Universities should accept equal numbers of male and female students in every subject. To what extent do you agree or disagree?: IELTS Writing Task
Bhargavee Sisodia18 Nov 2024
The IELTS consists of Reading, writing, speaking, and listening. In this blog, we will stretch upon the writing task for the academic test which will assess the writing competence through parameters like vocabulary, word formation, sentence formation, etc. The two types of writing tests include Task 1 and Task 2.
The writing Task 1 is concerned with writing on a visual illustration while Task 2 is where you will be asked to write a detailed response based on a particular opinion, viewpoint, or argument. It is a timed task that should be attempted in a formal style and ideally, 250 words should be reached in under 40 minutes.
Scoring Criteria of IELTS Writing Task 2
To achieve a high IELTS writing band score, you should never ignore these four scoring criteria:
Task achievement: It will assess if you have understood and responded to the essay question appropriately. It must have extended and developed answers.
Coherence and Cohesion: It considers the number of paragraphs used and cohesive devices used including conjunctions and connectors in the essay.
Lexical Resource: When assigning marks, the word structure, spelling, high-level vocabulary, and relevant collocations are considered in articulating the writing. You should also acquaint yourself to attempt a variety of synonyms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: In this, your adeptness in using tenses, implementing proper punctuation, and grammatical structures, including complex and simple sentences will be gauged.
Six types of essays are offered in the IELTS writing Task 2. Since you would not be able to choose what type of essay to write, it's crucial to understand the various types and their basics (including structures) to avoid a low IELTS writing band score. The essay types are mentioned below:
Opinion Essay: You will be exposed to an argument or statement for which you will give your opinion concerning whether you agree or disagree with it.
Advantages/ Disadvantages: Here you will analyze the advantages and disadvantages of a topic. Nonetheless, within this category, there are 'outweigh essays' that necessitate expressing your opinion
Discussion: You will be given a situation and engage in a discussion highlighting both sides.
Problem/Solution: You will either spot the problem, or the causes of a problem, and suggest practical solutions.
Direct Question: There will be separate questions, two to three on the same topic, which you will respond to one after another.
Balanced Opinion: Provided with two sides of an argument, this type of essay requires a commitment to balance both sides, without a strong agreement or disagreement.
IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics:
Universities should accept equal numbers of male and female students in every subject. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
It is necessary to identify the question type before writing a structured answer. Even if you can secure a maximum band, you cannot be guaranteed a high score if you miss out on the approach on how to identify the question prompt. While responding, look at these three points that will help you recognize the essay question type, and respond suitably.
Pick out the topic words.
To make it easy, we will first skim through the prompt and find the topic words which is acquainting yourself with the general subject of the given question. In this prompt, it will be ‘universities’ and ‘ students.’
Find the other keywords
Now, this step is pivotal to know what is the actual issue or topic that you need to write on. To get the opinion that is highlighted in the sample topic, you will see that it is portraying the essentiality of acceptance of an equal number of students in every subject through the phrases ‘accept’, ‘an equal number of male and female students’, and ‘every subject’. So, it will be easier for you to include relevant ideas associated with the keywords.
Do not dismiss the instruction words
The instruction words weigh 25% of your scores as they cover what you need to do after reading the question statement. In this sample, the instruction words are contained in the statement ‘to what extent do you agree or disagree’. This means that you will be needed to respond with an opinion whether you agree or disagree with the essay statement. Another point to note in this sample is that there is a single statement without any contradictory viewpoint which makes it an agree/disagree or opinion essay.
Therefore, it is now comprehensible that it falls within the category of an opinion essay as you are mandated to project your agreement or disagreement based on a particular one-way statement since no contradictory argument has been mentioned. With the type of essay being clear, let’s now understand the structure of an opinion essay before looking at the sample answers that are categorized under Band 6, 7, and 9.
Structure of the essay
Introduction: Paraphrase the given information and state if you agree or disagree.
Body Paragraph 1: Present your reasons for supporting it and explain with examples.
BodyParagraph 2: Justify your opinion and add more instances to make it reasonable.
Body Paragraph 3(optional): You can write the opposing view and mention why you do not agree with it.
Conclusion: Restate your viewpoint and wrap it up.
How to paraphrase the introduction and conclusion in the essay?
Paraphrasing means expressing a similar idea differently with the help of alternative words. Since it is a vital skill in the test, including the writing section, being good at paraphrasing can help you score more. Eventually, the cognitive skills that are used in the paraphrasing process help in grasping the question. In this way, the students can rephrase the question and earn more marks. Here are a few ways to indulge in paraphrasing:
1: Using Synonyms
Synonyms can be various words that share the same meaning. For instnce, ‘getting’ can be interchanged with the word ‘obtaining’. With such usage, substitute words with similar meanings can be employed while writing or speaking to convey the intended meaning rather than repeating or overusing a particular word.
Eg. They are fooling with the innocent boy.
They are messing with the innocent boy.
'Fooling with' is replaced with ‘messing with.’
2: Changing the word order.
Paraphrasing can be productive when the word order in a sentence is modified with a 100% conviction that it is grammatically correct and error-free. This involves a cautious approach as without proper comprehension of the sentence, there might be major faults which might hamper the sentence's grammar, at unexpected times.
- Change the order of the clauses if you find that there is more than one clause in the given sentence. Eg. ‘With the increasing population, there is more urban construction’, can be written as ‘Urban development is expanding as the population is growing.’
- If you see an adjective or noun, a relative clause can be introduced by changing the adjective. Eg. ‘Time management is one of the essential components for success’ can be written as ‘time management is an essential component for success.’
