Many students have to study subjects which they do not like. Some people think this is a complete waste of time. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Sample Response
Education is such a possession which never lets the possessor down. It does pay back in some way or the other. It is due to this reason that it is kept at a very high pedestal and only contributes to the widening of the horizon of the possessor. Due to this firm fact, it can be said that education earned by studying any kind of subjects is never ever a waste of time. It only adds up to the total personality of an individual and makes him a matured, understanding and a complete human being. However, there are other schools of thoughts who are of the view that the pupils must not be taught the subjects in which they have no interest in. According to their belief, this only contributes towards the wastage of time. They believe in the theory that the students must be made to study the subjects which are liked by the students. Unfortunately, the followers of the second school of thought invariably tend to forget the fact that the thought process of a student is too narrow, too limited due to the immaturity level where the student tends to stand at such a tender age. The mind of a student is just like a clay which can be moulded in either way. In such a scenario, if the child is given the freedom to study the subjects according to their liking, the changes of a tender mind to get lost in the world of fantasy would lead the nation towards a horrific and unpleasant future. The mind of a student is as holy as Bible, as sacred as temple and if such a mind is guided in the right direction, by making him understand the potential of education possessed, the future of not only the student but the nation also shines. It is only education which encourages mankind to labour in present in order to enjoy the fruits in future. In a recent interview a prospective candidate, who had applied for the immigration to a country, did share his experience where the subjects which he had no interest in studying did contribute and acted as a saviour for him to gather the ‘points’ for the educational qualifications. The article in the fortnightly published magazine, The Immigrants, further discussed his getting successful in achieving his goal due to the accrual of those ‘points’ which he got due to such education. In the end, I opine in favour of studying any kind of subjects because it is the education which is dearer than the fine opals, more precious than Emeralds and places a person above all.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Fix determiner structure Original: such a possession which Suggested revision: a possession that Why it matters: ‘Such a possession which’ is not grammatical in this relative-clause structure.
- 2. Correct phrasal verb Original: back Suggested revision: off Why it matters: ‘Pay off’ means to produce a benefit, whereas ‘pay back’ normally requires a person or debt as its object.
- 3. Use idiomatic phrase Original: in some way or the other Suggested revision: in one way or another Why it matters: ‘In one way or another’ is the standard idiomatic expression.
- 4. Correct preposition Original: at Suggested revision: on Why it matters: Something is placed ‘on’ a pedestal, not ‘at’ one.
- 5. Use natural expression Original: widening of the horizon Suggested revision: broadening of the horizons Why it matters: ‘Broadening someone’s horizons’ is the natural expression for expanding knowledge or outlook.
- 6. Improve word choice Original: education earned by studying any kind of subjects Suggested revision: education gained by studying any subject Why it matters: Education is ‘gained’, and ‘any’ takes the singular count noun ‘subject’ in this construction.
- 7. Avoid redundant emphasis Original: never ever Suggested revision: never Why it matters: ‘Ever’ adds unnecessary informal emphasis after ‘never’.
- 8. Clarify development claim Original: adds up to the total personality Suggested revision: contributes to the overall development Why it matters: The original collocation is unnatural, while the replacement preserves the claim about personal growth.
- 9. Fix adjective form Original: a matured, understanding and a complete human being Suggested revision: a mature, understanding and complete human being Why it matters: ‘Mature’ is the appropriate adjective, and the repeated article is unnecessary in a coordinated modifier list.
- 10. Use fixed plural form Original: thoughts Suggested revision: thought Why it matters: The fixed expression pluralizes ‘schools’ while ‘thought’ remains singular.
- 11. Remove double preposition Original: subjects in which they have no interest in Suggested revision: subjects in which they have no interest Why it matters: The relative construction already contains ‘in’, so the final preposition is redundant.
- 12. Use standard expression Original: wastage Suggested revision: waste Why it matters: ‘Waste of time’ is the standard and more concise expression.
Suggested Rewrites
- such a possession which a possession that
- back off
- in some way or the other in one way or another
- at on
- widening of the horizon broadening of the horizons
- education earned by studying any kind of subjects education gained by studying any subject
Why this response received Band 6.0
The response maintains a definite disagreement and shows ambition through extended reasoning and varied vocabulary. However, the single unbroken paragraph, repeated abstract claims, exaggerated comparisons, and a partly tangential immigration example make the argument difficult to follow and less persuasive; frequent awkward grammar and collocation also reduce control. The highest priority is to organise two focused reasons into separate paragraphs and support each with concise, directly relevant explanation.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The writer gives a clear position and several supporting ideas, but development is often overgeneralised and the immigration example is only loosely connected to the claim.
Select two directly relevant reasons why compulsory subjects are valuable and develop each with realistic explanation rather than sweeping assertions.
Coherence and Cohesion
There is a discernible line of argument, but presenting the entire response as one paragraph and using long, repetitive sentences weakens progression.
Divide the essay into an introduction, focused body paragraphs, and a conclusion, with one controlling idea in each body paragraph.
Lexical Resource
The response attempts a broad vocabulary, but frequent unnatural or incorrect collocations undermine precision and create an overly ornate tone.
Prefer direct academic wording and check common combinations such as range of subjects, school of thought, apply for immigration, and succeed in achieving.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The writer attempts varied complex structures, but errors with articles, prepositions, agreement, word forms, and clause construction occur frequently.
Use shorter complex sentences and systematically check articles, relative clauses, and verb forms before adding further subordinate clauses.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Many students have to study subjects which they do not like. Some people think this is a complete waste of time. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.