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BEST IELTS Writing Task 2, 15th March
IELTS WRITING TASK 2 (AC + GT)
IELTS WRITING TASK 2 (AC + GT)
In some rich countries, the number of children at secondary or high school who are taking science subjects is declining. What effect might this have on the children’s and their countries’ futures? How can children be encouraged to study science? Provide reasons for your answer. Include relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
SAMPLE ANSWER
In the developed world, some advanced and wealthy nations are finding that the numbers of secondary or high school children taking science subjects is declining. With fewer students studying science, there will be fewer science graduates, a lessening of scientific knowledge, less research, fewer scientific breakthroughs, and ultimately, a decline in economic superiority.
Science is an integral part of our lives. Everyday we cook, go to the doctor, grow or buy vegetables, use electricity, log on to a computer, gaze at the stars, handle money. Seldom do we think that these involve chemistry, biology, botany, physics, engineering, astronomy, and mathematics. If students were made aware of the scientific connections with everyday life, perhaps more would develop a love for science enough to make it a career.
Not studying science in any depth will not only disadvantage children’s futures, but also the future of their nations. Although arts subjects are essential for students to develop a rounded approach to life, science subjects will provide them with intellectual challenges which could result in new discoveries. With these discoveries the business world will flourish, and a natural follow-on is that their countries will flourish economically.
So how are we going to attract these reluctant learners to the world of science? First, introduce them to science at a very young age, even at the preschool-level through games. Then let them make predictions about certain actions. Get them to keep a worm farm, and subsequently use the fertiliser to feed a small garden. Have them play counting games with adding and subtracting. Make it fun.
At primary-school level, children’s interests need to be catered to, and the approach may be more mysterious, or more personal. Depending on the age group, investigating the family gene pool may be of interest. For example, the colour of eyes and hair, or special family characteristics could be tabled over three generations and the results discussed. Children need visual representations, simple graphs, pattern recognition, and games.
At secondary- and highschool-level, general science and maths are a must, but again, students need to be kept involved. They need to have a passion for an area of science that will stay with them. They might be asked to find out about genetically modified genes, about how to end aging, about a disease-free world, about artificial intelligence, about electricity from plant life, or about driving on air. While there are science fairs to encourage ideas, above all, children need exciting and innovative teachers.
Hopefully, then, students will take science subjects at tertiary level, and thereby continue to keep their nations at the scientific and economic forefront.
IELTS Writing Task 2
IELTS Writing Task 2