Universities should accept equal numbers of male and female students in every subject. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sample Response
The society and educational system have changed significantly from the old era when it was almost impossible for a girl to study in a university while only boys were allowed to do so. Now a girl can enrol to a university at her wish and merit. In many universities, female students exceed the male students in many subjects. I oppose the idea of granting the same number of male and female students in every subject offered in a university bypassing the merit list. First of all, a university aims to educate people and prepare them for the future and those students would lead the country in the future. If the admission process prioritises sentiments and tries to accept the same number of students from both genders in each subject, it would not be a good idea for the country. Rather they should focus on talent and there is no harm if more female students can get admitted to the university based on talent. Second, the important qualifications are the academic performance and merit. Here gender issue should not be considered. The equal number of male and female students in every subject is a whimsical idea that would deprive many talented male students. Third, since there is no restriction on the number of female students allowed for a subject, they can naturally compete in a fair fight and show they competence rather than being pitied by a policy. Again, not all male and female are equally interested in studying in every subject, they have their own choices. Implementing the equal number of male and female students in each subject would take away the freedom from students to study in their favourite subject. In conclusion, the idea of admitting the same number of male and female students in university level in each subject is not a good idea and the admission should strictly base on choice and merit rather than emotion.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Remove unnecessary article Original: The society Suggested revision: Society Why it matters: The general concept ‘society’ does not take the definite article here.
- 2. Use natural time phrase Original: old era Suggested revision: past Why it matters: ‘The past’ is more natural and precise than ‘the old era’ in this context.
- 3. Correct enrol preposition Original: to Suggested revision: at Why it matters: Use ‘enrol at’ when referring to joining an institution.
- 4. Clarify admission basis Original: at her wish and merit Suggested revision: according to her preferences and merit Why it matters: The original phrase does not express choice and academic qualification naturally.
- 5. Use precise comparison verb Original: female students exceed the male students Suggested revision: female students outnumber male students Why it matters: ‘Outnumber’ is the correct verb for comparing the sizes of two groups.
- 6. Use correct admission verb Original: granting the same number of male and female students Suggested revision: admitting equal numbers of male and female students Why it matters: Universities admit students; they do not grant students.
- 7. State contrast directly Original: bypassing the merit list Suggested revision: regardless of merit Why it matters: This wording expresses the intended contrast with merit more directly.
- 8. Use natural noun form Original: sentiments Suggested revision: sentiment Why it matters: ‘Sentiment’ is normally uncountable when it means emotion influencing a decision.
- 9. Clarify contrast and subject Original: Rather they Suggested revision: Instead, universities Why it matters: The revision provides a clear contrast marker and an unambiguous subject.
- 10. Use concise passive form Original: get Suggested revision: be Why it matters: The passive form ‘be admitted’ is more appropriate in formal writing.
- 11. Fix article and punctuation Original: Here gender issue Suggested revision: Here, gender Why it matters: ‘Gender’ works as an uncountable topic noun here, and the introductory adverb needs a comma.
- 12. Use precise policy term Original: whimsical idea Suggested revision: arbitrary policy Why it matters: ‘Arbitrary policy’ describes a rule viewed as lacking a sound basis more precisely.
Suggested Rewrites
- The society Society
- old era past
- to at
- at her wish and merit according to her preferences and merit
- female students exceed the male students female students outnumber male students
- granting the same number of male and female students admitting equal numbers of male and female students
Why this response received Band 6.0
The response maintains a clear opposition to fixed gender quotas and offers several relevant reasons centred on merit and student choice. Its impact is reduced by overlapping arguments, limited concrete support, and the absence of paragraph breaks, while frequent awkward phrasing weakens precision. The highest priority is to organise two distinct, fully developed reasons into separate body paragraphs and support each with a specific example.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The position is clear and relevant throughout, but several reasons overlap and receive limited specific support.
Develop two distinct arguments in depth, using a concrete example to demonstrate the consequences of each.
Coherence and Cohesion
The ideas follow a recognisable sequence through explicit signposting, but the single-paragraph presentation and mechanical sequencing limit cohesion.
Divide the response into an introduction, focused body paragraphs, and a conclusion, with each paragraph built around one central idea.
Lexical Resource
The response uses an adequate topic-related range, though frequent awkward collocations and imprecise choices reduce naturalness.
Replace expressions such as overly emotive or unnatural combinations with precise academic wording about admissions, merit, and opportunity.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A mix of simple and complex structures communicates the argument clearly, despite recurring errors with articles, agreement, pronouns, and verb forms.
Proofread each sentence for article use and agreement, especially plural nouns, pronouns, and passive verb constructions.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Universities should accept equal numbers of male and female students in every subject. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.