285 words, written by us as a teaching example — not a verified exam script. Read it, then attempt the question yourself.
“In the future, nobody will buy printed newspapers or books because they will be able to read everything they w…”Model answer
285 wordsP1The claim that printed newspapers and books will disappear once digital reading becomes universally free is an appealing prediction, but I largely disagree. While online content has already displaced much of the print market, a complete eradication of paid physical media is unlikely for a combination of commercial, cultural, and practical reasons.
P2It is undeniable that digital reading has transformed consumption habits dramatically. Streaming news, e-book platforms, and social media have together slashed print newspaper circulations to a fraction of their former levels. Younger readers in particular habitually obtain information from their phones at no direct cost, and this trend will only intensify as connectivity improves in developing economies.
P3However, the premise that everything will be available online without payment underestimates how content is funded. Quality journalism and book publishing both require significant investment in editorial talent, legal review, and production. As advertising revenue for freely accessible websites continues to decline, subscription paywalls have proliferated rather than retreated. Outlets such as the Financial Times and The Economist have built robust digital-subscription businesses precisely because discerning readers accept that valued content carries a cost, whether on paper or screen.
Write your answer in the exam workspace and see how your four marks compare to the model’s.
P4Additionally, print retains genuine advantages that digital media cannot easily replicate: the absence of notifications and algorithm-driven distraction, superior battery-free reliability, and a tactile reading experience that many people actively prefer. Book sales have proved remarkably resilient in markets where e-books were predicted to dominate entirely.
P5In conclusion, the future will most likely involve a shrunken but surviving print market alongside a dominant paid digital sector. The notion that all content will be free online is commercially implausible, and the claim that nobody will ever buy a printed book or newspaper overstates a real but incomplete trend.