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University Education vs Starting Work After School

Some people believe that studying at university or college is the best route to a successful career, while others believe that it is better to get a job straight after school. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

5 sample answers, estimated Band 6.5–7.0. Your turn?

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From essays on this question

Essay ideas: University Education vs Starting Work After School

WhyThis is aDiscussion essay — it asks you to discuss two opposing views and give your own.

SoWe split the ideas intoFirst view(supports the first view)andSecond view(supports the second view).

First view

6 ideas

Second view

5 ideas

Same question · Different responses

Sample responses and feedback

Response 01

Must fixSuggested

Essay · 392 words · 5 paragraphs · 25 comments

Score details

Response 01
Estimated band6.5/ 9

Overall assessment

The response discusses both routes and maintains a clear preference for higher education. Paragraphs broadly separate the arguments, but several claims about population, maturity and career advancement need closer explanation. Ambitious vocabulary frequently becomes unnatural or imprecise, while problems with clause construction and verb patterns sometimes make the reasoning harder to follow.

TR

Task Response

Both views are addressed and a clear personal opinion is presented and sustained, with relevant supporting reasons, though some development is obscured by strained expression.

7.0
CC

Coherence and Cohesion

Paragraphing is logical and progression is broadly clear, but cohesive devices are sometimes mechanical and reference and linking occasionally break down.

6.0
LR

Lexical Resource

A wide range of less common vocabulary is attempted, but frequent inaccuracy and unnatural usage reduce precision and occasionally obscure meaning.

6.0
GRA

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Complex sentences are attempted throughout, but control is uneven. Faulty linking in “as proportional to”, the incomplete result construction “and hence, preventing”, and the pattern “preventing one to fall” reduce accuracy and clarity.

6.0

What to work on next

Use precise, natural wording, repair incomplete clauses and verb patterns, and explain how each claimed benefit leads to career success.

From essays on this question

Useful vocabulary: University Education vs Starting Work After School

From essays on this question

Sentence patterns: University Education vs Starting Work After School

Practise this question

Write your response

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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