Unemployment remains the biggest challenge to school-leavers in most countries. How far do you agree with this assessment? What other challenges face young people today?
During the last twenty years, the assessment of students has undergone a major transformation. Many educational institutions have shifted their focus from traditional examination towards a variety of innovative assessment techniques, as they believe traditional examination results are not often true to student’s ability. To what extent do you agree with the claim that traditional examination results are not true to the student’s ability?
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Many teachers assign homework to students every day. Do you think that daily homework is necessary for students? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
Education is a critical element of the prosperity of any nation. The more educated the people of the country are, more successful their nation becomes. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
The main purpose of public libraries is to provide books, and they should not waste their limited resources and space on providing expensive hi-tech media such as computer software, videos and DVDs. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Schools should only offer subjects that are beneficial to students’ future career success. Other subjects, such as music and sports, are not important. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people fail in school, but end up being successful in life. Why do you think that is the case? What is, in your opinion, the most important thing to succeed in life?
Test and examination is a central feature of school systems in any counties. Do you think the educational benefits of testing outweigh any disadvantages?
Some people believe that competition helps children to be better prepared for their future, while others say that competition can be harmful to children and should be limited to adults. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Some people believe that it is fairer to assess a student’s ability based on their performance during the whole course rather than giving a formal examination at the end of the course. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
You have been asked to write about the following topic. Some people believe that children’s leisure activities must be educational, otherwise they are a complete waste of time. Do you agree or disagree?
Junk food is quite harmful to our generation and we need an educated generation to stop it. Is education the answer to stop people from eating junk food?
Some experts believe that it is better for children to begin learning a foreign language at primary school rather than secondary school. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
Formal examinations are the only effective way to assess a student's performance. Continual assessment such as course work and projects is not a satisfactory way to do this. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
It is generally believed that some people are born with certain talents, for instance for sports or music, and others are not. However, it is sometimes claimed that any child can be taught to become a good sports person or musician. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Learning about the past has no value for those who live in the present. Include any relevant examples
Some people say that the purpose of education is to prepare individuals to be useful to society. Others say its purpose is to prepare individuals to achieve personal ambitions. Discuss these views and give your opinion.
Some people think that intelligence is innate while others believe that we can improve our intelligence through learning. Discuss both these views and give your opinion.
Some people feel that in order to improve the quality of our education we should encourage high school students to evaluate and criticise their teachers. Others feel that it will cause the loss of respect and discipline in the classroom. Which one do you support? What's your viewpoint?
Some people think history has nothing or little to tell us, but others think that studying the past history can help us better understand the present. Discuss the two views and give your own opinion.