This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of an increasing number of university places.
IELTS Essay: University Places
Nowadays, more and more people want to study at university, and the number of university places has increased to meet this demand.
Why is this happening?
Is competition for university places a positive or negative development?
Competition for university places has become increasingly intense as more young people seek to obtain higher education qualifications. This is largely due to the growing importance of academic credentials in the job market and although this trend reflects rising educational aspirations, I believe that excessive competition for university places is a negative development generally.
One major reason for the expansion of universities is that employers increasingly expect applicants to hold tertiary qualifications, even for positions that previously required little formal education. Many young people now feel that obtaining a degree is essential to securing a well-paid job and achieving financial stability. For example, in countries such as South Korea, large numbers of high school graduates compete for places at prestigious universities because major companies such as Samsung and Hyundai tend to favour graduates from highly regarded institutions when recruiting for management positions. Over time, the ramifications of this approach leads to the development and expansion of education as an industry with tremendous growth potential.
I believe this competition is largely negative because it places enormous pressure on young people and encourages a thoughtless focus on academic achievement. Students may spend years attending private tutoring classes and preparing for entrance examinations, often at the expense of their physical health, social lives, and personal interests. For instance, a student in South Korea might attend school until late afternoon, spend several hours at a private academy preparing for university entrance exams, and continue studying at home until midnight. Such a demanding routine can lead to chronic stress and sleep deprivation, while leaving little time to develop practical skills or explore alternative career paths.
In conclusion, increasing competition for university places is driven primarily by the growing importance of degrees in employment. However, I consider this a negative development because it creates excessive pressure on students and encourages an education system that prioritises examination results over broader personal development.
Analysis
1. I believe this competition is largely negative because it places enormous pressure on young people and encourages a thoughtless focus on academic achievement. 2. Students may spend years attending private tutoring classes and preparing for entrance examinations, often at the expense of their physical health, social lives, and personal interests. 3. For instance, a student in South Korea might attend school until late afternoon, spend several hours at a private academy preparing for university entrance exams, and continue studying at home until midnight. 4. Such a demanding routine can lead to chronic stress and sleep deprivation, while leaving little time to develop practical skills or explore alternative career paths.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
1. In conclusion, increasing competition for university places is driven primarily by the growing importance of degrees in employment. 2. However, I consider this a negative development because it creates excessive pressure on students and encourages an education system that prioritises examination results over broader personal development.
- 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.
Competition for university places has become increasingly intense as more young people seek to obtain higher education qualifications. This is largely due to the growing importance of academic credentials in the job market and although this trend reflects rising educational aspirations, I believe that excessive competition for university places is a negative development generally.
One major reason for the expansion of universities is that employers increasingly expect applicants to hold tertiary qualifications, even for positions that previously required little formal education. Many young people now feel that obtaining a degree is essential to securing a well-paid job and achieving financial stability. For example, in countries such as South Korea, large numbers of high school graduates compete for places at prestigious universities because major companies such as Samsung and Hyundai tend to favour graduates from highly regarded institutions when recruiting for management positions. Over time, the ramifications of this approach leads to the development and expansion of education as an industry with tremendous growth potential.
I believe this competition is largely negative because it places enormous pressure on young people and encourages a thoughtless focus on academic achievement. Students may spend years attending private tutoring classes and preparing for entrance examinations, often at the expense of their physical health, social lives, and personal interests. For instance, a student in South Korea might attend school until late afternoon, spend several hours at a private academy preparing for university entrance exams, and continue studying at home until midnight. Such a demanding routine can lead to chronic stress and sleep deprivation, while leaving little time to develop practical skills or explore alternative career paths.
