Choosing University Subjects: Personal Interest vs Useful Fields

Some people think that all university students should study whatever they like. Others believe that they should only be allowed to study subjects that will be useful in the future, such as those related to science and technology. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Annotated response

4 correction notes

Showing 4 correction notes.

According to some people, students at universities should pursue what they are most passionate about. Others, however, believe that only those subjects should be allowed, which are relevant to the future, particularly those dealing with science and technology. I will elaborate on both views in the following paragraphs.

It is thought that allowing students to select subjects at the university level would enhance student performance in the classroom and prevent students from studying subjects that they do not enjoy. Students need to be exposed to multiple technology-related courses, but if they are forced to study programming while their interests lie in literature, they probably won’t learn much. The learning process is more interesting for students if they have the opportunity to pick their subjects. Additionally, some students possess talents across a wide variety of fields. If we integrate some cultural and arts subjects into science courses, young people can explore diverse fields. Consequently, this proposed change will provide them with the opportunity to learn more about a variety of subjects and develop new skills.

On the other hand, medical, engineering, and IT courses tend to . People argue for allowing students to study technology-related subjects because they have high employment opportunities after graduation. Innovations are abounding. With the advent of new research areas and subject topics, technologies have become better. By specializing in a specific skill set, graduates may have greater job prospects and get higher-paying jobs, which may lead to a higher standard of living. Therefore, for the sake of students’ better future, they concentrate more on the popular subjects since the employment opportunities will be based on this technical knowledge.

In conclusion, some do not believe in studying only core subjects; however, it is always beneficial to get a strong foundation in them to ensure a successful future.

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 6.0

The response covers both views with relevant ideas and adequate vocabulary. Its main weakness is the unclear personal position: the introduction promises discussion, while the conclusion supports a strong foundation in core subjects without clearly resolving the choice-versus-restriction question. Some loosely connected statements and awkward comparisons also weaken the argument's precision.

IELTS criteria

How each score was decided

Task Response

6.0

Both views are addressed with relevant main ideas and some support, but the writer's own opinion remains vague and underdeveloped in the conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion

6.0

Ideas are organised into clear paragraphs with logical progression, though linking is at times mechanical and some statements connect loosely to the argument.

Lexical Resource

6.0

An adequate range of vocabulary suits the topic, with some attempts at less common items, but occasional awkward or inaccurate phrases reduce precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

6.0

A mix of simple and complex sentence forms is used with reasonable accuracy, though frequent minor errors and some faulty constructions are noticeable.