This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of children visiting museums to learn about history from the real IELTS exam.

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Dave

IELTS Essay: Children Visiting Museums

Some people think that children can learn about history by visiting museums, while others feel that there are better ways to learn about history.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Some believe that visiting museums is the best method for learning about the past. I am in agreement with this sentiment, although such trips cannot become the most common approach.

The long-term study of history must remain in the classroom. This is due to logistical concerns and the efficiency of textbooks and lectures. The average student at high school, for example, might be assigned several pages of reading which are then reviewed in class. The teacher can next move on to covering topics in greater depth or proceed with the curriculum to other historical periods. This regular pattern ensures steady progress. Traveling to and learning in a museum is more interactive but there are tradeoffs related to the amount of material that can be learned. A museum visit, in contrast to the classroom, involves travel time and its focus is limited to the specific items on display.

However, museum learning promises greater depth of learning. A good example of this would be the many museums in urban areas such as New York City. Students who visit and view real artifacts from the past at The American Museum of Natural History are likely to remember not only the objects, but also their significance to history. Researchers have demonstrated that the human brain learns retains more information visually and the combination of readings before and after a trip, conversations with other students, and commentary from teachers contributes to a formidable and memorable lesson. There is thereby a greater chance that students who spend time learning at museums will internalize facts and dates for both standardized tests and later in life.

In conclusion, museum visits are a memorable and ideal approach to the instruction of history, though the classroom must remain standard practice. Whenever possible, school systems should fund field trips to museums.

Analysis

1. Some believe that visiting museums is the best method for learning about the past. 2. I am in agreement with this sentiment, although such trips cannot become the most common approach.

  1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
  2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. The long-term study of history must remain in the classroom. 2. This is due to logistical concerns and the efficiency of textbooks and lectures. 3. The average student at high school, for example, might be assigned several pages of reading which are then reviewed in class. 4. The teacher can next move on to covering topics in greater depth or proceed with the curriculum to other historical periods. 5. This regular pattern ensures steady progress. Traveling to and learning in a museum is more interactive but there are tradeoffs related to the amount of material that can be learned. 6. A museum visit, in contrast to the classroom, involves travel time and its focus is limited to the specific items on display.

  1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
  2. Explain your main idea.
  3. Develop it with specific examples.
  4. Keep developing it fully.
  5. Relate it back to the overall topic.
  6. Conclude with a strong statement.

1. However, museum learning promises greater depth of learning. 2. A good example of this would be the many museums in urban areas such as New York City. 3. Students who visit and view real artifacts from the past at The American Museum of Natural History are likely to remember not only the objects, but also their significance to history. 4. Researchers have demonstrated that the human brain learns retains more information visually and the combination of readings before and after a trip, conversations with other students, and commentary from teachers contributes to a formidable and memorable lesson. 5. There is thereby a greater chance that students who spend time learning at museums will internalize facts and dates for both standardized tests and later in life.

  1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
  2. Explain your new main idea.
  3. Include specific details and examples.
  4. Continue developing it fully!
  5. Vary short and long sentences.

1. In conclusion, museum visits are a memorable and ideal approach to the instruction of history, though the classroom must remain standard practice. 2. Whenever possible, school systems should fund field trips to museums.

  1. Summarise your main ideas.
  2. 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.

Some believe that visiting museums is the best method for learning about the past. I am in agreement with this sentiment, although such trips cannot become the most common approach.

The long-term study of history must remain in the classroom. This is due to logistical concerns and the efficiency of textbooks and lectures. The average student at high school, for example, might be assigned several pages of reading which are then reviewed in class. The teacher can next move on to covering topics in greater depth or proceed with the curriculum to other historical periods. This regular pattern ensures steady progress. Traveling to and learning in a museum is more interactive but there are tradeoffs related to the amount of material that can be learned. A museum visit, in contrast to the classroom, involves travel time and its focus is limited to the specific items on display.

However, museum learning promises greater depth of learning. A good example of this would be the many museums in urban areas such as New York City. Students who visit and view real artifacts from the past at The American Museum of Natural History are likely to remember not only the objects, but also their significance to history. Researchers have demonstrated that the human brain learns retains more information visually and the combination of readings before and after a trip, conversations with other students, and commentary from teachers contributes to a formidable and memorable lesson. There is thereby a greater chance that students who spend time learning at museums will internalize facts and dates for both standardized tests and later in life.

