This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of students raising farm animals and vegetables from the real IELTS exam.

Be sure to sign up for my full IELTS EBooks here to support my efforts to keep writing these essays for students:

Patreon Ebooks

Dave

IELTS Essay: Farm Animals and Vegetables

It has been suggested that primary children should learn how to grow vegetables and keep animals.

Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

Some today have argued that it would be a sensible policy to teach children how to farm and raise animals at school. In my opinion, though this would require enormous resources, it would be beneficial in terms of both physical and intellectual development.

Those arguing against this proposal point out the resources needed. In order to implement such an ambitious program, schools would firstly need land nearby where animals and crops could be raised. This might be possible within a school’s pre-existing grounds, but there would still need to be significant investment in infrastructure. Schools would therefore have to reallocate a significant portion of their budget, potentially reducing the money for crucial facilities, staff, and teaching resources.

However, the advantages for the holistic development of children is overwhelming. Students today spend more time than ever before passively using technological devices. By spending more time outdoors learning about animals and crops, students will better understand their position within the natural food chain. Over time, this may lead them to adopt environmentally friendlier, compassionate lifestyle choices such as becoming vegetarians or shopping locally rather than buying from large chains. Moreover, the work outdoors would necessarily involve physical exercise. Since obesity is a growing concern in most countries, this time outside could help to improve standards of physical fitness and establish healthy lifelong habits.

In conclusion, despite the money this reform would require, schools should adopt it when possible so as to achieve a more complete education for students. Governments should consider the long-term effects when deciding on such policies.

Analysis

1. Some today have argued that it would be a sensible policy to teach children how to farm and raise animals at school. 2. In my opinion, though this would require enormous resources, it would be beneficial in terms of both physical and intellectual development.

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

1. Those arguing against this proposal point out the resources needed. 2. In order to implement such an ambitious program, schools would firstly need land nearby where animals and crops could be raised. 3. This might be possible within a school’s pre-existing grounds, but there would still need to be significant investment in infrastructure. 4. Schools would therefore have to reallocate a significant portion of their budget, potentially reducing the money for crucial facilities, staff, and teaching resources.

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.

1. However, the advantages for the holistic development of children is overwhelming. 2. Students today spend more time than ever before passively using technological devices. 3. By spending more time outdoors learning about animals and crops, students will better understand their position within the natural food chain. 4. Over time, this may lead them to adopt environmentally friendlier, compassionate lifestyle choices such as becoming vegetarians or shopping locally rather than buying from large chains. 5. Moreover, the work outdoors would necessarily involve physical exercise. 6. Since obesity is a growing concern in most countries, this time outside could help to improve standards of physical fitness and establish healthy lifelong habits.

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. Continue your development.
6. Finish strong.

1. In conclusion, despite the money this reform would require, schools should adopt it when possible so as to achieve a more complete education for students. 2. Governments should consider the long-term effects when deciding on such policies.

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 today have argued that it would be a sensible policy to teach children how to farm and raise animals at school. In my opinion, though this would require enormous resources, it would be beneficial in terms of both physical and intellectual development.

Those arguing against this proposal point out the resources needed. In order to implement such an ambitious program, schools would firstly need land nearby where animals and crops could be raised. This might be possible within a school’s pre-existing grounds, but there would still need to be significant investment in infrastructure. Schools would therefore have to reallocate a significant portion of their budget, potentially reducing the money for crucial facilities, staff, and teaching resources.

However, the advantages for the holistic development of children is overwhelming. Students today spend more time than ever before passively using technological devices. By spending more time outdoors learning about animals and crops, students will better understand their position within the natural food chain. Over time, this may lead them to adopt environmentally friendlier, compassionate lifestyle choices such as becoming vegetarians or shopping locally rather than buying from large chains. Moreover, the work outdoors would necessarily involve physical exercise. Since obesity is a growing concern in most countries, this time outside could help to improve standards of physical fitness and establish healthy lifelong habits.

In conclusion, despite the money this reform would require, schools should adopt it when possible so as to achieve a more complete education for students. Governments should consider the long-term effects when deciding on such policies.

Answers

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

argued pointed out

sensible policy logical idea

farm and raise animals take care of livestock

require enormous resources needs a lot of money, time

beneficial in terms of both physical and intellectual development good for both the body and mind

Those arguing against this proposal point out people who are not in favor of this idea argue

In order to implement such an ambitious program to put in place this reform

firstly need land nearby first of all require the space

animals and crops could be raised livestock and vegetables/fruits to be harvested

possible can happen

school’s pre-existing grounds a school’s campus

significant investment in infrastructure lots of money for buildings, rooms, etc.

reallocate a significant portion of their budget redirect money to

potentially reducing possibly cutting down on

crucial facilities important places at a school

staff people who work there

and teaching resources things for teachers to use when teaching

advantages benefits

holistic development good for overall growth

overwhelming very strong

spend more time than ever before passively using technological devices use smartphones more often

By spending more time outdoors more time outside

understand their position within the natural food chain know how you are part of nature

