This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of learning from history from the real IELTS exam.
It is a simple question, but very hard to develop and think of examples for.
Read below to see what I did with it!
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Dave
Before reading, you can also listen to the audio file for extra practice:
IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Learning from History (Real Past IELTS Exam/Test)
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.
Recent Past IELTS Exam/Test
Many feel that the study of the past does little to inform the present while others believe it can help aid understanding. In my opinion, history certainly holds insights but they are so deeply woven into a specific context so as to be as misleading as enlightening.
Those who argue in favour of learning from history can point to the importance of understanding a culture. A frequently cited example of this is the war between Vietnam and the United States in the mid 1960s to early 1970s. Both before and during the war, the United States President and his advisors understood little about the history of Vietnam with its successive invasions from foreign nations including China and Japan. A deeper understanding of the unity and resilience of Vietnam might have led them to make different decisions regarding splitting the country in half and the escalation of ground troops. Mistakes born of ignorance take place all the time in international relations and even domestic politics.
Regardless, history only holds lessons for the keenest observors. Every historical moment passes through a complex set of circumstances, many of which are hidden from history books, and cannot be reduced to simple lessons. For example, the Vietnam war is often summed up with the platitude that it is impossible to invade and occupy a foreign nation. This ignores the myriad reasons that led to defeat and supposes that other conflicts are identical. After the invasion of Iraq proved to be a quagmire, many relished the historical lessons of Vietnam without considering the very diverse set of circumstances that led to failure in each country. There are certainly insights to be gained from studying past conflicts, but they will rarely result in fixed, black and white rules applicable to every new situation.
In conclusion, history is not a simple road map for the future. Those who are too avid to accept seemingly apparent lessons are doomed to lead themselves astray and make new mistakes.
Analysis
1. Many feel that the study of the past does little to inform the present while others believe it can help aid understanding. 2. In my opinion, history certainly holds insights but they are so deeply woven into a specific context so as to be as misleading as enlightening.
- Paraphrase what the whole essay is about.
- Write a clear opinion. You don’t have to include your main ideas like I did but it will help your cohesion and coherence score.
1. Those who argue in favour of learning from history can point to the importance of understanding a culture. 2. A frequently cited example of this is the war between Vietnam and the United States in the mid 1960s to early 1970s. 3. Both before and during the war, the United States President and his advisors understood little about the history of Vietnam with its successive invasions from foreign nations including China and Japan. 4. A deeper understanding of the unity and resilience of Vietnam might have led them to make different decisions regarding splitting the country in half and the escalation of ground troops. 5. Mistakes born of ignorance take place all the time in international relations and even domestic politics.
- Write a clear topic sentence with your main idea for the whole paragraph at the end.
- Develop it with a specific example.
- Continue using the example to develop your main idea.
- Don’t switch to a new main idea or example, if possible.
- Conclude by related your main idea back to the overall essay topic.
1. Regardless, history only holds lessons for the keenest observors. 2. Every historical moment passes through a complex set of circumstances, many of which are hidden from history books, and cannot be reduced to simple lessons. 3. For example, the Vietnam war is often summed up with the platitude that it is impossible to invade and occupy a foreign nation. 4. This ignores the myriad reasons that led to defeat and supposes that other conflicts are identical. 5. After the invasion of Iraq proved to be a quagmire, many relished the historical lessons of Vietnam without considering the very diverse set of circumstances that led to failure in each country. 6. There are certainly insights to be gained from studying past conflicts, but they will rarely result in fixed, black and white rules applicable to every new situation.
- Another topic sentence with a clear main idea.
- Explain your main idea if you need to.
- Being another example.
- Explain why your example proves your main idea.
- Continue with the same example.
- Draw conclusions from your example.
1. In conclusion, history is not a simple road map for the future. 2. Those who are too avid to accept seemingly apparent lessons are doomed to lead themselves astray and make new mistakes.
- Repeat your opinion.
- Add in an extra detail or final thought for full points for task achievement from the examiner.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
Many feel that the study of the past does little to inform the present while others believe it can help aid understanding. In my opinion, history certainly holds insights but they are so deeply woven into a specific context so as to be as misleading as enlightening.
