This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of the whether or not schools should be mixed with boys and girls or they should separate the genders from the real IELTS exam.
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Dave
IELTS Essay: Mixed Schools with Boys and Girls
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.
While certain concerned individuals feel that education is superior in single-sex schools, others value the integration of genders. In my opinion, though there are advantages related to focus from segregating the sexes, students benefit socially from mixed schools.
Those who are in favor of separating the genders argue students will be more dedicated to their studies. The reasons for this are largely self-evident as many of the interactions between boys and girls after they reach puberty can be distracting. There is even strong evidence that girls-only schools engender better standardized results. A recent study of institutions in Europe indicated that students at female-only schools scored higher on average on national exams. There might be a variety of reasons for this but many have seized on gender segregation as the primary catalyst for increased concentration and thus improved overall academic achievement.
However, the single study mentioned above does not discount the social value of schools featuring both genders. School is a place to develop not only academically, but socially as well. The fact that there may be uncomfortable interactions between girls and boys while they mature is not a drawback but a learning experience. Boys and girls, as they become men and women, will slowly learn how to talk with the opposite sex and find themselves in a better situation upon graduation. Without the opportunity to integrate socially with another gender there is a strong chance they will have difficulty communicating later and this may promote a lifelong habit of centering their social interactions on rigid gender groups.
In conclusion, despite the positive impact on attention that separating boys and girls can have, the maturing effect of mixed classrooms is more important. There is a place for single-sex institutions but the majority should include both.
Analysis
1. While certain concerned individuals feel that education is superior in single-sex schools, others value the integration of genders. 2. In my opinion, though there are advantages related to focus from segregating the sexes, students benefit socially from mixed schools.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Those who are in favor of separating the genders argue students will be more dedicated to their studies. 2. The reasons for this are largely self-evident as many of the interactions between boys and girls after they reach puberty can be distracting. 3. There is even strong evidence that girls-only schools engender better standardized results. 4. A recent study of institutions in Europe indicated that students at female-only schools scored higher on average on national exams. 5. There might be a variety of reasons for this but many have seized on gender segregation as the primary catalyst for increased concentration and thus improved overall academic achievement.
- 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.
- You can have some long sentences like this to really argue your point.
1. However, the single study mentioned above does not discount the social value of schools featuring both genders. 2. School is a place to develop not only academically, but socially as well. 3. The fact that there may be uncomfortable interactions between girls and boys while they mature is not a drawback but a learning experience. 4. Boys and girls, as they become men and women, will slowly learn how to talk with the opposite sex and find themselves in a better situation upon graduation. 5. Without the opportunity to integrate socially with another gender there is a strong chance they will have difficulty communicating later and this may promote a lifelong habit of centering their social interactions on rigid gender groups.
- 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…
- as fully as possible!
1. In conclusion, despite the positive impact on attention that separating boys and girls can have, the maturing effect of mixed classrooms is more important. 2. There is a place for single-sex institutions but the majority should include both.
- 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.
While certain concerned individuals feel that education is superior in single-sex schools, others value the integration of genders. In my opinion, though there are advantages related to focus from segregating the sexes, students benefit socially from mixed schools.
Those who are in favor of separating the genders argue students will be more dedicated to their studies. The reasons for this are largely self-evident as many of the interactions between boys and girls after they reach puberty can be distracting. There is even strong evidence that girls-only schools engender better standardized results. A recent study of institutions in Europe indicated that students at female-only schools scored higher on average on national exams. There might be a variety of reasons for this but many have seized on gender segregation as the primary catalyst for increased concentration and thus improved overall academic achievement.
However, the single study mentioned above does not discount the social value of schools featuring both genders. School is a place to develop not only academically, but socially as well. The fact that there may be uncomfortable interactions between girls and boys while they mature is not a drawback but a learning experience. Boys and girls, as they become men and women, will slowly learn how to talk with the opposite sex and find themselves in a better situation upon graduation. Without the opportunity to integrate socially with another gender there is a strong chance they will have difficulty communicating later and this may promote a lifelong habit of centering their social interactions on rigid gender groups.
