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Why Studying at University Is Harder Than School

Many students find it harder to study when they are at university or college than when they were at school. Why is this? What can be done to solve the problem?

4 sample answers, estimated Band 7.0–8.0. Your turn?

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From essays on this question

Essay ideas: Why Studying at University Is Harder Than School

WhyThis is aProblem and solution essay — it asks for causes or problems, and for ways to solve them.

SoWe split the ideas intoCauses & problems(what causes it or goes wrong)andSolutions(how to fix it).

Causes & problems

4 ideas

Solutions

6 ideas

Same question · Different responses

Sample responses and feedback

Response 01

Must fixSuggested

Essay · 323 words · 4 paragraphs · 11 comments

Score details

Response 01
Estimated band7.0/ 9

Overall assessment

The response fully addresses both parts of the question, identifying clear causes such as increased academic rigor and reduced personal support, and proposing relevant institutional solutions. Its strongest aspect is the fluent, accurate language and clear organization, while the main limitation is that ideas remain somewhat generalized and could be developed with more depth or concrete illustration.

TR

Task Response

The response addresses both questions directly, presents a clear position on causes and solutions, and develops main ideas with relevant explanation, though support remains somewhat generalized rather than extended.

7.0
CC

Coherence and Cohesion

Ideas progress logically across clear paragraphs with effective linking devices, though cohesion occasionally relies on slightly mechanical connectives and the development within paragraphs stays uniform rather than fully extended.

7.0
LR

Lexical Resource

Vocabulary is sufficiently flexible and precise for the topic, with natural academic collocations such as academic rigor, self-directed learning, and individualized support, and only minor imperfections.

7.0
GRA

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

A variety of complex structures is used with good control, including relative clauses, participial clauses and parallel constructions. Errors are rare and do not impede understanding, although two full stops have unnecessary preceding spaces.

7.0

What to work on next

Deepen the development of each main idea with more specific, concrete examples or analysis rather than broadly stated general points.

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Useful vocabulary: Why Studying at University Is Harder Than School

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Sentence patterns: Why Studying at University Is Harder Than School

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Part 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write at least 250 words.

Words: 040:00 starts on first word