IELTS General Training Essay: Competition
In some countries today, children are taught from a young age that competition is important and that winning is everything.
Is this a positive or a negative development?
In some cultures, competition is viewed as an essential part of personal and professional growth, and children are taught from an early age to win. While this approach may have motivational advantages, the drawbacks for morality are concerning.
Firstly, competition can inspire children to strive for excellence. For example, in many Asian countries such as Vietnam and China, academic competition is highly valued and students often participate in national and international competitions to demonstrate their superiority. The National Science Olympiad in China is a prime example of this, with over 4 million students competing for a chance to represent their country in international competitions. Through this process, students learn how to set goals, manage their time effectively, and think critically, all of which are valuable skills for success in the 21st century.
Moreover, a culture of competition can oftentimes lead to a disregard for ethical behavior and foster interpersonal hostility. An illustrative instance of this can be seen in the recent college admissions scandal in the United States, where wealthy parents paid bribes to secure their children’s admission to elite universities. These parents were more concerned with their children’s success and prestige than with their future character, and their actions sent a message that cheating is acceptable as long as it is not discovered. Such behavior can have negative consequences in the long-term, as children may grow up with a skewed sense of values and priorities and a desire to win unconditionally, leading to aggressive behavior and a lack of principles.
In conclusion, while competition can be a powerful motivator for some children, the disadvantages overshadow the benefits. It is important to maintain a balance between fostering a healthy sense of ambition and creating an environment that is supportive, collaborative, and respectful.
Analysis
1. In some cultures, competition is viewed as an essential part of personal and professional growth, and children are taught from an early age to win. 2. While this approach may have motivational advantages, the drawbacks for morality are concerning.
1. Firstly, competition can inspire children to strive for excellence. 2. For example, in many Asian countries such as Vietnam and China, academic competition is highly valued and students often participate in national and international competitions to demonstrate their superiority. 3. The National Science Olympiad in China is a prime example of this, with over 4 million students competing for a chance to represent their country in international competitions. 4. Through this process, students learn how to set goals, manage their time effectively, and think critically, all of which are valuable skills for success in the 21st century.
1. Moreover, a culture of competition can oftentimes lead to a disregard for ethical behavior and foster interpersonal hostility. 2. An illustrative instance of this can be seen in the recent college admissions scandal in the United States, where wealthy parents paid bribes to secure their children’s admission to elite universities. 3. These parents were more concerned with their children’s success and prestige than with their future character, and their actions sent a message that cheating is acceptable as long as it is not discovered. 4. Such behavior can have negative consequences in the long-term, as children may grow up with a skewed sense of values and priorities and a desire to win unconditionally, leading to aggressive behavior and a lack of principles.
1. In conclusion, while competition can be a powerful motivator for some children, the disadvantages overshadow the benefits. 2. It is important to maintain a balance between fostering a healthy sense of ambition and creating an environment that is supportive, collaborative, and respectful.
Vocabulary
In some cultures, competition is viewed as an essential part of personal and professional growth, and children are taught from an early age to win. While this approach may have motivational advantages, the drawbacks for morality are concerning.
Firstly, competition can inspire children to strive for excellence. For example, in many Asian countries such as Vietnam and China, academic competition is highly valued and students often participate in national and international competitions to demonstrate their superiority. The National Science Olympiad in China is a prime example of this, with over 4 million students competing for a chance to represent their country in international competitions. Through this process, students learn how to set goals, manage their time effectively, and think critically, all of which are valuable skills for success in the 21st century.
Moreover, a culture of competition can oftentimes lead to a disregard for ethical behavior and foster interpersonal hostility. An illustrative instance of this can be seen in the recent college admissions scandal in the United States, where wealthy parents paid bribes to secure their children’s admission to elite universities. These parents were more concerned with their children’s success and prestige than with their future character, and their actions sent a message that cheating is acceptable as long as it is not discovered. Such behavior can have negative consequences in the long-term, as children may grow up with a skewed sense of values and priorities and a desire to win unconditionally, leading to aggressive behavior and a lack of principles.
In conclusion, while competition can be a powerful motivator for some children, the disadvantages overshadow the benefits. It is important to maintain a balance between fostering a healthy sense of ambition and creating an environment that is supportive, collaborative, and respectful.
Answers
In some cultures in many nations
competition rivalry
viewed as seen as
essential part of personal and professional growth necessary element for growth in both personal and professional spheres
taught from an early age instilled from a young age
win succeed
While this approach may have motivational advantages Although this method may offer motivational benefits
drawbacks disadvantages
morality ethics
concerning having to do with
inspire motivate
strive for excellence try really hard
academic competition is highly valued scholastic competition is highly esteemed
participate in national and international competitions take part in national and international contests
demonstrate show
superiority being better than
prime example good instance of
competing for a chance to represent their country in international competitions contending for the chance to take part in international contests on behalf of their country
set goals establish objectives
manage their time effectively utilize their time efficiently
think critically analyze thoughtfully
valuable skills for success in the 21st century crucial abilities for achievement in the 21st century
oftentimes lead to frequently result in
disregard ignore
ethical behavior moral conduct
foster interpersonal hostility breed hostility among people
An illustrative instance of this can be seen in A case in point can be observed in
recent college admissions scandal in the United States people in the USA trying to unfairly get into universities
wealthy rich
paid bribes corruption
secure make sure of
elite universities the best schools
concerned with cared about
success achievement
prestige status
future character personality later on
actions sent a message what they did communicated that
acceptable permissible
discovered found out
negative consequences in the long-term harmful repercussions in the long haul
skewed sense of values and priorities distorted sense of what is important in life
win unconditionally succeed no matter what
aggressive forceful
a lack of principles no morality
powerful motivator for encourages people a lot
overshadow stronger than
maintain a balance keep things equal
a healthy sense of ambition some drive
supportive helpful
collaborative working with others
respectful considerate, polite
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ɪn sʌm ˈkʌlʧəz
ˌkɒmpɪˈtɪʃᵊn
vjuːd æz
ɪˈsɛnʃᵊl pɑːt ɒv ˈpɜːsᵊnᵊl ænd prəˈfɛʃᵊnᵊl ɡrəʊθ
tɔːt frɒm ən ˈɜːli eɪʤ
wɪn.
