It is often said that the subjects taught in schools are too academic in orientation and that it would be more useful for children to learn about practical matters such as home management, work and interpersonal skills. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the above statement.
Sample Response
A criticism often heard these days is that the subjects taught in schools tend to be too academic and contribute little to preparing a young person for the real-life tasks he or she will have to perform after graduation. Critics argue thatThey say that academic subjects are rooted in the past and arerooted in the past, and are not useful for solving modern problems. I disagree with this point of view for three reasons.
My first reason is that it is the duty of parents, not teachers, to prepare their children to deal with the practical aspects of daily lifepractical affairs of life. The home, not the classroom, is the ideal place to learn about home management and interpersonal skills. As for workplace skills and attitudeswork abilities and attitudes, they are best learned “on the job” and under the supervision of an experienced colleagueexperienced older worker.
My second reason is that academic subjects have withstood the test of time. They represent the accumulated wisdom of our ancestors down through the ages, and, far from being impractical, they equip us with the knowledge and confidence to make a sound judgment about any problems which may crop up. In addition, academic subjects are effective at developing mental disciplinegood for training us in mental discipline, while practical subjects develop it less directlypractical subjects are weak in this regard.
My third reason is based on the saying “Man does not live by bread alone.” Schooldays devoted solely to instruction in down-to-earth practical matters would be dull indeed! Lessons in the best literature of the world and theliterature of the world, and the epoch-making scientific and geographical discoveries of the past enrich our lives and make us feel that we are part of the global human communitygreat family of mankind.
All in all, the teaching of academic subjects in schools is entirely appropriate. It is my firmly held view that practical subjects have no place in the classroom. IndeedOn the contrary, the curriculum should be more academic.
Why this response received Band 8.0
The essay’s strongest feature is its clear, sustained position, developed through three distinct reasons about where practical skills belong, the enduring value of academic knowledge, and cultural enrichment. Its main limitation is that several claims are asserted categorically, especially the conclusion that practical subjects have no classroom role. Add a concrete illustration to each reason and qualify the final claim so the argument remains persuasive rather than absolute.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The position is direct and fully sustained, with three relevant, well-developed reasons that address the value of academic and practical learning.
Support the claims about home, workplace, and classroom learning with brief concrete illustrations and qualify the absolute final position.
Coherence and Cohesion
The introduction, three reason-led body paragraphs, and conclusion form a clear progression, with cohesive devices used naturally and effectively.
Replace the repeated labels “my first reason,” “my second reason,” and “my third reason” with topic-focused openings for subtler progression.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is wide, precise, and flexible across education, practical skills, cultural value, and abstract argument, with only occasional dated or awkward phrasing.
Modernise phrases such as “the great family of mankind” and choose slightly more precise wording for “work abilities and attitudes.”
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is used accurately and confidently, with only minor punctuation and reference lapses.
Check optional commas and ambiguous pronoun references, particularly “They say” in the introduction, to make an already controlled style more exact.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
It is often said that the subjects taught in schools are too academic in orientation and that it would be more useful for children to learn about practical matters such as home management, work and interpersonal skills. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the above statement.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.