Writing skills

Some people think that boys and girls should attend school together. Others feel that they should be educated separately. Discuss both sides and give your own opinion. It has been argued that it is better for children to study in single-sex schools. However, I believe that mixed-gender education is the ideal approach. There are a number of advantages associated with educating children in single gender settings. One of these is that the individual students will not be hampered by some of the distractions that come with being around the opposite gender. These distractions commonly involve immature relationships among students or simply infatuation that takes their mind off their studies. Another benefit is that classes can concentrate on sex-specific subject matter. For example, an all-boys class could incorporate sports and video games more heavily into their curriculums, whereas all-girls classes could lean more heavily into creativity and art. However, the priority of schooling is to prepare students for the real world, and this fact necessitates co-educational schooling. In the real world, men and women need to work in teams in almost all workplace settings. If students graduate without ever having done this, they will struggle to function effectively in a diverse work environment. Furthermore, real life leads to relationships, both romantic and otherwise between the sexes. Due to their lack of exposure to the other sex, children educated in a single-sex environment are much more likely to be awkward and less successful in these mixed-gender relationships as they enter adulthood. In conclusion, going to single-sex schools does have a few benefits in the short-term; however, if the aim of school is to prepare for real life, a mixed-gender education is necessary. Therefore, I am of the opinion that it is best for children to go to mixed schools. #IELTS_essays

The main difference between human being and being human is that 'human being' is generally defined as being a member of Homo sapiens race, while 'being human' means displaying characteristics that are unique to human beings.

Vocabulary concerned parties people interested currently place too much emphasis now focus too much on theory ideas, concepts, facts properly cover practical skills do a good job going over real world skills focusing less not paying as much attention rote learning memorizing proponents supporters traditional education schools, older ways of learning accumulating facts learning names, dates, etc. forms makes up basis foundation shared knowledge what everyone knows together an illustrative example of this would be the best instance of this is national history past of a country necessarily important in itself majority most of connect make contact with reference mention event happening figure person instantly right away deeply not superficially recognizes knows about extends beyond national boundaries internationally unite disparate cultures bring together different people practical import useful in life include have limited to just about woodworking making things out of wood traditional academic subjects science, math, literature, etc. curriculum what is learned in school broadened widened critical thinking skills thinking logically, rationally, creatively liberal arts institution schools where you study many subjects upstate New York above New York City but still in the state of New York initially surprised at first shocked past courses what was studied before memorizing information learning things wary worried about memorization remembering terminology jargon, fancy words sought looked for break down key concepts learn about basic areas instruct teach read text closely deeply read books useful practical social cohesiveness brings people together in a society a degree of balance some equality prioritize make more important latter methodology mentioned before way of teaching

IELTS Essay: Learning Facts & Practical Skills at School Some people say that at all levels of education, from primary school to university, too much time is spent on learning facts and not enough on learning practical skills. Do you agree or disagree? Many concerned parties believe that schools currently place too much emphasis on theory and do not properly cover practical skills. I am in agreement that schools should be focusing less on rote learning of facts. Proponents of more traditional education limited to accumulating facts argue this forms the basis of shared knowledge in society. An illustrative example of this would be the teaching of national history. Although information such as dates and names is not necessarily important in itself, the fact that the majority of the population shares the same knowledge allows them to connect and communicate more easily. A person who makes a reference to a certain year, event, or figure can communicate instantly and deeply with anyone who recognizes the same information. This extends beyond national boundaries and can also unite disparate cultures. However, it is more important for students to learn skills with practical import. This can include but does not have to be limited to learning skills like cooking and woodworking, which are not traditional academic subjects. The curriculum could also be broadened to critical thinking skills. For example, when I studied at Bard College, a liberal arts institution in upstate New York, I was initially surprised at the emphasis placed on learning the skill of thinking itself. My past courses in high school were more about memorizing information but my university teachers were wary of simple memorization, facts, and terminology. Instead they sought to break down key concepts related to thinking and instruct students on how to read text closely and think for themselves. In conclusion, though teaching facts can be useful for social cohesiveness, I believe the value of more useful skills is greater. There must always be a degree of balance but schools should prioritize the latter methodology. #IELTS_essays

