Writing Task 2 · Opinion (agree or disagree)

Household robots doing domestic chores: IELTS Writing Task 2 sample answer

An IELTS Writing Task 2 opinion essay question with a Band 8-style sample answer, the plan behind it, the vocabulary that lifts it and what an examiner looks for.
  • 289 words
  • Opinion (agree or disagree)
  • Academic
  • 40 minutes

The question

In the near future, robots may do most household chores such as cleaning, cooking and laundry. Is this a positive or negative development?

About 40 minutes. Write at least 250 words.

Opinion (agree or disagree)

Plan before you write

  1. 1

    Your position

    I believe household robots would be a largely positive development, provided people do not lose basic life skills.

  2. 2

    Paragraph 2

    Robots would free up considerable time and help groups such as older and disabled people live independently.

  3. 3

    Paragraph 3

    The main drawbacks, cost and a loss of practical skills, can be managed and do not outweigh the benefits.

  • →State a clear position in the introduction and develop it consistently throughout the essay.
  • →One useful approach is to develop a main reason in each body paragraph, supported by explanation or an example.
  • →A qualified or partial agreement is fine when its limits are clear and supported.

Model answer

Band 8-style sample essay

This AI-generated teaching example illustrates target features; it has not received an official IELTS band. Compare its ideas and structure with your own response.

Band 8-style model289 words · use the structure and vocabulary, not the sentences

Robotic vacuum cleaners are already common, and engineers are developing machines that can fold clothes and prepare simple meals. If robots eventually take over most household chores, I believe this would be a largely positive change, although it carries some risks that should not be ignored.

The clearest benefit is the time it would release. Housework takes up several hours a week in most homes, and this burden still falls disproportionately on women in many societies. If a machine handled cleaning and laundry, family members could spend that time resting, studying or simply being together. Robots could also transform the lives of people who struggle with physical tasks. An elderly person living alone, for instance, might be able to stay in their own home for years longer if a robot could lift heavy baskets, load the washing machine and remind them to eat. This would not only improve their quality of life but also reduce pressure on care services.

There are, admittedly, drawbacks. Early models are likely to be expensive, so the benefits would at first be enjoyed mainly by wealthier households. There is also a concern that children who grow up with robots will never learn to cook or keep a home tidy, leaving them helpless if the technology fails. However, prices for most technologies fall steadily over time, as happened with dishwashers and washing machines. As for skills, parents and schools can still teach young people to cook and clean, just as children learn mental arithmetic even though calculators exist.

Overall, I consider the spread of domestic robots to be a positive development. As long as families make a conscious effort to keep basic practical skills alive, the gains in free time and independence would be substantial.

Model commentary

Features to notice in this model

The essay aims to illustrate Band 8 features by giving a direct answer to the question and supporting it with relevant, well-chosen examples such as elderly people living alone. Cohesion is achieved through clear paragraph focus and devices like "admittedly" and "as for" rather than mechanical linking words. The writer uses a wide range of structures, including conditionals, accurately.

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7 words

Vocabulary from the essay

  • household chores

    regular jobs done to keep a home clean and running

  • disproportionately

    to a degree that is unfairly large compared with others

  • transform

    to change something completely, usually for the better

  • admittedly

    used to accept that something is true before giving another view

  • conscious effort

    a deliberate attempt to do something

  • substantial

    large in amount or importance

  • independence

    the ability to live without relying on others

More words for this topic: IELTS vocabulary for technology.

Frequently asked questions

What type of essay is "Household robots doing domestic chores"?+

Opinion (agree or disagree). State a clear position in the introduction and develop it consistently throughout the essay.

How many words should an IELTS Writing Task 2 essay be?+

At least 250 words, in about 40 minutes. This sample is 289 words, written to fit that time with five minutes left to check grammar.

How is IELTS Writing Task 2 scored?+

On four criteria: task response, coherence and cohesion, vocabulary, and grammatical range and accuracy. Task 2 counts for twice as much as Task 1 in your Writing band.

What is the difference between a Band 6 and a Band 8 answer here?+

The essay aims to illustrate Band 8 features by giving a direct answer to the question and supporting it with relevant, well-chosen examples such as elderly people living alone. Cohesion is achieved through clear paragraph focus and devices like "admittedly" and "as for" rather than mechanical linking words. The writer uses a wide range of structures, including conditionals, accurately.

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