What is the meaning of To what extent? The type of question To what extent do you agree or disagree in IELTS Writing task 2

1. What does To what extent mean? 

In English, To what extent is a phrase used to inquire about the degree, scope, or magnitude of an event, change, or opinion, simply exploring and evaluating the extent of impact, importance, or satisfaction achieved on an issue, which can be understood as how much.

The phrase to what extent is often used in questions, usually accompanied by the verbs do, does, did, or can, to request a detailed answer about the degree or scope of a situation or event.

E.g.:

• To what extent did the new marketing campaign contribute to the increase in sales? (Trong mức độ nào, chiến dịch tiếp thị mới đã đóng góp vào việc tăng doanh số bán hàng?)
• To what extent do you agree with the statement that technology has improved our lives? (Trong mức độ nào, bạn đồng ý với tuyên bố rằng công nghệ đã cải thiện cuộc sống của chúng ta?)

2. Type of question To what extent do you agree or disagree in IELTS Writing Task 2

If you are familiar with tackling IELTS exams, the phrase To what extent is likely not unfamiliar to you, especially in Writing Task 2. 

Typically, this phrase is used to request your opinion to a certain degree and often requires you to provide arguments and evidence to support your viewpoint.

Here is a question of the type To what extent do you agree or disagree in IELTS Writing Task 2:

3. Type of question To what extent do you agree or disagree and Do you agree or disagree in IELTS Writing Task 2

Although they share a similar meaning in terms of requiring candidates to express agreement or disagreement with a certain opinion, the types of questions To what extent do you agree or disagree? And Do you agree or disagree? in IELTS Writing Task 2 have some differences in how they are asked and how you must present your viewpoint.

Mytour identifies the differences below:

3.1. Type of question To what extent do you agree or disagree

This is a more complex question that requires you to state your opinion and evaluate the degree of agreement or disagreement with the discussed viewpoint.

You need to present your viewpoint right in the opening sentence of your essay and then use paragraphs to provide evidence and develop your viewpoint. Additionally, you should provide arguments and examples to indicate the extent of your agreement or disagreement.

E.g.: Being a celebrity, there are benefits as well as problems to be faced in society. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? (Là một người nổi tiếng, có những lợi ích cũng như những vấn đề phải đối mặt trong xã hội. Bạn đồng ý hay không đồng ý với nhận định này ở mức độ nào?)

3.2. Type of question Do you agree or disagree?

This is a straightforward question that requires you to simply state whether you agree or disagree with the viewpoint mentioned in the question.

You can state your viewpoint right in the opening sentence of your essay and then use ideas and evidence to develop your viewpoint.

E.g.: In the interest of public health, governments should ban cigarettes and other tobacco products. Do you agree or disagree? (Vì lợi ích của sức khỏe cộng đồng, các chính phủ nên cấm thuốc lá và các sản phẩm thuốc lá khác. Bạn đồng ý hay không đồng ý?)

In summary, we can understand that with To what extent do you agree or disagree, you can present your opinion at different levels such as fully agree/disagree or partially agree/disagree. The response format of this question overall is broader compared to Do you agree or disagree.

3.3. Approach to writing To what extent do you agree or disagree in IELTS Writing Task 2

To make a stronger impression on examiners and achieve high scores in IELTS Writing Task 2 with the question To what extent do you agree or disagree, you should analyze both sides of the issue (reasons for agreeing/disagreeing) and then conclude whether you lean more towards Agree or Disagree.

A structure for To what extent do you agree or disagree questions can be outlined as follows:

Introduction

• Giới thiệu chủ đề và mô tả tình huống chung (paraphrase đề bài)

Body Paragraph 1 – Quan điểm đồng ý

• Trình bày quan điểm đồng ý của bạn với tuyên bố/ý kiến trong đề bài
• Đưa ra lập luận, ví dụ, hoặc dẫn chứng để hỗ trợ quan điểm của bạn
• Phát triển ý tưởng chi tiết, logic

Body Paragraph 2 – Quan điểm không đồng ý

• Trình bày quan điểm không đồng ý của bạn với tuyên bố/ý kiến trong đề bài
• Đưa ra lập luận, ví dụ, hoặc dẫn chứng để hỗ trợ quan điểm của bạn
• Phát triển ý tưởng chi tiết, logic

Body Paragraph 3 – Quan điểm trung lập hoặc sự cân nhắc

• Trình bày quan điểm trung lập hoặc thể hiện sự cân nhắc của bạn
• Đưa ra lập luận, ví dụ, hoặc dẫn chứng để hỗ trợ quan điểm của bạn
• Phát triển ý tưởng chi tiết, logic

Conclusion

• Tóm lại quan điểm của bạn, kết luận tổng quát dựa trên các lập luận đã trình bày, xem bạn thiên về ý kiến nào hơn
• Kết thúc bài viết một cách mạch lạc và súc tích

Here is a sample question:

Bài mẫu

In today's modern era of advanced technology, social media has become an essential part of our lives. Some argue that it has a negative impact on society, while others believe it brings numerous benefits. This essay aims to clarify my stance on the extent to which I agree with the idea that social media has a harmful effect on society.

Firstly, social media platforms often promote unrealistic beauty standards, leading to an increase in body image issues among young people. Constant exposure to carefully curated images of flawless individuals can create feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. Furthermore, cyberbullying has become widespread on social media, causing significant psychological distress and, in extreme cases, tragic consequences.

Nevertheless, it is essential to recognize that social media also serves as a powerful tool for communication and social connection. It enables individuals to stay in touch with friends and family, especially in long-distance relationships or during periods of physical separation. Additionally, social media provides a platform for marginalized voices to be heard, raising awareness about important social issues and promoting social change.

While social media undoubtedly has negative aspects, I believe its impact on society is not entirely negative. It is crucial for individuals to develop digital literacy skills and practice responsible usage to minimize potential harm. By promoting digital literacy and online safety education, we can empower users to navigate social media platforms more effectively and protect themselves from adverse outcomes.

In conclusion, social media has both positive and negative effects on society. While it can contribute to body image issues and cyberbullying, it also fosters communication and social awareness. Therefore, I partially agree with the statement that social media has a negative impact on society, but I believe its overall influence can be shaped by responsible usage and education.

Bản dịch:

In the contemporary age of advanced technology, social media has become an essential aspect of our existence. Some argue that it has negative effects on society, while others believe it brings many benefits. This essay aims to clarify my perspective on the extent to which I agree with the assertion that social media has a negative impact on society.

Firstly, social media platforms often promote unrealistic beauty standards, leading to an increase in body image issues among young individuals. The constant exposure to carefully selected images of flawless individuals can create feelings of inadequacy and diminish self-esteem. Moreover, online bullying has become prevalent on social media, causing significant psychological distress and, in severe cases, leading to tragic consequences.

However, it is crucial to acknowledge that social media also plays a crucial role as a powerful tool for communication and social connectivity. It enables individuals to maintain connections with friends and family, especially in long-distance relationships or times of physical separation. Additionally, social media provides a platform for marginalized voices to be heard, raising awareness about important social issues and enabling social change.

Although social media certainly has negative aspects, I believe its impact on society is not entirely negative. It is essential for individuals to develop digital literacy skills and practice responsible use to mitigate potential harm. By promoting digital literacy and online safety education, we can empower users to navigate social media platforms more effectively and protect themselves from negative consequences.