Has Technology Improved Education?
A complete IELTS Academic Writing Task 2 question with a model answer of 290 words, plus a breakdown of the sentence structures, cohesive devices and vocabulary that answer uses. Write your own version first, then compare.
Written by Manish Sharma · CELTA and DELTA qualified · 8 years teaching IELTS
Score my answer to this questionThe question
You have 40 minutes. Write at least 250 words.
To what extent has technology improved education? Write at least 250 words.
How to approach it
- 01Decide on a clear extent — 'to a large extent', 'to some extent', etc. — and stick to it
- 02Give two or three specific benefits backed by examples (Khan Academy, adaptive software)
- 03Acknowledge limitations to show a balanced, sophisticated view
- 04Use academic linkers: 'Furthermore', 'Nevertheless', 'As a result'
- 05Cite real platforms or research findings where possible to add credibility
- 06Use evaluative language: 'substantially improved', 'partially mitigated'
Model answer
290 words in 5 paragraphs. Read it after you have written your own, not before: the point of a model answer is to show you what you missed, and you cannot miss anything you have not attempted.
Over the past two decades, classrooms across the world have been transformed by digital tools, from interactive whiteboards to artificial intelligence tutors. While some critics argue that these innovations have done more harm than good, I believe that technology has substantially improved education, although its benefits depend heavily on how it is implemented.
The most significant improvement has been the democratisation of access to learning. Online platforms such as Khan Academy, Coursera, and the BBC Bitesize service have made high-quality lessons available to anyone with an internet connection, regardless of geography or income. A teenager in rural Kenya can now follow the same physics tutorial as a student in central London. This was unimaginable before the digital era and has helped narrow educational inequality in many parts of the world.
Secondly, technology enables personalised learning at a scale that was previously impossible. Adaptive software analyses each student's performance and adjusts the difficulty, pace, and style of practice accordingly. As a result, students who would once have been left behind in a one-size-fits-all classroom can progress at their own speed, while advanced learners can be challenged appropriately. Teachers also benefit from automated marking and detailed analytics that free up time for more meaningful instruction.
Nevertheless, the picture is not uniformly positive. Excessive screen time has been linked to reduced attention spans, and overreliance on calculators or generative AI can prevent students from building foundational skills. Furthermore, schools that introduce devices without sufficient teacher training often see little or no learning gain, which suggests that the technology itself is only part of the equation.
In conclusion, technology has greatly improved education by widening access and enabling personalisation, but its full potential is realised only when paired with skilled teaching and thoughtful policy.
What this answer actually does
Measured from the text above, and compared against the other 69 answers of the same type in this library. These are counts, not band scores: they describe what the writing does, which is the part you can copy.
1 fewer than the median answer for this task type
7 words at the shortest, 31 at the longest
5 more than the median answer for this task type
carry a subordinate or relative clause
Sentence rhythm
Sentences average 20.7 words and vary by 7.2 words either side of that, running from 7 words to 31. Variation is the point. Grammatical Range and Accuracy rewards a mix of simple and complex sentences, and an answer where every sentence is the same length reads as flat no matter how correct it is. 5 of the 14 sentences here carry a subordinate or relative clause.
The cohesive devices it uses
11 in total, spread across 6 different functions. Range matters more than count: an answer that opens every paragraph with a sequencer signals its structure but never signals a relationship between ideas, and Coherence and Cohesion is marked on both.
nevertheless, although, while
furthermore
as a result, accordingly
such as
secondly, once
in conclusion
Vocabulary and repetition
Ignoring grammar words, 92 per cent of the content words in this answer are distinct, and 86 per cent appear exactly once. Lexical Resource is where repetition costs the most marks, and the usual cause is not a small vocabulary but reaching for the same noun every time the topic is named.
The longest run of words copied straight from the question is 2 words. Examiners discount wording lifted from the question, so a short run here is the right outcome: the answer restates the topic in its own words rather than borrowing the question's.
What you are marked on
All four criteria carry equal weight, and your Writing band is their average rounded to the nearest half band.
Task Response
Clearly state the extent of agreement and develop reasons with examples throughout.
Coherence & Cohesion
Use a clear essay structure with topic sentences and effective discourse markers.
Lexical Resource
Demonstrate precise topic vocabulary on technology, pedagogy, and equity.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy
Use a wide range of structures, including passive voice and complex noun phrases, accurately.
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