Plan this opinion essay about education 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:
Some people believe that online courses will eventually replace traditional classroom teaching at all levels of education.
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.
It is sometimes claimed that online courses will eventually take over from classroom teaching at every level of education. I agree only in part: digital study will keep growing, but it is unlikely to replace the physical classroom entirely.
There is no doubt that online learning offers real advantages. Students can watch recorded lessons whenever it suits them, which allows them to study at their own pace and fit their courses around work or family. Costs also fall, because there are no buildings to maintain and no daily commute. A working parent in a remote village, for example, can now complete a university degree through distance education, something that was almost impossible a generation ago.
However, classrooms offer things that a screen cannot. Young children in particular need face-to-face interaction with a teacher who can notice when a pupil is confused or distracted and respond immediately. Schools also teach teamwork, negotiation and friendship through everyday contact, and practical subjects such as chemistry, nursing or engineering require supervised work with real equipment. Furthermore, online study demands strong self-discipline and a reliable internet connection, and the digital divide means that many families lack both. Research during recent school closures suggested that weaker students fell behind fastest when lessons moved online.
For these reasons, I believe the more realistic future is blended learning, in which online resources support, rather than replace, teachers. Universities may offer more courses remotely, and schools will use digital tools for homework and revision, but human teaching will remain at the centre of education.
In conclusion, online courses will certainly expand access and flexibility, but because classrooms provide guidance, social development and hands-on training, I disagree that they will be replaced altogether.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| flexible learning | study that fits around other commitments |
| face-to-face interaction | direct personal contact |
| digital divide | gap between those with and without technology |
| self-discipline | ability to motivate yourself |
| blended learning | mixing online and classroom teaching |
| distance education | studying remotely |
Answer random Part 1, 2 and 3 questions on an exam timer.
Average your four skill bands, rounded the way IELTS rounds them.
Compare an IELTS band with TOEFL, Duolingo and PTE scores and CEFR levels.
Look up the IELTS score a university asks for, with the source.