Here's a tip for 'outweigh' questions. A common issue I see among IELTS writing candidates is an overuse of certain keywords for 'outweigh' essay questions. This kind of question starts with a description of an idea, suggestion or argument, and then says the following. "Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?" Your job is then to write an essay looking at both sides of the issue, but choosing one as your own, just like a 'partial agreement opinion' essay or a 'discuss both views' essay. A nasty habit that I've seen appearing though is an overuse of the words 'outweigh / demerits / merits / advantages / disadvantages / drawbacks'. This tends to appear in the introduction, the topic sentences and the conclusion. Imagine we had the following question. "Electric cars are becoming more popular around the world. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?" We'd start our introduction by paraphrasing the fact. We might say something like this. "There is currently a global increase in the number of electric cars being sold." The next part of the introduction would give our opinion while indicating we will be looking at both sides. This is where I often see a sentence like the following. "I believe that the benefits outweigh the disadvantages." Later in the conclusion, I often end up seeing this. "I think that the advantages outweigh the drawbacks." So what's my point? My point is that these set expressions can be used for any essay and don't really allow for any evidence of writing ability. Being able to write well includes the ability to give your position in your own words. If you rely on stuff like “I believe the benefits are greater than the drawbacks which means the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.”, you aren't really showing that you can say what you really think. It's just memorised formula stuff. It's also confusing sometimes as you are basically reading + - + - - + - +. Don't get me wrong, I often use these words in my structural sentences, but I don't think I would ever use a conclusion sentence that could apply to absolutely any topic. A better way to give your position would be to say 'Although the movement toward electric cars could be problematic in some cases, I believe that this new cleaner form of transportation is a change that should be welcomed.' Notice that this sentence could only apply to one essay question. Let's put this sentence side-by-side with the other one so you can see what I mean. "I think that the advantages outweigh the drawbacks." / "I believe that the benefits outweigh the disadvantages." "Although the movement toward electric cars could be problematic in some cases, I believe that this new cleaner form of transportation is a change that should be welcomed." Of course you can only pull off a good conclusion/introduction like this one if you actually have the vocabulary and grammar skills to do it. The point is, if you actually have those skills, don't hide them behind... 'I think the advantages of the merits benefit the disadvantages of the drawbacks because they outweigh the demerits of the positives.' #IELTS_tips

Vocabulary easier than ever today become more possible channels for distribution ways of getting your content out opens up allows for entertainment industry movies, TV, music, etc. greater diversity more different types of decry rail against talentless not good at anything honing their craft getting better at their job get a slot have a time talkshows late night shows overnight suddenly discernible talents obvious abilities socialite dilletant take advantage exploit wealth money build a brand become well known canny use intelligent use in her own right on her own aforementioned cases what was said before on a whole overall diverse range lots of possibilities prerogative right occasional exception odd situation ethnic group minority privileged backgrounds rich making up consisting of disproportionate share take up too much levelled the playing field makes everything equal/even broadcast send out cultivate develop loyal fanbase passionate supporters barriers roadblocks ingrained reluctance inherent disinclination authority figures those in power ethnicities people from various cultures honest chance actually possible clear cultural drawbacks obvious disadvantages for the culture inclusive including all types of people developmental side effects hurt their upbringing

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer General Training: Fame (Real Past IELTS Test/Exam) Due to television and the internet it is easier today for a large number of people to become famous. Is this a positive or negative development? It is easier than ever today for people to become famous because of increased channels for distribution such as television and the internet. This is clearly a positive trend as it opens up the entertainment industry to greater diversity. Those that decry this trend typically point to talentless celebrities. In the past, a comedian or musician might work for years honing their craft in order to get a slot on one of the few talkshows and then become famous overnight. Nowadays, many celebrities start on reality TV or a YouTube channel and do not have any discernible talents. The socialite Paris Hilton was one of the first to take advantage of her wealth and personality to build a brand without any real product. Kim Kardashian is a more recent example of an individual who through dating celebrities and canny use of social media and television was able to become a celebrity in her own right. Despite the aforementioned cases, this is on a whole a positive trend because of the more diverse range of famous people today. Fame used to be the prerogative of white men and women, with the occasional exception from an ethnic group. One of the reasons for this is that whites typically come from more privileged backgrounds and have greater opportunity, thereby making up a disproportionate share of success stories. The internet in particular has levelled the playing field to an extent. Anyone with a smartphone today has the ability to broadcast their talents and cultivate a loyal fanbase, regardless of gender or ethnicity and without the barriers that existed in the past such as ingrained reluctance from authority figures to give certain ethnicities an honest chance. In conclusion, there are clear cultural drawbacks to the ease with which many achieve fame but today it is nonetheless more inclusive. A greater concern should be the age at which people become famous as it can have developmental side effects. #IELTS_essays

Many technology experts warn of a coming technology revolution in which human jobs will be replaced my machines. To deal with this problem, some have suggested that giving people money unconditionally through a universal basic income would be an effective solution. To what extent do you agree with this approach? In recent times, experts in the technology industry have begun warning of a new industrial revolution in which automation, AI and robotics will displace millions of jobs. Some of these leaders such as Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg have raised the idea of implementing a universal basic income (UBI) to deal with the issue. I completely agree with this proposal. There are a number of reasons why UBI would be effective in dealing with unemployment caused by automation. Firstly, receiving a payment that would cover the basic requirements to survive would prevent extreme poverty that automation would otherwise bring. In this way, people could stop worrying about survival and focus on what they want to do to improve their lives and get ahead. Secondly, UBI would give people more flexibility to change careers. With this money, they could support themselves while they acquire new qualifications and skills more suited to careers which are not subject to automation. UBI would also be useful in promoting forms of work that are harder to automate. The first jobs to be displaced will be repetitive cognitive and repetitive manual ones. However, in a society filled with people who have spending power from UBI, small businesses which require human labour, such as trendy cafes, restaurants and boutique shops, will flourish. Furthermore, creative careers which are currently financially unrealistic would likely become viable. For example, musicians and artists could make a reasonable living by combining their UBI with income made from playing gigs and selling art online. In conclusion, UBI would be extremely effective in both providing a safety net for those displaced by automation while also creating new opportunities for business owners and creative people. #IELTS_essays

