The best way to increase road transport safety is to make vehicle drivers take a driving test each year. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Bài mẫu IELTS WRITING tháng 10/2024

IELTS WRITING TEST ngày 17/10/2024

Essay (Score 6.0-6.5)

Road safety is a significant concern worldwide, with accidents leading to numerous injuries and fatalities. Some people argue that requiring vehicle drivers to take a driving test annually is the most effective way to improve road safety. While this approach may offer certain advantages, I believe that other methods could be more effective and practical in ensuring road safety.

On the one hand, making drivers retake their driving tests annually could help eliminate bad driving habits that have developed over time. Drivers may forget certain rules or become complacent, leading to dangerous behaviors such as speeding, neglecting traffic signals, or failing to yield. A yearly test could refresh their knowledge of traffic laws and encourage them to drive more responsibly. Moreover, it could help identify drivers who are no longer physically or mentally fit to drive, such as the elderly or those with medical conditions that impair their ability to operate a vehicle.

However, imposing an annual driving test on all drivers would likely be time-consuming, costly, and impractical. Testing every driver each year would require significant resources, such as examiners, facilities, and time, which could be better spent on other road safety initiatives. Additionally, drivers who have proven themselves to be competent over the years may find this requirement unnecessary and burdensome. For them, having to go through the testing process annually could be seen as a waste of time and money.

A more effective approach to improving road safety could involve stricter penalties for traffic violations and better driver education. Increasing fines for reckless driving, installing more traffic cameras, and raising awareness of road safety through campaigns may encourage drivers to be more cautious. Additionally, offering defensive driving courses could help drivers improve their skills and learn how to avoid dangerous situations on the road.

In conclusion, while annual driving tests could potentially reduce the number of dangerous drivers on the road, the cost and inconvenience of implementing such a system may outweigh the benefits. Instead, focusing on stricter enforcement of traffic laws and better driver education could be more effective ways to ensure road safety.

Score Breakdown:

• Task Achievement (6.0): The response addresses the question by presenting both sides of the argument, but some points could be further developed. The conclusion is clear, but the solutions could be explored more in-depth.

• Coherence and Cohesion (6.0-6.5): The essay is organized logically with appropriate paragraphing, but some transitions between ideas could be smoother. For example, the shift between the two opposing views could be clearer.

• Lexical Resource (6.5): The vocabulary used is appropriate and shows some range (e.g., “complacent,” “reckless driving”), but it could be more varied to score higher. Some collocations could be improved.

• Grammatical Range and Accuracy (6.0): The grammar is generally accurate with a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are occasional minor mistakes, and the use of more complex structures would raise the score.

Essay (Score 7.0-7.5)

Road safety has become a major concern due to the increasing number of accidents on highways and city streets. One suggestion to address this issue is to require all vehicle drivers to take a driving test annually. While this approach could offer certain benefits, I believe that other strategies could be more practical and effective in enhancing road transport safety.

On the one hand, requiring drivers to take yearly driving tests could potentially improve road safety by ensuring that drivers maintain a high level of competency. As time passes, some drivers may forget essential traffic rules or develop bad habits, such as speeding or failing to signal when changing lanes. An annual driving test could serve as a reminder of proper driving techniques and traffic laws, helping to reduce careless behavior on the road. Furthermore, such tests could identify drivers who are no longer physically or mentally fit to drive, particularly the elderly or those with medical conditions that affect their ability to operate a vehicle safely.

However, implementing mandatory yearly driving tests for all drivers could be both costly and logistically challenging. Conducting millions of tests each year would require significant financial and human resources. Governments would need to hire more examiners, build additional testing centers, and allocate more funding to administer the tests. Additionally, many experienced and responsible drivers may find it unnecessary and burdensome to undergo annual testing, especially if they have a clean driving record. For them, the inconvenience of preparing for and attending the test each year may outweigh the potential benefits.

