Plan this discussion 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 think that schools should teach students practical life skills, such as cooking and managing money. Others believe schools should focus on academic subjects.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
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.
Some people think that schools should teach practical life skills, such as cooking and managing money, while others believe they should concentrate on academic subjects. I will discuss both views and then give my own opinion.
Supporters of life skills argue that schools should prepare young people for adult life, yet many leave unable to cook a simple meal, budget their income or fill in a tax form. These abilities affect health, independence and financial security, and not every child learns them at home, especially if parents are busy or lack the knowledge themselves. Teaching them would reduce problems like poor diets and debt, and many pupils find practical lessons more motivating than abstract theory. Basic first aid is another skill that could save lives.
On the other hand, advocates of an academic focus say that the main purpose of a school is to develop knowledge and thinking skills in subjects such as mathematics, science, languages and history. These subjects open the way to university and professional careers, and they are difficult to learn without trained teachers and structured lessons, whereas life skills can be learned from family, friends or experience. Adding new subjects, they argue, would crowd the timetable and lower academic standards, which would disadvantage students in competitive exams.
In my opinion, the best solution is a balance. Core academic subjects should remain the priority, but schools can include a small number of practical lessons each week or integrate them into existing subjects, for example by using budgeting problems in mathematics classes and cooking in science. Short courses in the final years of school would be especially useful.
In conclusion, both types of learning are valuable, and a curriculum that combines strong academics with essential life skills would best prepare students for the future.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| life skills | practical abilities for daily life |
| academic subjects | school subjects like maths |
| well-rounded education | broad and balanced learning |
| independence | ability to live without help |
| curriculum | courses taught |
| practical knowledge | useful know-how |
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.