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IELTS essay, topic: Some people think that sport in schools is a waste of time and resources, while others believe it is a vital part of education (opinion)

This is a model response to a Writing Task 2 topic from High Scorer’s Choice IELTS Practice Tests book series (reprinted with permission). This answer is likely to score IELTS Band 9.

Set 2 Academic book, Practice Test 8

Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Some people believe that having sport in schools is a waste of time and resources, whilst other people believe that sport in schools is a vital part of education.

Discuss both these views and give your opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.

You should write at least 250 words.

Answer

In most education systems around the world, physical education is one of the components of the syllabus. However, this is a controversial topic, as it has been argued that sport as a school subject is unnecessary. Opposing this is the view that physical education is a vital aspect of the education.

Physical education was introduced into schools to promote a healthy lifestyle by exposing students to different types of sport and ensuring that those who are not naturally sporty are exposed to exercise and its benefits. For students who are already very active, having a sports lesson might be unnecessary, but those who are not given the opportunities or who are not from active families depend on schools for exercise. Furthermore, a school is supposed to educate on multiple levels, a key aspect of which is healthy living. It is not sufficient to discuss exercise in class; students must experience the effects that ensue. One of these benefits is that exercise enables people to concentrate more efficiently and work more efficiently, meaning that having sport as a subject is beneficial to other subjects as well.

On the other hand, exercise to some degree is a personal matter and forcing students to exercise in class can then have the opposite effect. This feeling can lead to students not pursuing any sports later due to negative experiences and memories connected to it. Another argument is that exercise is a leisure activity and therefore not school-related and should be practiced outside of school.

In conclusion, while negative results can be caused through physical education, it is vital for students to take part in it. Some students are only exposed to a healthy lifestyle in schools and therefore there is a responsibility to educate individuals in this area.

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6 thoughts on “IELTS essay, topic: Some people think that sport in schools is a waste of time and resources, while others believe it is a vital part of education (opinion)”

  1. These are helpful.
    Please evaluate my writing.
    Question- Today the quality of life in large cities is decreasing. Discuss the causes and solutions.
    Answer
    People come to metropolitan cities in search of a better life. However, large towns have now become unfavorable places to live in, due to the fact that, they are over populated. In the following essay, I will discuss the top two challenges that make living in a city difficult; subsequently, I will provide solutions that I assume will help to solve them.
    The first reason people despise living in a city is the traffic jam; as there are as many cars as there are people, people find it difficult to be punctual. For instance, in Addis Ababa, a person needs to get up very early in the morning, if he or she wishes to get to work or school on time, as there are long queues for public transportation. Even if you are driving, the crowded streets make your morning miserable, killing your time and draining your energy before the day even begins.
    The second reason is housing. Renting or owning a house is extremely expensive in such cities. Residents allocate more than half of their monthly income on rent, which hinders them from saving as much money as they thought they would, making it unbearable to live in the city.

    In my perspective, the following solutions can make humans better tolerate city life. First of all, the government should construct alternative roads and underground train railways. Second, the national government should build condominiums or affordable apartments to tackle the housing shortage. And there should be strict laws against sound and air pollution, especially in residential areas.
    In a nutshell, I believe if the abide mentioned measures are enacted, it will make living in the city pleasant, affordable, and convenient.

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Simone Braverman is the founder of IELTS-Blog.com and author of several popular IELTS preparation books, including Ace the IELTS, Target Band 7, the High Scorer's Choice practice test series, and IELTS Success Formula. Since 2005 her work has helped 100,000's of students worldwide achieve their target IELTS scores and live their dream lives. When Simone isn't working on her next IELTS book, video lesson, or coaching, she enjoys playing the guitar or rollerblading.