This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of media instead of books from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Media Instead of Books

Schools should use films, computers and games instead of books.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

There has been recent debate about whether classrooms should replace conventional books with more modern media such as movies, games, and computers. Although multimedia tools in education are engaging and interactive, it is crucial to prioritize the enduring value of books.

Films, computers, and games offer unique advantages in educational settings. For instance, films provide a dynamic platform to present complex concepts and historical events, making them more accessible to students through visual storytelling. Many students learn more about issues such as slavery through movies like “Twelve Years a Slave” than from textbooks. Similarly, interactive computer programs and educational games can promote active learning, problem-solving skills, and teamwork. Engaging in technology-based activities often heightens motivation and interest in a given subject compared to traditional book-based learning methodologies.

Despite the benefits of multimedia tools, books have greater value in classroom contexts. Reading books cultivates critical thinking, language proficiency, and analytical skills. Books encourage students to develop their imagination and form independent thoughts, fostering more nuanced understanding. They provide a wealth of information and perspectives that may not be readily available in multimedia formats. A well-known example of this would be Huckleberry Finn, a 19th century novel by Mark Twain that most American high school students must read. Reading such an old novel requires students to engage their mental faculties more actively than more passive contemporary media formats and therefore better advances academic and intellectual development.

Integrating films, computers, and games in education can enhance engagement and motivation, however, the lasting value of books must be given greater weight in curriculum design. By employing multimedia tools alongside traditional resources to an extent, schools can cater to different learning styles and simultaneously prioritize and preserve traditional methods of learning.

Analysis

1. There has been recent debate about whether classrooms should replace conventional books with more modern media such as movies, games, and computers. 2. Although multimedia tools in education are engaging and interactive, it is crucial to prioritize the enduring value of books.

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

1. Films, computers, and games offer unique advantages in educational settings. 2. For instance, films provide a dynamic platform to present complex concepts and historical events, making them more accessible to students through visual storytelling. 3. Many students learn more about issues such as slavery through movies like “Twelve Years a Slave” than from textbooks. 4. Similarly, interactive computer programs and educational games can promote active learning, problem-solving skills, and teamwork. 5. Engaging in technology-based activities often heightens motivation and interest in a given subject compared to traditional book-based learning methodologies.

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.
5. Use specific examples.

1. Despite the benefits of multimedia tools, books have greater value in classroom contexts. 2. Reading books cultivates critical thinking, language proficiency, and analytical skills. 3. Books encourage students to develop their imagination and form independent thoughts, fostering more nuanced understanding. 4. They provide a wealth of information and perspectives that may not be readily available in multimedia formats. 5. A well-known example of this would be Huckleberry Finn, a 19th century novel by Mark Twain that most American high school students must read. 6. Reading such an old novel requires students to engage their mental faculties more actively than more passive contemporary media formats and therefore better advances academic and intellectual development.

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. Finish the paragraph strong.
6. Develop your examples – don’t run away from them.

1. Integrating films, computers, and games in education can enhance engagement and motivation, however, the lasting value of books must be given greater weight in curriculum design. 2. By employing multimedia tools alongside traditional resources to an extent, schools can cater to different learning styles and simultaneously prioritize and preserve traditional methods of learning.

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.

There has been recent debate about whether classrooms should replace conventional books with more modern media such as movies, games, and computers. Although multimedia tools in education are engaging and interactive, it is crucial to prioritize the enduring value of books.

Films, computers, and games offer unique advantages in educational settings. For instance, films provide a dynamic platform to present complex concepts and historical events, making them more accessible to students through visual storytelling. Many students learn more about issues such as slavery through movies like “Twelve Years a Slave” than from textbooks. Similarly, interactive computer programs and educational games can promote active learning, problem-solving skills, and teamwork. Engaging in technology-based activities often heightens motivation and interest in a given subject compared to traditional book-based learning methodologies.

Despite the benefits of multimedia tools, books have greater value in classroom contexts. Reading books cultivates critical thinking, language proficiency, and analytical skills. Books encourage students to develop their imagination and form independent thoughts, fostering more nuanced understanding. They provide a wealth of information and perspectives that may not be readily available in multimedia formats. A well-known example of this would be Huckleberry Finn, a 19th century novel by Mark Twain that most American high school students must read. Reading such an old novel requires students to engage their mental faculties more actively than more passive contemporary media formats and therefore better advances academic and intellectual development.

