This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of experiments in school from the real general training IELTS exam.
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Dave
IELTS Essay: Experiments
Instead of requiring primary school students to do experiments themselves, schools should only alllow them to watch experiments demonstrated by teachers.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some educators feel that for students to learn effectively they must do experiments themselves, rather than simple observing their teachers. In my opinion, this sentiment has its limits, but in general pupils would benefit more from such a hands-on approach.
Detractors argue that it is more efficient to watch a teacher perform an experiment in front of the class. Throughout the course of the academic year, in classes such as chemistry, biology and physics, teachers will have to cover dozens of topics and highlight numerous theorems. The teacher may perform experiments in order to illustrate concepts when applicable. If students conduct these exercises instead, it would mean less time to go over other areas and would necessitate reducing the size of the curriculum. Their learning may achieve greater depth but the breadth would be abridged.
Nonetheless, performing an experiment oneself promotes greater understanding. Take for example a chemistry class. Students are only likely to remember the end result if the teacher explains the formula for a chemical reaction, selects the ingredients themselves and then mixes and highlights the process. In contrast, if the students must identify, measure and carefully follow steps on their own, they will commit this information more deeply to memory. Their later analysis will further reinforce a more complex understanding of the forces at play in a given experiment. Recent pedagogical research supports the contention that the physicality of performing is a powerful aid to memory and the key to long-term retention.
In conclusion, though there are legitimate reasons to not apply this rule without nuance, it is important that students generally be given the opportunity to carry out experiments on their own. What students internalize will be naturally more memorable.
Analysis
1. Some educators feel that for students to learn effectively they must do experiments themselves, rather than simple observing their teachers. 2. In my opinion, this sentiment has its limits, but in general pupils would benefit more from such a hands-on approach.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Detractors argue that it is more efficient to watch a teacher perform an experiment in front of the class. 2. Throughout the course of the academic year, in classes such as chemistry, biology and physics, teachers will have to cover dozens of topics and highlight numerous theorems. 3. The teacher may perform experiments in order to illustrate concepts when applicable. 4. If students conduct these exercises instead, it would mean less time to go over other areas and would necessitate reducing the size of the curriculum. 5. Their learning may achieve greater depth but the breadth would be abridged.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific examples.
- Keep developing it fully.
- Stay focused on the same main idea.
1. Nonetheless, performing an experiment oneself promotes greater understanding. 2. Take for example a chemistry class. 3. Students are only likely to remember the end result if the teacher explains the formula for a chemical reaction, selects the ingredients themselves and then mixes and highlights the process. 4. In contrast, if the students must identify, measure and carefully follow steps on their own, they will commit this information more deeply to memory. 5. Their later analysis will further reinforce a more complex understanding of the forces at play in a given experiment. 6. Recent pedagogical research supports the contention that the physicality of performing is a powerful aid to memory and the key to long-term retention.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Continue developing it…
- as fully as possible!
- Any extra statement of the result will help.
1. In conclusion, though there are legitimate reasons to not apply this rule without nuance, it is important that students generally be given the opportunity to carry out experiments on their own. 2. What students internalize will be naturally more memorable.
- 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.
Some educators feel that for students to learn effectively they must do experiments themselves, rather than simple observing their teachers. In my opinion, this sentiment has its limits, but in general pupils would benefit more from such a hands-on approach.
Detractors argue that it is more efficient to watch a teacher perform an experiment in front of the class. Throughout the course of the academic year, in classes such as chemistry, biology and physics, teachers will have to cover dozens of topics and highlight numerous theorems. The teacher may perform experiments in order to illustrate concepts when applicable. If students conduct these exercises instead, it would mean less time to go over other areas and would necessitate reducing the size of the curriculum. Their learning may achieve greater depth but the breadth would be abridged.
Nonetheless, performing an experiment oneself promotes greater understanding. Take for example a chemistry class. Students are only likely to remember the end result if the teacher explains the formula for a chemical reaction, selects the ingredients themselves and then mixes and highlights the process. In contrast, if the students must identify, measure and carefully follow steps on their own, they will commit this information more deeply to memory. Their later analysis will further reinforce a more complex understanding of the forces at play in a given experiment. Recent pedagogical research supports the contention that the physicality of performing is a powerful aid to memory and the key to long-term retention.
In conclusion, though there are legitimate reasons to not apply this rule without nuance, it is important that students generally be given the opportunity to carry out experiments on their own. What students internalize will be naturally more memorable.