A more efficient solution to improve road safety would be to focus on stricter enforcement of traffic laws and greater use of technology. For instance, increasing the presence of speed cameras and red-light cameras would act as a deterrent to reckless driving. Stricter penalties for traffic violations, such as higher fines or license suspensions for repeat offenders, could also encourage drivers to be more cautious. Moreover, driver education programs that emphasize defensive driving skills and raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving could have a more lasting impact on improving road safety than frequent testing.

In conclusion, while making drivers take a driving test every year could help reinforce safe driving practices, the cost and inconvenience associated with such a measure make it impractical. Instead, stricter law enforcement and better driver education would likely be more effective in enhancing road transport safety over the long term.

Score Breakdown:

• Task Achievement (7.0): The essay fully addresses the prompt, offering a clear stance and well-developed arguments. The answer is relevant and balanced, though more specific examples could elevate it further.

• Coherence and Cohesion (7.5): The essay is well-organized with clear progression between ideas. Transitions are used effectively, making the response easy to follow. There is a logical flow between paragraphs.

• Lexical Resource (7.0-7.5): The vocabulary is varied and used accurately, with phrases like “careless behavior,” “financial and human resources,” and “defensive driving skills” adding complexity. Some word choices could still be improved for a higher score.

• Grammatical Range and Accuracy (7.5): The grammar is strong, with a range of complex sentence structures and accurate use of tenses. There are no significant errors, and the essay demonstrates good control of complex grammar forms.

Essay (Score 8.0-8.5)

Road safety is a critical issue, with governments and policymakers constantly seeking ways to reduce accidents and fatalities. One suggestion is that drivers should take an annual driving test to ensure they maintain high standards of driving. While I agree that regular assessment could improve road safety to some extent, I believe there are more effective and efficient measures that could be implemented.

On the one hand, making drivers retake a driving test every year could help identify those who have developed bad habits over time. It is common for experienced drivers to become complacent, leading to practices such as failing to signal, speeding, or not checking mirrors regularly. A yearly test would serve as a refresher, ensuring that all drivers adhere to the rules of the road and correct any unsafe behaviors. Additionally, it could identify those who are no longer physically fit to drive, such as elderly drivers who may have declining vision or slower reaction times.

However, the logistical challenges and costs associated with annual testing make this proposal impractical. Conducting millions of tests every year would require a significant increase in resources, including driving instructors, examiners, and testing facilities. Furthermore, the majority of drivers who have consistently demonstrated safe driving may find it inconvenient and unnecessary to retake the test annually. For these drivers, an annual test would be a waste of time and money, while the resources could be better allocated elsewhere.

A more efficient approach to improving road safety would be to focus on stricter law enforcement and driver education. For instance, increasing the use of speed cameras, red-light cameras, and automatic license plate recognition systems could deter reckless driving. In addition, harsher penalties for repeat offenders, such as longer license suspensions or mandatory driving courses, would encourage better compliance with traffic laws. Moreover, continuous driver education programs that teach defensive driving techniques and raise awareness about modern road hazards, such as the dangers of texting while driving, could have a more lasting impact than frequent retesting.

In conclusion, while annual driving tests could provide some benefits by identifying dangerous drivers, the costs and inconvenience involved make it a less desirable solution. Instead, stricter law enforcement combined with improved driver education would likely be a more effective and sustainable way to improve road safety in the long term.

Score Breakdown:

• Task Achievement (8.0-8.5): The essay addresses all parts of the question with a clear and well-supported position. The arguments are relevant, well-developed, and include both the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed solution.

• Coherence and Cohesion (8.5): The essay is very well-organized, with a logical progression of ideas. Transitions are used naturally, making the argument easy to follow. Each paragraph flows smoothly into the next, creating a cohesive response.

• Lexical Resource (8.5): The vocabulary is varied and used with precision. Phrases like “complacent,” “stricter law enforcement,” “logistical challenges,” and “mandatory driving courses” demonstrate a strong command of language, with effective collocations.

• Grammatical Range and Accuracy (8.0-8.5): The essay uses a wide range of grammatical structures with accuracy. Complex sentences are used appropriately, with few if any noticeable errors. There is excellent control over tense usage, conditionals, and modals, all of which enhance the clarity and complexity of the argument.