Some feel that schools should be mixed with both girls and boys attending while others feel the genders ought to be separated. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Sample Response
While some peoplecertain concerned individuals feel that education is superior in single-sex schools, others value the mixed-gender educationintegration of genders. In my opinion, though there are concentration benefits from separating the sexesadvantages related to focus from segregating the sexes, students benefit socially from mixed schools.
Those who are in favor of separating the genders argue that students willargue students will be more dedicated to their studies. The reasons for this are largely self-evident as many of the interactions between boys and girls after they reach puberty can be distracting. There is even strong evidence that girls-only schools produce better standardized test resultsengender better standardized results. A recent study of institutions in Europe indicated that students at female-only schools scored higher on average on national exams. There might be a variety of reasons for this, but manythis but many have seized on gender segregation as the primary catalyst for increased concentration and thus improved overall academic achievement.
However, the single study mentioned above does not negatediscount the social value of schools featuring both genders. School is a place to develop not only academically, but socially as well. The fact that there may be uncomfortable interactions between girls and boys while they mature is not a drawback but a learning experience. Boys and girls, as they become men and women, will slowly learn how to communicate with people of the opposite sextalk with the opposite sex and be better preparedfind themselves in a better situation upon graduation. Without the opportunity to integrate socially with another gender there is a strong chance they will have difficulty communicating later and this may promote a lifelong habit of limiting their social interactions to rigid gender groupscentering their social interactions on rigid gender groups.
In conclusion, despite the positive impact on attention that separating boys and girls can have, the maturing effect of mixed classrooms is more important. There is a place for single-sex institutions but the majority should include both.
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response is strongest in its clear position and persuasive, logically sequenced development of both educational settings, supported by relevant explanations. Its main limitation is that a few claims and lexical choices are slightly overstated or imprecise, particularly the reliance on an unspecified study. The highest-priority improvement is to qualify supporting evidence more carefully and use consistently natural academic phrasing.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
Both views are directly addressed, and the preference for mixed schooling is clear and well developed throughout.
Qualify the claimed research evidence or explain its relevance more specifically to make the support fully convincing.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas progress logically through focused paragraphs, with cohesive devices and referencing used smoothly.
Refine the transition into the counterargument so it responds to the underlying reasoning rather than to a single study.
Lexical Resource
A wide and precise academic vocabulary conveys nuanced arguments with only occasional slightly unnatural choices.
Replace overstated or less natural phrases such as 'engender better standardized results' with more measured collocations.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is handled accurately, and the few minor slips do not impede communication.
Polish punctuation around longer introductory and subordinate clauses to make an already strong performance more exact.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Some feel that schools should be mixed with both girls and boys attending while others feel the genders ought to be separated. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.