B1IELTS-style · Band 4.5–5.0Writing50 min

IELTS Writing: Screen Time and Eyesight

Eyesight, glasses and eye tests

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How to use this lesson

👨‍🏫 For Teachers

1. Guide students through Module 1 within 50 minutes, moving step-by-step from vocabulary build-up to grammar.

2. Use the automatic check buttons after each section to verify student answers before they begin writing in Module 2.

🎓 For Learners

1. Complete all vocabulary, collocation, and ordering grammar exercises in Module 1 first to build key phrases.

2. Next, follow the 4-paragraph plan in Module 2 to write your complete B1 essay on screen time.

Module 1 • Vocabulary & Grammar Build-up

👁️✍️ Eyesight, Glasses & Eye Tests

"Let's strengthen your vocabulary and grammar before writing!"

A

Word Forms of Unit Vocabulary

Complete each sentence with the correct form of the word in brackets.

1. My sister had her eyes tested by a qualified ____ (OPTIC) yesterday.

2. Spending hours in front of computer monitors can harm your ____ (EYE).

3. He is quite ____ (SHORT), so he cannot read the whiteboard without glasses.

4. There is no instant ____ (CURED) for computer eye strain, but regular breaks help.

5. When you stare at a smartphone screen, you ____ (BLINKING) less often than usual.

B

Collocations with Unit Words

Choose the correct unit word to complete each natural collocation.

6. Many teenagers prefer contact lenses, but others still wear a pair of ___.

____ a. checkups ____ b. spectacles ____ c. eyelids

7. It is important to visit the clinic for a routine eye ___ every year.

____ a. checkup ____ b. glare ____ c. cure

8. As people grow older, they often become ___, making reading close text difficult.

____ a. shortsighted ____ b. blinking ____ c. longsighted

9. Special lenses can protect your eyes from bright screen ___.

____ a. glare ____ b. eyesight ____ c. checkup

10. Late at night, your ___ may feel heavy and tired after studying on a laptop.

____ a. opticians ____ b. cure ____ c. eyelids
C

Common Essay Phrases

Word Bank (Use each phrase exactly once):

For instance On the other hand In my view In addition As a result

11. ____, looking at phones late at night is harmful for sleep quality.

12. The battery in my phone is very old. ____, I charge it many times a day.

13. Modern screens improve working productivity. ____, excessive use can cause discomfort.

14. Screen work can cause neck strain. ____, it often leads to tired eyes.

15. There are simple ways to rest your eyes. ____, you can look out of a window for a minute.

D

Paraphrase Sentences

Select the sentence that best rewrites the original statement using unit vocabulary and different structures.

Original Sentence:

"Looking at screens for many hours causes eye fatigue."

____ a. Staring at digital devices for long periods leads to eye strain. ____ b. People like to watch television for hours every single day. ____ c. Opticians recommend buying expensive spectacles for reading.

Original Sentence:

"Regular eye tests can help detect vision problems early."

____ a. Shortsighted people need stronger glasses when they visit an optician. ____ b. Having routine checkups allows opticians to spot eyesight issues quickly. ____ c. Vision problems cannot be cured even if you get an eye test.

Original Sentence:

"Using computers all day might damage your eyesight."

____ a. Blinking frequently will cure all vision problems permanently. ____ b. Laptops are much more helpful for students than traditional paper textbooks. ____ c. Working on digital screens constantly can harm your vision.
E

Grammar Recap: Ordering Ideas

📌 Remember the Ordering Pattern:

  • First point: firstly / to begin with
  • Next point: secondly / in addition
  • Example: for example
  • Last point / Summary: finally / in conclusion / to sum up

Short Talk 1:

"Many teenagers spend hours on smartphones every day. [ GAP ], constant screen glare causes dry eyes. Secondly, late-night phone use ruins sleep quality."

