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 universities should focus on preparing students for employment. Others believe that the main purpose of a university is to provide knowledge for its own sake.
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.
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Write your own answer first, then compare: how it answers the exact question, what each paragraph does, and which phrases you could borrow.
People disagree about what universities are for. Some argue that they should prepare students for work, while others believe their main purpose is to pursue knowledge for its own sake. I will discuss both views before explaining why I think the two aims can coexist.
Those who favour an employment focus point out that a degree is a major investment of time and money. Students and their families expect it to lead to a good job, and employers complain that graduates often arrive without practical skills such as teamwork, communication and technical competence. Courses that include work placements, for instance, help students understand real workplaces and often lead directly to job offers. Governments also have an interest, since universities that supply skilled graduates strengthen the national economy.
On the other hand, supporters of knowledge for its own sake argue that a university should be a place of open enquiry. Much of the world's most valuable progress began as pure curiosity rather than a commercial goal; research into the structure of atoms, for example, eventually made modern electronics possible. Studying subjects such as philosophy or history also trains people to think critically and to question assumptions, qualities that no narrow vocational course can fully provide. If universities become training centres for current industry needs, they may neglect fields whose value is not immediate.
In my opinion, these purposes are not opposed. A graduate who has learned to think independently is usually more adaptable at work, while practical experience gives theoretical study a clearer direction. The best degrees therefore combine a solid academic foundation with opportunities to apply it.
In conclusion, although employability matters greatly, universities should not abandon the pursuit of understanding, and a balanced curriculum serves both students and society better than either extreme.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| vocational training | education for a specific job |
| academic discipline | a field of university study |
| graduate employability | how likely graduates are to get jobs |
| transferable skills | abilities useful in many roles |
| intellectual curiosity | a strong wish to learn |
| labour market | the supply of and demand for workers |
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