In Some Countries, It is Thought Advisable That Children Begin Formal Education- IELTS Writing Task 2

In some countries, it is thought advisable that children begin formal education at four years old while in others they do not have to start school until they are seven or eight. How far do you agree with either of these views?

Outline

Essay Type

Opinion Essay

Introduction

Sentences 1&2 – Summarise the topic using synonyms to create a basic understanding.

Sentence 3 – Mention that this topic has both aspects to discuss.

Body paragraphs

Paragraph 1 – Talk about how the early five years are vital for the development of the child’s brain.

Paragraph 2 – Mention the importance of starting school early and at a tender age so that those children are at an advantage.

Paragraph 3 – Acknowledge the flip side of the argument.

Conclusion

Restate your views.

Sample Essay

In most countries, it is recommended that children start school education from the age of four. However, formal education begins when a child reaches seven or eight years of age in some other parts of the world. I am of the opinion that starting school early is better for the child’s overall development.

While it is true that children who begin school at age seven or eight tend to spend more time with their parents and friends, this practice is not always advantageous for their overall development. The early five years in a child’s life are vital for the child’s brain development. At home, the child will be in the care and protection of his parents or grandparents, and they are not always in a position to impart knowledge and expertise to him. While many parents do not have the expertise required to satisfy the curiosity of a toddler, those who can do so are usually immersed at work. Therefore, the child does not gain much from the time spent at home or in a daycare centre.

By contrast, there are many perks to starting school early. During the early years, children tend to have exceptional learning capabilities. They can grasp knowledge from both parents and teachers because, at that tender age, their minds are highly impressionable and they can retain faster. Parents can help and aid them in the learning process by providing children with a nurturing and loving environment at home. Additionally, teachers can educate them on formal subjects such as mathematics, science, and language. Better yet, the school is a microcosm of the world. Here, the children interact with their peers, elders, and teachers, which will help them grow into well-disciplined, good mannered adults.

On the other hand, a child at 7 or 8 years old, who is more mature and has more experience in life, can stand all the pressure at school. Moreover, with the advantage of a developed brain, an older child will perform better than a younger child in academic tests. Hence, whereas older children always feel confident to study and take the exam, budding ones may not rely on their ability due to the poor result in class. Consequently, this will have a detrimental effect on their mental development.

It is generally good to start formal education at four as the children are not too young and can begin obtaining an education. The argument that children must be fully developed before school at 7 is not reasonable. It is more of a delay in getting educated.

Vocabulary

• Impart

Meaning – make (information) known.
Example – We believe that artists can tap into a greater knowledge of the human condition and impart this to us.

• Expertise

Meaning – expert skill or knowledge in a particular field.
Example – All of the medical expertise should be focused on tests that are sharp enough to catch even the most critical imbalances.

• Overall

Meaning – taking everything into account.
Example – Hopefully, it won’t be too bad to affect my overall grade and I’ll have to wait and see.

• Immersed

Meaning – involve oneself deeply in a particular activity.
Example – I dreamed of spending hours looking at the pictures like a child immersed in a fairy tale.

• Grasp

Meaning – seize and hold firmly.
Example – Verbs and adjectives are more abstract and challenging concepts for children’s minds to grasp.

• Impressionable

Meaning – easily influenced.
Example – He is not impressionable or controllable like a younger boy would be.

• Aid

Meaning – help, typically of a practical nature.
Example – Life is much faster and deeper and it cannot be lived with the aid of an extinguishable lamp.

• Nurturing

Meaning – care for and protect (someone or something) while they are growing.
Example – When a famous person promotes a foodstuff, their public persona acquires a nurturing, human edge.

• Microcosm

Meaning – a community, place, or situation regarded as encapsulating in miniature the characteristics of something much larger.
Example – Currently, the city is a microcosm of the lurching recovery of the country.

• Detrimental

Meaning – tending to cause harm.
Example – He was blamed for this inappropriate exposure of secret material, and it had a detrimental impact on his reputation and mental state.