Integrating films, computers, and games in education can enhance engagement and motivation, however, the lasting value of books must be given greater weight in curriculum design. By employing multimedia tools alongside traditional resources to an extent, schools can cater to different learning styles and simultaneously prioritize and preserve traditional methods of learning.

Answers

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

There has been recent debate about whether Many people are questioning if

replace conventional books take the place of normal learning with textbooks

modern media games, videos, etc.

multimedia tools different forms of presenting information

engaging interesting

interactive more active

it is crucial to prioritize we must focus more on

enduring value of books lasting importance of books

offer unique advantages in educational settings special features in classrooms

a dynamic platform versatile way to present

present complex concepts show complicated ideas

historical events things that happened in the past

more accessible to more people like to use them

visual storytelling using pictures / images

issues such as slavery problems like how people were forced to work without pay

textbooks classroom books

Similarly relatedly

interactive computer programs games you can play

promote active learning, problem-solving skills encourage engaging learning and figuring things out

teamwork working with others

Engaging in technology-based activities often heightens motivation using computers is more fun for students

a given subject compared to any class relative to

book-based learning methodologies learning from textbooks

Despite the benefits of multimedia regardless of the advantages of games, computers, etc.

greater value in classroom contexts more importance in education

books cultivates critical thinking books encourage deep thinking

language proficiency learning a language

analytical skills analysing something

encourage motivate

imagination creativity

form independent thoughts think all on your own

nuanced understanding complex way of interpreting

provide a wealth of information and perspectives lots of different ways of seeing something

readily available in multimedia formats can be found in many kinds of media

A well-known example of this would be a famous instance is

19th century 1800-1900

engage their mental faculties more actively make you think more

passive contemporary media formats not actively using the brain

better advances academic and intellectual development enables more progress

Integrating combining

lasting value of enduring importance of

given greater weight in curriculum design more significance when designing courses

employing using

alongside with

to an extent somewhat

cater to different learning styles work for all kinds of students

simultaneously prioritize and preserve traditional methods of learning at the same time give importance to old-school ways of learning