____ a. Finally ____ b. For example ____ c. To begin with ____ d. In conclusion

Short Talk 2:

"Working on a computer all day has several drawbacks. To begin with, it makes your eyes tired. [ GAP ], sitting for hours causes back pain. For example, office workers often have sore shoulders."

____ a. In addition ____ b. For example ____ c. To begin with ____ d. In conclusion

Short Talk 3:

"We have discussed how screen time affects vision and physical health. [ GAP ], while devices are helpful, we must protect our eyesight by visiting an optician regularly."

____ a. Secondly ____ b. For example ____ c. In addition ____ d. To sum up
Module 2 • Task Application

📝 Essay Writing Task

"Now apply what you learned to write a full essay."

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IELTS Task 2 Prompt

Writing Question:

"Many people now spend a lot of time every day looking at screens, such as computers, phones and televisions. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?"

📌 Learner Requirements:

📏 Length: At least 200 words
🔗 Grammar: At least 3 ordering sentences
🔤 Vocabulary: At least 5 Unit words
🗺️

4-Paragraph Essay Plan

Use these fixed paragraph starters to structure your essay:

Paragraph 1 • Introduction

"In this essay I will discuss ..."

Paragraph 2 • Advantages

"One advantage is ..."

Paragraph 3 • Disadvantages

"However, one disadvantage is ..."

Paragraph 4 • Conclusion

"In conclusion, ..."

✅

Writing Self-Check List

Check off each item before submitting your response:

____ 1. I wrote at least 200 words. ____ 2. I included at least 3 sentences using ordering grammar (e.g., to begin with, secondly, in addition, for example, in conclusion). ____ 3. I used at least 5 Unit words (e.g., optician, eyesight, spectacles, checkup, shortsighted, longsighted, cure, blink, glare, eyelid). ____ 4. I completed all 4 paragraphs following the starter plan.
✍️

Your Essay Draft

AI Evaluation Enabled

Grading Criteria:

Task Response Coherence and Cohesion Lexical Resource Grammatical Range and Accuracy
____ (In this essay I will discuss...)
Module 3 • Model Essay

🌟 Strong B1 Model Essay

"Read this strong B1 sample essay to see how everything comes together."

📖

Model Essay: Screen Time & Eyesight

Voice of a Strong B1 Learner

📏 216 Words ✨ Target Ordering Structures

Unit Vocabulary Featured:

glare eyelid blink eyesight shortsighted longsighted optician checkup spectacles cure
Paragraph 1 • Introduction

In this essay I will discuss the main advantages and disadvantages of spending many hours every day looking at digital screens. In modern life, almost everyone uses computers, laptops and smartphones for work or study, which brings both benefits and health problems.

Paragraph 2 • Advantages

One advantage is that digital devices make communication and learning much easier for everyone.

To begin with, computers allow workers to send important messages and share documents in just a few seconds.

💡 Why this works: Use "To begin with" to introduce your very first main point.

In addition, online screens give students quick access to educational materials from anywhere in the world.

💡 Why this works: Use "In addition" to add another supporting idea.

For example, many teenagers now take online classes at home instead of traveling to school.

💡 Why this works: Use "For example" to give a specific illustration of your point.

Paragraph 3 • Disadvantages

However, one disadvantage is that staring at bright displays for long periods can cause serious physical issues.

Firstly, high screen glare often leads to dry eyes and heavy eyelids after a busy workday.

💡 Why this works: Use "Firstly" to start your list of negative points.

Secondly, people often forget to blink when looking at monitors, which can damage their natural eyesight.

💡 Why this works: Use "Secondly" to introduce your next negative point.

As a result, many young adults have tired eyes. Some of them are shortsighted or longsighted, so they must visit an optician for a routine checkup and buy new spectacles. There is no magic cure for eye strain.

Paragraph 4 • Conclusion

In conclusion, although digital screens provide huge practical benefits for work and study, we must manage our screen time carefully to maintain good health.

💡 Why this works: Use "In conclusion" to summarize the main points at the end of your essay.

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