A comparison is easier to follow when both options are judged against the same feature. If you describe the weight of an e-book device and the plot of a printed novel, you have changed the basis of comparison.
The books-and-reading set in the source IELTS SP - 189.epub includes a format-preference question. This guide uses that topic for a focused original exercise; no score guarantee from the book's marketing title is adopted.
Select one useful criterion
Portability, ease of annotation or your personal reading habits can each support a comparison. Start with the feature that matters most to your answer.
Original comparison
“When I travel, I prefer e-books because I can keep several titles on one device. At home, I often choose a printed book because I enjoy reading away from a screen.”
Separate a preference from a universal judgement
The example reports what suits one speaker. It does not establish that printed books are always distracting or that everyone learns more from a particular format. Keep claims proportionate to the evidence you have.
Make the comparison consistent
Draft: “Printed books are heavy, but e-books have interesting stories.”
Possible revision: “Carrying several printed books can be heavy, whereas a single device can hold several e-books.”
The revision compares portability on both sides.
Allow an exception when it matters
You may prefer one format in general but another for a specific activity. Explain that condition clearly. A qualified preference is not the same as having no view.
Practise comparing two options using one criterion, then try a second criterion. Listen for whether your linking words express a real comparison or merely join unrelated facts.
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Source: IELTS SP - 189.epub, Jobins Training. Examples labelled original or illustrative were written for this article. Independent exam preparation; no affiliation with or endorsement by the examining body. Practice does not predict an official score.