The topic of digital technology’s impact on voting systems has gained significant attention in recent years, making it a highly relevant subject for IELTS Writing Task 2 essays. Based on past exam trends and the increasing digitalization of various sectors, we can expect this theme to appear more frequently in future IELTS tests. Let’s explore a sample question and analyze how to approach it effectively.
Some people believe that digital technology has made voting systems more efficient and secure, while others argue that it has introduced new risks and vulnerabilities. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Analyzing the Question
This question presents a balanced argument about the impact of digital technology on voting systems. It requires candidates to:
- Discuss the positive view: Digital technology improving efficiency and security of voting systems
- Discuss the negative view: Digital technology introducing new risks and vulnerabilities
- Provide a personal opinion on the matter
Let’s examine three sample essays of varying quality to understand how different approaches can lead to different band scores.
Sample Essay 1 (Band 8-9)
In recent years, the integration of digital technology into voting systems has sparked a heated debate. While proponents argue that it enhances efficiency and security, critics contend that it introduces new vulnerabilities. This essay will examine both perspectives before presenting my own viewpoint.
Those in favor of digital voting systems point to several advantages. Firstly, electronic voting machines can significantly reduce the time required for vote counting, providing results much faster than traditional paper ballots. This efficiency can help maintain public trust in the electoral process by minimizing delays that might otherwise fuel speculation or doubt. Secondly, digital systems can potentially enhance security through encryption and multiple authentication layers, making it more difficult for bad actors to manipulate votes on a large scale.
On the other hand, skeptics raise valid concerns about the risks associated with digital voting. One primary argument is the vulnerability to cyber attacks. Sophisticated hackers could potentially breach the system, altering vote counts or causing widespread disruption. Moreover, the lack of a physical paper trail in some digital systems makes it challenging to verify results or conduct recounts in case of disputes. This opacity can erode public confidence in the integrity of elections.
In my opinion, while digital technology offers promising benefits for voting systems, the potential risks currently outweigh the advantages. The cornerstone of democracy lies in the public’s trust in the electoral process, and any technology that introduces doubt, however small, can have far-reaching consequences. Until robust safeguards and universally accepted verification methods are developed, a hybrid approach combining the efficiency of digital counting with the reliability of paper ballots may be the most prudent path forward.
In conclusion, the impact of digital technology on voting systems is a complex issue with valid arguments on both sides. As technology continues to evolve, it is crucial to prioritize the integrity and transparency of the democratic process above all else.
(Word count: 309)
Digital voting system debate illustration
Essay Analysis (Band 8-9)
This essay demonstrates excellent writing skills and a comprehensive understanding of the topic, warranting a high band score of 8-9. Here’s why:
Task Achievement: The essay fully addresses all parts of the task, discussing both viewpoints and providing a clear personal opinion.
Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is well-organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each viewpoint, and a conclusion. Transitions between ideas are smooth and logical.
Lexical Resource: The writer uses a wide range of vocabulary accurately and appropriately. Examples include “integration,” “proponents,” “encryption,” “authentication layers,” and “erode public confidence.”
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay showcases a variety of complex sentence structures with minimal errors. For instance, “Until robust safeguards and universally accepted verification methods are developed, a hybrid approach combining the efficiency of digital counting with the reliability of paper ballots may be the most prudent path forward.”
Critical Thinking: The essay demonstrates nuanced thinking by acknowledging the complexity of the issue and suggesting a balanced approach.
Sample Essay 2 (Band 6-7)
The use of digital technology in voting systems is a topic that many people have different opinions about. Some think it’s good, while others worry about it. I will discuss both sides and give my opinion.
People who support digital voting say it makes things faster and more secure. With computers, we can count votes quickly and get results soon after the election ends. This is much faster than counting paper votes by hand. Also, digital systems can have good security, like passwords and encryption, to keep votes safe from cheating.
However, there are also problems with digital voting. Hackers might try to attack the system and change the votes or cause trouble. This could make people not trust the election results. Another issue is that some digital voting systems don’t have paper copies of the votes, so it’s hard to check if there’s a problem.
