The best way to help underachieving pupils is to have compulsory after-school activities which they must attend. This way they will become more involved in school and their grades will improve. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sample Response
Addressing the issue of underachieving pupils is crucial for fostering educational success and personal development. While some argue that compulsory after-school activities can be an effective waysolution to help these students, I fully agree with this proposition. This essay will examinedelve into the reasons for this viewreasons behind this viewpoint and provide examples to support it.
Compulsory after-school activities offer valuable opportunitiesoffer a valuable opportunity to engage underachieving pupils and ignite their interest in learning. These activities can includeencompass a wide range of options, such as academic support programmes, sports clubs, art workshops, or community service initiatives. By participating in these activities, students can discover new talents, develop a sense of belonging, and gain a deeper appreciation for the school environment. For example, a struggling student who attends a science club after school might encounterfind a hands-on approach to learning that sparks their curiosity. ByThrough conducting experiments and engaging in discussions with peers and mentors, their motivation to excel in science could increase significantly. This newfound enthusiasm can have a positive effectpositive ripple effect on their overall academic performance.
Moreover, compulsory after-school activities not only contribute to academic improvement but also support the holistic development of underachieving students. These activities give students opportunities to developprovide a platform for students to develop important skills and qualities that extend beyond the classroom, such as teamwork, leadership, creativity, and time management. For instance, a student who struggles academically may excel in a drama club, where they can showcase their acting abilities and build self-confidence.
In conclusion, the implementation of compulsory after-school activities for underachieving learners can contribute substantiallycan greatly contribute to their academic progress and personal growth. By engaging students in diverse extracurricular pursuits, schools can enhance their motivation, provide a supportive environment, and foster holistic development.
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response is clear, well organised, and highly fluent, with the science-club example effectively showing how extracurricular engagement can improve motivation and grades. Its main limitation is that it demonstrates the value of activities more convincingly than the claim that attendance must be compulsory or that this is the best intervention. Prioritise defending compulsion against voluntary participation and briefly comparing it with targeted tutoring or other support.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
A clear position is supported by well-developed benefits and examples, but the necessity of compulsion and the 'best way' claim are not fully justified.
Explain why mandatory participation would outperform voluntary clubs or targeted academic support for underachieving pupils.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas are logically sequenced in focused paragraphs, and cohesive links guide the reader smoothly from engagement to broader development.
Strengthen the bridge between personal development and improved grades so the second body paragraph advances the central claim more directly.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is broad, natural, and precise, with effective education-specific expressions and only minor repetition.
Vary repeated references to 'activities' and 'development' while preserving the existing clarity and professional tone.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of sentence structures is used accurately and flexibly, with only very minor lapses.
Maintain this strong control while using slightly more concise phrasing in the introduction and conclusion.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
The best way to help underachieving pupils is to have compulsory after-school activities which they must attend. This way they will become more involved in school and their grades will improve. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.