This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of whether or not schools should teach children about the science of food and its preparation from the real IELTS exam.
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Dave
IELTS Essay: Food Science
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.
Some today advocate the teaching of food science and preparation in schools as a key 21st century skill. In my opinion, though the expense is a potential obstacle, such a proposal is justifiable.
Opponents of this proposed curriculum shift argue that it would only benefit more affluent school systems. The majority of schools, particularly those in inner cities and remote rural regions, struggle already to maintain quality facilities and employ experienced, dedicated teachers. The idea of building a kitchen for student-use and keeping it stocked with ingredients as well as the sophisticated equipment required to teach about and practice molecular gastronomy is simply unrealistic. Critics justly point out that such money would be better spent maintaining more essential infrastructure such as the fields, classrooms, and school buildings themselves.
Nonetheless, assuming government funding is available, this would be an ideal method of combining a practical skill with scientific theory. One of the most common complaints among students after graduation is that the vast majority of their studies were impractical and did not prepare them for adulthood. Learning to cook on its own would go a long way towards answering this criticism. However, the true gains would come from the linking of theory and practice. Many scientific theories are abstract and difficult to both understand and retain later in life. The practical application in cooking would not only help students grasp the concepts initially but repeated review from making meals in one’s daily life would likely ensure permanent understanding.
In conclusion, food science may seem trivial and its application might pose financial hurdles but it is worth enacting in order to educate students well. Where possible, governments should allocate the necessary funding.
Analysis
1. Some today advocate the teaching of food science and preparation in schools as a key 21st century skill. 2. In my opinion, though the expense is a potential obstacle, such a proposal is justifiable.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Opponents of this proposed curriculum shift argue that it would only benefit more affluent school systems. 2. The majority of schools, particularly those in inner cities and remote rural regions, struggle already to maintain quality facilities and employ experienced, dedicated teachers. 3. The idea of building a kitchen for student-use and keeping it stocked with ingredients as well as the sophisticated equipment required to teach about and practice molecular gastronomy is simply unrealistic. 4. Critics justly point out that such money would be better spent maintaining more essential infrastructure such as the fields, classrooms, and school buildings themselves.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with a hypothetical example.
- Continue to develop it as fully as possible.
1. Nonetheless, assuming government funding is available, this would be an ideal method of combining a practical skill with scientific theory. 2. One of the most common complaints among students after graduation is that the vast majority of their studies were impractical and did not prepare them for adulthood. 3. Learning to cook on its own would go a long way towards answering this criticism. 4. However, the true gains would come from the linking of theory and practice. 5. Many scientific theories are abstract and difficult to both understand and retain later in life. 6. The practical application in cooking would not only help students grasp the concepts initially but repeated review from making meals in one’s daily life would likely ensure permanent understanding.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- The more specific, the better.
- Develop the example.
- Conclude the paragraph or finish developing your last idea.
1. In conclusion, food science may seem trivial and its application might pose financial hurdles but it is worth enacting in order to educate students well. 2. Where possible, governments should allocate the necessary funding.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
Some today advocate the teaching of food science and preparation in schools as a key 21st century skill. In my opinion, though the expense is a potential obstacle, such a proposal is justifiable.
Opponents of this proposed curriculum shift argue that it would only benefit more affluent school systems. The majority of schools, particularly those in inner cities and remote rural regions, struggle already to maintain quality facilities and employ experienced, dedicated teachers. The idea of building a kitchen for student-use and keeping it stocked with ingredients as well as the sophisticated equipment required to teach about and practice molecular gastronomy is simply unrealistic. Critics justly point out that such money would be better spent maintaining more essential infrastructure such as the fields, classrooms, and school buildings themselves.
Nonetheless, assuming government funding is available, this would be an ideal method of combining a practical skill with scientific theory. One of the most common complaints among students after graduation is that the vast majority of their studies were impractical and did not prepare them for adulthood. Learning to cook on its own would go a long way towards answering this criticism. However, the true gains would come from the linking of theory and practice. Many scientific theories are abstract and difficult to both understand and retain later in life. The practical application in cooking would not only help students grasp the concepts initially but repeated review from making meals in one’s daily life would likely ensure permanent understanding.
In conclusion, food science may seem trivial and its application might pose financial hurdles but it is worth enacting in order to educate students well. Where possible, governments should allocate the necessary funding.
