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:
Schools should spend less time on memorising facts and more time teaching creative and critical thinking.
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 educators argue that schools should spend less time on memorising facts and more on creative and critical thinking. I largely agree, although I think some memorisation remains necessary.
The case for change is strong. Information is now available in seconds through a phone, so the ability to recite dates or formulae is less valuable than it once was. What employers want are people who can analyse problems, question assumptions and propose original solutions. A student who has only learned to repeat a textbook may struggle when faced with an unfamiliar situation at work. Schools that encourage discussion, debate and project work develop these abilities, and they also tend to make lessons more engaging. Pupils who design a solution to a real local problem, for example, are likely to remember the underlying science far better than those who simply read about it.
Nevertheless, memory should not be dismissed. Critical thinking depends on knowledge: a pupil cannot evaluate an argument about history without knowing the basic events, and a scientist cannot be creative without understanding the principles of the field. Some facts, such as multiplication tables and grammar rules, are best learned thoroughly so that the mind is free for more complex tasks. Students who have no foundation of knowledge often find that their creativity has nothing to work with.
Therefore, the aim should be rebalancing rather than replacing. Schools could reduce the emphasis on rote learning in exams, set open-ended tasks and train teachers to ask why and how questions, while still ensuring that core facts are secure.
In conclusion, I agree that creativity and critical thinking deserve more classroom time, provided that essential knowledge is still taught well.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| critical thinking | careful, reasoned judgement |
| rote memorisation | learning by heart |
| problem-solving | finding solutions |
| creativity | ability to produce new ideas |
| curriculum reform | change to lessons |
| analytical skills | ability to examine information |
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.