In conclusion, museum visits are a memorable and ideal approach to the instruction of history, though the classroom must remain standard practice. Whenever possible, school systems should fund field trips to museums.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

best method main way

the past history

I am in agreement with this sentiment I agree with this idea

although however

trips visits

most common approach way to be done most of the time

long-term over a long time

remain stay

classroom studying in a class

this is due to this is because of

logistical concerns pragmatic issues

efficiency not wasting time

textbooks books students study from

lectures talking to all the students

average student normal kid

assigned given to do

reviewed revised

move on go forward

covering going over

greater depth more detail

proceed go along

curriculum what you study over the course of a year

historical periods times in the past

regular pattern repeating trend

ensures guarantees

steady progress stable development

interactive more active and engaged

tradeoffs bad sides

related to concerning

amount number of

in contrast to compared to

focus emphasis

limited kept within bounds

specific items actual artifacts

on display being shown

promises greater depth leads to more learning

urban areas cities

view real artifacts see actual objects from the past

objects items

significance importance

researchers have demonstrated that scientists have shown that

retains keeps

visually what you can see

combination mix

readings textbook chapters

conversations talking with

commentary lecture

contributes adds to

formidable impressive, meaningful

memorable lesson easy to remember class

thereby therefore

greater chance more probability

internalize commit deeply

standardized tests exams in school

ideal approach best way

instruction of teaching of

remain standard practice still be the normal way of doing it

whenever possible at times

school systems school administrators

fund field trips give money for trips

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

bɛst ˈmɛθəd 
ðə pɑːst
aɪ æm ɪn əˈgriːmənt wɪð ðɪs ˈsɛntɪmənt
ɔːlˈðəʊ 
trɪps 
məʊst ˈkɒmən əˈprəʊʧ
ˈlɒŋtɜːm 
rɪˈmeɪn 
ˈklɑːsrʊm
ðɪs ɪz djuː tuː 
ləʊˈʤɪstɪkəl kənˈsɜːnz 
ɪˈfɪʃənsi 
ˈtɛkstbʊks 
ˈlɛkʧəz
ˈævərɪʤ ˈstjuːdənt 
əˈsaɪnd 
rɪˈvjuːd 
muːv ɒn 
ˈkʌvərɪŋ 
ˈgreɪtə dɛpθ 
prəˈsiːd 
kəˈrɪkjʊləm 
hɪsˈtɒrɪkəl ˈpɪərɪədz
ˈrɛgjʊlə ˈpætən 
ɪnˈʃʊəz 
ˈstɛdi ˈprəʊgrəs
ˌɪntərˈæktɪv 
treɪd ɒfs 
rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː 
əˈmaʊnt 
ɪn ˈkɒntrɑːst tuː 
ˈfəʊkəs 
ˈlɪmɪtɪd 
spɪˈsɪfɪk ˈaɪtəmz 
ɒn dɪsˈpleɪ
ˈprɒmɪsɪz ˈgreɪtə dɛpθ 
ˈɜːbən ˈeərɪəz 
vjuː rɪəl ˈɑːtɪˌfækts 
ˈɒbʤɪkts
sɪgˈnɪfɪkəns 
rɪˈsɜːʧəz hæv ˈdɛmənstreɪtɪd ðæt 
rɪˈteɪnz 
ˈvɪzjʊəli 
ˌkɒmbɪˈneɪʃən 
ˈriːdɪŋz 
ˌkɒnvəˈseɪʃənz 
ˈkɒməntəri 
kənˈtrɪbju(ː)ts 
ˈfɔːmɪdəbl 
ˈmɛmərəbl ˈlɛsn
ˈðeəˈbaɪ 
ˈgreɪtə ʧɑːns 
ɪnˈtɜːnəˌlaɪz 
ˈstændədaɪzd tɛsts 
aɪˈdɪəl əˈprəʊʧ 
ɪnˈstrʌkʃən ɒv 
rɪˈmeɪn ˈstændəd ˈpræktɪs
wɛnˈɛvə ˈpɒsəbl
skuːl ˈsɪstɪmz 
fʌnd fiːld trɪps 

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:

Some believe that visiting museums is the b___________d for learning about t_________t. I__________________________________________t, a________h such t______s cannot become the m______________________________h.

The l____________m study of history must r_________n in the c____________m. T_________________o l______________________s and the e_______________y of t______________s and l___________s. The a_______________t at high school, for example, might be a____________d several pages of reading which are then r____________d in class. The teacher can next m_________n to c____________g topics in g___________________h or p___________d with the c_____________m to other h___________________s. This r__________________n e__________s s___________________s. Traveling to and learning in a museum is more i_____________e but there are t____________s r____________o the a_________t of material that can be learned. A museum visit, i______________o the classroom, involves travel time and its f_________s is l_____________d to the s______________s o_____________y.

However, museum learning p_____________________h of learning. A good example of this would be the many museums in u______________s such as New York City. Students who visit and v____________________s from the past at The American Museum of Natural History are likely to remember not only the o____________s, but also their s______________e to history. R_______________________________t the human brain learns r__________s more information v__________y and the c_______________n of r___________s before and after a trip, c_______________s with other students, and c_______________y from teachers c______________s to a f_______________e and m__________________n. There is t____________y a g_______________e that students who spend time learning at museums will i______________e facts and dates for both s____________________s and later in life.

In conclusion, museum visits are a memorable and i________________h to the i_________________f history, though the classroom must r_______________________________e. W_________________e, s_______________s should f___________________s to museums.

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:

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/online-features/met-360-project

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

History

  1. Do you like reading books about history?
  2. Which country’s history is most interesting to you?
  3. Which historical event or period do you find most interesting?
  4. Why is it important to read about history?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:

Museums and art galleries should show local history and culture instead of work from different countries.

Discuss both views and give opinion.

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