Answers
effectively essentially
experiments live classroom demonstrations/practice of a concept
observing wathing
sentiment opinion
limits extremes
in general pupils overall students
benefit get an advantage from
hands-on approach actually doing something in class
detractors critics
efficient good use of resources
perform conduct
throughout all the time
academic year the entire year at school
chemistry study of chemicals
biology study of life
physics study of laws of the universe
cover dozens of topics go over tons of areas
highlight focus on
numerous many
theorems ideas / theories
illustrate concepts show/explain how something works
applicable relevant
conduct do
go over review
necessitate reducing require cutting down on
curriculum what is learned in school
greater depth deeper understanding
breadth how wide/how many areas learned about
abridged reduced
promotes encourages
end result final product
formula the equation making up something
chemical reaction what is produced from an experiment
selects the ingredients choose what goes into it
mixes combines
highlights focuses on
process experiment
in contrast however
identify be able to name
measure keep track of the quantity
carefully follow steps methodically pay attention to the process
commit this information remember the data
more deeply more fully
later analysis thinking back on it
further reinforce add a layer of memory
complex understanding nuanced knowledge
forces at play elements being used
given provided
pedagogical related to teaching
supports the contention in favour of the opinion
physicality using the body
performing doing
powerful aid strong support
long-term retention remembering for a long time
legitimate valid
apply this rule follow this principle
nuance complexity
generally be given the opportunity overall be allowed to
carry out do
on their own by themselves
internalize learn well
naturally of course
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ɪˈfɛktɪvli
ɪksˈpɛrɪmənts
əbˈzɜːvɪŋ
ˈsɛntɪmənt
ˈlɪmɪts
ɪn ˈʤɛnərəl ˈpjuːplz
ˈbɛnɪfɪt
hændz-ɒn əˈprəʊʧ
dɪˈtræktəz
ɪˈfɪʃənt
pəˈfɔːm
θru(ː)ˈaʊt
ˌækəˈdɛmɪk jɪə
ˈkɛmɪstri
baɪˈɒləʤi
ˈfɪzɪks
ˈkʌvə ˈdʌznz ɒv ˈtɒpɪks
ˈhaɪˌlaɪt
ˈnjuːmərəs
ˈθɪərəmz
ˈɪləstreɪt ˈkɒnsɛpts
ˈæplɪkəbl
ˈkɒndʌkt
gəʊ ˈəʊvə
nɪˈsɛsɪteɪt rɪˈdjuːsɪŋ
kəˈrɪkjʊləm
ˈgreɪtə dɛpθ
brɛdθ
əˈbrɪʤd
prəˈməʊts
ɛnd rɪˈzʌlt
ˈfɔːmjʊlə
ˈkɛmɪkəl ri(ː)ˈækʃən
sɪˈlɛkts ði ɪnˈgriːdiənts
ˈmɪksɪz
ˈhaɪˌlaɪts
ˈprəʊsɛs
ɪn ˈkɒntrɑːst
aɪˈdɛntɪfaɪ
ˈmɛʒə
ˈkeəfli ˈfɒləʊ stɛps
kəˈmɪt ðɪs ˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃən
mɔː ˈdiːpli
ˈleɪtər əˈnæləsɪs
ˈfɜːðə ˌriːɪnˈfɔːs
ˈkɒmplɛks ˌʌndəˈstændɪŋ
ˈfɔːsɪz æt pleɪ
ˈgɪvn
ˌpɛdəˈgɒʤɪkəl
səˈpɔːts ðə kənˈtɛnʃən
ˈfɪzɪkəlɪti:
pəˈfɔːmɪŋ
ˈpaʊəfʊl eɪd
ˈlɒŋtɜːm rɪˈtɛnʃən
lɪˈʤɪtɪmɪt
əˈplaɪ ðɪs ruːl
nju(ː)ˈɑːns
ˈʤɛnərəli biː ˈgɪvn ði ˌɒpəˈtjuːnɪti
ˈkæri aʊt
ɒn ðeər əʊn
ɪnˈtɜːnəˌlaɪz
ˈnæʧrəli
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 educators feel that for students to learn e________________y they must do e__________________s themselves, rather than simple o____________g their teachers. In my opinion, this s____________t has its l_______s, but i__________l p________s would b_________t more from such a h_________________h.
D______________s argue that it is more e_____________t to watch a teacher p________m an experiment in front of the class. T______________t the course of the a_______________r, in classes such as c___________y, b________y and p__________s, teachers will have to c_____________________s and h__________t n___________s t______________s. The teacher may perform experiments in order to i_____________________s when a_____________e. If students c_________t these exercises instead, it would mean less time to g________r other areas and would n_________________g the size of the c______________m. Their learning may achieve g_______________h but the b________h would be a_________d.
Nonetheless, performing an experiment oneself p__________s greater understanding. Take for example a chemistry class. Students are only likely to remember the e________________t if the teacher explains the f___________a for a c________________n, s______________________s themselves and then m______s and h_____________s the p__________s. I____________t, if the students must i______________y, m_____________e and c_____________________s on their own, they will c_____________________________________y to memory. Their l______________s will f_________________e a more c______________________g of the f________________y in a g_______n experiment. Recent p______________l research s_______________________n that the p_____________y of p_____________g is a p________________d to memory and the key to l_____________________n.
In conclusion, though there are l______________e reasons to not a_______________e without n__________e, it is important that students g________________________________________y to c____________t experiments o________________n. What students i______________e will be n___________y more memorable.
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:
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Science
- Do you like science?
- Did you learn about science in primary school?
- How often do you read about science?
- Why is science important to learn about?
Writing Practice
Practice with the same basic topic below and then check with my sample answer:
Some people think students should study the science of food and how to prepare it. Others think students should spend time on important subjects.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
I see that you rarely use the introduction model that you demonstrated in your sample essays.
I’m not sure what you mean, Tinh – I generally write my introductions the same way.