IELTS Reading Practice: The Importance of Gender Equity in Education

The IELTS Reading section is a crucial component of the test, assessing your ability to comprehend complex texts and answer various question types. Today, we’ll focus on a topic that has been increasingly prevalent in recent years: “The importance of gender equity in education.” This subject has appeared in several past IELTS exams and, given its ongoing relevance, is likely to feature again in future tests.

Based on our analysis of past IELTS exams and current global trends, we predict a high probability of encountering passages related to gender equity in education. This topic aligns with the IELTS exam’s tendency to include socially relevant and thought-provoking content. Let’s dive into a practice passage and questions to help you prepare for this potential exam topic.

Practice Passage: Gender Equity in Education – A Global Imperative

The Passage

Gender equity in education is not just a moral imperative but a critical factor in global development and economic growth. Despite significant progress in recent decades, disparities in educational access and quality between genders persist in many parts of the world, hindering social and economic advancement.

Historically, girls have faced greater barriers to education than boys. These obstacles range from cultural norms and early marriage to lack of safe transportation and inadequate sanitation facilities in schools. However, research consistently shows that educating girls yields substantial benefits not only for the individuals but for society as a whole.

When girls receive quality education, they are more likely to delay marriage and childbearing, have healthier children, and earn higher incomes. This, in turn, contributes to breaking the cycle of poverty and fostering economic growth. The World Bank estimates that countries lose out on $15-30 trillion in lifetime productivity and earnings due to gender gaps in education.

Moreover, gender equity in education goes beyond mere access. It involves ensuring that both boys and girls receive education free from gender stereotypes and biases. This includes promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects among girls and encouraging boys to pursue careers in fields traditionally dominated by women, such as nursing and teaching.

Governments and international organizations have recognized the importance of gender equity in education, as evidenced by its inclusion in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Goal 4 specifically aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all,” with a strong emphasis on eliminating gender disparities.

Initiatives to promote gender equity in education have shown promising results. For instance, conditional cash transfer programs in countries like Mexico and Bangladesh have significantly increased girls’ school enrollment. In addition, programs focusing on changing societal attitudes towards girls’ education have been successful in many communities.

However, challenges remain. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities, with girls in many countries being disproportionately affected by school closures. There are concerns that progress made in recent years could be reversed if targeted interventions are not implemented.

Looking ahead, achieving gender equity in education will require sustained effort and investment. This includes not only building more schools and training more teachers but also addressing underlying societal norms and economic barriers. Technology can play a crucial role, with digital learning platforms potentially reaching girls who might otherwise be excluded from traditional educational settings.

In conclusion, gender equity in education is not just about equal numbers of boys and girls in classrooms. It’s about creating a world where every individual, regardless of gender, has the opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to society to their fullest potential. As we move forward, it remains one of the most powerful tools we have for creating a more just, prosperous, and sustainable world.

Gender equity in education

Questions

1. According to the passage, what is one of the main reasons why gender equity in education is important? (Choose ONE letter, A-D)
   A) It increases government funding for schools
   B) It contributes to breaking the cycle of poverty
   C) It reduces the need for international aid
   D) It improves diplomatic relations between countries

2. The passage mentions several barriers to girls’ education. Which of the following is NOT mentioned? (Choose ONE letter, A-D)
   A) Cultural norms
   B) Early marriage
   C) Lack of female teachers
   D) Inadequate sanitation facilities

3. What does the World Bank estimate regarding gender gaps in education?
   A) Countries lose $15-30 billion annually
   B) Countries lose $15-30 trillion in lifetime productivity and earnings
   C) Girls earn $15-30 trillion less than boys over their lifetime
   D) Closing the gender gap would cost countries $15-30 trillion

4. True/False/Not Given: The passage suggests that promoting STEM subjects among girls is part of achieving gender equity in education.

5. Which of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals specifically addresses gender equity in education?
   A) Goal 1
   B) Goal 2
   C) Goal 3
   D) Goal 4

6. The passage mentions two countries as examples of successful initiatives to increase girls’ school enrollment. What type of program was used in these countries?
   A) Free school meal programs
   B) Conditional cash transfer programs
   C) Mandatory schooling laws
   D) Girls-only schools

7. According to the passage, what recent event has potentially reversed progress in gender equity in education?
   A) Economic recession
   B) Political conflicts
   C) Natural disasters
   D) The COVID-19 pandemic

8-13. Complete the summary below using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Achieving gender equity in education requires addressing various factors. Beyond building schools and training teachers, it’s crucial to tackle (8) __ and economic barriers. (9) __ can play a significant role, particularly in reaching girls excluded from traditional education. The goal is not just about equal (10) __ in classrooms, but creating opportunities for everyone to (11) __ to their fullest potential. Gender equity in education is seen as a powerful tool for creating a more (12) __, prosperous, and (13) __ world.