Vocabulary prioritise vocational training focus more on skilled training higher education university labour market jobs and employment strong economic reasons good financial justifications holds greater value has more importance practical skills training vocational training for jobs such as cook, electrician, etc. financial benefits monetary advantages burdened with student debt have lots of money to pay back face uncertain job prospects may struggle to get work in contrast however ease without effort steady employment good job recession-proof can survive difficult economic times durable secure skilled technicians electricians, plumbers, IT people firmly established secure deal with handle pressures associated with stress related to incumbent debts money owed that comes along with uni set aside money save money lacking not having limits one’s options not as many choices pay well initially make good salary at the beginning secure safe narrow scope not diverse, limited virtually essentially switch career paths find a new kind of job university degree bachelor’s degree, masters, etc. on the other hand however lower position not as high up higher ceiling on future earnings cap on what you can make in the future explore look through variety of fields lots of different jobs, areas require at least must have at minimum internship vacancies open unpaid jobs restricting limiting manual labour jobs that require hard work service industry jobs hotels, restaurants, etc. multi-disciplinary majors studying more than one subject liberal arts schools schools where you focus on many subjects encourages inspires consider think about wide range of possible career options many choices for a job attractive appealing short-sighted approach not a good long-term strategy curbs possibilities limits choices dark economic times when the economy is poor reap future rewards get a lot out of it later

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Skills and Vocational Training Nations should spend more money on skills and vocational training for practical work, rather than on university education. To what extent do you agree or disagree? [Real Past IELTS Exam] Many today feel that countries should prioritise vocational training over higher education due to changes in the labour market. In my opinion, though there are strong economic reasons to support this idea, university education holds greater value. Those in favour of more practical skills training point out the financial benefits. Most university graduates are burdened with student debt and face uncertain job prospects. In contrast, training schools are cheap, fast, and ease students into steady employment immediately. The jobs they train for are also most likely recession-proof and durable, including positions as cooks, hotel managers, and skilled technicians. Someone who is firmly established in such a job in their early 20s does not have to deal with the pressures associated with university life and its incumbent debts. Instead, they can begin to set aside money for a house or start a family. Nonetheless, lacking a university degree limits one’s options. The jobs available will pay well initially and be secure but offer narrow scope for advancement and virtually no opportunity to switch career paths. An individual with a university degree, on the other hand, might begin from a lower position but has a higher ceiling on future earnings. It is also possible for them to explore a variety of fields. Most good jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree even for simple internship vacancies. Lacking such a degree, means restricting oneself to manual labour or service industry jobs. The actual learning that takes place at university, particularly for those with multi-disciplinary majors or studying at liberal arts schools, also encourages students to consider a wide range of possible career options. In conclusion, increasing funding for vocational training is an attractive yet short-sighted approach that curbs possibilities. Governments ought to continue to support higher education even in dark economic times in order to reap future rewards. #IELTS_essays

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So many students lose a lot of marks because they don’t know or forget to do the basic things that examiners want to see in your writing for a band 7 or even 6. In this article, I’m going to share with you a tip that can help you remember easily, and therefore save you a whole band score. According to examiners, so many students lose marks for their Task Achievement and Coherence and Cohesion because they don’t do the basic things that are needed for a band 6 or 7. This includes things like: clear introduction clear conclusion clear overall opinion main ideas supported well one main idea per body paragraph. Once you know clearly what you need to do to make the examiner super happy, then of course the next step is to spend weeks, even months practising so you can do it for any topic or question type. Don’t forget in your exam! But then, there is one last challenge – remembering to do it in the exam. I’m not exaggerating when I say that based on the examiners, more than half of IELTS students fail to do these basic things in the exam. So why do many students fall at this hurdle? Is it a lack of practice or could it be nerves? Whatever the reason, all of that study and practice will go to waste if you don’t remember to do it in the exam. Write a Mini Checklist! The solution is to write a quick checklist to remind you of all this basic stuff. So as soon as you open your question paper, quickly write down the following notes: Your introduction Paraphrase the question, give your opinion, and then signpost to the examiner what you will do in the essay. Your Body paragraphs 2 main ideas for 2 body paragraphs – one main idea per body paragraph, supported with relevant explanation and examples. Your conclusion Restate your opinion, say why Reasons, then finish with a related extra thought or idea. Customise it! You could add to it or even come up with your own version. Whatever you do, just make sure you find a way of remembering to do the basic things that will help you to get a band 7 for your Task Achievement and Coherence and Cohesion. #IELTS_tips

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