Answers
advocate are in favour of
food science molecular gastronomy
preparation making
key 21st century skill important future ability
expense cost
potential obstacle possible hurdle
proposal idea
justifiable good reason for
opponents critics
proposed curriculum shift suggested change to what is studied in school
argue point out
affluent school systems rich schools
majority most of
particularly especially
inner cities tough parts of cities
remote rural regions far away countryside
struggle have difficulty with
maintain quality facilities keep the school up to standard
employ experienced hire good
dedicated caring
student-use for students to use
keeping it stocked full of supplies
as well as also
sophisticated equipment fancy kitchen appliances
molecular gastronomy food science
unrealistic not feasible
critics justly point out opponents rightly argue
maintaining more essential infrastructure keep up the quality of more important buildings
fields pitches
nonetheless regardless
assuming if it is true
ideal method perfect way
combining putting together
practical skill useful ability
scientific theory possible explanation for nature
most common complaints among many are upset about
graduation finishing school
vast majority by far the most of
impractical not useful
adulthood as adults
go a long way towards answering this criticism helps to combat
true gains real benefits
linking combining
scientific theories ideas
abstract not practical, concrete
retain later in life remember later
practical application can be used in the real world
grasp the concepts initially understand right away
repeated review revise over and over
making meals in one’s daily life cooking
ensure permanent understanding make sure they retain the info
trivial unimportant
application use
pose financial hurdles challenges related to money
enacting passing
where possible if it can be done
allocate give money to
necessary funding needed money
Pronunciation
ˈædvəkɪt
fuːd ˈsaɪəns
ˌprɛpəˈreɪʃən
kiː ˈtwɛnti fɜːst ˈsɛnʧʊri skɪl
ɪksˈpɛns
pəʊˈtɛnʃəl ˈɒbstəkl
prəˈpəʊzəl
ˈʤʌstɪfaɪəbl
əˈpəʊnənts
prəˈpəʊzd kəˈrɪkjʊləm ʃɪft
ˈɑːgjuː
ˈæflʊənt skuːl ˈsɪstɪmz
məˈʤɒrɪti
pəˈtɪkjʊləli
ˈɪnə ˈsɪtiz
rɪˈməʊt ˈrʊərəl ˈriːʤənz
ˈstrʌgl
meɪnˈteɪn ˈkwɒlɪti fəˈsɪlɪtiz
ɪmˈplɔɪ ɪksˈpɪərɪənst
ˈdɛdɪkeɪtɪd
ˈstjuːdənt-juːz
ˈkiːpɪŋ ɪt stɒkt
æz wɛl æz
səˈfɪstɪkeɪtɪd ɪˈkwɪpmənt
məʊˈlɛkjʊlə gæsˈtrɒnəmi
ˌʌnrɪəˈlɪstɪk
ˈkrɪtɪks ˈʤʌstli pɔɪnt aʊt
meɪnˈteɪnɪŋ mɔːr ɪˈsɛnʃəl ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌkʧə
fiːldz
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
əˈsjuːmɪŋ
aɪˈdɪəl ˈmɛθəd
kəmˈbaɪnɪŋ
ˈpræktɪkəl skɪl
ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk ˈθɪəri
məʊst ˈkɒmən kəmˈpleɪnts əˈmʌŋ
ˌgrædjʊˈeɪʃən
vɑːst məˈʤɒrɪti
ɪmˈpræktɪkəl
əˈdʌlthʊd
gəʊ ə lɒŋ weɪ təˈwɔːdz ˈɑːnsərɪŋ ðɪs ˈkrɪtɪsɪzm
truː geɪnz
ˈlɪŋkɪŋ
ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk ˈθɪəriz
ˈæbstrækt
rɪˈteɪn ˈleɪtər ɪn laɪf
ˈpræktɪkəl ˌæplɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n
grɑːsp ðə ˈkɒnsɛpts ɪˈnɪʃəli
rɪˈpiːtɪd rɪˈvjuː
ˈmeɪkɪŋ miːlz ɪn wʌnz ˈdeɪli laɪf
ɪnˈʃʊə ˈpɜːmənənt ˌʌndəˈstændɪŋ
ˈtrɪvɪəl
ˌæplɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n
pəʊz faɪˈnænʃəl ˈhɜːdlz
ɪˈnæktɪŋ
weə ˈpɒsəbl
ˈæləʊkeɪt
ˈnɛsɪsəri ˈfʌndɪŋ
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
Some today a____________e the teaching of f________________e and p______________n in schools as a k_______________________l. In my opinion, though the e____________e is a p____________________e, such a p___________l is j__________________e.
O_______________s of this p_______________________________t a______e that it would only benefit more a_______________________s. The m__________y of schools, p_______________y those in i_______________s and r_______________________s, s_____________e already to m___________________________s and e______________________d, d_____________d teachers. The idea of building a kitchen for s______________e and k_____________________d with ingredients a_____________s the s_________________________t required to teach about and practice m__________________________y is simply u_______________c. C__________________________t that such money would be better spent m__________________________________________e such as the f_________s, classrooms, and school buildings themselves.
N______________s, a____________g government funding is available, this would be an i________________d of c_______________g a p_________________l with s______________________y. One of the m_____________________________g students after g______________n is that the v____________________y of their studies were i_______________________l and did not prepare them for a____________________d. Learning to cook on its own would g______________________________________m. However, the t_______________s would come from the l_____________g of theory and practice. Many s____________________s are a__________t and difficult to both understand and r____________________e. The p________________________n in cooking would not only help students g_____________________________y but r__________________w from m______________________________e would likely e________________________________g.
In conclusion, food science may seem t___________l and its a________________n might p___________________________s but it is worth e_______________g in order to educate students well. W________________e, governments should a___________e the n______________________g.
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.wired.com/2015/05/eugenia-cheng/
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Cooking
- Do you like to cook?
- Why do some people like cooking?
- Do you usually eat at home or eat out?
- What do people in your country usually cook?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related topic below and then check with my sample answer:
One of the most important issues facing the world today is a shortage of food and some think genetically modified foods are a possible solution.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
All the notes by dave helped me in getting band 7 in writing. I didn’t use any other source for writing. But due to less than required band in speaking, I am practicing again from this website. Thanks a lot Dave for providing this wonderful source to prepare for ielts writing.
Thanks for the comment Pawan and great to know that I was able to help you! Good luck with your speaking on the next one!
Thank you Dave your site is a true asset to me and I am sure it is to others.
Happy to hear it!
Have you had the prediction topics for March 2021 in both writing task?
What do you mean, Belle? March is in the future – don’t trust the scammers who promise future writing tasks!
There are not predictions – those are scams, Belle – I just collect previous topics!
That’s not understandable