IELTS Essay Question

Some university students want to learn about other subjects in addition to their main subjects. Others believe it is more important to give all their time and attention to studying for a qualification. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Introduction

You will need to paraphrase the essay question in your own words to introduce your essay. Paraphrasing is one of the most important skills in the IELTS exam. Paraphrasing means saying the same thing in a different way.

Some university students want to learn about other subjects in addition to their main subjects. Others believe it is more important to give all their time and attention to studying for a qualification. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

-> Some university students prefer taking other subjects in addition to their main ones, but it is often argued that it is more beneficial for them to focus only on their main subjects to get a relevant qualification. This essay will discuss both sides of the argument and explain the reasons why I favour a well-rounded education system.

Plan your answer

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Body paragraphs

Body paragraph 1

• Sentence 1: Main idea
• Sentence 2: Supporting idea
• Sentence 3: Example

On the one hand, when students devote all their time to studying for their majors, they can make great contributions to their chosen field (main idea). The in-depth, specialist knowledge gained from studying a limited range of subjects can help students understand a concept at a deeper level, which allows them to solve complex problems and make new discoveries (supporting idea). If a biology student, specializing in genetics, focuses only on studying genes and certain traits in the body, they might gain a deeper insight into genetic inheritance, and this in-depth knowledge is the foundation of any discoveries in this area (example).

Body paragraph 2

• Sentence 1: Overall opinion
• Sentence 2: Main idea
• Sentence 3: Supporting idea
• Sentence 4: Example
• Sentence 5: Alternative

On the other hand, I would argue that it is better for students to be exposed to a variety of subjects (overall opinion). This is because the ultimate purpose of education is to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to help them become well-rounded people (main idea). Studying a diverse range of subjects helps students understand that everything is connected; therefore, they should always take into account other aspects before making a decision (supporting idea). Environmental studies, for example, teaches a computer science student that being an IT specialist is not just about inventing new apps and tools, but also about making sure that such inventions do not cause harm to the natural world (example). If IT students just focus on their main subjects, they might ignore other concepts, like the relationship of technology and the environment, which are outside their majors (alternative).

Conclusion

• Summarize key points/main ideas
• Give your opinion

Here are the two key points mentioned in the body paragraphs:

• studying only main subjects -> advances in a specific area
• studying a wide range of subjects -> become well-rounded individuals

Your opinion: It is better for university students to study a wide range of subjects in addition to their main ones.

In conclusion, although studying a focused collection of main subjects can lead to advances in a specific area, I would contend that university students will become more well-rounded individuals if they have the freedom to study a variety of subjects. 

Sample Answer

Some university students prefer taking other subjects in addition to their main ones, but it is often argued that it is more beneficial for them to focus only on their main subjects to get a relevant qualification. This essay will discuss both sides of the argument and explain the reasons why I favour a well-rounded education system. 

On the one hand, when students devote all their time to studying for their majors, they can make great contributions to their chosen field. The in-depth, specialist knowledge gained from studying a limited range of subjects can help students understand a concept at a deeper level, which allows them to solve complex problems and make new discoveries. If a biology student, specializing in genetics, focuses only on studying genes and certain traits in the body, they might gain a deeper insight into genetic inheritance, and this in-depth knowledge is the foundation of any discoveries in this area.

On the other hand, I would argue that it is better for students to be exposed to a variety of subjects. This is because the ultimate purpose of education is to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to help them become well-rounded people. Studying a diverse range of subjects helps students understand that everything is connected; therefore, they should always take into account other aspects before making a decision. Environmental studies, for example, teaches a computer science student that being an IT specialist is not just about inventing new apps and tools, but also about making sure that such inventions do not cause harm to the natural world. If IT students just focus on their main subjects, they might ignore other concepts, like the relationship of technology and the environment, which are outside their majors.

In conclusion, although studying a focused collection of main subjects can lead to advances in a specific area, I would contend that university students will become more well-rounded individuals if they have the freedom to study a variety of subjects. 

Useful vocabulary

• a well-rounded education system: a well-rounded education provides individuals with a diverse set of skills and knowledge that can be applied to various aspects of their lives
• devote something to something: to give all of something, especially your time, effort, or love, or yourself, to something you believe in
• in-depth /ˌɪn ˈdepθ/ (adj): very detailed, careful and complete
• specializing in something: to become an expert in a particular area of study
• gain a deeper insight into something: gain a deep understanding of something
• equip somebody with something: If you equip a person or thing with something, you give them the tools or equipment that are needed
• take into account: to consider or remember something when judging a situation
• IT specialist: a technical professional that is responsible for the implementation, monitoring, and maintenance of IT systems.
• major /ˈmeɪdʒər/ (n): the main subject or course of a student at college or university