Some people think that schools should choose students according to their academic abilities, while others think it is better to have students of different abilities studying together.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 2 question on IELTSX. Some people think that schools should choose students according to their academic abilities, while others think it is better to have students of different abilities studying together.

Schools should choose students according to academic abilities while others think different abilities studying together - IELTS Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Discuss both views and state your own 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 6.5 ยท 285 words.

Nowadays, many people believe that educational places should choose students based on their academic skills, while others think it is better to have students who possess different abilities studying together. From a broader perspective, I partly agree with these view.

There are several reasons to select students according to their academic abilities and the main is the reduction of stress. Many students with lower abilities may compare themselves with high-achieving students and experience pressure that they are lagging behind. However, when they are in a group with students the same level, there is no reason for comparison, since they do not need to worry about lagging behind in studies. Another important reason is study effectiveness. When students with higher and lower academic abilities are in the same group, the teachers may find it difficult to maintain the pace of study, since teachers need to select different materials of study for students. As a consequence, the teachers need to slow down process, which wastes time and prevent advanced students from progressing.

On the other hand, this approach may have a positive side and the main reason is peer learning. High-achieving students can clarify and teach lower ones, on topics which they do not know. Therefore, these students may more deeply analyze and understand topics. The absence of label is another important reason. This is because the separation may leave a trauma for children, such as loser and genius. As a consequence, mixed-ability classrooms may preserve their motivation to study and self-esteem.

To sum up, I partly agree with this stance, as joint education may have some disadvantages such as comparison and less effectiveness, but it also has benefits such as peer learning and absence of label.

Examiner feedback

The essay effectively addresses both sides of the debate with a clear, consistent position. While the structure and logic are strong (earning a 7 in CC and TR), the overall score is moderated by recurring grammatical slips and a somewhat limited range of academic collocations.

Task Response - 7

- The response addresses all parts of the task and presents a clear position throughout the essay. - Main ideas are relevant (stress reduction and teaching efficiency vs. peer learning and self-esteem). - Supporting ideas are present, though some arguments (like the 'trauma' of labeling) could be more fully extended with specific examples.

Coherence & Cohesion - 7

- Information is organized logically with a clear progression from the introduction to the conclusion. - Each paragraph focuses on a clear central topic (homogeneous vs. heterogeneous grouping). - Cohesive devices like 'However', 'Another important reason', and 'As a consequence' are used appropriately, though 'the main is' is slightly mechanical.

Lexical Resource - 6

- The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'high-achieving', 'lagging behind', and 'self-esteem'. - There is some repetition of 'students' and 'abilities', and occasional awkward phrasing like 'absence of label'. - Spelling and word formation are generally accurate, though 'educational places' is a less natural collocation than 'educational institutions'.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 6

- A mix of simple and complex sentence forms is used, but there are frequent minor errors in grammar (e.g., 'agree with these view', 'slow down process'). - Punctuation is generally functional but lacks sophisticated control. - Errors in subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'wastes time and prevent') are present but do not impede communication.

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