Mastering IELTS Writing Task 2: Sample Essays on Soft Skills Education (Band 6-9)

Soft skills education has become an increasingly important topic in IELTS Writing Task 2 essays. Based on recent exam trends, questions related to integrating soft skills into school curricula have appeared with moderate frequency. This topic is likely to continue being relevant in future tests due to its growing significance in modern education and workforce development.

One common question format that has appeared in past IELTS exams is:

Some people think that schools should teach children soft skills like cooperation and creativity, in addition to traditional academic subjects. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Let’s analyze this question and explore sample essays at different band levels to help you prepare for similar prompts in your IELTS Writing Task 2.

Question Analysis

This question is asking for your opinion on whether schools should incorporate soft skills education alongside traditional academic subjects. Key points to consider:

1. The main focus is on soft skills like cooperation and creativity.
2. The question implies a comparison between soft skills and traditional academic subjects.
3. You need to state your level of agreement or disagreement and support your position with reasons and examples.

Sample Essay 1 (Band 8-9)

In today’s rapidly evolving world, I strongly agree that schools should teach children soft skills such as cooperation and creativity, in addition to traditional academic subjects. This approach is crucial for preparing students for the challenges of the modern workplace and society at large.

Firstly, soft skills are essential for success in both personal and professional life. While academic knowledge provides a foundation, it is often the ability to work well with others, communicate effectively, and think creatively that sets individuals apart in the workplace. For instance, a brilliant scientist who lacks teamwork skills may struggle to collaborate on research projects, limiting their potential impact. By integrating soft skills education into the curriculum, schools can ensure that students develop a well-rounded skill set that enhances their employability and career prospects.

Moreover, fostering creativity in schools can lead to innovation and problem-solving abilities that are highly valued in today’s rapidly changing world. Creative thinking enables students to approach challenges from multiple perspectives and develop novel solutions. This is particularly important in fields such as technology and entrepreneurship, where innovation drives progress. By encouraging creativity alongside traditional subjects, schools can nurture the next generation of innovators and leaders who will shape the future of our society.

Students engaging in a classroom discussion to develop soft skills

However, it is important to strike a balance between soft skills education and traditional academic subjects. While soft skills are crucial, a strong foundation in core subjects like mathematics, science, and language is still necessary for academic and professional success. The key lies in integrating soft skills development into existing curricula rather than treating it as a separate entity. For example, group projects in science classes can promote both subject knowledge and teamwork skills simultaneously.

In conclusion, incorporating soft skills education into school curricula is essential for preparing students for the challenges of the 21st century. By fostering abilities such as cooperation and creativity alongside traditional academic subjects, schools can produce well-rounded individuals who are better equipped to succeed in their personal and professional lives. This holistic approach to education will ultimately benefit both individuals and society as a whole.

(Word count: 377)

Essay 1 Analysis (Band 8-9)

This essay demonstrates excellent qualities that align with Band 8-9 criteria:

1. Task Achievement: The essay fully addresses all parts of the task, presenting a clear position with well-developed ideas and relevant examples.

2. Coherence and Cohesion: Ideas are logically organized with clear progression throughout the essay. Paragraphs are well-linked, and cohesive devices are used effectively.

3. Lexical Resource: A wide range of vocabulary is used accurately and appropriately, with good use of less common words and collocations (e.g., “rapidly evolving world,” “foster creativity,” “novel solutions”).

4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay demonstrates a wide range of complex structures used accurately, with only minor errors that do not impede communication.

5. Argument Development: Each main point is thoroughly explained and supported with relevant examples, showing depth of critical thinking.

Sample Essay 2 (Band 6-7)

I agree that schools should teach children soft skills like cooperation and creativity along with regular subjects. This is important because these skills help students in their future jobs and personal lives.

One reason why soft skills are important is that they help people work better with others. In most jobs, people need to work in teams and communicate well. For example, if a person is very smart but can’t cooperate with coworkers, they might have trouble at work. By teaching cooperation in school, students can learn how to work well with different types of people.

Another benefit of teaching soft skills is that it helps students be more creative. Creativity is useful in many areas of life, not just in art classes. For instance, a business person might need to think creatively to solve a problem or come up with a new product idea. If schools encourage creativity, students might become better at finding new solutions to problems.

Students collaborating on a creative group project

However, it’s also important that schools don’t forget about teaching regular subjects like math and science. These subjects give students important knowledge that they need for many jobs and for understanding the world. Schools should try to teach both soft skills and regular subjects together.

In conclusion, I think it’s a good idea for schools to teach soft skills along with traditional subjects. This will help students be better prepared for their future jobs and lives. By learning both types of skills, students can become more successful and adaptable in the changing world.

(Word count: 292)

Essay 2 Analysis (Band 6-7)

This essay demonstrates qualities that align with Band 6-7 criteria:

1. Task Achievement: The essay addresses the main parts of the task and presents a clear position. However, the ideas could be more fully developed with more specific examples.

2. Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is generally well-organized with clear progression of ideas. Some cohesive devices are used, but they could be more varied.

3. Lexical Resource: The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, with some attempt at using less common words. However, the range could be wider, and there’s some repetition (e.g., “soft skills,” “important”).

4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures with generally good control. There are some errors, but they don’t impede communication.

5. Argument Development: Main points are supported with reasons and examples, but they could be more detailed and elaborated.

Key Vocabulary to Remember

1. Soft skills (noun) – /sɒft skɪlz/ – Personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively with others
2. Curriculum (noun) – /kəˈrɪkjələm/ – The subjects comprising a course of study in a school
3. Cooperation (noun) – /kəʊˌɒpəˈreɪʃn/ – The action or process of working together to the same end
4. Creativity (noun) – /ˌkriːeɪˈtɪvəti/ – The use of imagination or original ideas to create something
5. Innovation (noun) – /ˌɪnəˈveɪʃn/ – The action or process of innovating; a new method, idea, product, etc.
6. Employability (noun) – /ɪmˌplɔɪəˈbɪləti/ – The quality of being suitable for paid work
7. Holistic (adjective) – /həˈlɪstɪk/ – Characterized by the belief that the parts of something are intimately interconnected
8. Adaptable (adjective) – /əˈdæptəbl/ – Able to adjust to new conditions or circumstances

In conclusion, the topic of integrating soft skills education into school curricula is likely to remain relevant in IELTS Writing Task 2 essays. To prepare, practice writing essays on related themes such as:

• The balance between academic and practical skills in education
• The role of schools in preparing students for the workforce
• The importance of creativity and innovation in modern education

Remember to structure your essay clearly, use a range of vocabulary and grammatical structures, and support your arguments with relevant examples. Feel free to practice by writing your own essay on this topic and sharing it in the comments section for feedback and discussion.