This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of media instead of cookery, dressmaking, and woodworking from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Cookery, Dressmaking, and Woodwork

Schools should focus on academic success and passing examinations. Skills such as cookery, dressmaking and woodworking should not be taught at school as it is better to learn these from family.

To that extent do you agree or disagree?

A rapidly evolving world necessitates fundamental changes to educational institutions. While traditional subjects like mathematics, science, and literature are undoubtedly important, I strongly believe that schools should also incorporate practical skills such as cookery, dressmaking, and woodworking into their curricula.

On the one hand, teaching practical skills at home enables students to acquire essential life skills that are often overlooked in traditional academic settings. For instance, many parents consider it a responsibility to teach their children knowledge of nutrition, meal planning, and culinary techniques. By learning to prepare their own meals, young people can gain a deep understanding of healthy eating habits, portion control, and the value of balanced nutrition. These skills not only contribute to their physical well-being but also empower them to make informed choices about their diet, leading to a lifelong impact on their health. This process is best done in families where habits can form in the long-term.

However, incorporating practical skills into the curriculum promotes a well-rounded education catering to diverse needs and interests. Not all students excel in academics, and by providing alternatives, schools can tap into the potential of students who might otherwise feel marginalized or disengaged. For example, a student who struggles with academic subjects might discover a natural talent and passion for woodworking. By nurturing their interest and providing opportunities to develop their woodworking skills, the student gains a feeling of purpose and accomplishment, boosting their overall engagement and motivation. In a fashion class, a student can learn to design, measure, cut, and sew garments. Both classes instill a sense of pride if students can produce useful wood objects or wear garments they have crafted themselves.

In conclusion, rather than relying on families, schools should prioritize incorporating practical skills into the curriculum while also maintaining rigorous standards for the current core subjects. By doing so, students will have a more comprehensive education that equips them with both theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.

Analysis

1. A rapidly evolving world necessitates fundamental changes to educational institutions. 2. While traditional subjects like mathematics, science, and literature are undoubtedly important, I strongly believe that schools should also incorporate practical skills such as cookery, dressmaking, and woodworking into their curricula.

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

1. On the one hand, teaching practical skills at home enables students to acquire essential life skills that are often overlooked in traditional academic settings. 2. For instance, many parents consider it a responsibility to teach their children knowledge of nutrition, meal planning, and culinary techniques. 3. By learning to prepare their own meals, young people can gain a deep understanding of healthy eating habits, portion control, and the value of balanced nutrition. 4. These skills not only contribute to their physical well-being but also empower them to make informed choices about their diet, leading to a lifelong impact on their health. 5. This process is best done in families where habits can form in the long-term.

1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
4. Keep developing it fully.
5. Use specific examples.

1. However, incorporating practical skills into the curriculum promotes a well-rounded education catering to diverse needs and interests. 2. Not all students excel in academics, and by providing alternatives, schools can tap into the potential of students who might otherwise feel marginalized or disengaged. 3. For example, a student who struggles with academic subjects might discover a natural talent and passion for woodworking. 4. By nurturing their interest and providing opportunities to develop their woodworking skills, the student gains a feeling of purpose and accomplishment, boosting their overall engagement and motivation. 5. In a fashion class, a student can learn to design, measure, cut, and sew garments. 6. Both classes instill a sense of pride if students can produce useful wood objects or wear garments they have crafted themselves.

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. Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
5. Finish the paragraph strong.
6. Develop your examples – don’t run away from them.

1. In conclusion, rather than relying on families, schools should prioritize incorporating practical skills into the curriculum while also maintaining rigorous standards for the current core subjects. 2. By doing so, students will have a more comprehensive education that equips them with both theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.

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.

A rapidly evolving world necessitates fundamental changes to educational institutions. While traditional subjects like mathematics, science, and literature are undoubtedly important, I strongly believe that schools should also incorporate practical skills such as cookery, dressmaking, and woodworking into their curricula.

On the one hand, teaching practical skills at home enables students to acquire essential life skills that are often overlooked in traditional academic settings. For instance, many parents consider it a responsibility to teach their children knowledge of nutrition, meal planning, and culinary techniques. By learning to prepare their own meals, young people can gain a deep understanding of healthy eating habits, portion control, and the value of balanced nutrition. These skills not only contribute to their physical well-being but also empower them to make informed choices about their diet, leading to a lifelong impact on their health. This process is best done in families where habits can form in the long-term.

