The role of arts and culture in modern education is a topic that has gained significant attention in recent years. As an experienced IELTS instructor, I can confidently say that this subject has appeared in various forms in past IELTS Writing Task 2 questions and is likely to continue being a relevant theme in future exams. Let’s explore this topic through sample essays targeting different band scores, along with in-depth analysis to help you improve your IELTS writing skills.
Analyzing the Task 2 Question
Let’s examine a typical IELTS Writing Task 2 question related to this topic:
Some people think that the teaching of arts and culture in schools is not as important as teaching science and technology. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
This question asks for your opinion on the relative importance of arts and culture compared to science and technology in school curricula. It’s crucial to:
- Clearly state your position
- Provide well-developed reasons and examples to support your view
- Consider counterarguments to demonstrate a balanced perspective
- Use appropriate vocabulary and grammatical structures
Now, let’s look at sample essays for different band scores.
Sample Essay for Band 8-9
Here’s a high-scoring sample essay:
In today’s rapidly advancing technological world, there is a growing debate about the significance of arts and culture in education compared to science and technology. While I acknowledge the crucial role of STEM subjects in our modern society, I firmly believe that arts and culture are equally important in shaping well-rounded individuals and should not be sidelined in school curricula.
Firstly, arts and culture play a vital role in developing critical thinking and creativity. These subjects encourage students to think outside the box, interpret complex ideas, and express themselves in unique ways. For instance, studying literature exposes students to diverse perspectives and helps them analyze texts critically, while visual arts foster innovative thinking and problem-solving skills. These cognitive abilities are invaluable in all fields, including science and technology, where creative solutions are often needed to address complex challenges.
Moreover, arts and culture are essential for preserving and understanding our heritage and fostering cultural awareness. In our increasingly globalized world, having a strong foundation in cultural studies helps students appreciate diversity, develop empathy, and become more culturally competent. This cultural literacy is crucial for effective communication and collaboration in multicultural workplaces and societies. For example, a scientist working on an international project would benefit greatly from understanding cultural nuances and customs of their colleagues from different backgrounds.
Furthermore, arts and culture contribute significantly to students’ emotional and social development. Engaging in artistic activities, such as music or drama, can help students build self-confidence, improve their communication skills, and learn to work collaboratively. These soft skills are equally important as technical knowledge in professional settings and personal life. Additionally, arts can serve as a powerful medium for self-expression and emotional regulation, contributing to better mental health and overall well-being of students.
However, it is important to acknowledge that science and technology are indeed crucial in our modern world. They drive innovation, economic growth, and solve many of society’s pressing problems. The key lies in finding a balance between STEM subjects and arts and culture in education, rather than prioritizing one over the other.
In conclusion, while science and technology are undoubtedly important, the teaching of arts and culture in schools is equally vital. A well-rounded education that incorporates both STEM and arts subjects will produce individuals who are not only technically proficient but also culturally aware, creative, and emotionally intelligent. This holistic approach to education will better prepare students for the complex challenges of the 21st century.
(Word count: 398)
Analysis of Band 8-9 Essay
This essay demonstrates excellent qualities that justify a high band score:
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Task Response: The essay fully addresses all parts of the task, presenting a clear position with a fully developed response.
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Coherence and Cohesion: Ideas are logically organized with clear progression throughout. Paragraphs are well-linked, and cohesive devices are used effectively.
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Lexical Resource: A wide range of vocabulary is used with very natural and sophisticated control of lexical features. Some examples include:
- “rapidly advancing technological world”
- “sidelined in school curricula”
- “foster innovative thinking”
- “cultural competence”
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Grammatical Range and Accuracy: A wide range of structures is used with full flexibility and accuracy. Complex structures are used naturally. For example:
- “While I acknowledge the crucial role of STEM subjects in our modern society, I firmly believe that…”
- “These cognitive abilities are invaluable in all fields, including science and technology, where creative solutions are often needed to address complex challenges.”