3: Change the Form of the Word
Whil encountering different forms of words like nouns, verbs, etc., you can be one step ahead by changing the form of words to enable easy paraphrasing. Try to make sure that it has correct grammar and sentence formation.
Eg: ‘I did not have the time to change clothes before the event’ can be written as ‘I did not have time to get changed before the event.’
4: Change into passive voice
The passive voice in IELTS writing is something that is a significant aspect. To reflect on this, one can write in a passive voice if the verbs are given with an object.
Eg. ‘People say that breakfast is the important meal of the day’ can be written as ‘Breakfast is said to be the important meal of the day.’
Sample essay
Band 6
It is believed that university should work for equal gender ratios in all subject. To support this idea, I am showing the arguing by bringing into visibility how equal admisson of men and women allows a better chance to obtain their preferable course and progress in career and overall development.
First, to understand every student have different and multiple interest, it is essential. Whether male or female, they free to opt their favorit subjects and take responsibility for the future, which can promise equal opportunities to them, without leaving sharp difference in number. This equality in admitting will make sure that both are not the victims to getting fewer opportunities. Science programs earlier enrolled more male students compared to other subjects and it hinders the opportunity for female to study even that subject even if they had potential and interest. But this has changed for the good as today everyone is given the same opportunity.
Also, equal education to both will help transparent education. When boys and girls are in the same number, it brings equality and send positive message to society. It makes people flexible to accept how sending boys and girls to study their interest subject is worthwhile. Such a approach allows the literacy ratio to be maintained well in the nation. As university are offering adequat weightage to both genders, learning is accessed by students based on their achievements, does not matter if they are male or female.
When building an equitable society, it is necessary for universities to provide enrolls to both males and females for whichever subject they like to study after having looked at their ability.
Views: The task is understood well. Underlined words and sentences refer to a lack of cohesion, i.e. organized flow of the ideas and better-linking devices and transition phrases can be used for improved cohesiveness. Suppose ‘First’ could have been replaced with ‘significantly’. There are many vocabulary, word choice, and spelling errors in the lexical resource highlighted in italics. The underlined and italicized words represent grammatical errors, including the use of nouns, tenses, and punctuation.
Band 7
It is often argued that universities should admit male and female to different types of subjects fairly. Since I agree with this idea of offer same opportunity in all educational spheres, I will justify the viewpoint with a few supporting reasons and end with a good conclusion.
One of important things to realize is that contemporary lives are improving with gender equality. In colleges and universities, this change is initiated by offering suiting opportunity that attracts students from both genders to apply for admission. Boys and girls competing at the same level for admission into an institute are granted enrolment due to their individual capabilities, and not gender-biased consideration. A good example is that updated research shows that women's brain tend to be more flexible when immersing in learning process than men in several cases. This mean women should empowered to enter all the courses like men.
Moreover, it is good that universities are favoring providing equal quantity scholarships for both men and women as it helps not only to earn financial aids, but brings them together, despite their differences in class and gender. It has also proved beneficial for enabling better communication between them. An instance is that both genders get an equal chance in leading each other in projects or other initiatives only to help remove lack in leadership skills as they get used to communication with one another in a higher-level academic or formal setting.
Overall, since the modern world requires prompt action for the betterment of society and enhancing advancements, it is of utmost importance that both men and women are given better opportunities at equal levels in educational institutes.
Views: There is a proper development, logical presentation of ideas, inclusion of examples and paragraphing in response to the prompt. Relevant ideas with examples make it a good essay. Better linking words for good cohesion can be used which is highlighted in bold. A few wrong word usages in lexical resources for which subject-specific and synonyms could have been incorporated (in italics). The italicized and underlined part is to draw attention to grammatical and vocabulary usage errors. An example is ‘good’ can be replaced by ‘well-reasoned.’
Band 9
It is opined that universities should ensure an equal number of male and female students in the academic sphere. I support this perspective wholeheartedly and will elaborate on it backing up with a well-rounded rationale in the following paragraphs.
To begin with, nowadays institutions are immersed in endorsing educational equality because the principle itself is engrossed in ensuring equitable distribution of resources, opportunities, and achievements for all sorts of students, regardless of gender. Through equal educational prospects, the individuals avail the chance to discover and nurture their individual talents which is requisite for contributing meaningfully and organically to their communities. Without equal education, valuable talent from people remains unharnessed and society is devoid of progress. For instance, boys receiving education and participating in societal activities while girls are deprived of those will hinder the exploration of skills and passions.
Significantly, every student is gifted with a specific set of talents. When there is a gender-equitable education system in place, girls and boys end up cultivating essential life skills such as self-discipline, communication, critical thinking, and leadership. Another thing that can be emphasized is how the boys might benefit from an education based on gender stereotypes. An example can be in many countries where there are traditional masculine expectations to earn and support a family, even with a meager salary, boys end up doing labor work by leaving education as they perceive the curriculum to be irrelevant to meet job demands. However, this disengagement from education at an early age can be undone with the advocation of equal educational offers and non-stereotypical expectations.
In conclusion, balancing between the two genders by promulgating fairness in opportunities related to education and careers by the universities can help institute a fair and progressive society where individuals can employ their expertise for innovations. Hence, I approve of the viewpoint that universities must adhere to exercise equal admittance of both males and females.
Conclusion
D-VIVID Consultant is here to be your guide and provide support with a broad selection of IELTS Writing Task 2 topics with answers, organized by band score. Our extensive set of IELTS essay topics across various categories and types will deepen your understanding of the task and its requirements. We are dedicated to assisting you at every step of your IELTS preparation. To help you navigate confidently before sitting for the IELTS exam, D-VIVID is a reliable guide.
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