Answers and Explanations

1. B
   Explanation: The passage states, “When girls receive quality education, they are more likely to delay marriage and childbearing, have healthier children, and earn higher incomes. This, in turn, contributes to breaking the cycle of poverty and fostering economic growth.”

2. C
   Explanation: The passage mentions cultural norms, early marriage, lack of safe transportation, and inadequate sanitation facilities as barriers to girls’ education. Lack of female teachers is not mentioned in the passage.

3. B
   Explanation: The passage clearly states, “The World Bank estimates that countries lose out on $15-30 trillion in lifetime productivity and earnings due to gender gaps in education.”

4. True
   Explanation: The passage states, “This includes promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects among girls,” indicating that this is part of achieving gender equity in education.

5. D
   Explanation: The passage mentions, “Goal 4 specifically aims to ‘ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all,’ with a strong emphasis on eliminating gender disparities.”

6. B
   Explanation: The passage states, “For instance, conditional cash transfer programs in countries like Mexico and Bangladesh have significantly increased girls’ school enrollment.”

7. D
   Explanation: The passage mentions, “The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities, with girls in many countries being disproportionately affected by school closures.”

8. societal norms

9. Technology

10. numbers

11. contribute

12. just

13. sustainable

Explanation for 8-13: These answers can be found directly in the last two paragraphs of the passage. The summary closely follows the structure and wording of these paragraphs, making it relatively straightforward to identify the correct words to fill in the blanks.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Overlooking specific details: Many test-takers rush through the passage and miss important details. Take your time to read carefully and make mental notes of key information.

2. Falling for distractors: In multiple-choice questions, incorrect options often contain information from the passage but don’t actually answer the question. Always refer back to the passage to verify your answer.

3. Misinterpreting True/False/Not Given questions: Remember, “Not Given” means the information is neither confirmed nor denied in the passage. Don’t use your own knowledge or assumptions.

4. Exceeding word limits in summary completion: Always adhere to the word limit given. If the instruction says “NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS,” using three words will mark your answer incorrect even if the content is right.

5. Spelling errors: In the IELTS Reading test, spelling mistakes are penalized. Double-check your spelling, especially for words you’ve copied from the passage.

Vocabulary Focus

• Equity: fairness and impartiality
• Imperative: vitally important; crucial
• Disparities: differences or inequalities
• Hindering: obstructing or delaying
• Yield: produce or generate (a result)
• Stereotypes: widely held but fixed and oversimplified images or ideas
• Exacerbated: made worse
• Interventions: actions taken to improve a situation

Grammar Spotlight

Pay attention to the use of present perfect tense in the passage, for example:

“Despite significant progress in recent decades, disparities in educational access and quality between genders persist in many parts of the world.”

This tense is used to describe actions that started in the past and continue to the present or have present relevance. It’s formed with “have/has” + past participle.

Tips for Success in IELTS Reading

1. Practice time management: The IELTS Reading test gives you 60 minutes to answer 40 questions. Practice with timed exercises to improve your speed.

2. Develop your skimming and scanning skills: You don’t need to read every word. Learn to quickly identify key information.

3. Read the questions before the passage: This gives you an idea of what information to look for as you read.

4. Use the heading and subheadings: These can give you a quick overview of the passage’s structure and main ideas.

5. Pay attention to transition words: Words like “however,” “moreover,” and “in conclusion” can signal important information or changes in the argument.

6. Expand your vocabulary: The more words you know, the easier it will be to understand complex texts. Try to learn new words in context rather than in isolation.

7. Practice different question types: Familiarize yourself with all the question types that appear in the IELTS Reading test.

Remember, improving your reading skills takes time and consistent practice. Stay motivated and keep working towards your goal. With dedication and the right strategies, you can achieve the IELTS Reading score you’re aiming for.

For more practice on related topics, you might find these articles helpful:

• Challenges in Achieving Gender Equality
• The Role of Education in Fostering Social Justice
• The Importance of Equitable Access to Education

Keep practicing, and good luck with your IELTS preparation!