IELTS Essay Topic:

Is the ability to read and write more important today than in the past?

Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

You should write at least 250 words.

Model Essay:
The ability to read and write has always been advantageous for people living in a civilized society. In order to fully interact with others, it is essential that we have the necessary tools for communicating our thoughts and ideas with others these days. Besides vocalizing, the skills of reading and writing remain the best methods of accomplishing the basic task of communication with our fellow human beings. In addition to making communication possible, reading and writing are also vital today than in the past because they allow us to process information from a myriad of sources, such as books, newspapers, magazines, letters, journals, instructional guides, menus, bus schedules and of course, the Internet.

Although the ability to read and write has always been of prime importance, I believe that it is even more so today than it was in times past.

Though in the past, reading and writing were extremely important because people had no other way to communicate with each other from a distance besides the written word. However, in the more recent past, people gained the ability to easily communicate with others via the telephone. One drawback resulting from the invention of the telephone was the decline in written communication. People eventually stopped writing letters to one another because it was simpler — not to mention much faster — to just ring someone up on the phone. Talking replaced writing as the preferred method of communication. The telephone completely changed the entire world, and it reigned supreme for approximately sixty years, from about 1935 until 1995. Since the latter date, the Internet suddenly exploded upon the scene and radically changed the world yet again. Email became the quickest and most effective way to communicate. Most people began using their smart phones to text instead of talking on them. Consequently, social media erupted and took hold of people all over the planet. Communication on a global scale became common, with the advent of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Reddit, Pinterest, Yelp and Tumblr. These developments have led to a new era, in which the need to read and write have become more important than ever.

Without reading and writing we can’t have a better career. The competition in modern world in education and job sector is even higher than the past. So having quality education and ability to read and write is more important than it was ever in the past.

In conclusion, I think it is safe to say that people who lack the ability to write in a clear and coherent manner are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to actively participating in modern society. Reading comprehension is equally relevant, as people who are unable to process the written word cannot grasp the meaning of what others are attempting to convey to them. There can be no understanding between individuals when the barrier of illiteracy prevents the act of communication. It is my belief that reading and writing are more important in today’s world than at any other point during the past one hundred years.

[ Written by – Busra Cangut ]