Pronunciation

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

ðeə hæz biːn ˈriːsᵊnt dɪˈbeɪt əˈbaʊt ˈwɛðə 

rɪˈpleɪs kənˈvɛnʃᵊnᵊl bʊks 

ˈmɒdᵊn ˈmiːdiə 

ˌmʌltɪˈmiːdiə tuːlz 

ɪnˈɡeɪʤɪŋ 

ˌɪntərˈæktɪv 

ɪt ɪz ˈkruːʃᵊl tuː praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪz 

ɪnˈdjʊərɪŋ ˈvæljuː ɒv bʊks

ˈɒfə juːˈniːk ədˈvɑːntɪʤɪz ɪn ˌɛʤʊˈkeɪʃᵊnᵊl ˈsɛtɪŋz 

ə daɪˈnæmɪk ˈplætfɔːm 

ˈprɛzᵊnt ˈkɒmplɛks ˈkɒnsɛpts 

hɪˈstɒrɪkᵊl ɪˈvɛnts 

mɔːr əkˈsɛsəbᵊl tuː 

ˈvɪʒuəl ˈstɔːrɪˌtɛlə 

ˈɪʃuːz sʌʧ æz ˈsleɪvəri 

ˈtɛkstbʊks 

ˈsɪmɪləli

ˌɪntərˈæktɪv kəmˈpjuːtə ˈprəʊɡræmz 

prəˈməʊt ˈæktɪv ˈlɜːnɪŋ, ˈprɒbləm-ˈsɒlvɪŋ skɪlz 

ˈtiːmwɜːk 

ɪnˈɡeɪʤɪŋ ɪn tɛkˈnɒləʤi-beɪst ækˈtɪvətiz ˈɒfᵊn ˈhaɪtᵊnz ˌməʊtɪˈveɪʃᵊn 

ə ˈɡɪvᵊn ˈsʌbʤɪkt kəmˈpeəd tuː 

bʊk-beɪst ˈlɜːnɪŋ ˌmɛθəˈdɒləʤiz 

dɪsˈpaɪt ðə ˈbɛnɪfɪts ɒv ˌmʌltɪˈmiːdiə 

ˈɡreɪtə ˈvæljuː ɪn ˈklɑːsrʊm ˈkɒntɛksts 

bʊks ˈkʌltɪveɪts ˈkrɪtɪkᵊl ˈθɪŋkɪŋ 

ˈlæŋɡwɪʤ prəˈfɪʃᵊnsi

ˌænəˈlɪtɪkᵊl skɪlz

ɪnˈkʌrɪʤ 

ɪˌmæʤɪˈneɪʃᵊn 

fɔːm ˌɪndɪˈpɛndənt θɔːts 

ˈnjuːɑːnst ˌʌndəˈstændɪŋ 

prəˈvaɪd ə wɛlθ ɒv ˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃᵊn ænd pəˈspɛktɪvz 

ˈrɛdɪli əˈveɪləbᵊl ɪn ˌmʌltɪˈmiːdiə ˈfɔːmæts

ə wɛl-nəʊn ɪɡˈzɑːmpᵊl ɒv ðɪs wʊd biː 

ˈnaɪnˈtiːŋθ ˈsɛnʧʊri 

ɪnˈɡeɪʤ ðeə ˈmɛntᵊl ˈfækəltiz mɔːr ˈæktɪvli 

ˈpæsɪv kənˈtɛmpərəri ˈmiːdiə ˈfɔːmæts 

ˈbɛtər ədˈvɑːnsɪz ˌækəˈdɛmɪk ænd ˌɪntᵊlˈɛkʧuəl dɪˈvɛləpmənt 

ˈɪntɪɡreɪtɪŋ 

ˈlɑːstɪŋ ˈvæljuː ɒv 

ˈɡɪvᵊn ˈɡreɪtə weɪt ɪn kəˈrɪkjələm dɪˈzaɪn 

ɪmˈplɔɪɪŋ 

əˈlɒŋˈsaɪd 

tuː ən ɪkˈstɛnt 

ˈkeɪtə tuː ˈdɪfᵊrᵊnt ˈlɜːnɪŋ staɪlz 

ˌsɪməlˈteɪniəsli praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪz ænd prɪˈzɜːv trəˈdɪʃᵊnᵊl ˈmɛθədz ɒv ˈlɜːnɪŋ

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:

T_________________________________________r classrooms should r______________________________s with more m______________________a such as movies, games, and computers. Although m____________________s in education are e_____________g and i_______________e, i_________________________e the e_______________________________s.

Films, computers, and games o____________________________________________s. For instance, films provide a_____________________________________m to p_______________________s and h_____________________s, making them m______________________o students through v_________________g. Many students learn more about i__________________________y through movies like “Twelve Years a Slave” than from t______________s. S___________y, i________________________s and educational games can p___________________g, p___________________________s, and t__________k. E_______________________________________________________________n and interest in a___________________________________o traditional b__________________________________s.

D__________________________________a tools, books have g______________________________s. Reading b_______________________________g, l____________________________y, and a_____________s. Books e______________e students to develop their i______________n and f_________________________s, fostering more n___________________________g. They p__________________________________________s that may not be r_______________________________________________s. A_______________________e Huckleberry Finn, a 1______________y novel by Mark Twain that most American high school students must read. Reading such an old novel requires students to e_______________________________________________y than more p__________________________________________s and therefore b___________________________________________________t.

I______________g films, computers, and games in education can enhance engagement and motivation, however, the l_______________f books must be g_______________________________________n. By e___________g multimedia tools a_____________e traditional resources t_____________t, schools can c__________________________________s and s___________________________________________________________________________g.

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://filmykeeday.com/best-movies-about-american-slavery/

Speaking Practice

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

Education

1. How are educational systems in your country changing at the moment?
2. Should teachers use more technology in the classroom?
3. Will it be possible in the future for classes to be taught by robots?
4. What are the drawbacks on learning online?
5. Are teachers well respected in your country?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topics below:

Some believe that history has little to teach us about today while others think that the study of the past helps us to understand the present.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Learning from History (Real Past IELTS Exam/Test)