conclusion.
- Coherence and Cohesion: each paragraph has one clear idea, linked with natural connectors rather than a list of memorised phrases.
- Lexical Resource: topic vocabulary is precise and varied, without forcing rare words.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: a mix of simple and complex sentences, with conditionals and relative clauses used accurately.
Useful vocabulary
- screen time — time spent using screens
- attention span — how long someone can focus
- addictive — hard to stop using
- face-to-face interaction — communication in person
- supervision — adult watching over
- sedentary lifestyle — a lifestyle with little movement
- educational app — an app designed to teach
Common mistakes on this question
- Writing only about effects or only about reasons.
- Using only negative examples.
- Writing about teenagers when the question says children.
Study guides
Computer-Delivered IELTS: What Changes and What Stays the Same
Thinking about taking IELTS on a computer? Here is what stays the same, what feels different in Writing, Reading and Listening, and how to prepare for the screen.
IELTS Writing Task 1 Vocabulary for Graphs, Charts and Processes
Useful verbs, nouns, adverbs and sentence patterns for describing line graphs, bar charts, tables and processes in IELTS Task 1, with more than twelve example sentences.
Linking Words for IELTS and How to Use Them Correctly
A practical list of IELTS linking words grouped by function, with correct and incorrect examples, punctuation rules and a warning about overusing connectors.
Frequently asked questions
What type of essay is this IELTS Task 2 question?
It is a two-part question question. Two questions: reasons and effects. Write one body paragraph for reasons and another for effects, using specific points.
How many words should the essay be?
Write at least 250 words. Most strong answers are 260–290 words, planned in about five minutes and completed in 40 minutes.
How many paragraphs should I write?
Four paragraphs work well: an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. Each body paragraph needs one main idea, an explanation and an example.