Why is my mark still 6.5?

Why is my mark still 6.5? How the ‘outweigh’ question in IELTS should be done.

What do you think and feel when you hear that you are being judged/marked on your logic?

Let’s see how your response to the question makes or breaks your mark.

How would you respond to this question
Do the benefits of cleaning up the environment outweigh the costs?

Which answer do you think is best?

I think it’s a great idea to clean up the environment. People should care about the environment because we all live in the world, and we need clean, water, food and air.
The cost of cleaning up the environment is very high, but we should all do it.
The cost of cleaning up the environment can be shared by all sectors of society, and all people benefit. We will all get clean air and water, so the benefits do outweigh the expenses.

Analysis:

I think it’s a great idea to clean up the environment. People should care about the environment because we all live in the world, and we need clean, water, food and air. (That is all true, but it doesn’t explain if the benefits outweigh the cost. Basically, would you spend your money doing this and would you get value out of it?)
The cost of cleaning up the environment is very high, but we should all do it. (OK, but does it outweigh and why?)
The cost of cleaning up the environment can be shared by all sectors of society, and all people benefit. We will all get clean air and water, so the benefits do outweigh the expenses. (This says very clearly that it does and why. This is a high band for task response.)

Try an answer and see if you hit band 9

“In many countries, more and more people are choosing to live alone. Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?”

For this question, just make sure you address ‘outweigh’ clearly.

You can get a full assessment of your full essays here.

Which answer is better?

“In my opinion, there are many benefits to living by oneself, such as having more freedom and privacy. However, there are also some drawbacks like loneliness and higher costs. This essay will discuss both the advantages and disadvantages of this trend.”

“While solitary living can lead to social isolation and increased financial pressure, I contend that the personal autonomy and unhindered professional focus it affords represent a far more significant benefit to the individual than the potential costs.”

The hidden mistakes.

If you read this essay by IELTSLiz, you will most likely feel that it is explaining why one outweighs the other. However, there are significant weaknesses. Can you find them?

common response to ielts outweigh questions

Band 6 Vs Band 9 University-Level thinking.

Liz: Band 6	Richard Elite Academic: Band 9
, namely a Kindle,	There’s no point in talking about ‘kindles’. It’s a waste of words. E-reader is enough, we don’t need to list brands.
These devices are perfect.	Say more about the benefits of these devices: you can share the reader with someone you are traveling with because you can read different books. THEN, state that the cost of ‘staring at a screen’ is low in comparison because you can use a ‘low-relfection’ screen.
Mentions the ‘negative’, staring at screens.	So what is the cost? Say that you can avoid this by setting a timer, so this isn’t a negative that ‘outweighs the benefits.

Academic Commentary:
This essay states the advantages and disadvantages. However, it is not a definitive answer. That is, “Do we feel clear that one outweighs the other?” If not, we have a low Task Response mark.

Critical Thinking Matrix

Paragraph 1: advantage: you can put hundreds of books in an e-reader. Disadvantage: You have to charge it. The CLEAR “outweigh” sentence: “having to charge the reader is a minor inconvenience compared to the ability to carry hundreds of books in a small device”.

I trust that you can see the difference. Do you feel you can show that one outweighs the other clearly now?

Question Prompt:

“In many parts of the world, traditional museums are being replaced by online virtual tours. Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?”