IELTS General Training Writing Task 2 – revision practice

1. Read the task below and identify the different parts.

2. Should your response be in the style of an argumentative or opinion essay?

Task

Some people think it would be a good idea for schools to teach every young person how to be a good
parent.

Do you agree or disagree with this opinion? Describe the skills a person needs to be a good parent.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

3. Now read the model response and complete the essay plan below. Write notes unless asked otherwise.

Write the thesis sentence here.

Introductio
n

Paragraph 2 main idea

Supporting detail 1

Supporting detail 2

Body
Paragraph 3 main idea

Supporting detail 1

Supporting detail 2

A summary of the main ideas of the essay and any recommendations

Conclusion

4. Underline the linking words and expressions used in the model answer. How many can you find?

Chris Hurling Oct 2011. Task from Cambridge IELTS 6, 2007, CUP
IELTS General Training Writing Task 2 – revision practice

Response

In the past, parenting skills used to be learned from a large extended family including aunts, uncles and
grandparents, who often lived nearby. However, modern society is more mobile, and also families are smaller,
so new or expectant parents may not be able to draw on help from their own family. Given these circumstances,
I think schools could and should play a role in teaching parenting skills, in order to replace the traditional
knowledge-transfer.

There are many skills a good parent must demonstrate. One important skill is how to manage discipline; setting
boundaries and maintaining rules. This helps to train children how to become responsible adults. However,
discipline must be balanced with a parent knowing how to encourage good behaviour in their children, for
example through praise and positive reinforcement. In addition, the parent plays an important role in the child’s
education, from basic functions such as feeding and dressing, though to learning their first language and
arithmetic. I recall my mother correcting poor pronunciation I had picked up at school, for example not
pronouncing the “t” in water. To sum up, the skills a good parent requires are both wide-ranging and profound in
a child’s development.

Schools seem to me an ideal environment for young people to learn parenting. After all, if schools in my home
country are expected to teach responsibility when it comes to sex, why should they not widen this remit to what
can come after the sex act. Following this line of reasoning, both sex education and parenting skills should
begin to be taught at school. It occurs to me that if children learn how to be good parents, they may appreciate
the responsibilities of their own parents and moderate their behaviour accordingly. Therefore, teaching
parenting skills at school will help young people become better citizens whether they later become parents or
not.

In conclusion, schools can play an important role in the dissemination of the skills a person needs to be a good
parent. These skills are diverse and include discipline, encouraging good behaviour, and education. Even if the
young person doesn’t have their own children in the future, such skills will equip them to be a good uncle or
aunt, or even just a good citizen.

Word count: 373 words

5. Referencing
a. In paragraph 2, line 2, what does “this” refer to?
b. In paragraph 3, line 2, what does “remit” refer to?
c. In paragraph 3, line 4, what does “they” refer to?

Chris Hurling Oct 2011. Task from Cambridge IELTS 6, 2007, CUP
IELTS General Training Writing Task 2 – revision practice

6. Take 40 minutes to plan and write your response to this General Training Writing Task 2.

Write about the following topic:

Using a computer every day can have more negative than positive effects on your children.

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.

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Chris Hurling Oct 2011. Task from Cambridge IELTS 6, 2007, CUP
IELTS General Training Writing Task 2 – revision practice

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Chris Hurling Oct 2011. Task from Cambridge IELTS 6, 2007, CUP