This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of arts and education funding from the real exam.
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IELTS Essay: Arts & Education Funding
The government should lower the budget on the arts in order to allocate more money to education.
To what extent do you agree?
Due to the limits of national budgets, many today are fiercely debating the proper level of funding for the arts and education. While some argue that the arts have important historic value, I side with those who recognize the societal value of education.
On the one hand, many insist that the arts are an important reminder of national history. A good example of this would be the countless paintings of historic events and key figures that became prominent and fashionable during the Renaissance. These pictures now deepen not only our understanding of those events but also the psychology and values of the individuals producing and becoming patrons of art at that time. It is therefore likely that art made today will also give important clues to future generations as to the history and character of their ancestors.
On the other hand, education is the key for the progress of a nation. This can be most clearly seen in developing countries. After World War II, for instance, South Korea’s economy was decimated and there were few pathways to a stable nation. The government invested massively in education and the result is some of the most important companies in the world were founded ranging from Samsung to LG to Hyundai. These companies contribute to the economy and have greatly raised the standard of living for all citizens. I believe efforts to fund education like the one detailed above have a clear and tangible impact.
In conclusion, art is important for its value in terms of history but education is by far more important for its economic effects. Governments should strike some balance but prioritise education.
Analysis
1. Due to the limits national budgets, many today are fiercely debating the proper level of funding for the arts and education. 2. While some argue that the arts have important historic value, I side with those who recognize the societal value of education.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Learn more about introductions here.
1. On the one hand, many insist that the arts are an important reminder of national history. 2. A good example of this would be the countless paintings of historic events and key figures that became prominent and fashionable during the Renaissance. 3. These pictures now deepen not only our understanding of those events but also the psychology and values of the individuals producing and becoming patrons of art at that time. 4. It is therefore likely that art made today will also give important clues to future generations as to the history and character of their ancestors.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Begin a specific example.
- Develop the example.
- Draw conclusions or generalise from your example.
1. On the other hand, education is the key for the progress of a nation. This can be most clearly seen in developing countries. 2. After World War II, for instance, South Korea’s economy was decimated and there were few pathways to a stable nation. 3. The government invested massively in education and the result is some of the most important companies in the world were founded ranging from Samsung to LG to Hyundai. 4. These companies contribute to the economy and have greatly raised the standard of living for all citizens. 5. I believe efforts to fund education like the one detailed above have a clear and tangible impact.
- Write another topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Begin another specific example.
- Develop it and don’t switch to a new example.
- State the results.
- Conclude with a strong statement.
1. In conclusion, art is important for its value in terms of history but education is by far more important for its economic effects. 2. Governments should strike some balance but prioritise education.
- Repeat your main ideas and your opinion.
- Include a final thought/detail. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
Due to the limits of national budgets, many today are fiercely debating the proper level of funding for the arts and education. While some argue that the arts have important historic value, I side with those who recognize the societal value of education.
On the one hand, many insist that the arts are an important reminder of national history. A good example of this would be the countless paintings of historic events and key figures that became prominent and fashionable during the Renaissance. These pictures now deepen not only our understanding of those events but also the psychology and values of the individuals producing and becoming patrons of art at that time. It is therefore likely that art made today will also give important clues to future generations as to the history and character of their ancestors.
On the other hand, education is the key for the progress of a nation. This can be most clearly seen in developing countries. After World War II, for instance, South Korea’s economy was decimated and there were few pathways to a stable nation. The government invested massively in education and the result is some of the most important companies in the world were founded ranging from Samsung to LG to Hyundai. These companies contribute to the economy and have greatly raised the standard of living for all citizens. I believe efforts to fund education like the one detailed above have a clear and tangible impact.
In conclusion, art is important for its value in terms of history but education is by far more important for its economic effects. Governments should strike some balance but prioritise education.
Answers
limits of national budgets constraints of money available
fiercely debating hotly arguing about
proper level of funding correct amount of money
important historic value key to understanding the past
side with agree with
recognize understand
societal value of education importance of schools
insist feel strongly about
reminder makes one remember
national history history of a country
countless paintings of historic events many pictures of events from the past
key figures important people
prominent common
fashionable in vogue
Renaissance period of artistic and scientific growth in Europe around the 1500s
deepen understand more
psychology how people think
becoming patrons of contributing money for
clues hints
future generations people in the future, our grandchildren, etc.