Over time later on

adopt environmentally friendlier start doing better things for nature

compassionate lifestyle choices caring about the world around you

vegetarians people who don’t eat meat

shopping locally rather than buying from large chains buying from nearby farms instead of big supermarkets

necessarily involve physical exercise of course require you to be active

obesity being overweight

growing concern more and more of a worry

improve standards of physical fitness and establish healthy lifelong habits make them healthy in the long-term

despite the money this reform would require regardless of the resources needed

adopt start doing

achieve accomplish

complete education holistic learning

consider thinking about

long-term effects impact later on

deciding on such policies implementing these ideas

Pronunciation

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

ˈɑːgjuːd 
ˈsɛnsəbl ˈpɒlɪsi 
fɑːm ænd reɪz ˈænɪməlz 
rɪˈkwaɪər ɪˈnɔːməs rɪˈsɔːsɪz
ˌbɛnɪˈfɪʃəl ɪn tɜːmz ɒv bəʊθ ˈfɪzɪkəl ænd ˌɪntɪˈlɛktjʊəl dɪˈvɛləpmənt
ðəʊz ˈɑːgjuːɪŋ əˈgɛnst ðɪs prəˈpəʊzəl pɔɪnt aʊt 
ɪn ˈɔːdə tuː ˈɪmplɪmənt sʌʧ ən æmˈbɪʃəs ˈprəʊgræm
ˈfɜːstli niːd lænd ˈnɪəbaɪ 
ˈænɪməlz ænd krɒps kʊd biː reɪzd
ˈpɒsəbl 
skuːlz priː-ɪgˈzɪstɪŋ graʊndz
sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt ɪnˈvɛstmənt ɪn ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌkʧə
ˌriːˈæləʊkeɪt ə sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt ˈpɔːʃən ɒv ðeə ˈbʌʤɪt
pəʊˈtɛnʃəli rɪˈdjuːsɪŋ 
ˈkruːʃəl fəˈsɪlɪtiz
stɑːf
ænd ˈtiːʧɪŋ rɪˈsɔːsɪz
ədˈvɑːntɪʤɪz 
həˈlɪstɪk dɪˈvɛləpmənt 
ˌəʊvəˈwɛlmɪŋ
spɛnd mɔː taɪm ðæn ˈɛvə bɪˈfɔː ˈpæsɪvli ˈjuːzɪŋ ˌtɛknəˈlɒʤɪk(ə)l dɪˈvaɪsɪz
baɪ ˈspɛndɪŋ mɔː taɪm ˌaʊtˈdɔːz 
ˌʌndəˈstænd ðeə pəˈzɪʃən wɪˈðɪn ðə ˈnæʧrəl fuːd ʧeɪn
ˈəʊvə taɪm
əˈdɒpt ɪnˌvaɪərənˈmɛntli ˈfrɛndlɪə
kəmˈpæʃənɪt ˈlaɪfˌstaɪl ˈʧɔɪsɪz 
ˌvɛʤɪˈteərɪənz 
ˈʃɒpɪŋ ˈləʊkəli ˈrɑːðə ðæn ˈbaɪɪŋ frɒm lɑːʤ ʧeɪnz
ˈnɛsɪsərɪli ɪnˈvɒlv ˈfɪzɪkəl ˈɛksəsaɪz
əʊˈbiːsɪti 
ˈgrəʊɪŋ kənˈsɜːn 
ɪmˈpruːv ˈstændədz ɒv ˈfɪzɪkəl ˈfɪtnɪs ænd ɪsˈtæblɪʃ ˈhɛlθi ˈlaɪflɒŋ ˈhæbɪts
dɪsˈpaɪt ðə ˈmʌni ðɪs ˌriːˈfɔːm wʊd rɪˈkwaɪə
əˈdɒpt 
əˈʧiːv eɪ 
kəmˈpliːt ˌɛdju(ː)ˈkeɪʃən 
kənˈsɪdə 
ˈlɒŋtɜːm ɪˈfɛkts 
dɪˈsaɪdɪŋ ɒn sʌʧ ˈpɒlɪsiz

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 today have a________d that it would be a s____________y to teach children how to f_______________________s at school. In my opinion, though this would r_____________________________s, it would be b______________________________________________________________t.

T____________________________________t the resources needed. I__________________________________________________m, schools would f__________________________y where a__________________________________d. This might be p_______e within a s____________________________________s, but there would still need to be s_______________________________________e. Schools would therefore have to r__________________________________________t, p______________________g the money for c_________________________s, s_______f, a__________________________________s.

However, the a_____________s for the h_____________________t of children is o________________g. Students today s__________________________________________________________________s. B___________________________s learning about animals and crops, students will better u______________________________________________________n. O______e, this may lead them to a____________________________________r, c_____________________________s such as becoming v____________s or s____________________________________________s. Moreover, the work outdoors would n__________________________________e. Since o________y is a g______________n in most countries, this time outside could help to i_________________________________________________________________s.

In conclusion, d______________________________________e, schools should a________t it when possible so as to a________e a more c___________________n for students. Governments should c___________r the l_________________________s when d__________________________s.

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:

https://www.baltictimes.com/why_agriculture_and_farming_should_be_taught_in_schools/

Speaking Practice

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

Agriculture

1. What kinds of crops are grown in your country?
2. Is farming becoming more sustainable in your country?
3. Should governments subsidize the agricultural industry?
4. How will farms look different in the future?
5. Do most people in your country buy local produce?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topics below:

It is sometimes suggested that primary schoolchildren should learn how to grow vegetables and keep animals.

Do you think that the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

IELTS Essay: Children Farming