Some people think schools should group pupils according to their academic ability, but others believe pupils with different abilities should be educated together. Discuss both views and give your opinion?
Sample Response
People have different views about grouping students in different classes- some prefer this grouping based on students’ academic skill while others prefer mixing students in a group. Although there are some good reasons to think that students with same performance level and ability in a group have more advantages, in my opinion, a mixed-ability education system should be carried out in schools.
For several reasons it can be argued that student segregation by grades and same ability should be allowed in schools and should be grouped together. Firstly, high performing groups can be taught at a right speed by teachers. Who then would be able to plan their lecture by looking at students capability of how quickly they can absorb knowledge and new lessons. This will allow teachers to cover the course at a faster pace. Secondly, high-achievers will be more motivated if they are acknowledged as the most intelligent, talented and gifted peers. This sense of being superior will also help them to work hard and eventually become a successful, prosperous and competitive member of the future workforce. If a classroom has students of similar abilities and learning capability, they find it more interesting to perform and excel in their studies. The teachers do not need to put any special emphasis to teach them which is quite helpful for a good learning environment.
However, I believe in the current system of mix education in schools, where students with different academic capabilities are being taught in the same class. Students in this system will be more confident and more competitive if they are not subject to grading based segregation. Less capable students would have more opportunities to interact with brilliant students if both are being taught in the same group. So it will not only encourage cooperation but also competition with their class-fellows. Furthermore, segregating less capable pupils in mid-range or lower level groups would cause resentment in them with lower self-esteem. This is because children do not really want to be seen as less intelligent or less privileged. Also, they are prone to be violent or get involved in a gang culture just to make themselves prominent in society or to satisfy their confidence. Some low-achievers might end up attaining worse grades than before since a sense of competition is less likely to be found in the class of less capable pupil. Also, comparatively less intelligent students will not get the confidence of competing in the job markets in future, if they are kept in low-quality classes.
In conclusion, grouping pupils by their achievement level have few positive effects on high performing students but still this is a harmful way to education a nation. I would rather argue that mixed-ability oriented classes should be encouraged in schools as it will benefit all students.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Fix clause punctuation Original: classes- some Suggested revision: classes; some Why it matters: A semicolon correctly joins these two closely related independent clauses.
- 2. Add article and clarify Original: students with same performance level and ability Suggested revision: students with the same performance level and ability Why it matters: The definite article is required before the specified shared level.
- 3. Use correct collocation Original: a mixed-ability education system should be carried out Suggested revision: mixed-ability education should be implemented Why it matters: An education policy is “implemented,” whereas a system is not normally “carried out.”
- 4. Use natural collocation Original: at a right speed Suggested revision: at an appropriate pace Why it matters: “At an appropriate pace” is the natural expression for a suitable teaching rate.
- 5. Clarify group reference Original: peers Suggested revision: students Why it matters: “Students” clearly identifies the group, whereas “peers” makes the comparison ambiguous.
- 6. Match plural subject Original: become a successful, prosperous and competitive member Suggested revision: become successful, prosperous and competitive members Why it matters: The plural subject “they” requires the plural complement “members.”
- 7. Use plural noun Original: capability Suggested revision: capabilities Why it matters: The sentence refers to the capabilities of multiple students, so the plural form is appropriate.
- 8. Clarify motivation Original: find it more interesting to perform Suggested revision: find it more motivating to perform well Why it matters: The revision states naturally that the classroom setting motivates stronger performance.
- 9. Correct emphasis pattern Original: put any special emphasis to teach them Suggested revision: place any special emphasis on teaching them Why it matters: “Emphasis” takes “on” followed by a gerund in this construction.
- 10. Use correct modifier Original: mix education Suggested revision: mixed-ability education Why it matters: “Mixed-ability” is the correct adjective for classes containing students of different abilities.
- 11. Clarify plural groups Original: if both are being taught in the same group Suggested revision: when both groups are taught together Why it matters: The revision gives “both” a clear plural referent and uses an appropriate time relationship.
- 12. Use standard noun Original: class-fellows Suggested revision: classmates Why it matters: “Classmates” is the standard word for other students in the same class.
Suggested Rewrites
- classes- some classes; some
- students with same performance level and ability students with the same performance level and ability
- a mixed-ability education system should be carried out mixed-ability education should be implemented
- at a right speed at an appropriate pace
- peers students
- become a successful, prosperous and competitive member become successful, prosperous and competitive members
Why this response received Band 7.0
The essay fully engages with both educational approaches and maintains a clear preference for mixed-ability classes, supported by several relevant consequences for learners and teachers. Its main limitation is that some claims become overstated or insufficiently justified, while recurring awkward grammar and collocation reduce polish. Prioritise tighter causal support for the strongest claims and a careful edit for sentence structure, agreement, and word form.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Response
Both views are developed and the writer's position is clear throughout, although a few consequences, particularly about violence and gang culture, are asserted too strongly.
Support each major consequence with a plausible explanatory link and avoid extending arguments beyond what the evidence in the paragraph can justify.
Coherence and Cohesion
The four-paragraph structure creates clear progression, and ideas within each side are generally connected logically despite some overextended passages.
Streamline the longer body paragraphs by grouping closely related points and removing repetitive elaboration.
Lexical Resource
The response demonstrates a broad education-related vocabulary, but several inaccurate word forms and unnatural combinations weaken precision.
Refine collocations such as mixed-ability education, ability-based segregation, and educating a nation, and check noun modifiers consistently.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Varied complex structures convey the argument clearly, but errors in agreement, articles, possessives, sentence boundaries, and word forms recur across the essay.
Edit sentence fragments and agreement patterns first, then check articles and possessive forms in longer sentences.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Some people think schools should group pupils according to their academic ability, but others believe pupils with different abilities should be educated together. Discuss both views and give your opinion?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.