Plan this opinion essay about language with the ideas and outline below, write it on a 40-minute timer, then compare it with a band-8 model answer.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Foreign language lessons at school focus too much on grammar and writing and not enough on speaking.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
GoPrep wrote this practice question in the style of the exam. It is not an official IELTS question.
Pick two or three points from one or both columns. You do not need all of them, and your own examples score better than memorised ones.
Spend the first few minutes planning, then write.
0 words of 250 minimum
Your answer stays on this page only. Copy it before you leave.
Write your own answer first, then compare: how it answers the exact question, what each paragraph does, and which phrases you could borrow.
Many school language courses concentrate on grammar and written exercises, leaving little time for conversation. I agree with this criticism to a large extent, although grammar still has an important role.
The main problem is that students seldom speak. In a typical class of thirty, each pupil may say only a few sentences per lesson, and the rest of the time is spent on drills, translation and written tests. This exam-driven approach produces graduates who can complete a grammar exercise but freeze when asked a simple question by a foreigner. Lack of speaking practice also damages confidence, so learners become afraid of making mistakes and avoid using the language altogether. Since the main purpose of learning a language is to communicate, this seems to be a serious failure of the system. In many countries, adults complain that they studied a language for ten years at school but cannot hold a conversation.
Defenders of the traditional method make a valid point. Grammar is the foundation of accurate language, and without it learners may produce sentences that are fluent but confusing. Speaking, they argue, needs a base of vocabulary and structure first. Moreover, examinations in many countries assess reading and writing, so teachers feel they must prepare students for those tests.
These arguments explain the present situation but do not justify it. Grammar can be taught through speaking activities, such as role-plays, discussions and pair work, which allow students to apply rules in a realistic context. Examinations could also be changed to include oral components, which would encourage teachers to give them more time.
In conclusion, grammar is necessary, but school lessons should achieve a better balance by giving speaking a much larger role, since communication is the ultimate goal.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| grammar rules | structure of language |
| speaking practice | time spent speaking |
| communicative approach | teaching through real talk |
| exam-oriented | focused on tests |
| fluency and accuracy | smoothness and correctness |
| pronunciation | how words are spoken |
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