Describe one major education issue in your country. What is the problem? What solutions are there to this problem?

(Sample IELTS Essay)

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Talk about this issue with your group. What kind of points could you write in an essay?

Describe one major education issue in your country. What is the problem?

What solutions are there to this problem?

Talk about this issue with your group. What kind of points could you write in an essay?

Describe one major education issue in your country. What is the problem?

What solutions are there to this problem?

Talk about this issue with your group. What kind of points could you write in an essay?

Describe one major education issue in your country. What is the problem?

What solutions are there to this problem?

Talk about this issue with your group. What kind of points could you write in an essay?

Describe one major education issue in your country. What is the problem?

What solutions are there to this problem?

Talk about this issue with your group. What kind of points could you write in an essay?

Describe one major education issue in your country. What is the problem?

What solutions are there to this problem?

Talk about this issue with your group. What kind of points could you write in an essay?

Describe one major education issue in your country. What is the problem?

What solutions are there to this problem?

Talk about this issue with your group. What kind of points could you write in an essay?

Describe one major education issue in your country. What is the problem?

What solutions are there to this problem?

Talk about this issue with your group. What kind of points could you write in an essay?

Describe one major education issue in your country. What is the problem? What solutions are there to this problem?

Describe one major education issue in your country. What is the problem?

What solutions are there to this problem?

1. Divide the following essay into 5 paragraphs.

2. Highlight the topic sentence in each paragraph.

Education is becoming increasingly important these days. Students need to have a good education in order to have a successful life. Children now have the opportunity to learn many different things at school, such as art, music and cooking. However, an increasing number of students lack some basic skills. One of the biggest issues in schools today is the falling literacy rate. There are a number of reasons why literacy rates are falling in Australia. The main reason is that less time is devoted to reading and writing than in the past. It takes time to develop these skills, but today’s curriculum is crowded with many other subjects and activities. So, children may not spend enough time on basics, such as spelling and grammar. Another factor is technology. Most students type their assignments on word processors that have automatic spell-check, so they do not need to be able to spell well. Also, most students use mobiles to send abbreviated text messages. This enables them to communicate easily with their friends, but it does not help their spelling. One obvious solution to the literacy problem is for schools to change their curriculum. More time needs to be spent on reading, writing and mathematics, particularly in primary school. To do this, the Education Department would have to develop new class programs, which would prioritize basic skills over other subjects and activities. It is important to do this because with basic literacy skills, students will be able to learn anything in the future. Another way to improve students’ literacy is to limit the use of technology. Computers can check spelling and grammar automatically. This means that students do not have to concentrate on these skills. Teachers could remove these functions from computers at school. Then children would have to be more careful about spelling and grammar. To sum up, the school curriculum and modern technology have contributed to students’ lack of basic literacy skills. However, we can improve literacy by changing the curriculum and limiting the use of technology.

Describe one major education issue in your country. What is the problem?

What solutions are there to this problem?

P1: Introduce the general topic: Education Introduce the specific topic: Literacy P2: Describe the problem: Why is it happening? P3: One solution P4: 2nd solution P5: Conclusion: Repeat problem & solution

Education is becoming increasingly important these days. Students need to have a good education in order to have a successful life. Children now have the opportunity to learn many different things at school, such as art, music and cooking. However, an increasing number of students lack some basic skills. One of the biggest issues in schools today is the falling literacy rate. There are a number of reasons why literacy rates are falling in Australia. The main reason is that less time is devoted to reading and writing than in the past. It takes time to develop these skills, but today’s curriculum is crowded with many other subjects and activities. So, children may not spend enough time on basics, such as spelling and grammar. Another factor is technology. Most students type their assignments on word processors that have automatic spell-check, so they do not need to be able to spell well. Also, most students use mobiles to send abbreviated text messages. This enables them to communicate easily with their friends, but it does not help their spelling. One obvious solution to the literacy problem is for schools to change their curriculum. More time needs to be spent on reading, writing and mathematics, particularly in primary school. To do this, the Education Department would have to develop new class programs, which would prioritize basic skills over other subjects and activities. It is important to do this because with basic literacy skills, students will be able to learn anything in the future. Another way to improve students’ literacy is to limit the use of technology. Computers can check spelling and grammar automatically. This means that students do not have to concentrate on these skills. Teachers could remove these functions from computers at school. Then children would have to be more careful about spelling and grammar. To sum up, the school curriculum and modern technology have contributed to students’ lack of basic literacy skills. However, we can improve literacy by changing the curriculum and limiting the use of technology.

Word Count: 336

Questions

1. What is the general topic?

2. What is the specific topic?

3. What is the purpose of paragraph 2?

4. How many reasons are given in paragraph 2? What are they?

5. How many solutions are given? What are they?

Answers

1. What is the general topic?

---Education

2. What is the specific topic?

---Literacy

3. What is the purpose of paragraph 2?

--To describe the problem and say why it is happening.

4. How many reasons are given in paragraph 2? What are they?

--Two reasons. Not enough time spent in school, and technology

5. How many solutions are given? What are they?

--Two solutions. Change the school curriculum, and limit the use of technology.