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This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of gender and study/education from the real IELTS exam.
It features two very common topics – education and gender.
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Listen to the audio and take notes for some extra practice then read the essay:
IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Gender & Study (Real Past IELTS Exam/Test)
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?
Real Past IELTS Test/Exam
Today more and more parents and policymakers are concerned with the disproportionate ratio of males studying science relative to females. In my opinion, though there are likely social factors at play here that need addressing, there is little value enforcing this change.
The main reason that many are striving to remedy this imbalance is because they feel it is societal, not natural. For centuries, women have subjugated their careers and education to male siblings and husbands. This has led to a history of mostly male role models in scientific pursuits, with women like Mary Shelly and Frida more likely to shine in the arts. Even today, there is a widespread bias that men are better at science that may discourage girls. There have been a number of famous studies cataloging the gender imbalance in science, with most researchers attributing this to social, rather than genetic, factors.
Nonetheless, heavy-handed efforts to force change are detrimental to both men and women. Women who are helped or strongly encouraged to pursue science rather than the arts will be less self-reliant and more likely to develop self-esteem problems. A corollary example would be the failure of affirmative action to promote racial equality. Individuals prosper when societal barriers to success are removed and they are given the opportunity to help themselves. If overly strong measures are taken, such as a quota of female majors in a given subject, that might place less qualified candidates above more deserving ones and then later manifest itself in reduced self-confidence from the unfairly elevated and resentment from those who were passed over.
In conclusion, though I am in favour of all reforms to provide for equal educational opportunity for the sexes, attempts to reform a tendency rather than allow for its change will bring about more harm than good. Rather, parents and educators should encourage students to pursue their passions.
Analysis
1. Today more and more parents and policymakers are concerned with the disproportionate ratio of males studying science relative to females. 2. In my opinion, though there are likely social factors at play here that need addressing, there is little value enforcing this change.
- Paraphrase the overall topic.
- Clearly state your opinion.
1. The main reason that many are striving to remedy this imbalance is because they feel it is societal, not natural. 2. For centuries, women have subjugated their careers and education to male siblings and husbands. 3. This has led to a history of mostly male role models in scientific pursuits, with women like Mary Shelly and Frida more likely to shine in the arts. 4. Even today, there is a widespread bias that men are better at science that may discourage girls. 5. There have been a number of famous studies cataloging the gender imbalance in science, with most researchers attributing this to social, rather than genetic, factors.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Develop it – here I start with an historical arguments.
- Then I state the result of this history.
- Finally I connect it to the present day.
- And conclude with some research to back up my claim.
1. Nonetheless, heavy-handed efforts to force change are detrimental to both men and women. 2. Women who are helped or strongly encouraged to pursue science rather than the arts will be less self-reliant and more likely to develop self-esteem problems. 3. A corollary example would be the failure of affirmative action to promote racial equality. 4. Individuals prosper when societal barriers to success are removed and they are given the opportunity to help themselves. 5. If overly strong measures are taken, such as a quota of female majors in a given subject, that might place less qualified candidates above more deserving ones and then later manifest itself in reduced self-confidence from the unfairly elevated and resentment from those who were passed over.
- Write another topic sentence with your main idea at the end.
- Begin to support your opinion.
- Use an example – here I argue by analogy.
- Develop your example.
- Finish your development. Vary using long and short sentences.
1. In conclusion, though I am in favour of all reforms to provide for equal educational opportunity for the sexes, attempts to reform a tendency rather than allow for its change will bring about more harm than good. 2. Rather, parents and educators should encourage students to pursue their passions.
- Repeat your opinion.
- Add in a final detail/thought.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean:
Today more and more parents and policymakers are concerned with the disproportionate ratio of males studying science relative to females. In my opinion, though there are likely social factors at play here that need addressing, there is little value enforcing this change.
The main reason that many are striving to remedy this imbalance is because they feel it is societal, not natural. For centuries, women have subjugated their careers and education to male siblings and husbands. This has led to a history of mostly male role models in scientific pursuits, with women like Mary Shelly and Frida more likely to shine in the arts. Even today, there is a widespread bias that men are better at science that may discourage girls. There have been a number of famous studies cataloging the gender imbalance in science, with most researchers attributing this to social, rather than genetic, factors.
Nonetheless, heavy-handed efforts to force change are detrimental to both men and women. Women who are helped or strongly encouraged to pursue science rather than the arts will be less self-reliant and more likely to develop self-esteem problems. A corollary example would be the failure of affirmative action to promote racial equality. Individuals prosper when societal barriers to success are removed and they are given the opportunity to help themselves. If overly strong measures are taken, such as a quota of female majors in a given subject, that might place less qualified candidates above more deserving ones and then later manifest itself in reduced self-confidence from the unfairly elevated and resentment from those who were passed over.
In conclusion, though I am in favour of all reforms to provide for equal educational opportunity for the sexes, attempts to reform a tendency rather than allow for its change will bring about more harm than good. Rather, parents and educators should encourage students to pursue their passions.
