IELTS Writing Task 2 in August 2021
Some people think that some subjects such as mathematics and philosophy ought to be optional instead of compulsory. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Band 8 Sample Essay
It is argued by some individuals that subjects like mathematics and philosophy have to be made optional instead of compulsory. The essay will explain why mathematics and philosophy must not be made optional but compulsory due to the benefits that they bring.
Maths should be a mandatory part of school curriculum for some reasons. To begin with, mathematics can nurture certain qualities in children such as the power of reasoning, creativity, abstract or spatial thinking, critical thinking, problem-solving ability and even effective communication skills. These can assist children tremendously in their future career. Be it a cook or a farmer, a carpenter or a mechanic, an engineer or scientist, everyone needs mathematics in their day-to-day life as it makes man methodical and systematic. Besides, mathematical activities and games such as puzzles and riddles encourage and attract an alert and open-minded attitude among children and encourage clarity in their thinking. Hence, emphasis should be laid on development of clear concepts in mathematics in a child right from the primary classes.
In a similar way, teaching philosophy via the use of narratives lead to their good responses to philosophical topics. In these lessons, children are encouraged to participate in open, democratic, student-led discussions – a safe environment for them to explore their strengths and weaknesses from different perspectives . Students are then stimulated to be autonomous thinkers and this gives them self-confidence. Apart from this, children can develop other qualities such as care, compassion, integrity, tolerance and inclusion, mutual respect and a sense of responsibility, to name but a few.
Improve your IELTS Writing with advanced vocabulary:
Mandatory (adj): must be done, or is demanded by law
Nurture (v): to help a plan or a person to develop and be successful
Spatial thinking (phrasal verb): identifying, analyzing, and understanding the location, scale, patterns, etc
tremendous (adj): very great in amount, scale, or intensity
Riddle (n): a problem or puzzle in the form of a question, statement, etc
open-minded (adj): willing to consider new ideas
Narrative (n): story
Stimulate (v): to encourage something to grow, develop, or become active
Autonomous (adj): independent
Integrity (n): being honest and having strong moral principles
inclusion (n): allowing people to do something and treating them fairly and equally
to name but a few: used after mentioning examples of larger group