However, incorporating practical skills into the curriculum promotes a well-rounded education catering to diverse needs and interests. Not all students excel in academics, and by providing alternatives, schools can tap into the potential of students who might otherwise feel marginalized or disengaged. For example, a student who struggles with academic subjects might discover a natural talent and passion for woodworking. By nurturing their interest and providing opportunities to develop their woodworking skills, the student gains a feeling of purpose and accomplishment, boosting their overall engagement and motivation. In a fashion class, a student can learn to design, measure, cut, and sew garments. Both classes instill a sense of pride if students can produce useful wood objects or wear garments they have crafted themselves.

In conclusion, rather than relying on families, schools should prioritize incorporating practical skills into the curriculum while also maintaining rigorous standards for the current core subjects. By doing so, students will have a more comprehensive education that equips them with both theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.

Answers

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

A rapidly evolving world A swiftly changing world

necessitates Requires

fundamental changes to educational institutions Basic reforms to schools

traditional subjects Established areas

undoubtedly important Unquestionably significant

incorporate practical skills Integrate practical abilities

cookery Cooking

dressmaking Tailoring

woodworking Making things from wood

curricula What you study in school

enables Allows for

acquire essential life skills Gain crucial life abilities

overlooked in traditional academic settings Ignored in normal scholastic contexts

consider Think about

responsibility Accountability

knowledge Understanding

nutrition Nourishment

meal planning Thinking about what to eat

culinary techniques Cooking methods

prepare their own meals Cook their own food

gain a deep understanding of healthy eating habits Attain a profound comprehension of nutritious dietary practices

portion control Not eating too much

value of balanced nutrition Importance of well-rounded nourishment

contribute Add to

empower Inspire

make informed choices Make educated decisions

diet Nutritional plan

lifelong impact Enduring influence

process Procedure

habits can form in the long-term Patterns can develop over the long haul

promotes Encourages

well-rounded education catering to diverse needs and interests Comprehensive learning accommodating various requirements and interests

excel Succeed

providing alternatives Offering choices

tap into the potential of Harness the possibilities of

otherwise Alternatively

marginalized Not paid attention to

disengaged Detached

struggles with Encounters difficulties with

discover a natural talent Unearth an innate ability

passion Enthusiasm

nurturing Fostering

providing opportunities Offering chances

gains a feeling of purpose and accomplishment Attains a sense of meaning and achievement

boosting their overall engagement Enhancing their general involvement

motivation Drive

design Create

measure Calculate

cut Trim

sew garments Stitch clothes

instill a sense of pride Foster a feeling of confidence

useful wood objects Functional wooden items

wear garments Put on clothes

crafted Made

relying on families Depending on families

prioritize Place emphasis on

maintaining rigorous standards for Upholding strict criteria for

comprehensive education Holistic learning

equips Provides

theoretical knowledge and practical expertise Academic understanding and applied proficiency

