This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of studying abroad from the real IELTS exam.
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Dave
IELTS Essay: Study Abroad
Some claim that studying abroad has great benefits for a student’s home country.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many believe that studying in another country is largely beneficial for the home country of the students in question. In my opinion, the losses entailed by these students potentially emigrating are outweighed by the expertise they often bring back.
Critics of this contention argue that many of the best and brightest students never return to their country of origin. This is especially the case as it regards developing countries, including both ordinary and famous examples. The average student from a developing nation that studies abroad in the United States or Europe, will likely have the opportunity to pursue a career there. Once hired by a company, there is a clear pathway to residency and even citizenship in the future. Since these students must meet higher admission requirements, it logically follows that a significant percentage will never return and share their newly acquired expertise with their fellow citizens.
Nonetheless, the instances above are rare and there are tangible effects from knowledgeable graduates returning to their home. Such students are capable of contributing novel outlooks and perspectives in society generally the workplace more specifically. One illustrative example of this in Vietnam is Ngo Bao Chau who studied mathematics at Oxford. After his studies abroad, he was awarded the most prestigious mathematics award, the Fields Medal, in 2007. Upon his return to Vietnam, he established a mathematics academy in Hanoi that distinguishes itself from other institutions with an innovative approach borrowed from Western schools. None of this would likely have come to pass if he had simply remained in Vietnam to study like most other students.
In conclusion, despite the risks that talented individuals may choose to reside permanently in a new country, there are more concrete benefits for the home country. Governments should therefore encourage such students with state scholarships.
Analysis
1. Many believe that studying in another country is largely beneficial for the home country of the students in question. 2. In my opinion, the losses entailed by these students potentially emigrating are outweighed by the expertise they often bring back.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Critics of this contention argue that many of the best and brightest students never return to their country of origin. 2. This is especially the case as it regards developing countries, including both ordinary and famous examples. 3. The average student from a developing nation that studies abroad in the United States or 4. Europe, will likely have the opportunity to pursue a career there. 5. Once hired by a company, there is a clear pathway to residency and even citizenship in the future. 6. Since these students must meet higher admission requirements, it logically follows that a significant percentage will never return and share their newly acquired expertise with their fellow citizens.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific examples.
- Keep developing it fully.
- Stay focused on the same main idea.
- Finish by adding extra detail.
1. Nonetheless, the instances above are rare and there are tangible effects from knowledgeable graduates returning to their home. 2. Such students are capable of contributing novel outlooks and perspectives in society generally the workplace more specifically. 3. One illustrative example of this in Vietnam is Ngo Bao Chau who studied mathematics at Oxford. 4. After his studies abroad, he was awarded the most prestigious mathematics award, the Fields Medal, in 2007. 5. Upon his return to Vietnam, he established a mathematics academy in Hanoi that distinguishes itself from other institutions with an innovative approach borrowed from Western schools. 6. None of this would likely have come to pass if he had simply remained in Vietnam to study like most other students.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Continue developing it…
- as fully as possible!
- Conclude by relating it back to the overall topic.
1. In conclusion, despite the risks that talented individuals may choose to reside permanently in a new country, there are more concrete benefits for the home country. 2. Governments should therefore encourage such students with state scholarships.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.
Many believe that studying in another country is largely beneficial for the home country of the students in question. In my opinion, the losses entailed by these students potentially emigrating are outweighed by the expertise they often bring back.
Critics of this contention argue that many of the best and brightest students never return to their country of origin. This is especially the case as it regards developing countries, including both ordinary and famous examples. The average student from a developing nation that studies abroad in the United States or Europe, will likely have the opportunity to pursue a career there. Once hired by a company, there is a clear pathway to residency and even citizenship in the future. Since these students must meet higher admission requirements, it logically follows that a significant percentage will never return and share their newly acquired expertise with their fellow citizens.
Nonetheless, the instances above are rare and there are tangible effects from knowledgeable graduates returning to their home. Such students are capable of contributing novel outlooks and perspectives in society generally the workplace more specifically. One illustrative example of this in Vietnam is Ngo Bao Chau who studied mathematics at Oxford. After his studies abroad, he was awarded the most prestigious mathematics award, the Fields Medal, in 2007. Upon his return to Vietnam, he established a mathematics academy in Hanoi that distinguishes itself from other institutions with an innovative approach borrowed from Western schools. None of this would likely have come to pass if he had simply remained in Vietnam to study like most other students.
In conclusion, despite the risks that talented individuals may choose to reside permanently in a new country, there are more concrete benefits for the home country. Governments should therefore encourage such students with state scholarships.