Those who argue in favour of learning from history can point to the importance of understanding a culture. A frequently cited example of this is the war between Vietnam and the United States in the mid 1960s to early 1970s. Both before and during the war, the United States President and his advisors understood little about the history of Vietnam with its successive invasions from foreign nations including China and Japan. A deeper understanding of the unity and resilience of Vietnam might have led them to make different decisions regarding splitting the country in half and the escalation of ground troops. Mistakes born of ignorance take place all the time in international relations and even domestic politics.
Regardless, history only holds lessons for the keenest observors. Every historical moment passes through a complex set of circumstances, many of which are hidden from history books, and cannot be reduced to simple lessons. For example, the Vietnam war is often summed up with the platitude that it is impossible to invade and occupy a foreign nation. This ignores the myriad reasons that led to defeat and supposes that other conflicts are identical. After the invasion of Iraq proved to be a quagmire, many relished the historical lessons of Vietnam without considering the very diverse set of circumstances that led to failure in each country. There are certainly insights to be gained from studying past conflicts, but they will rarely result in fixed, black and white rules applicable to every new situation.
In conclusion, history is not a simple road map for the future. Those who are too avid to accept seemingly apparent lessons are doomed to lead themselves astray and make new mistakes.
Answers
does little almost no impact
inform add to/enlighten
holds insights has important information
so deeply woven into a specific context so as to be as misleading as enlightening wrapped up in the situation so much that it gives bad information
point to argue
frequently cited example of this is well-known instance
mid 1960s to early 1970s around 1965 – 1974
advisors cabinet/confidants
successive invasions attacks one after another
deeper understanding to know something very well
unity together
resilience determination
regarding splitting in connection with dividing
escalation of ground troops sending in more soldiers
mistakes born of ignorance take place errors from lack of understanding happen
international relations relationships between countries
domestic politics politics inside a country
regardless nonetheless
holds lessons has lessons/things to learn from
keenest observors sharpest interpreters
historical moment passes through event goes through
complex complicated
reduced to simple lessons easily distilled
summed up with summarised by
platitude cliche
invade attack
occupy remain in
myriad various
supposes assumes
identical the same
proved to be turned out
quagmire very difficult/tricky situation
relished took joy in
without considering not thinking of
diverse set of circumstances many factors to consider
black and white clearcut
applicable can be applied
road map clear outline
avid excited, enthusiastic
seemingly apparent lessons ostensibly obvious take-aways
doomed inevitable
lead themselves astray get lost
Pronunciation
dʌz ˈlɪtl
ɪnˈfɔːm
həʊldz ˈɪnsaɪts
səʊ ˈdiːpli ˈwəʊvən ˈɪntuː ə spɪˈsɪfɪk ˈkɒntɛkst səʊ æz tuː biː æz mɪsˈliːdɪŋ æz ɪnˈlaɪtnɪŋ
pɔɪnt tuː
ˈfriːkwəntli ˈsaɪtɪd ɪgˈzɑːmpl ɒv ðɪs ɪz
mɪd 1960ɛs tuː ˈɜːli 1970ɛs
ədˈvaɪzəz
səkˈsɛsɪv ɪnˈveɪʒənz
ˈdiːpər ˌʌndəˈstændɪŋ
ˈjuːnɪti
rɪˈzɪlɪəns
rɪˈgɑːdɪŋ ˈsplɪtɪŋ
ˌɛskəˈleɪʃən ɒv graʊnd truːps
mɪsˈteɪks bɔːn ɒv ˈɪgnərəns teɪk pleɪs
ˌɪntə(ː)ˈnæʃənl rɪˈleɪʃənz
dəʊˈmɛstɪk ˈpɒlɪtɪks
rɪˈgɑːdlɪs
həʊldz ˈlɛsnz
ˈkiːnɪst əbˈzɜːvəz
hɪsˈtɒrɪkəl ˈməʊmənt ˈpɑːsɪz θruː
ˈkɒmplɛks
rɪˈdjuːst tuː ˈsɪmpl ˈlɛsnz
sʌmd ʌp wɪð
ˈplætɪtjuːd
ɪnˈveɪd
ˈɒkjʊpaɪ
ˈmɪrɪəd
səˈpəʊzɪz
aɪˈdɛntɪkəl
pruːvd tuː biː
ˈkwægmaɪə
ˈrɛlɪʃt
wɪˈðaʊt kənˈsɪdərɪŋ
daɪˈvɜːs sɛt ɒv ˈsɜːkəmstənsɪz
blæk ænd waɪt
ˈæplɪkəbl
rəʊd mæp
ˈævɪd
ˈsiːmɪŋli əˈpærənt ˈlɛsnz
duːmd
liːd ðəmˈsɛlvz əsˈtreɪ
Listen and repeat:
Vocabulary Practice
Many feel that the study of the past d_____________________m the present while others believe it can help aid understanding. In my opinion, history certainly h________________s but they are s_______________________________________________________________________g.