In my opinion, I think digital voting has both good and bad points. It’s faster and can be secure, but there are also risks we need to be careful about. Maybe we could use a mix of digital and paper voting to get the best of both.
To conclude, digital technology in voting systems has advantages and disadvantages. We need to think carefully about how to use it in a way that keeps our elections fair and trustworthy.
(Word count: 226)
Essay Analysis (Band 6-7)
This essay demonstrates a satisfactory understanding of the topic and adequate writing skills, placing it in the Band 6-7 range. Here’s why:
Task Achievement: The essay addresses all parts of the task, discussing both viewpoints and providing a personal opinion. However, the ideas could be more fully developed.
Coherence and Cohesion: The essay has a clear structure with an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. However, the transitions between ideas could be smoother.
Lexical Resource: The vocabulary used is generally appropriate but lacks the sophistication of higher band scores. There’s some repetition (e.g., “digital voting” is used frequently).
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentences with generally good control. However, there’s less variety in sentence structures compared to the Band 8-9 essay.
Critical Thinking: The essay shows some analytical thinking, but the ideas could be more nuanced and elaborated upon.
Sample Essay 3 (Band 5-6)
Nowadays, many countrys use digital technology for voting. Some people think it’s good but others think it’s bad. I will talk about both sides.
Digital voting is fast. We can know who win the election very quick. It’s also safe because computer have password. This is good for democracy.
But digital voting have problems too. Bad people might hack the computer and change votes. This is very dangerous. Also, sometimes we can’t check votes on paper if computer have mistake.
I think digital voting is good and bad. It’s fast but can be dangerous. Maybe we should use both digital and paper voting.
In conclusion, digital technology in voting has good things and bad things. We must be careful when we use it.
(Word count: 116)
Essay Analysis (Band 5-6)
This essay demonstrates a limited understanding of the topic and basic writing skills, placing it in the Band 5-6 range. Here’s why:
Task Achievement: The essay addresses the main points of the task but lacks depth and development of ideas.
Coherence and Cohesion: There’s a basic structure, but the paragraphs are short and underdeveloped. Cohesive devices are limited and sometimes inaccurate.
Lexical Resource: The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. There are some spelling errors (e.g., “countrys” instead of “countries”).
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay uses mainly simple sentences with frequent errors. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., “computer have password”).
Critical Thinking: The essay shows a basic understanding of the issue but lacks depth in analysis and personal opinion.
Digital vs Paper Voting Comparison
Key Vocabulary to Remember
Electoral process (noun) – /ɪˈlektərəl ˈprəʊses/ – The system and procedures involved in conducting an election
Encryption (noun) – /ɪnˈkrɪpʃən/ – The process of converting information into a code to prevent unauthorized access
Authentication (noun) – /ɔːˌθentɪˈkeɪʃn/ – The process of verifying the identity of a user or system
Cyber attack (noun) – /ˈsaɪbər əˈtæk/ – An attempt to damage, disrupt, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system or network
Integrity (noun) – /ɪnˈteɡrəti/ – The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles
Vulnerability (noun) – /ˌvʌlnərəˈbɪləti/ – A weakness that can be exploited by attackers
Transparency (noun) – /trænsˈpærənsi/ – The quality of being open, clear, and easily understood
Safeguard (noun/verb) – /ˈseɪfɡɑːd/ – A measure taken to protect something or prevent something undesirable
Efficiency (noun) – /ɪˈfɪʃnsi/ – The state or quality of being efficient, productive with minimum waste
Verification (noun) – /ˌverɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/ – The process of establishing the truth, accuracy, or validity of something
In conclusion, the impact of digital technology on voting systems is a complex and relevant topic for IELTS Writing Task 2. As we’ve seen from the sample essays, a high-scoring response requires a balanced discussion of both viewpoints, supported by specific examples and clear reasoning. To improve your writing skills, try crafting your own essay on this topic and share it in the comments section for feedback and discussion.
For additional practice, consider exploring related topics such as the impact of digital technologies on democracy or the role of digital technologies in enhancing democratic governance. These themes are likely to appear in future IELTS exams and will help you develop a broader understanding of technology’s influence on political systems.