Some people think that students in single-sex schools perform better academically. Others, however, believe that mixed schools provide children with better social skills for adult life. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Sample Response
[In favour of mixed schooling system]
Some people affirm that students in male or female-only schools have better chances for academic achievements, whereas, many others point out that co-ed schools offer students better social skills for their future. This essay will discuss both these views, but I am in favour of a mixed-sex school.
According to some, single-sex schools have fewer distractions. This is because if a school has only boys or girls, students would not be distracted by members of the opposite sex; hence, they can focus on their education and academic performance. For instance, many boys' or girls-only schools in India perform better in board exams, which reflects the fact that single-sex schools do better when it comes to the performance of their learners.
On the contrary, it is asserted by many that students studying at mixed schools have more chances to communicate with members of the opposite sex and learn how to interact with the opposite gender at an early age; therefore, their social skills would certainly be fostered. Moreover, mixed schools give students opportunities to deal with conflicts with the opposite gender, which strengthens students’ problem-solving skills. For instance, when a boy has a conflict with a girl, both of them must learn how to cope. This lesson must be learned sooner or later; and as a result, students benefit more if they can learn it sooner. This has a lasting impact on them to gain better social skills for their adult life.
In my opinion, mixed schools provide students with a real-life scenario where both genders co-exist. Specifically, students can learn in an organic environment in which boys and girls must know how to interact with each other and thus facilitating their social skills for better future performance.
In conclusion, I would concede that combined schools certainly support students better and prepare learners to become more socially adept. Overall, I am convinced that students should go to mixed schools for better professional, social and adult life.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Remove planning label Original: [In favour of mixed schooling system] Suggested revision: Delete Why it matters: The bracketed stance label is a planning note rather than part of the essay.
- 2. Use singular achievement phrase Original: better chances for academic achievements Suggested revision: a better chance of academic achievement Why it matters: ‘Chance of’ takes a singular uncountable phrase in this general claim.
- 3. Remove misplaced comma Original: whereas, many others Suggested revision: whereas many others Why it matters: No comma should separate the subordinating conjunction ‘whereas’ from its clause.
- 4. Use formal school term Original: co-ed schools offer Suggested revision: coeducational schools offer Why it matters: ‘Coeducational’ is the more formal term for mixed-sex schooling.
- 5. Clarify the future context Original: social skills for their future Suggested revision: social skills for adult life Why it matters: The revision identifies the stage of life for which the skills are relevant.
- 6. Name the system Original: in favour of a mixed-sex school Suggested revision: in favour of mixed-sex schooling Why it matters: The opinion concerns a type of education generally rather than one school.
- 7. Remove double conjunction Original: This is because if a school Suggested revision: If a school Why it matters: Using both ‘because’ and ‘if’ creates an unnecessary double clause opening.
- 8. Use real conditional tense Original: would Suggested revision: will Why it matters: The real conditional with present ‘has’ takes ‘will’ rather than ‘would’.
- 9. Use formal exam term Original: exams Suggested revision: examinations Why it matters: The full noun maintains a formal academic register.
- 10. Avoid overstated evidence Original: which reflects the fact that Suggested revision: which suggests that Why it matters: An example can suggest a broader pattern without proving it as fact.
- 11. State the result directly Original: do better when it comes to the performance of their learners Suggested revision: achieve stronger academic results Why it matters: The revision removes repetition and expresses the outcome concisely.
- 12. Use precise conflict verb Original: deal with conflicts with the opposite gender Suggested revision: resolve conflicts with members of the opposite gender Why it matters: ‘Resolve conflicts’ states the intended interpersonal skill more precisely.
Suggested Rewrites
- [In favour of mixed schooling system] Delete
- better chances for academic achievements a better chance of academic achievement
- whereas, many others whereas many others
- co-ed schools offer coeducational schools offer
- social skills for their future social skills for adult life
- in favour of a mixed-sex school in favour of mixed-sex schooling
Why this response received Band 7.0
The response covers both views and maintains a clear preference for mixed schooling, with its explanation of social interaction and conflict resolution providing the strongest development. The single-sex argument is comparatively narrow, and recurring grammatical and collocational errors reduce polish. Prioritise a deeper comparison of academic outcomes against long-term social benefits, then proofread complex sentences for complete and accurate structures.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
Both views are addressed and a clear opinion is sustained, although the case for single-sex schools is less fully developed.
Compare the claimed academic advantage more critically with the lasting social benefits used to justify the final opinion.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response is logically paragraphed and progresses clearly through both views to the writer's position, despite some repetition.
Merge the separate opinion paragraph with the mixed-school discussion and reduce repeated references to the opposite gender.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is sufficiently varied and topic-specific, though several combinations are awkward or repetitive.
Refine phrases such as 'chances for academic achievements', 'lasting impact on them to gain', and 'adult life'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A range of complex structures is attempted, but recurring errors in punctuation, agreement, and clause construction reduce control.
Correct incomplete coordination such as 'and thus facilitating' and check conditional verb forms and comma placement.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Some people think that students in single-sex schools perform better academically. Others, however, believe that mixed schools provide children with better social skills for adult life. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.