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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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.

  1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
  2. 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.

  1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
  2. Explain your main idea.
  3. Develop it with a hypothetical example.
  4. 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.

  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. The more specific, the better.
  5. Develop the example.
  6. 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.

  1. Summarise your main ideas.
  2. 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

  1. Do you like to cook?
  2. Why do some people like cooking?
  3. Do you usually eat at home or eat out?
  4. 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?

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