This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay related to children starting school from the real past IELTS test.

Here is the question:

Some people think that children should begin their formal education at a very early age. Some think they should begin at least 7 years old. Discuss both views give opinions.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Children Starting School (Real Past Tests)

Some people think that children should begin their formal education at a very early age. Some think they should begin at least 7 years old. Discuss both views give opinions.

Real Past IELTS Tests

There has been growing momentum in recent years towards movements for children to start schooling after the age of 7. In my opinion, although going to school from a young age will help with social development, children should be allowed to grow outside school until the age of 7.

Proponents of early schooling often point out the clinical research on the impact of school on social skills. At home, children are exposed to a variety of different circumstances. They may or may not have siblings, their parents might take them out for playdates often or neglect them at home, hampering their social skills. Once children start school, they are all in more or less an equal environment where they must communicate with older and younger children, compromise when playing, learn to listen to their teachers, and start forming stable bonds based on empathy and shared interests with others.

Despite the social advantages, children can develop more uniquely if they are allowed to delay their entrance to formal schooling. A good example of this is in Finland, where students do not begin school until after the age of 7. Finland is renowned for its top-performing students but this can be traced to a number of factors besides simply school age. However, the impact on individual development is apparent. According to research into child psychology, children form the basis of their personality between the ages of 4 and 7. Therefore it is paramount to delay the age when they begin school in order to give them room to breath and ultimately produce a greater variety of voices in society at large as has been the case in Finland.

In my opinion, the social benefits of school do not outweigh the individual positives of delayed schooling to both the individual and society. Schools should continue to research this area so that they can better advise policymakers.

Analysis

1. There has been growing momentum in recent years towards movements for children to start schooling after the age of 7. 2. In my opinion, although going to school from a young age will help with social development, children should be allowed to grow outside school until the age of 7.

1. Rewrite the main topic of the essay – keep it short and simple.
2. Give your opinion. Don’t sit in the middle – choose a clear side.

1. Proponents of early schooling often point out the clinical research on the impact of school on social skills. 2. At home, children are exposed to a variety of different circumstances. 3. They may or may not have siblings, their parents might take them out for playdates often or neglect them at home, hampering their social skills. 4. Once children start school, they are all in more or less an equal environment where they must communicate with older and younger children, compromise when playing, learn to listen to their teachers, and start forming stable bonds based on empathy and shared interests with others.

1. Write a clear topic sentence with your main idea at the end of the sentence.
2. Begin to develop your main idea. Be as specific as possible.
3. Continue to develop with a specific details. Here I use a hypothetical example.
4. I finish developing my main idea here. Make sure that you have at least 4 sentences.

1. Despite the social advantages, children can develop more uniquely if they are allowed to delay their entrance to formal schooling. 2. A good example of this is in Finland, where students do not begin school until after the age of 7. 3. Finland is renowned for its top-performing students but this can be traced to a number of factors besides simply school age. 4. However, the impact on individual development is apparent. 5. According to research into child psychology, children form the basis of their personality between the ages of 4 and 7. 6. Therefore it is paramount to delay the age when they begin school in order to give them room to breath and ultimately produce a greater variety of voices in society at large as has been the case in Finland.

1. Write a clear topic sentence for this paragraph as well with a new main idea.
2. Begin your example and develop it for the rest of the paragraph.
3. Stick to the same example and develop it fully.
4. Notice that I vary the length and complexity of my sentences.
5. If possible, quote some research (even if you have to make it up like i did here).
6. Conclude your paragraph and tie it back to the main idea.

1. In my opinion, the social benefits of school do not outweigh the individual positives of delayed schooling to both the individual and society. 2. Schools should continue to research this area so that they can better advise policymakers.

1. Repeat your opinion.
2. Add an extra detail or final thought to get full marks for task achievement.

Vocabulary

There has been growing momentum in recent years towards movements for children to start schooling after the age of 7. In my opinion, although going to school from a young age will help with social development, children should be allowed to grow outside school until the age of 7.

Proponents of early schooling often point out the clinical research on the impact of school on social skills. At home, children are exposed to a variety of different circumstances. They may or may not have siblings, their parents might take them out for playdates often or neglect them at home, hampering their social skills. Once children start school, they are all in more or less an equal environment where they must communicate with older and younger children, compromise when playing, learn to listen to their teachers, and start forming stable bonds based on empathy and shared interests with others.

Despite the social advantages, children can develop more uniquely if they are allowed to delay their entrance to formal schooling. A good example of this is in Finland, where students do not begin school until after the age of 7. Finland is renowned for its top-performing students but this can be traced to a number of factors besides simply school age. However, the impact on individual development is apparent. According to research into child psychology, children form the basis of their personality between the ages of 4 and 7. Therefore it is paramount to delay the age when they begin school in order to give them room to breath and ultimately produce a greater variety of voices in society at large as has been the case in Finland.

