Genealogy – the study of family history – has recently enjoyed increasing popularity in several countries in the world. There are several reasons for this, and I believe it is a positive development. Curiosity might be one of the reasons why people in such study. It is often fun and intriguing to trace back one’s bloodline to find out whether one is descended, either directly or indirectly, from a royal family or any prominent figures in the past. I still remember the excitement when I attempted to seek online the origin of my family name with the hope of finding a link, albeit vague, between me and the famed Chinese poet Du Fu. Also, to some war-stricken families, this family history research is more than just mere curiosity. With the power of the Internet, those who have lost contact with their close or distant relatives during wars may reunite with their family members by researching into their own family tree. Genealogy offers several distinct benefits. For young amateurs, it is a fascinating way to learn how to systematically collect, organize and analyse data. For older people, it is a great leisure activity to while away the time, and a relevant source of family stories to tell their children. In addition, by learning about our ancestors, we may be able to gain a thorough insight into our own family-specific traditions, customs and titles. For example, one may be able to explain why there is always a fixed middle name in if they learn about how the name originated in the first place. Finally, with an element of luck, one may find their long-lost relatives whom they have never met before, and indeed, there are many articles that retell such miraculous reunions. In conclusion, researching one’s family line stems from , and I think it is a very interesting activity that should be encouraged.
Researching Family History and Genealogy
In some parts of the world, it is becoming increasingly popular to try to find out the history of someone’s family. Why do you think people do this? Do you think it is a positive or negative development?
Annotated response
3 correction notes
Overall assessment
Why this response received Band 7.0
The response clearly identifies two motivations for researching family history and maintains a positive judgement. A personal example and a range of relevant benefits support the answer, while varied language and logical paragraphing help it progress. Some benefits are listed briefly and could be explained more fully to strengthen the evaluation.
IELTS criteria
How each score was decided
Task Response
7.0The response answers both questions with a clear positive position. Curiosity and reconnecting with relatives are explained as motivations, and a relevant personal example supports the discussion. Some benefits, such as research skills and leisure, are introduced more briefly and could be extended.
Coherence and Cohesion
7.0Ideas progress logically from causes to benefits with clear linking devices and well-managed paragraphs, with only occasional overuse or slight misplacement of connectors.
Lexical Resource
7.0Vocabulary is varied and often precise, including "bloodline", "while away the time" and "miraculous reunions". Occasional redundancy, such as "just mere curiosity", reduces economy, but the range supports a clear discussion of the topic.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
7.0A range of complex structures is used with generally good control. Occasional errors in noun phrases, such as the singular form after "each of" in "each of their family member’s full name", reduce accuracy without impeding understanding.