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IELTS essay, topic: Schools should select students by their academic abilities, agree or disagree?

Some people think that schools should select students according to their academic abilities, while others believe that it is better to have students with different abilities studying together. Discuss both views and state your own opinion.

Some people contend that mixed ability classes are more beneficial for children’s development than streaming them on the basis of judgement about their academic abilities. However, from my perspective, I disagree with this contention.

Admittedly, mixed ability classes provide a better environment for children’s all-round development. In such classes, children with different abilities study together and in turn they can learn from one another. From example, a student, who is good at academic study but weak in dancing or painting, can learn how to dance or paint his peers. In this sense, mixed ability classes allow students to develop their abilities in different subjects instead of only academic abilities.

Despite the argument above, I believe streaming students brings more benefits to teachers and students. As for teachers, separating children with better academic abilities from others facilitates effective teaching. This practice helps teachers to control their students more conveniently and easily. Compared with mixed ability in which teacher should consider students’ differences when they are using teaching methodologies, streaming makes this situation simpler. To be more specific, students are at the same level of academic ability in a class, and in turn teachers can use the same methodologies for them all. In this way, the narrower the spread of ability in the class, the more convenient the teaching can be.

On top of this, enables students to learn in an effective way. According to students’ different abilities, they are taught in different ways that are more suitable for them. In the top streams, students use more difficult materials, therefore, they can learn more. In sharp contrast, teachers can explain the material more slowly to those in bottom streams. Under this circumstance, students with different academic abilities can study effectively and efficiently.

In the final analysis, mixed ability classes are beneficial for students’ versatile development, but in my opinion, segregating students based on different academic ability is better for both teachers and students.

The writer presented a balanced discussion of the topic, effortlessly delivered in a form of a fluent, well-written IELTS essay. The arguments and reasoning are laid out in a coherent, logical way. A wide range of vocabulary is used in this work. There are very few spelling errors that could have been caught in an additional round of proofreading (mouse over the words underlined in blue shows corrections). Keep up the good work! Overall, this essay seems worthy of IELTS Band 8.

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IELTS test in India and the UK – March 2013 (General Training)

IELTS test takers J and M (thank you!) shared this update from a recent exam:

Listening testIELTS test in UK

Section 1. A conversation about trips to the mountains.

Section 2. A talk about the conversion of a new course at school.

Section 3. Map of a town to point out designated places.

Section 4. British steam ship manufacturing history.

Reading test

Passage 1. About sushi restaurants in Japan.

Passage 2. School courses details for new students.

Passage 3. Don’t remember.

Passage 4. Company’s holiday policy.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a letter)

Write a letter to the cinema manager to inform him/her that you have lost your bag in the cinema. In your letter

– Tell exactly what happened and when.

– Where do you think you left the bag.

– Ask the manager to help find the bag.

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

Older people think the world was a better place when they were young. Do you agree or disagree? Give your opinion.

Speaking test

Interview

– What is your full name?
– Can I see your ID?
– Where are you from?
– Where do you live now?
– Describe your city.
– Where would you like to live in the future?

Cue Card

Talk about a gift that you gave to someone recently. Please say

– What was the gift and when was it given?
– Whom did you give it to?
– How did you feel about it?

Discussion

– Talk about the importance of gifts in your country.
– What kind of gifts do you like to give?
– What is the role of advertisement in gifts industry?