Some people believe that unpaid community service should be a compulsory part of high school programmes (for example working for a charity, improving the neighbourhood or teaching sports to younger children). To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sample Response
Some people suggest making unpaid community service mandatory in high school programmes. However, there areBut there are valid reasons to oppose this idea. This essay argues against the viewThis essay will argue against the notion that unpaid community service should be a mandatory part of high school programmes because making it mandatorybecause when it is made mandatory, it distracts studentsdeters learners from concentrating on their education and does not foster genuine interestdoes not make them genuinely passionate about such work.
One compelling reason for opposingOne compelling reason to oppose mandatory community service in high school is the need to prioritize the academic curriculumprioritize academic curriculum and ensure that students have enoughsufficient time to excel in their studies. High school is a critical period for academic preparation, and students must focus on acquiring essential knowledge and skills that will prepare them for higher education or future careers. It is evident from numerous studies that when learners have the opportunity to do community work, they focus less on developing skills and a deeper understanding of academic subjects.
Another keycrucial consideration is the importance of voluntary and meaningful engagement in community service. Forcing students to participate in unpaid community service may lead to resentment and superficial contributions. True community service should arise from genuine interest and passion for a cause, which is more likely to occur when students have the freedom to choose projects aligned with their interests and values. For instance, a recent study proves that voluntary involvement allows students to explore their passions and develop a deeper understanding of community issues, while compulsory involvement may make themcompulsory involvement makes them apathetic towardsto such work.
In conclusion, while community service is undoubtedly a valuable and enriching experience, making it mandatory in high school programmes is not the most effective approach. Instead, schools should focus on providing voluntary and meaningful opportunities for students to engage with their communities.
Why this response received Band 7.5
The response presents a consistently clear position and develops two relevant reasons with strong control of organisation and language. Its main limitation is that the supporting evidence remains generic, and the first body paragraph sometimes blurs voluntary participation with compulsory service; the highest-priority improvement is to explain the specific causal effects of mandatory programmes through a precise, credible example.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The position is clear throughout, and both reasons are relevant and sufficiently developed, although some support is broad or asserted.
Develop one concrete example that directly shows how compulsory service affects study time or students' motivation.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas progress logically through a clear introduction, two focused body paragraphs, and a consistent conclusion.
Clarify the causal link in the first body paragraph so voluntary opportunities are not conflated with mandatory participation.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied and generally precise, with effective terms such as 'superficial contributions' and 'meaningful engagement'.
Replace broad or repetitive wording with more exact language about workload, curriculum demands, and intrinsic motivation.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of sentence structures is used accurately, with only minor awkwardness that does not impede communication.
Refine occasional wordy clauses and repeated phrasing to make complex sentences more economical.
Write this task while it is fresh
Try the same task now. It helps you remember the feedback and write better next time.
IELTS Writing Task 2
Some people believe that unpaid community service should be a compulsory part of high school programmes (for example working for a charity, improving the neighbourhood or teaching sports to younger children). To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.