In conclusion, despite the positive impact on attention that separating boys and girls can have, the maturing effect of mixed classrooms is more important. There is a place for single-sex institutions but the majority should include both.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
certain concerned individuals some people
superior better
single-sex schools schools with just boys or just girls
value consider important
integration combining
genders sexes, men and women/boys and girls
related to concerning
focus pay attention
segregating keeping apart
benefit socially gain from it in terms of interacting with others
mixed schools schools with both boys and girls
those who are in favor of supporters
separating keeping apart
argue claim
dedicated more focused and diligent
largely self-evident mostly obvious
interactions communicating
puberty when children begin to become mature
distracting take their focus away
strong evidence clear support
girls-only schools schools where there are not boys
engender create
standardized results scores on tests
institutions schools
indicated shown
female-only schools no boys schools
scored higher on average got better marks generally
on national exams tests for the whole country
variety lots of different
seized on pointed out
primary catalyst main cause
concentration focus
thus therefore
improved overall academic achievement better performance in school
single alone, one
mentioned above detailed before
discount not consider, ignore
social value importance for communicating with others
featuring having
uncomfortable interactions awkward conversations
mature old, experienced
drawback disadvantage
learning experience good way to mature
opposite sex the other gender
find themselves in a better situation better off for it
graduation after finishing school
without not having
integrate combine
strong chance good probability
later after that
promote encourage
lifelong habit they will do their whole life
social interactions talking with others
rigid gender groups fixed boy/girl groups
despite regardless of
positive impact good for
maturing effect makes you more mature
place role
single-sex institutions one gender schools
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ˈsɜːtn kənˈsɜːnd ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəlz
sju(ː)ˈpɪərɪə
ˈsɪŋgl-sɛks skuːlz
ˈvæljuː
ˌɪntɪˈgreɪʃən
ˈʤɛndəz
rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː
ˈfəʊkəs
ˈsɛgrɪgeɪtɪŋ
ˈbɛnɪfɪt ˈsəʊʃəli
mɪkst skuːlz
ðəʊz huː ɑːr ɪn ˈfeɪvər ɒv
ˈsɛpəreɪtɪŋ
ˈɑːgjuː
ˈdɛdɪkeɪtɪd
ˈlɑːʤli sɛlf-ˈɛvɪdənt
ˌɪntərˈækʃənz
ˈpjuːbəti
dɪsˈtræktɪŋ
strɒŋ ˈɛvɪdəns
gɜːlz-ˈəʊnli skuːlz
ɪnˈʤɛndə
ˈstændədaɪzd rɪˈzʌlts
ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃənz
ˈɪndɪkeɪtɪd
ˈfiːmeɪl-ˈəʊnli skuːlz
skɔːd ˈhaɪər ɒn ˈævərɪʤ
ɒn ˈnæʃənl ɪgˈzæmz
vəˈraɪəti
siːzd ɒn
ˈpraɪməri ˈkætəlɪst
ˌkɒnsənˈtreɪʃən
ðʌs
ɪmˈpruːvd ˈəʊvərɔːl ˌækəˈdɛmɪk əˈʧiːvmənt
ˈsɪŋgl
ˈmɛnʃənd əˈbʌv
ˈdɪskaʊnt
ˈsəʊʃəl ˈvæljuː
ˈfiːʧərɪŋ
ʌnˈkʌmfətəbl ˌɪntərˈækʃənz
məˈtjʊə
ˈdrɔːbæk
ˈlɜːnɪŋ ɪksˈpɪərɪəns
ˈɒpəzɪt sɛks
faɪnd ðəmˈsɛlvz ɪn ə ˈbɛtə ˌsɪtjʊˈeɪʃən
ˌgrædjʊˈeɪʃən
wɪˈðaʊt
ˈɪntɪgreɪt
strɒŋ ʧɑːns
ˈleɪtə
prəˈməʊt
ˈlaɪflɒŋ ˈhæbɪt
ˈsəʊʃəl ˌɪntərˈækʃənz
ˈrɪʤɪd ˈʤɛndə gruːps
dɪsˈpaɪt
ˈpɒzətɪv ˈɪmpækt
məˈtjʊərɪŋ ɪˈfɛkt
pleɪs
ˈsɪŋgl-sɛks ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃənz
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:
While c_________________________________s feel that education is s__________r in s__________________s, others v______e the i__________n of g_____________s. In my opinion, though there are advantages r_______________s from s______________g the sexes, students b_______________y from m______________s.
T_____________________________f s_____________g the genders a_______e students will be more d____________d to their studies. The reasons for this are l__________________t as many of the i______________s between boys and girls after they reach p_________y can be d___________g. There is even s__________________e that g_____________________s e__________r better s_____________________s. A recent study of i________________s in Europe i_____________d that students at f_________________s s___________________________e o________________s. There might be a v_________y of reasons for this but many have s____________n gender segregation as the p__________________t for increased c_____________n and t______s i________________________________________t.
However, the s__________e study m__________________e does not d___________t the s_____________e of schools f_____________g both genders. School is a place to develop not only academically, but socially as well. The fact that there may be u___________________________s between girls and boys while they m______e is not a d___________k but a l__________________________e. Boys and girls, as they become men and women, will slowly learn how to talk with the o_____________x and f____________________________________n upon g______________n. W__________t the opportunity to i____________e socially with another gender there is a s________________e they will have difficulty communicating l_______r and this may p__________e a l_____________t of centering their s__________________s on r_____________________s.
In conclusion, d___________e the p_____________t on attention that separating boys and girls can have, the m______________t of mixed classrooms is more important. There is a p______e for s______________________s but the majority should include both.
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.bbc.com/news/education-35419284
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:
In many schools and universities today, women have a tendency to study the humanities (such as the arts and languages) while men more often major in science related subjects. Some believe this tendency should be changed.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many feel that having mixed-gender educational institutions might bring immense benefits for students, while others maintain that single-sex schools are superior. Although gender segregation may enable students to concentrate better on their studies, I am strongly convinced that the advantages derived from allowing students of both sexes to study together are more significant.
The argument in favor of gender segregation in schools pertains to students paying more attention to their studies. This is because students, most especially those who have already reached puberty, may be distracted from their studies when mingling with their peers of different genders. In other words, students, particularly males, might be aroused a premature interest in the opposite sex, which possibly diverts their attention from studying. This, in turn, is likely to hurt their academic performance. Therefore, to ensure students focusing on their studies, gender separation is necessary.
Nonetheless, I claim that there are more advantages to having co-educational schools. The truth is that schools are places for students to learn not only academically but also socially. This means that the interaction between students of different sexes may facilitate improvements in their social skills. Having single-gender schools, on the other hand, may deprive students of chances to integrate socially with those of the opposite sex. This potentially leads to them struggling to communicate with others, possibly restricting themselves to interacting solely with their rigid gender groups. Consequently, they are likely to have a narrow social networking circle, which is likely to hurt their sense of happiness.
In conclusion, although the advantages of having single-sex schools related to students’ focus on studying are undeniable, I hold that the integration of genders may be of greater benefits for students’ social skills.