The Decline of Reading for Pleasure

IELTS Writing Practice — AI-Powered Feedback

Writing Prompt

In many countries, fewer people, and especially fewer young people, now read books for pleasure than in the past.

Why is this happening, and what could be done to encourage more people to read?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Show Band 8–9 model answer

In many societies, reading books for enjoyment has become noticeably less common, particularly among the young. This trend is largely driven by changes in technology and lifestyle, but it can be addressed through coordinated action by schools, governments and families.

The main reason for this decline is the rise of digital entertainment. Streaming platforms, social media and video games provide instant, visually stimulating experiences that demand far less sustained concentration than a novel. For example, teenagers can scroll through hundreds of short videos in the time it would take to read a single chapter, gradually losing the patience and attention span required for longer texts. A second factor is academic and economic pressure. Students are often overloaded with homework and exam preparation, so they come to associate reading only with tests and grades. Similarly, working adults may feel too exhausted to read after long hours, preferring passive entertainment such as television.

Several practical steps could help reverse this pattern. In schools, syllabuses should include regular time for free reading, where learners can choose any book that interests them instead of only studying literary classics. When students are allowed to select graphic novels, science fiction or sports biographies, they are far more likely to develop a habit of voluntary reading. Governments and local councils can support this by funding modern, welcoming public libraries, with comfortable spaces, youth book clubs and author visits that make reading a social, not solitary, activity. Finally, parents have a crucial role: limiting screen time, reading with younger children, and modelling reading themselves can normalise books as a pleasurable part of daily life.

In conclusion, the decline in reading for pleasure is closely linked to digital distractions and heavy workloads. Nevertheless, through more flexible school policies, better library provision and supportive home environments, societies can make reading an attractive leisure choice again.

Why this response works

This essay maintains a clear position throughout, directly addressing both causes and solutions. The ideas are well extended with specific, relevant examples such as streaming platforms, exam pressure, and concrete school and library initiatives, supporting a high score for Task Response. Cohesion is strong, with logical paragraphing, precise referencing and smooth progression between points. Lexical resource is varied and accurate (e.g. “sustained concentration”, “syllabuses”, “modern, welcoming public libraries”), while grammar displays a wide range of complex structures with natural control and only very minor slips, consistent with a Band 8–9 performance.