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
It is believed that a university has the role to educate students and prepare them for the future. Each individual should be allowed to pursueEach individual allows to pursuit their right to learn several subjectsseveral of subjects dependingrelying on their goals. However, it is argued that the most important function of a college or university is to prepare learners for the job. In my view, a university should regard students' eagernesspeople eagerness in termsterm of their future work. Therefore, the most valuable functionThat is why the most valuable thing for a university is to create an environment for giving space for learners to develop their skills for their future job.
A university has to spread awarenessUniversity has to spread awareness that becoming competent in school can affect students’ performance at workplaces. Even though the purposeessential of learning in university is to pass exams, learners should realise that the real exam is after they complete their studiesafter their completion of the study. They will experience how to competecombat with others for getting a decent job. Therefore, people who prepare earlier will gain more benefits. Based on this case, a university has the responsibility to create a competitive environmentcompetitive circumstance such as in a workplace. Again, preparing students for the future brings some challenges that the university has to accept. Such challenges involveinvolved more practical education rather than being confined to theoretical lessons. It is inevitable that practical lessons are more important and effective than the theory we learn in university.
Another reason is the best way to develop someone’s skill is by creating opportunitiesspace for learners in term of their interest. Nonetheless, this is the main problem that learners face when they enter in higher education - they will lose their passion due to school curriculum which deters them to get involved in further on non-academic activities. As the result, university tends to limit students community to express and show their skill.
In conclusion, a university should understand that preparing students for workplaces is an indispensable part in this era. University may start by setting the lecture class such workplace environment for the case and providing beneficial programmes to enhance students’ skill as an individual or group.
Why this response received Band 6.0
The response maintains a clear position that universities should prepare students for employment and supports it with relevant ideas about practical learning and skill development. Its main weakness is that the opposing purpose of pursuing knowledge for its own sake is barely considered, while repeated and sometimes unclear phrasing disrupts progression. Add a concise concession before explaining why workplace preparation should still be the university’s primary function, and organise each paragraph around one clearly developed idea.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The essay presents a clear view that universities should mainly prepare students for work and gives relevant reasons about practical education and skill development. It only briefly acknowledges the alternative view of knowledge for its own sake, so the answer is somewhat one-sided.
Add a short concession explaining why pure knowledge still matters, then show why employability should remain the main function.
Coherence and Cohesion
There is a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and conclusion, but progression is sometimes hard to follow because several sentences contain abstract or repeated ideas. Some links between curriculum, passion, and workplace preparation need clearer sequencing.
Start each body paragraph with one controlling idea, then use examples before moving to the next point.
Lexical Resource
The essay uses relevant education and workplace vocabulary, but frequent inaccurate word choices and collocations reduce clarity, such as pursuit their right, competitive circumstance, and school curriculum.
Use natural academic phrases such as pursue their interests, workplace-like environment, practical training, and extracurricular activities.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Grammar errors are frequent in verb forms, articles, noun phrases, and prepositions. Meaning remains mostly understandable, but accuracy is below the strength of the ideas.
Revise every sentence for subject-verb agreement and prepositions after verbs such as prepare, depend, enter, and involve.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
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?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.