Pronunciation

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

ə ˈræpɪdli ɪˈvɒlvɪŋ wɜːld 
nɪˈsɛsɪteɪts 
ˌfʌndəˈmɛntᵊl ˈʧeɪnʤɪz tuː ˌɛʤʊˈkeɪʃᵊnᵊl ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃᵊnz 
trəˈdɪʃᵊnᵊl ˈsʌbʤɪkts 
ʌnˈdaʊtɪdli ɪmˈpɔːtᵊnt 
ɪnˈkɔːpᵊreɪt ˈpræktɪkᵊl skɪlz 
ˈkʊkəri 
ˈdrɛsˌmeɪkɪŋ 
ˈwʊdwɜːkɪŋ 
kəˈrɪkjələ 
ɪˈneɪbᵊlz 
əˈkwaɪər ɪˈsɛnʃᵊl laɪf skɪlz 
ˌəʊvəˈlʊkt ɪn trəˈdɪʃᵊnᵊl ˌækəˈdɛmɪk ˈsɛtɪŋz 
kənˈsɪdə 
rɪˌspɒnsɪˈbɪləti 
ˈnɒlɪʤ 
njuːˈtrɪʃᵊn 
miːl ˈplænɪŋ 
ˈkʌlɪnəri tɛkˈniːks 
prɪˈpeə ðeər əʊn miːlz 
ɡeɪn ə diːp ˌʌndəˈstændɪŋ ɒv ˈhɛlθi ˈiːtɪŋ ˈhæbɪts 
ˈpɔːʃᵊn kənˈtrəʊl 
ˈvæljuː ɒv ˈbælənst njuːˈtrɪʃᵊn 
kənˈtrɪbjuːt 
ɪmˈpaʊə 
meɪk ɪnˈfɔːmd ˈʧɔɪsɪz 
ˈdaɪət 
ˈlaɪflɒŋ ˈɪmpækt 
ˈprəʊsɛs 
ˈhæbɪts kæn fɔːm ɪn ðə ˈlɒŋtɜːm 
prəˈməʊts 
wɛl-ˈraʊndɪd ˌɛʤʊˈkeɪʃᵊn ˈkeɪtərɪŋ tuː daɪˈvɜːs niːdz ænd ˈɪntrɛsts 
ɪkˈsɛl 
prəˈvaɪdɪŋ ɒlˈtɜːnətɪvz 
tæp ˈɪntuː ðə pəˈtɛnʃᵊl ɒv 
ˈʌðəwaɪz 
ˈmɑːʤɪnəlaɪzd
ˌdɪsɪnˈɡeɪʤd 
ˈstrʌɡᵊlz wɪð 
dɪˈskʌvər ə ˈnæʧᵊrᵊl ˈtælᵊnt 
ˈpæʃᵊn 
ˈnɜːʧərɪŋ 
prəˈvaɪdɪŋ ˌɒpəˈtjuːnətiz 
ɡeɪnz ə ˈfiːlɪŋ ɒv ˈpɜːpəs ænd əˈkʌmplɪʃmənt 
ˈbuːstɪŋ ðeər ˈəʊvərɔːl ɪnˈɡeɪʤmənt 
ˌməʊtɪˈveɪʃᵊn 
dɪˈzaɪn
ˈmɛʒə 
kʌt 
səʊ ˈɡɑːmənts 
ɪnˈstɪl ə sɛns ɒv praɪd 
ˈjuːsfʊl wʊd ˈɒbʤɪkts 
weə ˈɡɑːmənts 
ˈkrɑːftɪd 
rɪˈlaɪɪŋ ɒn ˈfæmɪliz 
praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪz 
meɪnˈteɪnɪŋ ˈrɪɡᵊrəs ˈstændədz fɔː 
ˌkɒmprɪˈhɛnsɪv ˌɛʤʊˈkeɪʃᵊn 
ɪˈkwɪps 
θɪəˈrɛtɪkᵊl ˈnɒlɪʤ ænd ˈpræktɪkᵊl ˌɛkspɜːˈtiːz 

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:

A_______________________d n________________________________________________________s. While t________________________s like mathematics, science, and literature are u_______________t, I strongly believe that schools should also i___________________s such as c__________y, d____________g, and w_____________g into their c_________a.

On the one hand, teaching practical skills at home e_______s students to a_________________________s that are often o_________________________________s. For instance, many parents c________r it a r____________y to teach their children k____________e of n_______n, m___________g, and c__________________s. By learning to p__________________________s, young people can g__________________________________________________s, p___________________l, and the v______________________n. These skills not only c____________e to their physical well-being but also e_________r them to m_________________s about their d____t, leading to a l____________t on their health. This p__________s is best done in families where h_______________________________m.

However, incorporating practical skills into the curriculum p__________s a w___________________________________________o d____________________________s. Not all students e_____l in academics, and by p__________________________s, schools can t____________________f students who might o_____________e feel m_____________d or d_____________d. For example, a student who s_________________h academic subjects might d_______________________t and p__________n for woodworking. By n_________g their interest and p________________________s to develop their woodworking skills, the student g________________________________________________t, b______________________________________t and m___________n. In a fashion class, a student can learn to d__________n, m_______e, c___t, and s_____________s. Both classes i______________________e if students can produce u_____________________s or w____________s they have c________d themselves.

In conclusion, rather than r________________s, schools should p____________e incorporating practical skills into the curriculum while also m______________________________r the current core subjects. By doing so, students will have a more c_________________________n that e_________s them with both t________________________________e.

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:

7 Reasons Why Cooking Should Be Taught in Schools

Speaking Practice

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

School

1. Did you like your school when you were a child?
2. What did you learn about?
3. Did you have a favorite teacher?
4. Are there many rules in schools in your country?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topics below:

Some people say that at all levels of education, from primary school to university, too much time is spent on learning facts and not enough on learning practical skills.

Do you agree or disagree?

IELTS Essay: Learning Facts & Practical Skills at School