character personality
ancestors people who came before us
progress how the world gets better
most clearly seen obvious in
decimated destroyed
pathways means
stable nation prosperous country
invested massively put a lot of money into
ranging from including
contribute give to
raised the standard of living for all citizens make life better for all
efforts attempts
detailed above listed before
clear and tangible impact real effect
strike some balance find a middle way
prioritise make more important
Pronunciation
ˈlɪmɪts ɒv ˈnæʃənl ˈbʌʤɪts
ˈfɪəsli dɪˈbeɪtɪŋ
ˈprɒpə ˈlɛvl ɒv ˈfʌndɪŋ
ɪmˈpɔːtənt hɪsˈtɒrɪk ˈvæljuː
saɪd wɪð
ˈrɛkəgnaɪz
səˈsaɪətl ˈvæljuː ɒv ˌɛdju(ː)ˈkeɪʃən
ɪnˈsɪst
rɪˈmaɪndə
ˈnæʃənl ˈhɪstəri
ˈkaʊntlɪs ˈpeɪntɪŋz ɒv hɪsˈtɒrɪk ɪˈvɛnts
kiː ˈfɪgəz
ˈprɒmɪnənt
ˈfæʃnəbl
rəˈneɪsəns
ˈdiːpən
saɪˈkɒləʤi
bɪˈkʌmɪŋ ˈpeɪtrənz ɒv
kluːz
ˈfjuːʧə ˌʤɛnəˈreɪʃənz
ˈkærɪktə
ˈænsɪstəz
ˈprəʊgrəs
məʊst ˈklɪəli siːn
ˈdɛsɪmeɪtɪd
ˈpɑːθweɪz
ˈsteɪbl ˈneɪʃən
ɪnˈvɛstɪd ˈmæsɪvli
ˈreɪnʤɪŋ frɒm
kənˈtrɪbju(ː)t
reɪzd ðə ˈstændəd ɒv ˈlɪvɪŋ fɔːr ɔːl ˈsɪtɪznz
ˈɛfəts
ˈdiːteɪld əˈbʌv
klɪər ænd ˈtænʤəbl ˈɪmpækt
straɪk sʌm ˈbæləns
praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪz
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
Due to l_____________________________s, many today are f________________g the p__________________________g for the arts and education. While some argue that the arts have i__________________________e, I s_______________h those who r_____________e the s____________________________n.
On the one hand, many i_________t that the arts are an important r__________r of n________________y. A good example of this would be the c_______________________________s and k____________________s that became p________________t and f_______________e during the R______________e. These pictures now d___________n not only our understanding of those events but also the p_____________y and values of the individuals producing and b____________________f art at that time. It is therefore likely that art made today will also give important c_______s to f___________________s as to the history and c_____________r of their a_____________s.
On the other hand, education is the key for the p___________s of a nation. This can be m_________________n in developing countries. After World War II, for instance, South Korea’s economy was d______________d and there were few p____________s to a s______________n. The government i_________________y in education and the result is some of the most important companies in the world were founded r_________________m Samsung to LG to Hyundai. These companies c________________e to the economy and have greatly r___________________________________s. I believe e__________s to fund education like the one d_______________e have a c_________________________t.
In conclusion, art is important for its value in terms of history but education is by far more important for its economic effects. Governments should s____________________e but p______________e education.
Listening Practice
Learn more about the Renaissance below:
Reading Practice
Learn more about the importance of art below:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/22/opinion/david-zwirner-museums-coronavirus.html
Speaking Practice
Talk about the following questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Art
- Have you ever been to an art gallery?
- Would you like to learn more about art?
- Do you hang any art in your home?
- Do people in your country enjoy making art?
Writing Practice
Write about the following related topic then check with my sample answer:
Many people believe that film is a less important art than other forms such as literature and painting.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
It is often said that the funding of education should be increased by lowering the money allocated to arts. While funding education is extremely important, state can not cut down the investing in arts, which are mostly the cultural heritage. Personally, I suppose that places of art will be closed without the state’s financial assistance; as a result, less children will be educated about art and less tourists will visit the country with poor condition of cultural sites, museums and galleries.
To begin with, from generation to generation parents and teachers are used to taking children to the museums and galleries to show and teach them about cultures and art. In other words, not only do students who attended such places have a wider outlook, but they also gain the advantage over peers. Is has been proven that children perform better on subjects such as history and literature if the visit art galleries. The state should fund museums and cultural sites in case the want to have more well-rounded and intelligent nation in the future.
Another point to consider is that tourist will refuse to visit countries with those policies; thus it will effect the economy of the country. Little do people realize that in many countries enormous amounts of money is made up by tourists. To illustrate, millions of visitors attend Moscow annually as government spends billions of rubles on preservation and maintenance of cultural sites. If it were not state’s financial support, the number of visitors in countries with rich culture would drastically decrease.
In conclusion, while some people believe that education is more important than arts, I am convinced that arts have a significant impact on the development of children and the economy.