This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of more crimes being committed by youngsters from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay General Training: Strict Teachers

Some people believe that teacher should be strict in order to best motivate students while others say that friendly teachers are more important.

Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.

Many feel that strict teaching better encourages academic excellence. In my opinion, though there is value is discipline, it is more important to motivate hard work through healthier means.

On the one hand, a harsh teacher can ensure a basic minimum of good behavior. Most individuals will remember a strict teacher from their childhood who carefully monitored and inspired fear. The punishment for not paying attention, cheating, or performing badly would be a critical comment at best and, at worst, corporal punishment. This fear of being physically or mentally injured is the primary catalyst that then compels hard work and discourages misbehavior. Though modern viewpoints categorize this as abuse, there is little doubt that it was effective in the past at curbing the actions that negatively affect academic performance.

However, to inspire a healthy attitude towards achievement, teachers must foster a more positive learning environment. The above-mentioned methods, including both positive and negative reinforcement, focus on the external opinion of teacher’s and, by extension, society at large. This can overburden students and stands in contrast to a freer learning style that encourages students to explore their own passions, make mistakes, and learn simply for the sake of learning. Evidence for the superiority of this approach can be found in recent research showing the impact of a positive mindset on learning and the importance of growing in a safe environment without the risk of punishment. Following this approach is therefore more likely to result in a long-lasting positive attitude towards learning.

In conclusion, despite the value of strict discipline for discouraging bad behavior, it cannot motivate passionate commitment as well as more modern methodologies. Teachers should strive for a balance but focus on a friendly atmosphere that allows for self-expression.

Analysis

1. Many feel that strict teaching better encourages academic excellence. 2. In my opinion, though there is value is discipline, it is more important to motivate hard work through healthier means.

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

1. On the one hand, a harsh teacher can ensure a basic minimum of good behavior. 2. Most individuals will remember a strict teacher from their childhood who carefully monitored and inspired fear. 3. The punishment for not paying attention, cheating, or performing badly would be a critical comment at best and, at worst, corporal punishment. 4. This fear of being physically or mentally injured is the primary catalyst that then compels hard work and discourages misbehavior. 5. Though modern viewpoints categorize this as abuse, there is little doubt that it was effective in the past at curbing the actions that negatively affect academic performance.

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. However, to inspire a healthy attitude towards achievement, teachers must foster a more positive learning environment. 2. The above-mentioned methods, including both positive and negative reinforcement, focus on the external opinion of teacher’s and, by extension, society at large. 3. This can overburden students and stands in contrast to a freer learning style that encourages students to explore their own passions, make mistakes, and learn simply for the sake of learning. 4. Evidence for the superiority of this approach can be found in recent research showing the impact of a positive mindset on learning and the importance of growing in a safe environment without the risk of punishment. 5. Following this approach is therefore more likely to result in a long-lasting positive attitude towards learning.

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 fully!
Conclude with a strong statement.

1. In conclusion, despite the value of strict discipline for discouraging bad behavior, it cannot motivate passionate commitment as well as more modern methodologies. 2. Teachers should strive for a balance but focus on a friendly atmosphere that allows for self-expression.

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.

Many feel that strict teaching better encourages academic excellence. In my opinion, though there is value is discipline, it is more important to motivate hard work through healthier means.

On the one hand, a harsh teacher can ensure a basic minimum of good behavior. Most individuals will remember a strict teacher from their childhood who carefully monitored and inspired fear. The punishment for not paying attention, cheating, or performing badly would be a critical comment at best and, at worst, corporal punishment. This fear of being physically or mentally injured is the primary catalyst that then compels hard work and discourages misbehavior. Though modern viewpoints categorize this as abuse, there is little doubt that it was effective in the past at curbing the actions that negatively affect academic performance.

