This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of children developing skills from the real exam.
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IELTS Essay: Children Developing Skills
Some people believe that engaging in an active pastime does more to develop children’s life skills than time spent reading.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many today would argue that the best way to aid in a child’s life skills development is to take part in active pursuits, rather than more passive ones such as reading. I am generally in agreement though reading has become increasingly important in contemporary society.
Those who argue against this contention point to the primacy of reading. In the past, large proportions of the world’s population were illiterate. Today, children must be able to read in order to interact with the world online. It could be argued that reading, and writing by extension, are the two most important life skills children can learn. Without them, children will feel alienated from mainstream culture and not be able to stay in touch with friends and family, apply online for jobs, and do research on the internet.
However, reading skills develop organically for children and there are more critical skills that are often neglected in a technological society. Most people would relate to the experience of watching their grandparents display a wide range of life skills including automotive maintenance, cooking, and sewing. These life skills have diverse applicability. A person who is adept with their hands will be able to handle a variety of household tasks, repairs, and renovations. Moreover, there are less concrete benefits. These activities are likely to make an individual more creative, and physically and mentally healthier. Research has shown that more time spent being active, and less time on devices, improves mood, develops lateral thinking ability, and lessens the risk of chronic anxiety disorders.
In conclusion, despite the centrality of reading due to advances in technology, truly valuable life skills require more active participation. Unfortunately, shifts in society related to technology are likely irreversible.
Analysis
1. Many today would argue that the best way to aid in a child’s life skills development is to take part in active pursuits, rather than more passive ones such as reading. 2. I am generally in agreement though reading has become increasingly important in contemporary society.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Those who argue against this contention point to the primacy of reading. 2. In the past, large proportions of the world’s population were illiterate. 3. Today, children must be able to read in order to interact with the world online. 4. It could be argued that reading, and writing by extension, are the two most important life skills children can learn. 5. Without them, children will feel alienated from mainstream culture and not be able to stay in touch with friends and family, apply online for jobs, and do research on the internet.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
- Keep developing it fully.
- Finish development.
1. However, reading skills develop organically for children and there are more critical skills that are often neglected in a technological society. 2. Most people would relate to the experience of watching their grandparents display a wide range of life skills including automotive maintenance, cooking, and sewing. 3. These life skills have diverse applicability. 4. A person who is adept with their hands will be able to handle a variety of household tasks, repairs, and renovations. 5. Moreover, there are less concrete benefits. 6. These activities are likely to make an individual more creative, and physically and mentally healthier. 7. Research has shown that more time spent being active, and less time on devices, improves mood, develops lateral thinking ability, and lessens the risk of chronic anxiety disorders.
- 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.
- Develop the example fully.
- This paragraph can be longer than the other one.
- Be sure each idea has support.
1. In conclusion, despite the centrality of reading due to advances in technology, truly valuable life skills require more active participation. 2. Unfortunately, shifts in society related to technology are likely irreversible.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
Many today would argue that the best way to aid in a child’s life skills development is to take part in active pursuits, rather than more passive ones such as reading. I am generally in agreement though reading has become increasingly important in contemporary society.
Those who argue against this contention point to the primacy of reading. In the past, large proportions of the world’s population were illiterate. Today, children must be able to read in order to interact with the world online. It could be argued that reading, and writing by extension, are the two most important life skills children can learn. Without them, children will feel alienated from mainstream culture and not be able to stay in touch with friends and family, apply online for jobs, and do research on the internet.
However, reading skills develop organically for children and there are more critical skills that are often neglected in a technological society. Most people would relate to the experience of watching their grandparents display a wide range of life skills including automotive maintenance, cooking, and sewing. These life skills have diverse applicability. A person who is adept with their hands will be able to handle a variety of household tasks, repairs, and renovations. Moreover, there are less concrete benefits. These activities are likely to make an individual more creative, and physically and mentally healthier. Research has shown that more time spent being active, and less time on devices, improves mood, develops lateral thinking ability, and lessens the risk of chronic anxiety disorders.
In conclusion, despite the centrality of reading due to advances in technology, truly valuable life skills require more active participation. Unfortunately, shifts in society related to technology are likely irreversible.
Answers
aid in help
life skills development learning useful abilities for life in general
take part in active pursuits do non-passive activities like exercising or doing art
rather than instead of
passive not active
I am generally in agreement I mostly agree
increasingly important more and more crucial
contemporary society the world today
Those who argue against this contention point to people not agreeing say
primacy central importance
large proportions big percentages
illiterate unable to read or write
in order to so that
interact with talk to, communicate
It could be argued that some might say that
by extension further
without them not having them
alienated not feeling connected, close to others, society
mainstream culture how most people in the world think and act
stay in touch talk to
apply online send in applications over the internet
research learn about
organically naturally
critical skills key abilities
neglected not paying attention to
technological society more internet usage today and machines
relate to concern
display showcase
wide range lots of variety
automotive maintenance fixing cars
diverse applicability can be used in different ways
adept with good at
handle deal with
variety many types of
household tasks chores, things to be done around the home
repairs fixes
renovations changes, fixing up
concrete real
creative imaginative
physically related to the body
mentally healthier related to mood, feelings, the mind
on devices smartphones, tablets, etc.
