TechnologyOpinion (Agree / Disagree)
IELTS Essay: Technology and Complexity (Band 9 vs 6.5)
In short
Below is a full Band 9 model answer to this IELTS Writing Task 2 question, the same question written at Band 6.5, and a criterion-by-criterion breakdown of exactly what separates them — so you can see what to change in your own writing. Then check your essay with the free tool.
The question
Some people believe that modern technology has made our lives more complicated rather than simpler. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
How to approach a Opinion (Agree / Disagree) question
For an agree/disagree question, decide your position before you write and make it unmistakable in the introduction. You can fully agree, fully disagree, or partially agree — all are fine — but you must then defend that single position consistently across both body paragraphs. The most common Task Response error here is sitting on the fence: giving arguments for both sides without ever committing to a view.
The plan
- 01Introduction: paraphrase the statement and state a clear position — technology has, on balance, simplified life rather than complicated it.
- 02Body 1: concede the counter-argument — notifications, constant connectivity and hard-to-use apps do create genuine friction for some people.
- 03Body 2: main argument — automation of chores and instant online services save time and effort, and these small gains are cumulative.
- 04Conclusion: restate that convenience clearly outweighs the confusion; ordinary life is simpler than it was a generation ago.
Band 9 model answer
It is often argued that the technological innovations of recent decades have burdened us with fresh complexities rather than easing our daily routines. While I accept that new devices bring their own frustrations, I would argue that, on balance, technology has made ordinary life considerably more manageable rather than more troublesome.
There is undeniably some truth in the claim that gadgets complicate our existence. The sheer volume of notifications, passwords and software updates we must juggle can leave people feeling perpetually distracted, and the pressure to remain reachable at all hours has blurred the boundary between work and rest. A grandparent baffled by a banking app is a familiar reminder that not every innovation is intuitive. For those who struggle to keep pace, technology can indeed feel like an additional chore rather than a relief.
Nevertheless, these irritations are minor when weighed against the enormous convenience that technology delivers. Tasks that once consumed entire afternoons—paying bills, booking travel or consulting a doctor—can now be completed in minutes from a single handset. Machines quietly handle the drudgery of washing, navigation and calculation, freeing us to devote our attention to more rewarding pursuits. Crucially, this ease is cumulative: each tool removes a small obstacle, and collectively they streamline the countless errands that used to fragment our days.
In conclusion, although modern technology occasionally overwhelms and demands that we adapt, its capacity to automate tedious tasks and compress time far outweighs the confusion it creates. For the vast majority of people, life today is simpler, not harder, than it was a generation ago.
The same question at Band 6.5
Nowadays technology is develop very fast and it change our life a lot. Some people think that it make our life more complicated, but other people disagree. In my opinion, I think technology make our life more simple, and I will explain my reasons in this essay.
Firstly, it is true that technology have some problems. For example, we get a lot of message and notification on our phone every day, and this can make us feel stress. Also, old people sometimes cannot use the new technology like apps and computer, so for them it is very difficult and complicated. Sometimes we also spend too much money to buy the newest phone and gadget, and after few months it become old already. This is one reason why some people don't like technology.
Secondly, but I believe technology make our life more easy in many ways. In the past, people must go to the bank or shop and wait long time, but now we can do everything on the internet in few minutes. For example, when I want to buy something, I can order it online and it come to my house, so I don't need to go outside. This is very helpful for busy people who don't have time. We can also talk with our family in other country very easy by video call. So technology save our time and it is very convenient for everybody.
In conclusion, technology have some bad points, but the good points is more than bad points. Therefore, I think technology make our life more simple, not more complicated, and we should use it in good way.
What separates them, criterion by criterion
| Criterion | Band 9 | Band 6.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Task Response | Takes and sustains a clear stance — 'on balance, technology has made ordinary life considerably more manageable' — and answers the counter-claim before rebutting it with developed examples. | States an opinion and addresses the task, but the ideas stay general and thinly developed ('technology save our time and it is very convenient for everybody'). |
| Coherence & Cohesion | Ideas progress logically with varied, unobtrusive links such as 'Nevertheless', 'Crucially' and 'when weighed against'. | Relies on mechanical signposts ('Firstly', 'Secondly, but', 'Also') and lists points rather than building them. |
| Lexical Resource | Uses precise, natural collocation: 'perpetually distracted', 'compress time' and 'the drudgery of washing'. | Repeats high-frequency phrasing ('make our life', 'more simple', 'very convenient') with limited flexibility. |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | Deploys a wide range of accurate complex structures, e.g. the dash-embedded list and 'Tasks that once consumed entire afternoons...can now be completed'. | Mostly simple sentences with frequent but non-impeding errors ('technology have', 'it change our life', 'more easy'). |
Examiner's note
The Band 9 answer wins on every criterion: it commits to a clear position and develops both the concession and the rebuttal, whereas the 6.5 states an opinion but leaves its reasons general. The gap is widest in lexis and grammar — the 9 uses precise collocation and varied complex sentences almost flawlessly, while the 6.5 recycles basic phrasing and makes steady subject–verb and article errors that, although they never block meaning, keep the response at a middling level.
Vocabulary from the Band 9 answer
| Word / phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| on balance | after considering everything; all things considered |
| perpetually distracted | constantly unable to focus |
| blurred the boundary | made a clear dividing line unclear |
| keep pace | move or change as fast as required to keep up |
| weighed against | compared or balanced against something else |
| the drudgery of | the dull, tiring part of a task |
| compress time | make a task take far less time than before |
| rewarding pursuits | activities that feel worthwhile and satisfying |
Frequently asked questions
How do I make my position clear in an agree/disagree essay?
State it plainly in the introduction, in your own words, and keep it consistent all the way to the conclusion. Examiners reward a position that is easy to identify and that every body paragraph clearly supports.
Do I have to agree or disagree completely?
No. You can partly agree, but choose a clear degree (for example 'mostly disagree') and defend it. What loses marks is sitting on the fence so that the reader cannot tell what you actually think.
How long should a Task 2 essay be?
The minimum is 250 words, and answers below that are penalised. Aim for roughly 260–290 words: enough to develop two body paragraphs fully without padding, which typically takes about 40 minutes.