Cambridge IELTS 15 Test 2 Writing Task 2: Sample Answer

It is often predicted that print will vanish and that everything will be read free of charge on a screen. While I accept that digital reading will continue to grow, I disagree that printed newspapers and books will disappear entirely, and I doubt that online content will all be free.

Digital publishing is undeniably advancing. Most people under thirty already get their news from smartphones, and an e-reader can store thousands of titles in a device lighter than a single hardback. Newspapers have responded by reducing their print runs, and several local titles have closed. It is therefore reasonable to expect that paper will play a smaller role than it does today.

However, a complete disappearance seems unlikely. Many readers find that paper offers a quality of concentration that screens cannot match, and research suggests that comprehension of long texts is often better in print. A physical book also makes a lasting gift or keepsake. Children's picture books, art volumes and reference works depend heavily on their tactile appeal, while the loyal customers of independent bookshops show that paper has acquired something close to luxury status, much as vinyl records survived the arrival of streaming.

The claim that online material will be free is the weakest part of the statement. Journalists, authors, editors and photographers must be paid by someone. As advertising revenue falls, which it already has for many publishers, content is increasingly placed behind paywalls, and subscriptions to news websites are rising for exactly this reason. Piracy may supply some free books, but it is illegal and cannot sustain a healthy literary industry.

In conclusion, reading will become more digital, yet print will survive in a narrower role, and readers will continue to pay for quality writing in one format or another.