You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Everyone should stay at school until 18. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Sample Answer
There is a body of opinion which advocates that all youngsters should stay on at school until they are 18. I agree with this view, despite the arguments for leaving school at an earlier age.
There are two important arguments in favour of quitting school before the age of 18. Firstly, in some countries continuing school until 18 is simply a preparation for entering higher education. There may be a lack of vocational courses to prepare young people to acquire experience andskills to enter trades such as electricians, car mechanics or professions such as nursing. Those who are not intending to pursue an academic career may fall behind with their studies or even disrupt lessons. Secondly, family background must be considered. In poor families, young people must leave school and start to earn money to contribute to the family income. Not all families can afford to let children stay on at school until 18.
However, in spite of these objections, I concur with those who believe in compulsory education until 18. The provision of a wide range of courses would make learning meaningful, so that all young people could put the knowledge gained at school into practice. The global economy now demands high skill levels, and educational qualifications are essential if youngsters are to have good job prospects and to pursue a successful career. In financial terms, national and local authorities must provide funding for poor families to maintain children at school. Children are the shapers of a nation’s tomorrow, so all must have the chance to make the grade by benefitting from the best possible education during their formative years.
In conclusion, I would argue that staying at school up to the age of 18 would be of enormous benefit to all youngsters.
295 words
Vocab Highlights
higher education: education at university or college level
vocational courses: courses which provide students with the skills and knowledge that they need to do a particular job
to acquire experience and skills: to gain experience, knowledge or skills by your own efforts over a period of time
to fall behind with your studies: to improve more slowly in studying than other people, so that you fail to learn the course material at the necessary speed
to disrupt lessons: to behave in such a way that the teacher is unable to teach the students properly
family background: the details of a person’s family
to put knowledge gained into practice: to put to practical use the knowledge that you have acquired
job prospects: the chances of being successful and having a successful career at work
to pursue a successful career: to have a series of jobs in a particular field of work, with more responsibility as time passes
national and local authorities: government organizations acting at a national level or within a smaller, local area
to provide funding for: to give money to enable something to be done
the shapers of a nation’s tomorrow: refers to the younger generations who decide the future of a country
to make the grade: to successfully reach the necessary standard
the shapers of a nation’s tomorrow: refers to the younger generations who decide the future of a country
formative years: a period of a person’s life – usually when they are young – that has a big influence on the person that they become later in life