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Using Alternative Energy Instead of Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas, are the main source for many countries. However, some nations are using alternative energy such as solar power and wind power.

Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

2 sample answers, estimated Band 7.5–8.0. Your turn?

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From essays on this question

Essay ideas: Using Alternative Energy Instead of Fossil Fuels

WhyThis is aPositive or negative essay — it asks why a trend is happening and whether it is good or bad.

SoWe split the ideas intoPositive(why it is good)andNegative(why it is bad).

Positive

5 ideas

Negative

2 ideas

Same question · Different responses

Sample responses and feedback

Response 01

Must fixSuggested

Essay · 328 words · 4 paragraphs · 12 comments

Score details

Response 01
Estimated band7.5/ 9

Overall assessment

The response gives a clear, qualified endorsement of alternative energy, acknowledging initial costs before developing environmental and resource-security benefits. Its organisation and largely accurate complex sentences make the argument easy to follow. The main limitations are the unsupported national scale of the wind-farm example, broad claims about solar affordability and depletion, and an incomplete distinction between greenhouse gases and local air pollutants. A more explicit comparison of lasting benefits with initial costs would strengthen the judgment.

TR

Task Response

The response clearly supports the transition while acknowledging initial costs, with relevant development of environmental and resource-security benefits. The wind-farm example and claims about solar affordability and imminent depletion need qualification, and the cost-benefit judgment could be more explicit.

8.0
CC

Coherence and Cohesion

Ideas progress logically across well-organised paragraphs with effective cohesive devices, though transitions remain somewhat formulaic at times.

7.0
LR

Lexical Resource

Vocabulary is sufficiently wide for the topic, including “financial burden”, “finite resources” and “harnessing”. Some expressions lack precision or economy, notably “now already”, “emissions in the atmosphere” and “development of the planet”.

7.0
GRA

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

A good range of structures, including complex conditionals and relative clauses, is used accurately, with only minor, non-impeding slips.

7.0

What to work on next

Explain why the lasting benefits outweigh the initial investment. Qualify the national wind-farm and solar-affordability claims, distinguish greenhouse gases from local air pollutants, and avoid predicting that fossil fuels will run out “soon” without a basis.

From essays on this question

Useful vocabulary: Using Alternative Energy Instead of Fossil Fuels

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Sentence patterns: Using Alternative Energy Instead of Fossil Fuels

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Part 2

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

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