Answers
largely beneficial mostly good
home country nation you are from
in question relevant here
losses entailed what has been taken away
potentially emigrating possible moving
outweighed stronger than
expertise knowledgeable
bring back return
critics detractors
contention opinion
best and brightest smartest
country of origin nation you are from
especially the case as it regards in particular when it has to do with
average normal
studies abroad studying in another country
likely have the opportunity probably have the chance
pursue a career follow a job
hired employed
clear pathway good route
residency living in a country
citizenship becoming a citizen of a country
since because
meet higher admission requirements hard to get into schools
logically follows makes sense that
significant percentage sizeable proportion
return go back
share give information about
newly acquired expertise learned new information
fellow citizens other residents
nonetheless regardless
rare uncommon
tangible concrete
knowledgeable graduates smart people who have finished school
capable competent
contributing novel outlooks giving new opinions, perspectives
perspectives ways of seeing the world
generally overall
more specifically especially
illustrative shows this point
awarded given
prestigious well-regarded
established founded
mathematics academy math school
distinguishes differentiates
institutions schools, buildings, etc.
innovative approach new method
borrowed from taken from
come to pass happened
remained stayed
despite regardless of
risks threats
reside permanently stay forever
concrete real
encourage foster
state scholarships government grants
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ˈlɑːʤli ˌbɛnɪˈfɪʃəl
həʊm ˈkʌntri
ɪn ˈkwɛsʧən
ˈlɒsɪz ɪnˈteɪld
pəʊˈtɛnʃəli ˈɛmɪgreɪtɪŋ
aʊtˈweɪd
ˌɛkspɜːˈtiːz
brɪŋ bæk
ˈkrɪtɪks
kənˈtɛnʃən
bɛst ænd ˈbraɪtɪst
ˈkʌntri ɒv ˈɒrɪʤɪn
ɪsˈpɛʃəli ðə keɪs æz ɪt rɪˈgɑːdz
ˈævərɪʤ
ˈstʌdiz əˈbrɔːd
ˈlaɪkli hæv ði ˌɒpəˈtjuːnɪti
pəˈsjuː ə kəˈrɪə
ˈhaɪəd
klɪə ˈpɑːθweɪ
ˈrɛzɪdənsi
ˈsɪtɪznʃɪp
sɪns
miːt ˈhaɪər ədˈmɪʃ(ə)n rɪˈkwaɪəmənts
ˈlɒʤɪkəli ˈfɒləʊz
sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt pəˈsɛntɪʤ
rɪˈtɜːn
ʃeə
ˈnjuːli əˈkwaɪəd ˌɛkspɜːˈtiːz
ˈfɛləʊ ˈsɪtɪznz
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
reə
ˈtænʤəbl
ˈnɒlɪʤəbl ˈgrædjʊəts
ˈkeɪpəbl
kənˈtrɪbju(ː)tɪŋ ˈnɒvəl ˈaʊtlʊks
pəˈspɛktɪvz
ˈʤɛnərəli
mɔː spəˈsɪfɪk(ə)li
ˈɪləstreɪtɪv
əˈwɔːdɪd
prɛˈstɪʤəs
ɪsˈtæblɪʃt
ˌmæθɪˈmætɪks əˈkædəmi
dɪsˈtɪŋgwɪʃɪz
ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃənz
ɪnˈnɒvətɪv əˈprəʊʧ
ˈbɒrəʊd frɒm
kʌm tuː pɑːs
rɪˈmeɪnd
dɪsˈpaɪt
rɪsks
rɪˈzaɪd ˈpɜːmənəntli
ˈkɒnkriːt
ɪnˈkʌrɪʤ
steɪt ˈskɒləʃɪps
Vocabulary Practice
I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:
Many believe that studying in another country is l______________________l for the h________________y of the students i_________________n. In my opinion, the l_________________d by these students p_______________________g are o________________d by they e______________e the often b_____________k.
C__________s of this c_______________n argue that many of the b____________________________t students never return to their c___________________n. This is e_________________________________s developing countries, including both ordinary and famous examples. The a______________e student from a developing nation that s__________________d in the United States or Europe, will l_______________________y to p________________r there. Once h_____d by a company, there is a c______________y to r___________y and even c____________p in the future. S____e these students must m____________________________________s, it l___________________s that a s_____________________e will never r__________n and s_______e their n___________________________________e with their f_________________s.
N_____________s, the instances above are r____e and there are t________e effects from k_________________________s returning to their home. Such students are c__________e of c_________________________s and p_____________s in society g____________y the workplace m_____________________y. One i_______________e example of this in Vietnam is Ngo Bao Chau who studied mathematics at Oxford. After his studies abroad, he was a________________d the most p_____________s mathematics award, the Fields Medal, in 2007. Upon his return to Vietnam, he e______________d a m________________________y in Hanoi that d________________s itself from other i_______________s with an i_____________________h b__________________m Western schools. None of this would likely have c_________________s if he had simply r_____________d in Vietnam to study like most other students.
In conclusion, d_______e the r_____s that talented individuals may choose to r________________________y in a new country, there are more c_________e benefits for the home country. Governments should therefore e___________e such students with s____________________s.
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Study
- What is your major?
- Do you like it?
- Why did you choose that major?
- Which major would you want to change it to?
Writing Practice
Practice with the same basic topic below and then check with my sample answer:
Compared to the past, more people are now studying abroad because it is more convenient and cheaper than before.
Do you think this is beneficial to the foreign student’s home country?
Will this trend change much in the future?
“Many believe that studying in another country is largely beneficial for the home country of the students in question. In my opinion, the losses entailed by these students potentially emigrating is outweighed by the expertise the often bring back.”
I realize two mistakes in the paragraph you wrote: “the losses entailed by these students potentially emigrating is outweighed by the expertise the often bring back.”
It should be “the losses entailed by these students potentially emigrating are outweighed by the expertise they often bring back.”
Thanks for picking up on that Hao – I will change it!