Sample Essay for Band 6-7
Now, let’s look at a sample essay that would typically score in the Band 6-7 range:
In recent years, there has been a debate about the importance of teaching arts and culture in schools compared to science and technology. Some people think that arts and culture are not as important as science and technology. However, I disagree with this opinion and believe that arts and culture are equally important in education.
Firstly, arts and culture help students develop creativity and imagination. When students learn about painting, music, or literature, they can express their ideas in different ways. This is important because creativity is useful in many jobs, even in science and technology. For example, a designer needs to be creative to make new products that people want to buy.
Secondly, learning about arts and culture helps students understand different societies and people. In our global world, it’s important to know about other cultures. This knowledge can help students in their future careers when they work with people from different countries. For instance, a business person who understands the culture of their foreign partners can make better deals.
Additionally, arts and culture subjects can help students relax and enjoy school more. Studying only science and math can be stressful for some students. Arts classes like music or drama can give students a break and make them happier at school. This can help them do better in all their subjects.
However, I agree that science and technology are also very important. These subjects help students understand how things work and prepare them for jobs in fields like medicine or engineering. The best solution is to teach both arts and science subjects in schools.
In conclusion, I believe that arts and culture are as important as science and technology in education. Schools should teach both to help students become well-rounded people who can succeed in different areas of life.
(Word count: 295)
Analysis of Band 6-7 Essay
This essay demonstrates good qualities that place it in the Band 6-7 range:
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Task Response: The essay addresses all parts of the task and presents a clear position. However, the ideas could be more fully developed.
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Coherence and Cohesion: There is a clear overall progression, but some paragraphs could be better linked. Cohesive devices are used, but not always with full control.
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Lexical Resource: There is a good range of vocabulary, though it’s less sophisticated than the Band 8-9 essay. Some good examples include:
- “develop creativity and imagination”
- “global world”
- “well-rounded people”
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Grammatical Range and Accuracy: A mix of simple and complex sentence forms is used, with generally good control. There are some errors, but they don’t impede communication. For example:
- “In our global world, it’s important to know about other cultures.”
- “The best solution is to teach both arts and science subjects in schools.”
Key Vocabulary to Remember
Here are some important vocabulary items from the essays, along with their definitions and parts of speech:
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Curriculum (noun) /kəˈrɪkjələm/ – The subjects comprising a course of study in a school or college.
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STEM (noun) /stem/ – An educational program developed to prepare primary and secondary students for college and graduate study in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
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Well-rounded (adjective) /ˌwel ˈraʊndɪd/ – Having a personality that is fully developed in all aspects.
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Cultural literacy (noun) /ˈkʌltʃərəl ˈlɪtərəsi/ – The ability to understand and participate fluently in a given culture.
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Holistic (adjective) /həʊˈlɪstɪk/ – Characterized by the belief that the parts of something are intimately interconnected and explicable only by reference to the whole.
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Innovation (noun) /ˌɪnəˈveɪʃn/ – The action or process of innovating; a new method, idea, product, etc.
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Globalized (adjective) /ˈɡləʊbəlaɪzd/ – Made worldwide in scope or application.
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Cognitive abilities (noun phrase) /ˈkɒɡnətɪv əˈbɪlətiz/ – The mental skills that allow us to carry out any task from the simplest to the most complex.
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Cultural competence (noun phrase) /ˈkʌltʃərəl ˈkɒmpɪtəns/ – The ability to understand, communicate with and effectively interact with people across cultures.
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Soft skills (noun phrase) /sɒft skɪlz/ – Personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people.
Conclusion
The role of arts and culture in modern education is a complex and nuanced topic that is likely to appear in various forms in IELTS Writing Task 2. By studying these sample essays and understanding the criteria for different band scores, you can improve your writing skills and prepare more effectively for your IELTS exam.
Remember, practice is key to improving your writing skills. Try writing your own essay on this topic or related themes such as:
- The impact of technology on traditional art forms
- The role of museums in education
- The importance of preserving cultural heritage in a globalized world
Feel free to share your practice essays in the comments section below. This active practice will help you refine your skills and get valuable feedback. Good luck with your IELTS preparation!
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