In conclusion, increasing competition for university places is driven primarily by the growing importance of degrees in employment. However, I consider this a negative development because it creates excessive pressure on students and encourages an education system that prioritises examination results over broader personal development.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
- Competition for university places – Rivalry for university admission
- Increasingly intense – Growing more competitive
- Seek to obtain higher education qualifications – Aim to acquire university-level qualifications
- This is largely due to the growing importance of academic credentials – This is mainly attributable to the increasing value placed on educational qualifications
- Job market – Employment sector
- This trend reflects rising educational aspirations – This pattern demonstrates growing ambitions for academic achievement
- Excessive competition for – Intense rivalry for
- A negative development generally – An overall undesirable trend
- One major reason for – A key contributing factor to
- Expansion – Growth
- Increasingly expect applicants to hold tertiary qualifications – Are placing greater emphasis on candidates possessing university degrees
- Even for – Including positions that
- Previously required little formal education – Once demanded minimal academic qualifications
- Obtaining a degree is essential to securing a well-paid job – Earning a university qualification is crucial for obtaining a high-paying position
- Achieving financial stability – Establishing economic security
- Large numbers of high school graduates compete for places at prestigious universities – Thousands of secondary school leavers vie for admission to highly respected institutions
- Favour graduates from highly regarded institutions – Give preference to candidates with qualifications from reputable universities
- Recruiting for management positions – Hiring employees for senior roles
- Over time – In the long term
- Ramifications – Consequences
- Approach – Method
- The development and expansion of education as an industry with tremendous growth potential – The emergence and growth of education as a highly lucrative and rapidly developing sector
- Largely negative – Predominantly harmful
- Places enormous pressure on – Puts considerable strain on
- Encourages a thoughtless focus on academic achievement – Promotes an excessive and unreflective emphasis on academic success
- Spend years attending private tutoring classes – Devote several years to attending supplementary lessons
- Preparing for entrance examinations – Studying for university admission tests
- Often at the expense of their physical health – Frequently to the detriment of their physical well-being
- Social lives – Social relationships
- Personal interests – Individual hobbies and pursuits
- Attend school until late afternoon – Remain at school until the end of the afternoon
- Spend several hours at a private academy preparing for – Dedicate several hours to studying at a private tutoring centre in preparation for
- Continue studying at home until midnight – Carry on with their studies at home late into the night
- A demanding routine – An exhausting daily schedule
- Chronic stress and sleep deprivation – Prolonged psychological strain and insufficient sleep
- Leaving little time to develop practical skills or explore alternative career paths – Allowing limited opportunity to acquire hands-on abilities or consider different professional options
- Driven primarily by – Motivated mainly by
- Growing importance of – Increasing significance of
- I consider this a negative development because – I regard this as an undesirable trend since
- Creates excessive pressure – Generates an unreasonable amount of stress
- Encourages an education system that prioritises examination results over broader personal development – Promotes an academic environment in which test performance takes precedence over students’ overall development
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
1. Competition for university places — /ˌkɒmpəˈtɪʃən fə ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsɪti ˈpleɪsɪz/
2. Increasingly intense — /ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli ɪnˈtens/
3. Seek to obtain higher education qualifications — /siːk tə əbˈteɪn ˌhaɪər edʒuˈkeɪʃən ˌkwɒlɪfɪˈkeɪʃənz/
4. This is largely due to the growing importance of academic credentials — /ðɪs ɪz ˈlɑːdʒli djuː tə ðə ˈɡrəʊɪŋ ɪmˈpɔːtəns əv ˌækəˈdemɪk krəˈdenʃəlz/
5. Job market — /ˈdʒɒb ˌmɑːkɪt/
6. This trend reflects rising educational aspirations — /ðɪs trend rɪˈflekts ˈraɪzɪŋ ˌedʒuˈkeɪʃənəl ˌæspəˈreɪʃənz/
7. Excessive competition for — /ɪkˈsesɪv ˌkɒmpəˈtɪʃən fə/
8. A negative development generally — /ə ˈneɡətɪv dɪˈveləpmənt ˈdʒenərəli/
9. One major reason for — /wʌn ˈmeɪdʒə ˈriːzən fə/
10. Expansion — /ɪkˈspænʃən/
11. Increasingly expect applicants to hold tertiary qualifications — /ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli ɪkˈspekt ˈæplɪkənts tə həʊld ˈtɜːʃəri ˌkwɒlɪfɪˈkeɪʃənz/
12. Even for — /ˈiːvən fə/
13. Previously required little formal education — /ˈpriːviəsli rɪˈkwaɪəd ˈlɪtəl ˈfɔːməl ˌedʒuˈkeɪʃən/
14. Obtaining a degree is essential to securing a well-paid job — /əbˈteɪnɪŋ ə dɪˈɡriː ɪz ɪˈsenʃəl tə sɪˈkjʊərɪŋ ə ˌwel ˈpeɪd ˈdʒɒb/
15. Achieving financial stability — /əˈtʃiːvɪŋ faɪˈnænʃəl stəˈbɪləti/
