Band 9 model answer
From navigation and shopping to banking and cooking, everyday tasks are now routinely managed by digital tools. While some lament this growing reliance, I regard it, on balance, as a positive development, provided that basic human competence is preserved.
The benefits of technological dependence are substantial. Automation spares people from tedious chores, freeing time and energy for more meaningful or creative pursuits. Tasks that once demanded specialist knowledge, such as finding a route or translating a language, are now accomplished effortlessly by anyone with a smartphone. This accessibility empowers individuals, boosts productivity and, in fields like healthcare, can dramatically improve safety and outcomes.
That said, the risks of over-reliance cannot be dismissed. When essential skills atrophy through disuse, people may struggle the moment technology fails, as travellers lost without satellite navigation readily discover. A society wholly dependent on fragile systems is also vulnerable to outages and cyber-attacks. These dangers, however, stem less from technology itself than from using it thoughtlessly rather than as a deliberate aid.
In conclusion, although excessive dependence carries genuine hazards, the convenience, efficiency and opportunity that technology delivers make it overwhelmingly beneficial. The sensible path is not to retreat from these tools but to retain fundamental skills as a safeguard. For this reason, I view our growing reliance on technology as a predominantly positive development.
Examiner’s notes
- Task Response: the writer answers the positive-or-negative question with a clear, balanced judgement ('on balance positive') and supports it throughout, including a sensible caveat.
- Coherence and Cohesion: the qualifying phrases 'on balance', 'That said' and 'In conclusion' signal evaluation and concession, producing a smooth, well-ordered argument.
- Lexical Resource: nuanced expressions such as 'skills atrophy', 'fragile systems' and 'predominantly positive' show controlled, sophisticated vocabulary.