BEST IELTS Writing Task 2, 9th December

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IELTS WRITING TASK 2

To ensure that children receive a more effective academic education, many schools today do not encourage sporting activity as much as in the past. Discuss this view and give your opinion.

SAMPLE ANSWER

It is clear that there is more academic pressure on children today than in the past. The current world job market is more competitive and many parents and schools believe that a strong primary and secondary education can lead to a successful university experience and so give students the best chance of good and well-paid jobs in the future. Because of this trend, many schools are cutting back on sporting activity, so that more focus can be placed on academic subjects.

It is easy to understand the parents and schools that subscribe to this approach. Everyone feels that they are doing the best for their children. Many parents also ensure that their children get some sporting activity outside school in clubs and societies. Many children, in turn, feel the pressure and feel that they are better off working harder rather than playing sports.

In my country, another contributing factor to fewer sports at school is that schools are selling off their playing fields. Schools are under great budgetary pressure and face cuts from government funding. Selling valuable real estate allows schools to raise large sums of money. Furthermore, less scope for sports education means that schools do not have to employ so many sports teachers, thereby achieving a further saving.

In my opinion, cutting back on sports at school is not a good idea. Yes, a good education is extremely important and maybe more so today than ever before, but children get so much input at school anyway that it is debatable whether more classes have a significant effect. In addition to this, schools play an important role in preparing their students for life in ways other than academics. Developing healthy habits, such as playing sports, is a vital part of growing up for young people. It is well known that today’s society experiences more obesity, diabetes, heart and cancer problems and a lack of exercise has been identified as a key contributing factor.

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