Some people think that parents should teach children how to be good members of society. Others, however, believe that school is the place to learn this. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Sample Response
The role of instilling moral values and social responsibilityresponsibilities in children is often debated, with some arguing that parents should assume this responsibilitytake on this responsibility while others believe schools are better suited to do sofor this purpose. This essay will discuss both perspectives and argueopine that parents play the primary rolethe most significant role in shaping their children into responsible members of society because they are children’s first role modelsa child’s first role models and provide consistent moral guidance.
On the one hand, some people argue that schools should be responsible for teaching children how to be responsible members of societygood citizens. They argue that schools provide a structured environment where children interact with peers from diverse backgrounds and learn essential social skills such as empathy and teamworkcooperation, empathy, and teamwork. Moreover, subjects like civic studies and ethics educate students on societal norms, legal responsibilities, and global issues. For instance, many countries have introduced character education programs in their school curriculacurriculum, which aim to instil values such as honesty, respect, and tolerance in students.
By contrast, othersOn the other hand, others opine that parents play a fundamental role in shaping their children’s moral compass and social behaviour from an early age. Unlike teachers, who interact with children only during school hours, parents provide a continuous and nurturing environment where ethical principles are reinforced daily. By demonstrating kindness, patience, and responsibility in their own actions, parents serve as the most influential role models. For example, a child who observes their parents engaging in charitable activities or treating others with respect is more likely to adopt similar behaviours. Furthermore, parents have a deeper emotional connection with their children, making them better suited to instil long-term values that shape character and integrity.
In conclusion, while schools can contribute to teaching social values, the primary responsibility lies with parents. They provide early guidance, serve as role models, and ensure that moral values are consistently reinforced. Therefore, to cultivate responsible and ethical citizens, parents should take an active role in educating their children on how to be good members of society.
Why this response received Band 8.5
The response fully addresses both views and sustains a clear preference for parental responsibility, supported by relevant explanation and examples in a logically controlled structure. Its main limitation is slight repetition of arguments and vocabulary around values, guidance, and role models; the highest-priority refinement is to sharpen the comparison between what parents and schools uniquely contribute while varying repeated phrasing.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
Both views are fully discussed, the writer's opinion is consistently clear, and the main ideas are well extended with relevant examples.
Make the comparison still more incisive by explicitly weighing the distinctive strengths of schools against those of parents.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas progress logically through well-focused paragraphs, with cohesive devices used naturally and clear links within each argument.
Reduce minor repetition in paragraph openings and vary the way supporting points are introduced.
Lexical Resource
A wide and precise vocabulary supports nuanced discussion, although a few formal choices and repeated words sound slightly overused.
Replace repeated terms such as values, instil, and role models with contextually precise alternatives where this improves naturalness.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is used flexibly and accurately, with only very minor lapses that do not impede communication.
Refine agreement and reference choices in long sentences to maintain consistently polished grammatical control.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Some people think that parents should teach children how to be good members of society. Others, however, believe that school is the place to learn this. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.