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

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While some citizens believe that university students should enjoy the freedom to study subjects that they are interested in, they have to study subjects that will be useful for their future and career. In this essay, I will explore both perspectives and opine that universities should teach learners subjects that have practical values and employability.

Some believe that allowing tertiary students to choose subjects fosters their passion and helps them thrive academically. To illustrate, my brother, Luce, who always had an interest in analysing data and numbers, was offered a seat in political science at a university. He got admitted to that major but did very poorly. After two semesters, when he got admitted to a private university and took statistics as a major, he was one of the best scorers in his class. Thus it is evident that allowing learners to choose their majors and subjects has a significantly positive impact on their performance.

From the opposite point of view, many people feel that college and university students should learn subjects that would help them prepare for future careers. Thus they advocate for subjects that are related to technology and science considering the present job markets. Based on research carried out by the Statistics Center in Semarang, it is evident that technology, engineering, mathematics, physics and science dominate the job sectors and students from those majors have far better career prospects than majors from art faculties. Therefore, they advise that universities should teach those subjects to their students so that they can adapt to future circumstances and make themselves ready for professional life.

After analysing both views, it can be concluded that although people should enjoy some freedom to choose their major in university and college, it is a wise decision to study subjects that can be utilised in their future and that can prepare them better for their future career.

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 7.0

The strongest aspect is the clear, balanced treatment of both views, supported by a relevant personal example and cited evidence, with a consistent position maintained throughout. The main limitation is somewhat mechanical organisation and occasional imprecise word choice, which reduces the sense of fully natural, flexible language. Ideas are generally well developed but could be extended with deeper analysis.

IELTS criteria

How each score was decided

Task Response

7.0

Both views are discussed with a clear preference for practical subjects. The personal example illustrates motivation and performance, while a qualitative research claim supports career prospects. The recommendation could address more explicitly whether useful subjects should be encouraged or made the only available choice.

Coherence and Cohesion

7.0

Ideas progress logically across clearly organised paragraphs with a range of cohesive devices, although some linking is mechanical and the parallels between the two body paragraphs feel formulaic at times.

Lexical Resource

7.0

Vocabulary is sufficiently flexible for the topic with some precise items such as 'tertiary students' and 'employability', but recurring choices like repeated 'opine' and awkward phrases such as 'practical values' and 'majors from art faculties' show occasional imprecision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

7.0

Relative clauses, time clauses and concessive structures are used with generally good control. Longer sentences remain understandable, although some wording and clause combinations are awkward. Grammatical errors rarely impede meaning.