The relationship between diet and academic performance has become an increasingly common topic in IELTS Writing Task 2 examinations. Based on analysis of past IELTS questions from 2018-2023, this theme has appeared in various forms, particularly in questions about student health, school policies, and education outcomes. Let’s examine one highly relevant question that represents this topic.
Question Analysis and Sample Essays
Some people believe that schools should ban unhealthy food and drinks to help students perform better academically. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Question Analysis
This question requires candidates to:
- Express their position on school food policies
- Explain the connection between diet and academic performance
- Support arguments with relevant examples
- Consider potential counterarguments
The relationship between healthy school lunches and improved academic performance
Band 8.0 Sample Essay
The correlation between nutrition and cognitive function has led many to advocate for stricter dietary regulations in educational institutions. I strongly agree that schools should prohibit unhealthy food and beverages, as this policy can significantly enhance students’ academic capabilities through multiple mechanisms.
Proper nutrition directly influences brain function and learning capacity. When students consume nutritious meals rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and proteins, their concentration levels and memory retention improve markedly. For instance, research from the University of California has demonstrated that students who avoid sugary drinks and processed foods perform up to 40% better in standardized tests compared to those with poor dietary habits. This scientific evidence strongly supports the implementation of healthy food policies in educational settings.
Furthermore, enforcing dietary restrictions at school helps establish lifelong healthy eating habits. When children are consistently exposed to nutritious options during their formative years, they develop better food preferences that extend beyond the classroom. This not only benefits their immediate academic performance but also contributes to their long-term cognitive development and overall well-being. Schools in Singapore that have implemented strict dietary guidelines have reported improved student attendance rates and enhanced classroom participation.
While some might argue that such restrictions limit personal choice, the benefits of a controlled food environment significantly outweigh these concerns. Schools already regulate numerous aspects of student life to ensure optimal learning conditions, and dietary guidelines should be viewed as another crucial component of this framework. Moreover, students retain the freedom to make their own dietary choices outside school hours.
In conclusion, implementing bans on unhealthy food and drinks in schools is a justified measure that can positively impact academic achievement through improved nutrition and the development of healthy eating habits. Educational institutions should prioritize this policy as part of their commitment to student success.
Band 8.0 Essay Analysis
This essay achieves Band 8.0 because it:
- Presents clear, logical arguments with sophisticated supporting evidence
- Uses advanced vocabulary and complex sentence structures
- Maintains excellent coherence and cohesion throughout
- Demonstrates comprehensive topic development
- Contains minimal grammatical errors
Impact of balanced nutrition on student cognitive function and academic success
Band 6.5 Sample Essay
In my opinion, I agree that schools should stop selling unhealthy food and drinks to students because it can help them study better. This essay will discuss the reasons why I support this idea.
Firstly, when students eat healthy food, they can concentrate better in class. If they eat too much junk food or drink sugary drinks, they might feel tired or unable to focus on their studies. For example, if a student drinks a lot of soda during lunch, they might feel sleepy in afternoon classes and miss important information from their teachers.
Secondly, healthy food gives students the energy they need to study well. Good nutrition helps the brain work properly, which is very important for learning new things and remembering information for tests. When schools only provide healthy options, students have no choice but to eat better food, which helps them perform better in their studies.
However, some students might not like this rule because they prefer eating junk food. They might bring unhealthy snacks from home or buy them outside school. Also, some students might skip meals if they don’t like the healthy options at school. But I think these problems can be solved by teaching students about healthy eating and making nutritious food taste better.
In conclusion, I believe schools should ban unhealthy food and drinks because it will help students focus better and improve their academic performance. Schools should also teach students why healthy eating is important for their education.
Band 6.5 Essay Analysis
This essay receives Band 6.5 because it:
- Presents clear ideas but with simpler development
- Uses adequate vocabulary with some repetition
- Shows good but basic paragraph organization
- Contains some grammatical errors
- Lacks sophisticated examples and complex arguments
Key Vocabulary
- cognitive function (n.) /ˈkɒɡnətɪv ˈfʌŋkʃən/ – mental processes of learning
- dietary regulations (n.) /ˈdaɪətəri ˌreɡjuˈleɪʃənz/ – rules about food consumption
- nutritious (adj.) /njuːˈtrɪʃəs/ – containing substances necessary for growth
- formative years (n.) /ˈfɔːmətɪv jɪəz/ – important period of development
- concentration levels (n.) /ˌkɒnsənˈtreɪʃən ˈlevəlz/ – ability to focus
- retention (n.) /rɪˈtenʃən/ – ability to remember information
- cognitive development (n.) /ˈkɒɡnətɪv dɪˈveləpmənt/ – growth of thinking abilities
- dietary guidelines (n.) /ˈdaɪətəri ˈɡaɪdlaɪnz/ – recommendations for healthy eating
For practice, try writing your own essay about should schools ban junk food and share it in the comments section for feedback. Similar topics you might encounter could include:
- The impact of breakfast on student performance
- School meal programs and academic achievement
- The role of nutrition education in schools
- Government regulations on school cafeteria food
Remember to support your arguments with specific examples and maintain clear paragraph structure in your practice essays.