However, to inspire a healthy attitude towards achievement, teachers must foster a more positive learning environment. The above-mentioned methods, including both positive and negative reinforcement, focus on the external opinion of teacher’s and, by extension, society at large. This can overburden students and stands in contrast to a freer learning style that encourages students to explore their own passions, make mistakes, and learn simply for the sake of learning. Evidence for the superiority of this approach can be found in recent research showing the impact of a positive mindset on learning and the importance of growing in a safe environment without the risk of punishment. Following this approach is therefore more likely to result in a long-lasting positive attitude towards learning.

In conclusion, despite the value of strict discipline for discouraging bad behavior, it cannot motivate passionate commitment as well as more modern methodologies. Teachers should strive for a balance but focus on a friendly atmosphere that allows for self-expression.

Answers

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

strict harsh

encourages fosters

academic excellence doing well in school

value importance

discipline not breaking the rules, working hard

motivate want to do

healthier means better ways

on the one hand on the one side

harsh strict, mean

ensure make sure

basic minimum least required

good behavior acting nice

remember recall

childhood when you were a kid

carefully monitored watched carefully

inspired fear makes people afraid

punishment being disciplined

not paying attention day-dreaming

cheating taking someone else’s answers

performing badly doing poorly

critical comment bad feedback

at best in the best situation

at worst in the worst situation

corporal punishment being hit

fear scared of

physically related to the body

mentally injured hurt related to the mind, emotions

primary catalyst main cause

compels forces

discourages misbehavior keep from behaving badly

modern viewpoints new opinions

categorize put into a category/group

abuse hurting someone else

little doubt not much chance it is not true

effective impactful

curbing the actions slowing down behavior

negatively affect hurt

academic performance how well you do in school

inspire fill with motivation

healthy attitude towards achievement good way of thinking about school and work

foster encourage, create

more positive learning environment better atmosphere for learning

above-mentioned methods ways talked about above

positive and negative reinforcement praise and punishment

focus on emphasize

external opinion outside viewpoints

by extension generalized

society at large all people

overburden put too much on

stands in contrast is in opposition to

freer learning style freedom to learn how you want

explore discover

passions caring a lot about

make mistakes do things wrong

learn simply for the sake of learning for no other end/reason

evidence support

superiority better

approach way

recent research studies from the last few years

positive mindset good attitude

importance value

growing in a safe environment becoming confident in a good atmosphere

without the risk of punishment no chance of being reprimanded

following using

result in causes

long-lasting life-long

despite regardless of

discouraging not encouraging

commitment dedication

modern methodologies new ways of teaching

strive try hard

balance keep equal

focus on put emphasis on

friendly atmosphere nice classroom setting

allows for self-expression students can act freely

Pronunciation

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

strɪkt
ɪnˈkʌrɪʤɪz
ˌækəˈdɛmɪk ˈɛksələns
ˈvæljuː
ˈdɪsɪplɪn
ˈməʊtɪveɪt
ˈhɛlθɪə miːnz
ɒn ðə wʌn hænd
hɑːʃ
ɪnˈʃʊə
ˈbeɪsɪk ˈmɪnɪməm
gʊd bɪˈheɪvjə
rɪˈmɛmbə
ˈʧaɪldhʊd
ˈkeəfli ˈmɒnɪtəd
ɪnˈspaɪəd fɪə
ˈpʌnɪʃmənt