waɪl ðɪs əˈprəʊʧ meɪ hæv ˌməʊtɪˈveɪʃᵊnᵊl ədˈvɑːntɪʤɪz
ˈdrɔːbæks
məˈræləti
kənˈsɜːnɪŋ
ɪnˈspaɪə
straɪv fɔːr ˈɛksələns
ˌækəˈdɛmɪk ˌkɒmpɪˈtɪʃᵊn ɪz ˈhaɪli ˈvæljuːd
pɑːˈtɪsɪpeɪt ɪn ˈnæʃᵊnᵊl ænd ˌɪntəˈnæʃᵊnᵊl ˌkɒmpɪˈtɪʃᵊnz
ˈdɛmənstreɪt
suːˌpɪəriˈɒrəti
praɪm ɪɡˈzɑːmpᵊl
kəmˈpiːtɪŋ fɔːr ə ʧɑːns tuː ˌrɛprɪˈzɛnt ðeə ˈkʌntri ɪn ˌɪntəˈnæʃᵊnᵊl ˌkɒmpɪˈtɪʃᵊnz
sɛt ɡəʊlz
ˈmænɪʤ ðeə taɪm ɪˈfɛktɪvli
θɪŋk ˈkrɪtɪkᵊli
ˈvæljəbᵊl skɪlz fɔː səkˈsɛs ɪn ðiː 21st ˈsɛnʧʊri
ˈɒfntaɪmz liːd tuː
ˌdɪsrɪˈɡɑːd
ˈɛθɪkᵊl bɪˈheɪvjə
ˈfɒstər ˌɪntəˈpɜːsᵊnᵊl hɒsˈtɪləti
ən ˈɪləstreɪtɪv ˈɪnstəns ɒv ðɪs kæn biː siːn ɪn
ˈriːsnt ˈkɒlɪʤ ədˈmɪʃᵊnz ˈskændᵊl ɪn ðə juːˈnaɪtɪd steɪts
ˈwɛlθi
peɪd braɪbz
sɪˈkjʊə
eɪˈliːt ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsətiz
kənˈsɜːnd wɪð
səkˈsɛs
prɛsˈtiːʒ
ˈfjuːʧə ˈkærɪktə
ˈækʃᵊnz sɛnt ə ˈmɛsɪʤ
əkˈsɛptəbᵊl
dɪsˈkʌvəd
ˈnɛɡətɪv ˈkɒnsɪkwənsɪz ɪn ðə ˈlɒŋtɜːm
skjuːd sɛns ɒv ˈvæljuːz ænd praɪˈɒrətiz
wɪn ˌʌnkənˈdɪʃᵊnᵊli
əˈɡrɛsɪv
ə læk ɒv ˈprɪnsəpᵊlz
ˈpaʊəfʊl ˈməʊtɪveɪtə fɔː
ˌəʊvəˈʃædəʊ
meɪnˈteɪn ə ˈbæləns
ə ˈhɛlθi sɛns ɒv æmˈbɪʃᵊn
səˈpɔːtɪv
kəˈlæbᵊrətɪv
rɪsˈpɛktfʊl
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:
I______________________s, c_____________n is v__________s an e_____________________________________________________h, and children are t____________________e to w__n. W_____________________________________________________s, the d________s for m_______y are c_______g.
Firstly, competition can i_________e children to s______________e. For example, in many Asian countries such as Vietnam and China, a________________________________d and students often p__________________________________________s to d____________e their s_________y. The National Science Olympiad in China is a ____________e of this, with over 4 million students c__________________________________________________________________s. Through this process, students learn how to s_______s, m____________________y, and t_____________y, all of which are v______________________________________y.
Moreover, a culture of competition can o_________________o a d_________d for e__________________r and f___________________________________y. A______________________________________n the r________________________________________________s, where w_______y parents p___________s to s_______e their children’s admission to e____________________s. These parents were more c____________________h their children’s s________s and p_________e than with their f_____________r, and their a__________________e that cheating is a______________e as long as it is not d__________d. Such behavior can have n______________________________________________m, as children may grow up with a s____________________________s and a desire to w________________________y, leading to a___________e behavior and a__________________s.
In conclusion, while competition can be a p_____________________r some children, the disadvantages o_____________w the benefits. It is important to m_____________e between fostering a_____________________________n and creating an environment that is s___________e, c____________e, and r___________l.
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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varsity_Blues_scandal
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
School
- Did you like your school when you were a child?
- What did you learn about?
- Did you have a favorite teacher?
- Are there many rules in schools in your country?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related IELTS essay topics below:
Some people think that children should begin their formal education at a very early age. Others think they should begin after 7 years of age.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
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