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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.
Real Past IELTS Tests
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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.
- Rewrite the main topic of the essay – keep it short and simple.
- 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.
- Write a clear topic sentence with your main idea at the end of the sentence.
- Begin to develop your main idea. Be as specific as possible.
- Continue to develop with a specific details. Here I use a hypothetical example.
- 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.
- Write a clear topic sentence for this paragraph as well with a new main idea.
- Begin your example and develop it for the rest of the paragraph.
- Stick to the same example and develop it fully.
- Notice that I vary the length and complexity of my sentences.
- If possible, quote some research (even if you have to make it up like i did here).
- 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.
- Repeat your opinion.
- 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:
IELTS Sample Student Corrections
Comment any questions that you have below!
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