Some people think that universities should provide graduates with the knowledge and skills needed in the workplace. Others think that the true function of a university should be to give access to knowledge for its own sake, regardless of whether the course is useful to an employer. What, in your opinion, should be the main function of a university?
Sample Response
These days, universities provide various courses which were taught by families earlier like tile fixing to makeup techniques. In spite of making such arrangements for everyone to learn these skills, some exceptional people believe that universities teach subjects only rather than focusing on real world use. First of all, universities have to focus on whole class instead of a bunch of students. So, universities have to come up with a course material which can be grasped by a majority of students. Employers do expect a specialised skill from an individual. However, it is an unrealistic expectation from the universities to prepare each student as per the employer's requirements. Moreover, it is difficult for a student also to imagine the need for the real world and learn the subject without experiencing it. For example, you ask a student to write a program to handle the security threats on servers. It could be very difficult for a student to write such a program as there are many viruses which target only certain types of servers. Another important area where universities focus is to provide the basic knowledge of the entire subject and let the students choose the job of their interest. For instance, computer engineering course teaches about databases, programming languages as well as hardware. It is up to a student to choose whether he wants to be a programmer developer or a database designer. It is certainly beneficial for the employers as well. If a fresher knows many subjects, an employer can train him on any subject as per the project requirement. For example, Infosys hires thousands of computer engineers every year in place of a Java certified students. Infosys can train computer engineer for testing or support department. However, it is difficult to train a java developer for web designing. I believe universities are just doing the best what they could do to prepare a student for the upcoming opportunities and challenges.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Fix clause Original: which were taught by families earlier Suggested revision: that were previously taught within families Why it matters: The relative clause and time phrase are awkward and need a clearer structure.
- 2. Correct range phrase Original: like tile fixing to makeup techniques Suggested revision: from tile fixing to makeup techniques Why it matters: Use “from...to...” to show a range.
- 3. Wrong word Original: some exceptional people believe Suggested revision: some people still believe Why it matters: “Exceptional” suggests unusually talented people, which is not the intended meaning.
- 4. Academic tone Original: whole class instead of a bunch of students Suggested revision: the whole class rather than a small group of students Why it matters: “A bunch of” is too informal for IELTS Task 2.
- 5. Remove article Original: a course material Suggested revision: course material Why it matters: “Material” is usually uncountable in this context.
- 6. Natural phrasing Original: as per the employer's requirements Suggested revision: according to each employer's requirements Why it matters: This is more natural and formal.
- 7. Word order Original: student also to imagine Suggested revision: student to imagine Why it matters: The position of “also” makes the structure awkward.
- 8. Use job title Original: programmer developer Suggested revision: software developer Why it matters: This is the natural job title.
- 9. Agreement Original: a Java certified students Suggested revision: Java-certified students Why it matters: The article and plural form do not agree.
- 10. Add article Original: computer engineer for testing Suggested revision: a computer engineer for testing Why it matters: A singular countable noun needs an article.
- 11. Sentence rewrite Original: These days, universities provide various courses which were taught by families earlier like tile fixing to makeup techniques. Suggested revision: These days, universities provide various practical courses, from tile fixing to makeup techniques, that were once taught within families. Why it matters: This makes the opening clearer and corrects the range phrase.
- 12. Sentence rewrite Original: In spite of making such arrangements for everyone to learn these skills, some exceptional people believe that universities teach subjects only rather than focusing on real world use. Suggested revision: Although universities now teach many practical skills, some people argue that they should focus on knowledge rather than direct workplace use. Why it matters: The rewrite connects more directly to the task contrast.
Suggested Rewrites
- which were taught by families earlier that were previously taught within families
- like tile fixing to makeup techniques from tile fixing to makeup techniques
- some exceptional people believe some people still believe
- whole class instead of a bunch of students the whole class rather than a small group of students
- a course material course material
- as per the employer's requirements according to each employer's requirements
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Response
The response gives a relevant opinion that universities should provide broad subject knowledge rather than tailor courses to each employer. However, it only partly addresses the alternative view about knowledge for its own sake, so the central contrast in the question is narrowed to general workplace preparation.
Explain directly whether universities should mainly serve employment, pure knowledge, or a balanced function, and address the “knowledge for its own sake” view explicitly.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas are generally connected, but the essay is one long paragraph and the argument lacks clear stages. Examples are relevant but progression would be much clearer with separate paragraphs.
Use an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion, with one body paragraph on workplace skills and one on broad academic knowledge.
Lexical Resource
There is adequate topic vocabulary for university study and employment, but collocations are sometimes awkward and several phrases are imprecise.
Use natural academic phrases such as “course content,” “the majority of students,” “specialised workplace skills,” and “entry-level graduates.”
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The response uses some complex clauses, but errors with articles, agreement, prepositions, and noun forms occur regularly.
Check singular countable nouns and article use, especially with “course,” “student,” “engineer,” and “developer.”