Positive or Negative Development in Online Education Essay IELTS (Structure + Sample)
Prepared by Svarna Training Institute Academic Team
This sample essay was written by a well experienced IELTS Trainer. The score is equivalent to IELTS Band 8.0+, and the essay has 300 words. This essay type asks you to judge whether a trend / change is positive, negative, or both. Always make your position clear (positive, negative, or partly both). IELTS examiners want a clear stance.
“In recent years, online education has become increasingly popular. Some argue this is a highly beneficial trend, while others view it as harmful to traditional learning. In my opinion, the overall impact of online education is largely positive.
On the one hand, online learning offers flexibility and accessibility. Students can attend lectures from anywhere, which is especially valuable for those in remote areas or with busy schedules. Furthermore, digital platforms often provide recorded lessons and additional resources, enabling learners to study at their own pace. For instance, many working professionals in the UAE are able to complete postgraduate courses online without leaving their jobs.
On the other hand, critics argue that online education reduces real-life interaction. Face to face discussions, teamwork, and classroom experiences are difficult to replicate in a virtual environment. Additionally, technical issues or a lack of digital literacy can create barriers for certain groups. For example, younger students may find it challenging to stay motivated without in-person supervision.
Despite these drawbacks, I believe the benefits outweigh the limitations. As technology continues to improve, online learning can integrate interactive tools and blended learning methods to maintain engagement. With proper support, it has the potential to democratize education worldwide.
In conclusion, although online education poses challenges related to interaction and accessibility, its ability to provide flexible, affordable, and wide-reaching opportunities makes it a positive development overall.”
This is the outline an IELTS trainer used for this specific sample essay.
✅ Introduction – Paraphrase the topic, State your opinion (positive, negative, or partly both) and Outline what you will cover.
✅ Body 1 – Positive Topic sentence, Explanation, Example (realistic but short).
✅ Body 2 – Negative Topic sentence, Explanation, Example (realistic but short).
✅ Optional Body 3 (if you want to balance the opinion) Acknowledge the opposite view briefly. Explain why your view is stronger.
✅ Conclusion – Summaries main points, Restate stance clearly.
This is the checklist our IELTS Trainer used to score this sample essay as an IELTS band 8.0+.
✅ Trainer completed essay with 250 to 300 words, all Introduction, benefits, disadvantages, conclusion covered.
✅ Trainer has written clear sentences & provided good examples with great paragraph breaks.
✅ Trainer has included Linking words (however, despite, on balance, in contrast, ultimately)
✅ Trainer has used Formal tone, no contractions, no slang.
This is the timing guide our IELTS Trainer used for this sample essay
✅ For Understanding the Task – 1-2 min
✅ For Planning the Task – 8-10 min
✅ Executing the Essay Structure – 22-25 min
✅ For Final Check – 2-4 min
Here is a challenge for you! Using the same techniques our IELTS Trainer used, write your own 300 word IELTS essay on the following topics,
- The rise of social media is a negative development. To what extent do you agree?
- Many people think working from home is a positive development. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
- Some believe the growth of international tourism is positive, while others think it has negative effects. Discuss both sides and state your opinion.