Nowadays, more and more jobs and tasks are done by machines which involve hard physical work. Do the positive effects of this trend outweigh the negative effects? | Real exam ielts writing task 2 |

📝 Task Question:

Nowadays, more and more jobs and tasks are done by machines which involve hard physical work. Do the positive effects of this trend outweigh the negative effects?

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🧠 Brainstormed Ideas

✅ Positive Effects:

• Reduces human physical strain and risk of injury.

• Increases productivity and efficiency.

• Allows humans to focus on creative or higher-level tasks.

• Machines can work 24/7 without fatigue, improving output.

• Better working conditions and higher standards of living.

❌ Negative Effects:

• Job losses, especially for unskilled workers.

• Over-dependence on machines.

• Initial high cost of implementation and maintenance.

• Machines lack flexibility and human judgment in some tasks.

🎯 Opinion:

The positives outweigh the negatives because they improve efficiency, safety, and quality of life — though some measures are needed to manage unemployment.

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📚 Useful Vocabulary & Collocations

Vocabulary	Collocations
automation, mechanization, physical strain, productivity, efficiency, unemployment, job displacement, human welfare	hard physical work, reduce workload, improve working conditions, increase output, over-reliance on, higher standard of living, replace manual labor, risk of injury

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Sample Essay

With the advancement of technology, machines are increasingly performing tasks that involve hard physical labor. While this trend has led to some concerns about job losses and dependency on automation, I believe the positive effects far outweigh the negatives, as it improves efficiency, safety, and the quality of human life.

One of the main benefits of using machines for physically demanding work is that it reduces the strain and health risks faced by workers. Tasks such as construction, mining, or factory work often involve dangerous and exhausting conditions, which can lead to injuries or long-term health problems. By replacing manual labor with automated systems, employers can provide safer and more comfortable workplaces. Additionally, machines are more efficient and productive than humans, as they can operate continuously without fatigue, leading to higher output and lower production costs.

On the other hand, it is true that increased mechanization has led to job displacement, particularly for unskilled workers. As machines take over repetitive or physically intensive tasks, many individuals may find themselves unemployed or forced to retrain for different roles. There is also the risk of over-reliance on machines, which can lead to vulnerabilities if technology fails. However, these drawbacks can be mitigated through government policies and education programs aimed at reskilling workers and creating new employment opportunities in sectors that still require human input.

In conclusion, although the growing use of machines for hard physical work presents some challenges, I believe the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. By reducing physical strain, improving productivity, and raising living standards, mechanization represents progress that benefits society as a whole.

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🌟 Key Collocations from the Essay

• advancement of technology

• increasingly performing tasks

• physically demanding work

• reduce strain and health risks

• provide safer workplaces

• operate continuously without fatigue

• job displacement

• over-reliance on machines

• reskilling workers

• raising living standards

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