It is better for boys and girls to study separately rather than study in mixed-sex classes. They are less distracted and this leads to better results. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the above statement?
Sample Response
Unlike in coeducation, boys and girls study separately in their own classes. Promoters of Separate sex classes believe that students could show better results while studying separately. I disagree that mixed sex classes distract the students from their education.
Mixed sex classes have its own advantages and disadvantages. But, its advantages are much more than disadvantages. One of the key advantages of coeducation is the high level of competition among boys and girls. It is natural and obvious that students try to be ahead of opposite gender, and they work harder and focus on their studies to gain the higher rank. This is also true for extra-curricular activities where boys and girls participate together in various activities.
Another advantage of mixed sex classes is the confidence. Students of coeducation have a high-level confidence and they can talk without shyness in front of opposite gender. This will greatly help them in their professional life. Higher confidence also plays a vital role in their interpersonal skills and overall personality. In addition to these, most of the colleges and universities do not have separate classes for boys and girls, so children already studying in coeducation never face any adjustment problem in mixed-sex classes in colleges and universities.
In the end, it is concluded that boys and girls studying in mixed-sex classes are not distracted due to coeducation. In fact, distraction varies from person to person. A student who studies separately can be more distracted due to the absence of opposite gender, and waste the precious study time finding the solution of such distraction.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use standard term Original: Separate sex classes Suggested revision: Single-sex classes Why it matters: “Single-sex classes” is the standard expression and does not require internal capitalization.
- 2. Match plural agreement Original: Mixed sex classes have its own Suggested revision: Mixed-sex classes have their own Why it matters: The plural noun “classes” requires the plural possessive determiner “their”.
- 3. Fix connector and reference Original: But, its advantages Suggested revision: However, their advantages Why it matters: “However” fits the formal contrast, and “their” agrees with the plural “classes”.
- 4. Use comparative verb Original: much more than disadvantages Suggested revision: far outweigh their disadvantages Why it matters: “Outweigh” clearly expresses that the advantages are greater than the disadvantages.
- 5. Add the article Original: ahead of opposite gender Suggested revision: ahead of the opposite gender Why it matters: The singular countable phrase requires the definite article here.
- 6. Use natural wording Original: gain the higher rank Suggested revision: achieve higher rankings Why it matters: “Achieve higher rankings” is the natural collocation for improved academic standing.
- 7. Clarify the advantage Original: the Suggested revision: increased Why it matters: “Increased confidence” names the claimed benefit more precisely.
- 8. Use idiomatic phrasing Original: Students of coeducation Suggested revision: Students in coeducational settings Why it matters: Students study in a coeducational setting rather than being “of coeducation”.
- 9. Remove the article Original: a high-level confidence Suggested revision: high confidence Why it matters: “Confidence” is uncountable here and should not take the article “a”.
- 10. Use concise wording Original: talk without shyness Suggested revision: speak confidently Why it matters: “Speak confidently” conveys the intended meaning more naturally and concisely.
- 11. Add the article Original: in front of opposite gender Suggested revision: in front of the opposite gender Why it matters: The singular phrase requires “the” in this context.
- 12. Match plural reference Original: life Suggested revision: lives Why it matters: The plural pronoun “them” refers to multiple students, so “lives” should also be plural.
Suggested Rewrites
- Separate sex classes Single-sex classes
- Mixed sex classes have its own Mixed-sex classes have their own
- But, its advantages However, their advantages
- much more than disadvantages far outweigh their disadvantages
- ahead of opposite gender ahead of the opposite gender
- gain the higher rank achieve higher rankings
Why this response received Band 6.5
The response’s strongest feature is its clear disagreement, supported through logically ordered points about competition, confidence, and preparation for later education. Its main limitation is that several claims are asserted rather than convincingly explained, while the final idea about distraction is speculative and weakens the argument. The highest-priority improvement is to develop fewer reasons with concrete, credible explanation and examples, while correcting recurring article, agreement, and collocation errors.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Response
A clear position is maintained and supported by several relevant reasons, but some ideas remain generalised or insufficiently substantiated.
Develop each main reason with a specific example or causal explanation, and replace the speculative final claim with stronger evidence.
Coherence and Cohesion
The essay has clear paragraphing and a logical progression from position to supporting reasons and conclusion, though some linking is mechanical.
Use transitions more selectively and make the connection between each example and the central claim more explicit.
Lexical Resource
The vocabulary is adequate for discussing education and social development, but recurrent unnatural collocations reduce precision.
Improve natural phrasing around expressions such as “the confidence,” “opposite gender,” and “finding the solution of such distraction.”
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The response uses both simple and complex structures, but recurring errors with articles, agreement, plurals, and prepositions are noticeable.
Prioritise agreement and article control, for example revising “classes have its” and consistently using an article before “opposite gender.”
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IELTS Writing Task 2
It is better for boys and girls to study separately rather than study in mixed-sex classes. They are less distracted and this leads to better results. 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.