Answers
policymakers politicians
concerned worried about
disproportionate ratio too many of one group
relative to in comparison to
social factors at play how society influences
need addressing must be dealt with
little value enforcing this change not much to be gained from making this reform
striving trying to
remedy fix
imbalance not equal
societal related to society
natural related to genetic predisposition
centuries hundreds of years
subjugated made less/lower
siblings brothers and sisters
scientific pursuits working in science
Mary Shelly author of Frankenstein
Frida Mexican painter
shine stand out
widespread bias stereotypes
discourage not encourage, dissuade
cataloging keeping track of
gender imbalance unequal in terms of men/women
attributing this
genetic natural
heavy-handed efforts strong attempts
detrimental hurts
self-reliant responsible
self-esteem problems feeling bad about yourself
corollary example analogous instance
affirmative action giving more opportunity to a specific race
promote racial equality make the races more equal
prosper succeed
societal barriers institutional setbacks
removed taken away
overly strong measures too powerful actions
quota set number
in a given subject in a specific major
place less qualified candidates above promote people less deserving
deserving ones those who earned it
manifest become true
reduced self-confidence lower self-esteem
unfairly elevated unjustly promotoed
resentment dislike of
passed over skipped
in favour of preferring
reforms changes
equal educational opportunity same chance for all
attempts tries
reform changes
tendency inclination
bring about more harm than good hurt more than help
rather instead of
pursue their passions strive after their dreams
Pronunciation
Listen and repeat:
ˈpɒlɪsiˈmeɪkəz
kənˈsɜːnd
ˌdɪsprəˈpɔːʃnɪt ˈreɪʃɪəʊ
ˈrɛlətɪv tuː
ˈsəʊʃəl ˈfæktəz æt pleɪ
niːd əˈdrɛsɪŋ
ˈlɪtl ˈvæljuː ɪnˈfɔːsɪŋ ðɪs ʧeɪnʤ
ˈstraɪvɪŋ
ˈrɛmɪdi
ɪmˈbæləns
səˈsaɪətl
ˈnæʧrəl
ˈsɛnʧʊriz
ˈsʌbʤʊgeɪtɪd
ˈsɪblɪŋz
ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk pəˈsjuːts
ˈmeəri ˈʃɛli
friːdə
ʃaɪn
ˈwaɪdsprɛd ˈbaɪəs
dɪsˈkʌrɪʤ
ˈkætəlɒgɪŋ
ˈʤɛndər ɪmˈbæləns
əˈtrɪbjuːtɪŋ ðɪs
ʤɪˈnɛtɪk
ˈhɛvɪˈhændɪd ˈɛfəts
ˌdɛtrɪˈmɛntl
sɛlf-rɪˈlaɪənt
sɛlf-ɪsˈtiːm ˈprɒbləmz
kəˈrɒləri ɪgˈzɑːmpl
əˈfɜːmətɪv ˈækʃ(ə)n
prəˈməʊt ˈreɪʃəl i(ː)ˈkwɒlɪti
ˈprɒspə
səˈsaɪətl ˈbærɪəz
rɪˈmuːvd
ˈəʊvəli strɒŋ ˈmɛʒəz
ˈkwəʊtə
ɪn ə ˈgɪvn ˈsʌbʤɪkt
pleɪs lɛs ˈkwɒlɪfaɪd ˈkændɪdɪts əˈbʌv
dɪˈzɜːvɪŋ wʌnz
ˈmænɪfɛst
rɪˈdjuːst sɛlf-ˈkɒnfɪdəns
ʌnˈfeəli ˈɛlɪveɪtɪd
rɪˈzɛntmənt
pɑːst ˈəʊvə
ɪn ˈfeɪvər ɒv
ˌriːˈfɔːmz
ˈiːkwəl ˌɛdju(ː)ˈkeɪʃənl ˌɒpəˈtjuːnɪti
əˈtɛmpts
ˌriːˈfɔːm
ˈtɛndənsi
brɪŋ əˈbaʊt mɔː hɑːm ðæn gʊd
ˈrɑːðə
pəˈsjuː ðeə ˈpæʃənz
Vocabulary Practice
What do the words in bold below mean?
Today more and more parents and policymakers are concerned with the disproportionate ratio of males studying science relative to females. In my opinion, though there are likely social factors at play here that need addressing, there is little value enforcing this change.
The main reason that many are striving to remedy this imbalance is because they feel it is societal, not natural. For centuries, women have subjugated their careers and education to male sibligings and husbands. This has led to a history of mostly male role models in scientific pursuits, with women like Mary Shelly and Frida more likely to shine in the arts. Even today, there is a widespread bias that men are better at science that may discourage girls. There have been a number of famous studies cataloging the gender imbalance in science, with most researchers attributing this to social, rather than genetic, factors.
Nonetheless, heavy-handed efforts to force change are detrimental to both men and women. Women who are helped or strongly encouraged to pursue science rather than the arts will be less self-reliant and more likely to develop self-esteem problems. A corollary example would be the failure of affirmative action to promote racial equality. Individuals prosper when societal barriers to success are removed and they are given the opportunity to help themselves. If overly strong measures are taken, such as a quota of female majors in a given subject, that might place less qualified candidates above more deserving ones and then later manifest itself in reduced self-confidence from the unfairly elevated and resentment from those who were passed over.
In conclusion, though I am in favour of all reforms to provide for equal educational opportunity for the sexes, attempts to reform a tendency rather than allow for its change will bring about more harm than good. Rather, parents and educators should encourage students to pursue their passions.
Listen and check:
Listening Practice
Learn more about gender equality here:
Reading Practice
And read more about this topic from The Atlantic:
Speaking Practice
Answer the related questions about science below from the real speaking exam:
Science
- Were you good at science when you were in school?
- What was your favorite scientific subject?
- How do you use science in your life now?
- Are science majors common in your country?
Writing Practice
Write about the related topic below then check with my sample answer:
Throughout history, male leaders have led us into violence and conflict. If a society is governed by female leaders it will be more peaceful.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Real Past IELTS Exam
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