Parents should encourage children to spend less time studying and more time doing physical activities.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 2 question on IELTSX. Parents should encourage children to spend less time studying and more time doing physical activities.

Encouraging children to spend less time studying and more time on physical activities - IELTS Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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 7.5 ยท 351 words.

**Some people believe that children should spend less time studying and more time doing physical activities. To what extent do you agree or disagree?**

In many countries, children are under considerable academic pressure, and some people argue that they should spend less time studying and more time taking part in physical activities. I largely agree with this view because regular exercise is essential for children's physical and mental development, although academic education remains an important part of their lives.

There are several reasons why children should be encouraged to participate in more physical activities. First and foremost, regular exercise helps them maintain good physical health and reduces the risk of problems associated with a sedentary lifestyle. Activities such as swimming, cycling and playing football can improve children's fitness, strength and coordination. In addition, physical activities can benefit their mental health. After spending several hours studying, children may become tired or stressed, whereas exercise can help them relax and return to their studies with greater concentration.

Another important advantage is that sports can help children develop valuable social skills. When children participate in team activities, they learn how to cooperate with others, communicate effectively and deal with both success and failure. These skills are difficult to develop through academic study alone. Furthermore, excessive studying may leave children with little time for hobbies, friendships and family life, which are also important for their overall development.

However, this does not mean that academic study should be significantly reduced. Education provides children with essential knowledge and skills that are necessary for their future careers. Subjects such as mathematics, science and languages develop their intellectual abilities and prepare them for higher education. Therefore, rather than simply replacing study time with exercise, parents and schools should aim to create a healthy balance between academic work and physical activity.

In conclusion, I agree that children should spend more time engaging in physical activities, as exercise improves both their health and social development. Nevertheless, academic study should not be neglected. A balanced routine that combines education with regular exercise is likely to be the most beneficial approach for children.

Examiner feedback

This is a well-written, coherent essay that clearly addresses the prompt with a balanced and well-supported argument. The strong grammatical control and effective use of cohesive devices elevate the overall quality of the response.

Task Response - 7

- Addresses all parts of the task clearly and presents a well-supported position. - Ideas are extended well with relevant examples like swimming and cycling. - Conclusion neatly summarizes the balanced viewpoint.

Coherence & Cohesion - 8

- Information and ideas are sequenced logically with a clear overall progression. - Uses a wide range of cohesive devices naturally and effectively. - Paragraphing is managed skilfully, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct central topic.

Lexical Resource - 7

- Uses a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary to convey precise meanings. - Employs less common lexical items such as sedentary lifestyle and intellectual abilities appropriately. - Minor slips are rare and do not impede communication.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 8

- Uses a wide range of complex sentence structures with high accuracy. - The majority of sentences are error-free, demonstrating strong grammatical control. - Punctuation is used correctly throughout the essay.

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