Some people think that it is a waste of time for high school students to study literature, such as novels and poems. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sample Response
Many today claim that learning about literature should no longer be a key component of the high school curriculum. In my opinion, there are practical reasons for this sentiment but literature still serves a purpose.
Proponents of this reform argue other subjects deserve prioritisation. There is little doubt that in the 21st century, the most important subjects for students’ future careers relate to the sciences, such as engineering and computer science, or the practical humanities, like business. The earlier that students begin specialising, the more likely they are to have a head start on the competition and secure a well-paying job immediately after graduating high school or university. In contrast, the novels and poems that students read in high school are usually completely forgotten within a few years and do not teach any tangible skills that will help them advance in the real world.
Nonetheless, literature contains many of the most important and fundamental truths about the human condition. Life is about more than a career and great authors tackle the most fundamental philosophical and psychological questions. For example, the masters of 19th century Russian literature, including Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, are primarily concerned with human psychology and how this fits into a larger context of man’s search for meaning. Their exploration of these issues is relevant to everyone and cannot be replaced with a steady career. Moreover, the way in which great writers develop their themes, the aesthetic quality of their writing itself, imparts to careful readers the importance of artistic expression and may help them see outside the narrow modern confines of accumulating the most material wealth.
In conclusion, the utilitarian benefits of studying practical subjects do not outweigh the deeper values of literature. It is therefore advisable that literature be emphasised in high school classrooms.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use concise terminology Original: learning about literature Suggested revision: studying literature Why it matters: “Studying literature” is the more direct academic expression.
- 2. Refine wording and punctuation Original: this sentiment but Suggested revision: this view, but Why it matters: “View” refers more precisely to an opinion, and the comma separates the coordinated clauses.
- 3. Add the linking word Original: argue other subjects deserve Suggested revision: argue that other subjects deserve Why it matters: Adding “that” makes the complement clause easier to parse.
- 4. Use precise classification Original: relate to the sciences Suggested revision: are in scientific fields Why it matters: The revision describes the relationship between subjects and fields more directly.
- 5. Use a broader category Original: the practical humanities, like business Suggested revision: practical subjects such as business Why it matters: The broader label fits the example more clearly and maintains a formal register.
- 6. Use formal wording Original: have a head start on the competition Suggested revision: gain a competitive advantage Why it matters: The revision is more concise and appropriately formal for an academic essay.
- 7. Add the preposition Original: after graduating high school or university Suggested revision: after graduating from high school or university Why it matters: Including “from” is the standard British English construction and matches the essay’s spelling conventions.
- 8. Remove redundancy Original: important and fundamental truths Suggested revision: fundamental truths Why it matters: “Fundamental” already conveys central importance, so “important” is repetitive.
- 9. Sentence rewrite Original: Their exploration of these issues is relevant to everyone and cannot be replaced with a steady career. Suggested revision: Their exploration of these issues is relevant to everyone and offers insights that a steady career alone cannot provide. Why it matters: The rewrite resolves the illogical claim that an exploration can be replaced with a career while preserving the intended contrast.
- 10. Separate the supporting strands Suggested revision: Present the philosophical-value example and the artistic-expression point as two clearly signposted parts of the paragraph. Why it matters: The paragraph’s final point is substantial but arrives inside a long sentence without a clear internal transition.
Suggested Rewrites
- learning about literature studying literature
- this sentiment but this view, but
- argue other subjects deserve argue that other subjects deserve
- relate to the sciences are in scientific fields
- the practical humanities, like business practical subjects such as business
- have a head start on the competition gain a competitive advantage
Why this response received Band 8.5
The essay gives a clear, nuanced position and develops both the practical case against literature and its broader human value with persuasive, specific support. The argument is highly coherent and expressed through varied, sophisticated language, though a few formulations become slightly overstated or syntactically awkward. The main refinement is to tighten those isolated expressions so that every comparison and claim is as precise as the overall reasoning.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The response addresses the issue directly, maintains a clear qualified position, and develops both sides with relevant, substantial support.
Temper a few absolute claims about career subjects and forgotten literature to make the otherwise persuasive argument more carefully qualified.
Coherence and Cohesion
Paragraphing, sequencing, and cohesive links guide the reader smoothly from the opposing rationale to the writer's considered conclusion.
Strengthen the final connection between artistic expression and the educational value claimed for all high-school students.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is wide, precise, and confidently used for abstract academic ideas, with only isolated awkward combinations.
Refine expressions such as replacing human insights with a career and accumulating the most material wealth for sharper idiomatic precision.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide variety of complex sentence forms is used flexibly and accurately, with only rare moments of awkward syntactic control.
Recast the sentence joining thematic development and aesthetic quality so its subject structure and agreement are completely transparent.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Some people think that it is a waste of time for high school students to study literature, such as novels and poems. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.