Those who argue in favour of learning from history can p___________o the importance of understanding a culture. A f_____________________________________________s the war between Vietnam and the United States in the m__________________________s. Both before and during the war, the United States President and his a____________s understood little about the history of Vietnam with its s_____________________s from foreign nations including China and Japan. A d_____________________g of the u______y and r___________e of Vietnam might have led them to make different decisions r_____________________g the country in half and the e________________________________s. M____________________________________e all the time in i_____________________________________s and even d________________________s.
R________________s, history only h_____________________s for the k_________________________s. Every h_________________________________h a c_____________x set of circumstances, many of which are hidden from history books, and cannot be r_______________________________s. For example, the Vietnam war is often s________________________h the p_____________e that it is impossible to i_____________e and o_____________y a foreign nation. This ignores the m___________d reasons that led to defeat and s____________s that other conflicts are i_______________l. After the invasion of Iraq p_____________e a q________________e, many r___________d the historical lessons of Vietnam w_______________________g the very d_______________________________s that led to failure in each country. There are certainly insights to be gained from studying past conflicts, but they will rarely result in fixed, b__________________e rules a__________________e to every new situation.
In conclusion, history is not a simple r____________p for the future. Those who are too a_______d to accept s_________________________s are d____________d to l___________________________y and make new mistakes.
Listen and check:
Listening Practice
Watch my opinion of history here:
Learn an historical warning about flus here:
Reading Practice
Read an interesting article from The Atlantic on this topic here:
https://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2018/03/learning-from-history-a-goal-a-delusion-a-trap/556496/
Speaking Practice
Practice this topic from the real IELTS speaking test. You should talk for 1-2 minutes:
Talk about a person who taught you how to do something. Include:
Who it was
What they taught you
If you can still do it
Writing Practice
Write about the question below then check with my sample answer:
Some people say history is one the most important school subjects. Other people think that, in today’s world, subjects like science and technology are more important than history.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Real Past IELTS Exam/Test
People approach history differently, with some barely paying any attention to the past while others resorting to history in tackling present issues. Personally, I am of the conviction that even though knowing past can sometimes be useless in improving current situations, it can certainly serve as a resource to solve problems.
Admittedly, history does not provide the answer to all issues that we are facing nowadays. For those who are in hope of finding a quick solution to their challenges, they are very likely to be disappointed. This is because people nowadays face totally different challenges than those who lived in the past. For example, there were no such thing as global warming and climate change a century ago. It is impossible for us to copy a direct instruction to eliminate these threads.
However, studying the past can help us find connections and facilitate decision making. To be more specific, it is through examining the historical events and incidents that people can determine the patterns of the development of certain process, according to which the future can be predicted more accurately. For instance, economic professionals, such as board directors, are hired by the banks and other financial organizations to initiate a large number of case studies of past events. According to their findings, some organizations were able to capture the opportunity and avoid server lost in the downturn of 2008. This demonstrates how studying history is beneficial in helping current situations.
In conclusion, despite no direct instructions is provided from the past, one should spend the time and effort to figure out the internal connections and patterns of development to deal with present challenges with more ease and confidence. If we neglect the past, changes are very little progress will be made. (286 words )
Good – the only thing to add would be that in the 3rd paragraph you are talking about historical trends – really good just be sure to use that term and generalise a bit at the end to how it could be extended to other aspeacts of decision-making. You waste a bit too much time at the beginning of the paragraph when you could get to your support faster and be able to develop it more!