16. Large numbers of high school graduates compete for places at prestigious universities — /lɑːdʒ ˈnʌmbəz əv ˈhaɪ skuːl ˈɡrædʒuəts kəmˈpiːt fə ˈpleɪsɪz ət preˈstɪdʒəs ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsɪtiz/
17. Favour graduates from highly regarded institutions — /ˈfeɪvə ˈɡrædʒuəts frəm ˈhaɪli rɪˈɡɑːdɪd ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃənz/
18. Recruiting for management positions — /rɪˈkruːtɪŋ fə ˈmænɪdʒmənt pəˈzɪʃənz/
19. Over time — /ˌəʊvə ˈtaɪm/
20. Ramifications — /ˌræmɪfɪˈkeɪʃənz/
21. Approach — /əˈprəʊtʃ/
22. The development and expansion of education as an industry with tremendous growth potential — /ðə dɪˈveləpmənt ənd ɪkˈspænʃən əv ˌedʒuˈkeɪʃən əz ən ˈɪndəstri wɪð trɪˈmendəs ɡrəʊθ pəˈtenʃəl/
23. Largely negative — /ˈlɑːdʒli ˈneɡətɪv/
24. Places enormous pressure on — /ˈpleɪsɪz ɪˈnɔːməs ˈpreʃər ɒn/
25. Encourages a thoughtless focus on academic achievement — /ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒɪz ə ˈθɔːtləs ˈfəʊkəs ɒn ˌækəˈdemɪk əˈtʃiːvmənt/
26. Spend years attending private tutoring classes — /spend jɪəz əˈtendɪŋ ˈpraɪvət ˈtjuːtərɪŋ ˈklɑːsɪz/
27. Preparing for entrance examinations — /prɪˈpeərɪŋ fər ˈentrəns ɪɡˌzæmɪˈneɪʃənz/
28. Often at the expense of their physical health — /ˈɒfən ət ði ɪkˈspens əv ðeə ˈfɪzɪkəl helθ/
29. Social lives — /ˈsəʊʃəl laɪvz/
30. Personal interests — /ˈpɜːsənəl ˈɪntrəsts/
31. Attend school until late afternoon — /əˈtend skuːl ənˈtɪl leɪt ˌɑːftəˈnuːn/
32. Spend several hours at a private academy preparing for — /spend ˈsevrəl ˈaʊəz ət ə ˈpraɪvət əˈkædəmi prɪˈpeərɪŋ fə/
33. Continue studying at home until midnight — /kənˈtɪnjuː ˈstʌdiɪŋ ət həʊm ənˈtɪl ˈmɪdnaɪt/
34. A demanding routine — /ə dɪˈmɑːndɪŋ ruːˈtiːn/
35. Chronic stress and sleep deprivation — /ˈkrɒnɪk stres ənd sliːp ˌdeprɪˈveɪʃən/
36. Leaving little time to develop practical skills or explore alternative career paths — /ˈliːvɪŋ ˈlɪtəl taɪm tə dɪˈveləp ˈpræktɪkəl skɪlz ɔːr ɪkˈsplɔː ˈɔːltənətɪv kəˈrɪə pɑːðz/
37. Driven primarily by — /ˈdrɪvən praɪˈmerəli baɪ/
38. Growing importance of — /ˈɡrəʊɪŋ ɪmˈpɔːtəns əv/
39. I consider this a negative development because — /aɪ kənˈsɪdə ðɪs ə ˈneɡətɪv dɪˈveləpmənt bɪˈkɒz/
40. Creates excessive pressure — /kriˈeɪts ɪkˈsesɪv ˈpreʃə/
41. Encourages an education system that prioritises examination results over broader personal development — /ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒɪz ən ˌedʒuˈkeɪʃən ˈsɪstəm ðət praɪˈɒrətaɪzɪz ɪɡˌzæmɪˈneɪʃən rɪˈzʌlts ˈəʊvə ˈbrɔːdə ˈpɜːsənəl dɪˈveləpmənt/
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:
Competition_____________ places has become increasingly_____e as more young people seek t_____________________ education qualifications. This is _________________________________________ credentials in the job market and although this trend _________________________ aspirations, I believe that excessive _____________for university places is a negative ______________generally.
One _______________ for the e_________n of universities is that employers increasingly _________________________ tertiary qualifications, even____r positions that previously____________________________ education. Many young people now feel that obtaining ____________________________________ well-paid job and achieving __________ stability. For example, in countries such as South Korea, large numbers _________________________________________ prestigious universities because major companies such as Samsung and Hyundai tend to favour ___________________________ institutions when recruiting _______________ positions. Over _____e, the r_____________s of this a__________h leads to the ________________________________________________with tremendous growth potential.
I believe this competition is largely __________e because it places _____________pressure on young people and encourages_________________________________________achievement. Students may spend _________________________ tutoring classes and preparing __________________ examinations, often _________________ physical health, social _____s, and personal _________s. For instance, a student in South Korea might attend school u____________ afternoon, spend ________________________________ preparing for university entrance exams, and continue _______________________ midnight. Such a demanding ________e can lead to chronic _______________ deprivation, while leaving little __________________________________ alternative career paths.
In conclusion, increasing competition for university places is driven ____________by the growing ____________of degrees in employment. However, I consider____________________ because it creates ____________pressure on students and encourages an ______________________ examination results over ________________ personal development.
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
https://www.topuniversities.com/blog/10-oldest-universities-world
Speaking Practice
University (Get the full EBook for this speaking topic on Patreon.)
Question 1: Have you ever attended a university or college?
Question 2: What were the main factors that influenced your decision?
Question 3: Will you study more in the future?
Question 4: What unique opportunities does a university education provide?
Writing Practice
Nowadays, there is more and more competition for getting into university.
Is this a positive or negative development?
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