Sample IELTS Task 2 essay: school subjects too academic?

Some people say that what we study in school is too academic and it is better to learn practical things like managing a home, work and how to communicate with people. I mostly agree with this opinion, but I think academic subjects are also important.

On the one hand, it is true that practical skills are very useful for life. For example, many students finish school and they do not know how to manage their money or how to cook simple food. These are things that everybody needs in real life. Also, interpersonal skills are very important because in every job you have to work with other people and talk to customers. If schools teach these skills, students will be more ready for the real world and for their future job.

On the other hand, academic subjects like mathematics, science and history are also important and we should not remove them. Mathematics helps people to think logically and science helps us to understand the world. Without these subjects, students cannot go to university and become doctors or engineers. So I think it is not good to remove academic subjects completely.

In my opinion, the best solution is to have a balance. Schools should keep the academic subjects but also add some practical lessons, for example one or two times a week. In this way students can learn both things and be prepared for life.

In conclusion, I agree that practical skills are useful and should be taught, but I do not think academic subjects should be removed. A combination of both is the best way for children.

It is frequently argued that conventional school curricula are excessively theoretical, and that pupils would benefit more from instruction in practical competencies such as managing a household, navigating the workplace and relating to others. While I share the view that such skills are undervalued, I would argue that they should complement rather than replace academic study.

There is considerable merit in the case for a more practical education. Many young people leave school proficient in algebra yet incapable of budgeting, preparing a nutritious meal or resolving a disagreement constructively. These shortcomings can leave them ill-prepared for the demands of independent adult life. Interpersonal skills are particularly valuable, since virtually every profession requires collaboration, negotiation and clear communication; nurturing these capacities from an early age would undoubtedly produce more well-rounded and employable graduates.

Nevertheless, dismissing academic subjects as redundant would be a serious error. Disciplines such as mathematics, the sciences and literature do far more than transmit facts: they cultivate critical thinking, analytical reasoning and intellectual curiosity, all of which underpin innovation and informed citizenship. Moreover, they remain the gateway to higher education and the specialised professions on which society depends, from medicine to engineering.

The most sensible approach, therefore, is integration rather than substitution. Schools could retain a rigorous academic core while embedding regular practical modules, perhaps through project-based learning that fuses the two, thereby equipping students with both knowledge and life skills.

In conclusion, although I firmly believe practical matters deserve a greater place in the classroom, this should not come at the expense of academic rigour. A balanced curriculum that develops the whole individual is the most effective preparation for the future.