In my opinion, the social benefits of school do not outweigh the individual positives of delayed schooling to both the individual and society. Schools should continue to research this area so that they can better advise policymakers.

Answers

growing momentum more and more pressure

movements shifts/developments

schooling going to school

social development interpersonal skills

proponents advocates

clinical research evidence

social skills talking and getting along with others

exposed shown to be

different circumstances another context

siblings brothers and sisters

playdates arrangements for kids to hang out

neglect not pay attention to

hampering holding back/hurting

more or less around

equal environment no advantages/bias

compromise settle for

forming stable bonds developing long-term relationships

empathy understanding others feelings

shared interests what you have in common

uniquely individually

delay slow down

formal schooling going to an actual school

renowned well-known

top-performing students best students

traced attributed to

a number of factors many causes

apparent what’s obvious/likely

child psychology how children think and feel

form the basis the foundation of

personality temperament

paramount important

room to breath space

ultimately in the end

voices opinions

society at large all of society

as has been the case where this was also true

outweigh is stronger than

policymakers politicians/officials/leaders

Proununciation

ˈgrəʊɪŋ məʊˈmɛntəm
ˈmuːvmənts 
ˈskuːlɪŋ 
ˈsəʊʃəl dɪˈvɛləpmənt
prəˈpəʊnənts 
ˈklɪnɪkəl rɪˈsɜːʧ 
ˈsəʊʃəl skɪlz
ɪksˈpəʊzd 
ˈdɪfrənt ˈsɜːkəmstənsɪz
ˈsɪblɪŋz
pleɪdeɪts 
nɪˈglɛkt 
ˈhæmpərɪŋ 
mɔːr ɔː lɛs 
ˈiːkwəl ɪnˈvaɪərənmənt 
ˈkɒmprəmaɪz 
ˈfɔːmɪŋ ˈsteɪbl bɒndz 
ˈɛmpəθi 
ʃeəd ˈɪntrɪsts 
juːˈniːkli 
dɪˈleɪ 
ˈfɔːməl ˈskuːlɪŋ
rɪˈnaʊnd 
tɒp-pəˈfɔːmɪŋ ˈstjuːdənts 
treɪst 
ə ˈnʌmbər ɒv ˈfæktəz 
əˈpærənt
ʧaɪld saɪˈkɒləʤi
fɔːm ðə ˈbeɪsɪs 
ˌpɜːsəˈnælɪti 
ˈpærəmaʊnt
ruːm tuː brɛθ 
ˈʌltɪmɪtli 
ˈvɔɪsɪz 
səˈsaɪəti æt lɑːʤ 
æz hæz biːn ðə keɪs 
aʊtˈweɪ 
ˈpɒlɪsiˈmeɪkəz

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

There has been ______________ in recent years towards ______________ for children to start ______________ after the age of 7. In my opinion, although going to school from a young age will help with ______________, children should be allowed to grow outside school until the age of 7.

______________ of early schooling often point out the ______________ on the impact of school on ______________. At home, children are ______________ to a variety of ______________. They may or may not have ______________, their parents might take them out for ______________ often or ______________ them at home, ______________ their social skills. Once children start school, they are all in ______________ an ______________ where they must communicate with older and younger children, ______________ when playing, learn to listen to their teachers, and start ______________ based on ______________ and ______________ with others.

Despite the social advantages, children can develop more ______________ if they are allowed to ______________ their entrance to ______________. A good example of this is in Finland, where students do not begin school until after the age of 7. Finland is ______________ for its ______________ but this can be ______________ to ______________ besides simply school age. However, the impact on individual development is ______________ . According to research into ______________, children ______________ of their ______________ between the ages of 4 and 7. Therefore it is ______________ to delay the age when they begin school in order to give them ______________ and ______________ produce a greater variety of ______________ in ______________ ______________ in Finland.

In my opinion, the social benefits of school do not ______________ the individual positives of delayed schooling to both the individual and society. Schools should continue to research this area so that they can better advise ______________.

IELTS Listening Practice

Watch the video below and practice your listening. You can use some of the activity ideas here to help you practice without a teacher.

IELTS Reading Practice

Finland is a great example for a lot of different questions that come up on IELTS so read more here:

https://www.npr.org/2014/03/08/287255411/what-the-u-s-can-learn-from-finland-where-school-starts-at-age-7

IELTS Sample Student Corrections

Comment any questions that you have below!