nɒt ˈpeɪɪŋ əˈtɛnʃ(ə)n
ˈʧiːtɪŋ
pəˈfɔːmɪŋ ˈbædli
ˈkrɪtɪkəl ˈkɒmɛnt
æt bɛst
æt wɜːst
ˈkɔːpərəl ˈpʌnɪʃmənt
fɪə
ˈfɪzɪkəli
ˈmɛntəli ˈɪnʤəd
ˈpraɪməri ˈkætəlɪst
kəmˈpɛlz
dɪsˈkʌrɪʤɪz ˌmɪsbɪˈheɪvjə
ˈmɒdən ˈvjuːpɔɪnts
ˈkætɪgəraɪz
əˈbjuːs
ˈlɪtl daʊt
ɪˈfɛktɪv
ˈkɜːbɪŋ ði ˈækʃ(ə)nz
ˈnɛgətɪvli əˈfɛkt
ˌækəˈdɛmɪk pəˈfɔːməns
ɪnˈspaɪə
ˈhɛlθi ˈætɪtjuːd təˈwɔːdz əˈʧiːvmənt
ˈfɒstə
mɔː ˈpɒzətɪv ˈlɜːnɪŋ ɪnˈvaɪərənmənt
əˈbʌvˈmɛnʃ(ə)nd ˈmɛθədz
ˈpɒzətɪv ænd ˈnɛgətɪv ˌriːɪnˈfɔːsmənt
ˈfəʊkəs ɒn
ɛksˈtɜːnl əˈpɪnjən
baɪ ɪksˈtɛnʃən
səˈsaɪəti æt lɑːʤ
ˌəʊvəˈbɜːdn
stændz ɪn ˈkɒntrɑːst
ˈfriːə ˈlɜːnɪŋ staɪl
ɪksˈplɔː
ˈpæʃənz
meɪk mɪsˈteɪks
lɜːn ˈsɪmpli fɔː ðə seɪk ɒv ˈlɜːnɪŋ
ˈɛvɪdəns
sju(ː)ˌpɪərɪˈɒrɪti
əˈprəʊʧ
ˈriːsnt rɪˈsɜːʧ
ˈpɒzətɪv ˈmaɪndsɛt
ɪmˈpɔːtəns
ˈgrəʊɪŋ ɪn ə seɪf ɪnˈvaɪərənmənt
wɪˈðaʊt ðə rɪsk ɒv ˈpʌnɪʃmənt
ˈfɒləʊɪŋ
rɪˈzʌlt ɪn
lɒŋ-ˈlɑːstɪŋ
dɪsˈpaɪt
dɪsˈkʌrɪʤɪŋ
kəˈmɪtmənt
ˈmɒdən ˌmɛθəˈdɒləʤiz
straɪv
ˈbæləns
ˈfəʊkəs ɒn
ˈfrɛndli ˈætməsfɪə
əˈlaʊz fɔː sɛlf-ɪksˈprɛʃən

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:

Many feel that s______t teaching better e___________s a___________________e. In my opinion, though there is v_______e is d___________e, it is more important to m___________e hard work through h_________________s.

O___________________d, a h________h teacher can e________e a b________________m of g_________________r. Most individuals will r________________r a strict teacher from their c__________d who c_____________________d and i_______________r. The p____________t for n_____________________n, c_________g, or p________________y would be a c______________________t a________t and, a__________t, c_______________________t. This f_______r of being p____________y or m_________________d is the p__________________t that then c__________s hard work and d____________________r. Though m__________________________e this as a_______e, there is l_____________t that it was e__________e in the past at c____________________s that n_____________________________________e.

However, to i__________e a h_______________________________________t, teachers must f__________r a m_______________________________________t. The a______________________________s, including both p_________________________________t, f___________n the e______________n of teacher’s and, b______________n, s__________________e. This can o______________n students and s_____________________o to a f_______________________e that encourages students to e___________e their own p_____________s, m_________________s, and l__________________________________g. E____________e for the s____________y of this a_______________h can be found in r___________________h showing the impact of a p_____________________t on learning and the i__________________e of g_________________________________________________t. F____________g this approach is therefore more likely to r____________n a l_____________g positive attitude towards learning.

In conclusion, d_________e the value of strict discipline for d_________________g bad behavior, it cannot motivate passionate c________________t as well as more m________________________s. Teachers should s__________e for a b_____________e but f______________n a f____________________e that a__________________________n.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic in the funny video below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/dec/30/no-excuses-inside-britains-strictest-school

Speaking Practice

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

Studying

Are you studying or working?
Do you prefer to learn in the morning or in the evening?
What subject do like to study best?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:

Some feel that schools should be mixed with both girls and boys attending while others feel the genders ought to be separated.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

IELTS Essay: Mixed Schools with Boys and Girls