improves mood allows for better personality
lateral thinking ability creativity
lessens reduces
risk chances
chronic anxiety disorders always feeling nervous
despite regardless of
centrality importance
truly valuable really important
require need
active participation not passive
unfortunately too bad
shifts changes
irreversible can’t be fixed
Pronunciation
eɪd ɪn
laɪf skɪlz dɪˈvɛləpmənt
teɪk pɑːt ɪn ˈæktɪv pəˈsjuːts
ˈrɑːðə ðæn
ˈpæsɪv
aɪ æm ˈʤɛnərəli ɪn əˈgriːmənt
ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli ɪmˈpɔːtənt
kənˈtɛmpərəri səˈsaɪəti
ðəʊz huː ˈɑːgjuː əˈgɛnst ðɪs kənˈtɛnʃən pɔɪnt tuː
ˈpraɪməsi
lɑːʤ prəˈpɔːʃənz
ɪˈlɪtərɪt
ɪn ˈɔːdə tuː
ˌɪntərˈækt wɪð
ɪt kʊd biː ˈɑːgjuːd ðæt
baɪ ɪksˈtɛnʃən
wɪˈðaʊt ðɛm
ˈeɪliəneɪtɪd
ˈmeɪnstriːm ˈkʌlʧə
steɪ ɪn tʌʧ
əˈplaɪ ˈɒnˌlaɪn
rɪˈsɜːʧ
ɔːˈgænɪk(ə)li
ˈkrɪtɪkəl skɪlz
nɪˈglɛktɪd
ˌtɛknəˈlɒʤɪk(ə)l səˈsaɪəti
rɪˈleɪt tuː
dɪsˈpleɪ
waɪd reɪnʤ
ˌɔːtəˈməʊtɪv ˈmeɪntənəns
daɪˈvɜːs ˌæplɪkəˈbɪlɪti
ˈædɛpt wɪð
ˈhændl
vəˈraɪəti
ˈhaʊshəʊld tɑːsks
rɪˈpeəz,
ˌrɛnəʊˈveɪʃənz
ˈkɒnkriːt
kri(ː)ˈeɪtɪv,
ˈfɪzɪkəli
ˈmɛntəli ˈhɛlθɪə
ɒn dɪˈvaɪsɪz
ɪmˈpruːvz muːd
ˈlætərəl ˈθɪŋkɪŋ əˈbɪlɪti
ˈlɛsnz
rɪsk
ˈkrɒnɪk æŋˈzaɪəti dɪsˈɔːdəz
dɪsˈpaɪt
sentrælɪti:
ˈtruːli ˈvæljʊəbl
rɪˈkwaɪə
ˈæktɪv pɑːˌtɪsɪˈpeɪʃən
ʌnˈfɔːʧnɪtli
ʃɪfts
ˌɪrɪˈvɜːsəbl
Vocabulary Practice
Many today would argue that the best way to a______n a child’s l_______________________t is to t________________n a____________________s, r___________n more p_________e ones such as reading. I_____________________________t though reading has become i_____________________t in c_____________________y.
T_______________________________________________o the p_________y of reading. In the past, l_____________________s of the world’s population were i____________e. Today, children must be able to read i____________o i___________h the world online. I_____________________t reading, and writing b_____________n, are the two most important life skills children can learn. W______________m, children will feel a_____________d from m_______________e and not be able to s_____________h with friends and family, a_____________e for jobs, and do r_________h on the internet.
However, reading skills develop o_____________y for children and there are more c____________s that are often n_________d in a t________________y. Most people would r________o the experience of watching their grandparents d_____y a w____________e of life skills including a_____________________e, cooking, and sewing. These life skills have d________________________y. A person who is a__________h their hands will be able to h______e a v_______y of h_____________s, r________s, and r___________s. Moreover, there are less c______e benefits. These activities are likely to make an individual more c________e, and p__________y and m_______________r. Research has shown that more time spent being active, and less time o__________s, i___________d, develops l_____________________y, and l_______s the r____k of c__________________s.
In conclusion, d_________e the c__________y of reading due to advances in technology, t_____________e life skills r________e more a______________n. U_______________y, s_______s in society related to technology are likely i_____________e.
Listening Practice
https://www.youtube.com/c/StorylineOnlineSAF
Reading Practice
Speaking Practice
Reading
- Do you enjoy reading?
- What kinds of books do you like?
- Do you have a favorite author?
- Is reading a popular pastime in your country?
Writing Practice
Many believe that reading books is a waste of time and children would be better served doing something more useful.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Involvement into active pursuits makes children more expert in various activities which is a common belief in the contemporary society. Again, a discussion rises about the effectiveness of reading in this concern. Although this topic can be made arugumentativbly polarised, I do agree the stated belief.
There are an abundant contention points to argue for the reading habit in this issue. To commence with, children can acquire a diverse knowledge reading including science, comics, anecdotes etc that led them to be interested in a varoius areas subsequently results in well developed idea to work in different situations. An illustrative example in this that, if the children are attached with reading the scientific fiction books, they are more likely to aware of various unknown facts as well as be inspired to practise science related projects. Moreover, to build a thoughtful generation it is a crying need to submurge the kids in to reading. This practice will teach them how to scrutinize facts in the difficult situations.
Nevertheless, despite of having relevant clues supporting the essence of reading, my rationale for my consent comes from the view that active pastimes are helpful for bulding necessary abilities in a pragmatic way. Unlike theoritical education, it plays a vital role to build up certain skill. To cite an example, most of the famous athletes in recent times were way more involed in outdoor games in their chilhood which had made them strong and mercurial from their early ages. Furthermore, this activity enhance the chance to seek help from others subsequently makes the kids to be gregarious. As a result, it becomes so significant to build a well sociable society.
In conclusion, by all metrics, it is undeniably true that childrens’ expertises developed by active free time activities are better than the results exerted from reading. I believe, my consent for the statement can withstand the arguments of the detractors.
(May I get an evaluation on this writing?)