Recent exam · 3 Sep 2026Recycled · 2024More recent exam questions

Fewer People Writing by Hand

Fewer and fewer people today write by hand using a pen or pencil.

What are the reasons for this? Is this a positive or a negative development?

6 sample answers, estimated Band 7.0–8.0. Your turn?

Write it first, then read the sample answers and reviews below. You'll see the gap at once.

  • Question ready
  • 40-minute exam timer
  • Results in about 20 seconds
  • 1 free preview a week

From essays on this question

Essay ideas: Fewer People Writing by Hand

WhyThis is aTwo-part question — it asks two separate questions in one prompt.

SoWe split the ideas intoQuestion 1(answers the first question)andQuestion 2(answers the second question).

Question 1

6 ideas

Question 2

10 ideas

Same question · Different responses

Sample responses and feedback

Response 01

Must fixSuggested

Essay · 302 words · 5 paragraphs · 11 comments

Score details

Response 01
Estimated band7.0/ 9

Overall assessment

The response addresses both parts of the question clearly, presenting a consistent position that the drawbacks of declining handwriting outweigh the benefits, with relevant reasons and examples. Its strongest aspect is the well-organized, cohesive argument, while the main limitation is that some ideas remain somewhat generic and could be developed with more depth or specific support.

TR

Task Response

Both the reasons for the decline and the positive/negative evaluation are fully addressed with a clear, consistent position and relevant, if occasionally generalized, support.

7.0
CC

Coherence and Cohesion

The essay progresses logically through clear paragraphs with effective cohesive devices, though some linking remains slightly mechanical, such as repeated use of additionally.

7.0
LR

Lexical Resource

Vocabulary is flexible and reasonably precise, with good collocations like fine motor skills, gradual erosion, and dissemination of information, with only minimal inaccuracy.

7.0
GRA

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Complex and concessive structures are generally well controlled, but repeated spaces before commas and full stops need correction. The errors do not obscure meaning, and the essay shows good control of clause relationships.

7.0

What to work on next

Deepen the development of key ideas, for example by adding concrete evidence or examples for the cognitive benefits of handwriting rather than broad claims.

From essays on this question

Useful vocabulary: Fewer People Writing by Hand

From essays on this question

Sentence patterns: Fewer People Writing by Hand

Practise this question

Write your response

Task 2 question loaded.
Part 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write at least 250 words.

Words: 040:00 starts on first word