Some people think that children should start school at a very early age, but others believe that children should not go to school until they are older.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 2 question on IELTSX. Some people think that children should start school at a very early age, but others believe that children should not go to school until they are older.

Children Start School Very Early Age vs Older - IELTS Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Write at least 250 words.

A student's answer to this task, and the feedback on it

Written by an IELTSX user under exam conditions and published unedited and anonymously. Band 8 ยท 261 words.

It is widely believed that the age at which children start formal education can significantly influence their development. While some hold the view that starting school early provides academic advantages, I believe that that children should be allowed to enjoy their childhood years without pressure. This essay will examine both perspectives before arriving at a reasonable conclusion.

On the one hand, proponents of an early start to schooling argue that it gives children a head start academically. By beginning formal education sooner, children can acquire essential skills, such as reading, writing and numeracy, at an earlier age, which may improve their performance in later schooling. Many developed countries like Singapore, for instance, introduce structured learning relatively early, which has contributed to consistently high educational outcomes. Hence, early schooling is seen as a way to prepare children for future academic challenges.

On the other hand, starting school later allows children to develop emotionally and socially before facing academic demands. Young children benefit from unstructured play and family interactions, which foster creativity, problem-solving skills and communication skills. For example, recent studies show that children who begin formal schooling at aga 7 demonstrate higher levels of motivation and self-confidence than those who start earlier. Therefore, I support the view that starting school later can help children develop in a more balanced way and become emotionally stronger.

To conclude, while early schooling may offer certain academic benefits, In my opinion children's emotional and social development play a key role. Allowing them to enjoy their early years provides stronger foundation for both learning and personal growth.

Examiner feedback

This is a very strong essay that demonstrates a clear understanding of the task and a high level of linguistic control. The arguments are balanced, well-supported, and logically organized. To reach Band 9, the writer should focus on eliminating minor 'slips' such as typos and missing articles, while perhaps adding more nuance to the argumentation.

Task Response - 8

- The essay sufficiently addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the 'early start' and 'later start' perspectives. - The writer's position is clearly stated in the introduction and consistently maintained through to the conclusion. - Ideas are well-developed with relevant examples (Singapore for early schooling and studies on age 7 for later schooling).

Coherence & Cohesion - 8

- The information is sequenced logically, moving from the introduction to opposing views and finally to the author's preferred view. - Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Hence', and 'Therefore' are used effectively to manage the flow of the argument. - Each paragraph has a clear central topic that supports the overall progression of the essay.

Lexical Resource - 8

- A wide range of vocabulary is used fluently to convey precise meanings (e.g., 'numeracy', 'unstructured play', 'foster creativity', 'educational outcomes'). - There is a minor spelling error ('aga' instead of 'age') and a double word ('that that'), but these are rare slips that do not impede communication. - Collocations are generally natural and appropriate for an academic context.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 8

- The writer uses a wide range of structures, including complex sentences with subordinate clauses ('By beginning...', 'which has contributed to...'). - The majority of sentences are error-free, though there are very occasional minor errors, such as the omission of an article ('provides [a] stronger foundation') and a missing comma after 'In my opinion'. - Punctuation is generally well-controlled throughout the essay.

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