IELTS Book 5 Test 3 Task 2 Writing Band 9 pdf2

IELTS 5 Writing Model Essay (Free sample)

Test 3 Task 2 Question

Test 3 Task 2 Model Essay by an Expert 2

Should children be encouraged to be competitive or co-operative? There is a place for both traits in the adult world. Having a competitive nature often helps children to get ahead in life, whereas valuing co-operation allows them to develop productive relationships.

Some parents and teachers hold the view that a sense of competition should be fostered in children. Certainly, being competitive gives children hunger and drive to succeed, which is necessary in certain careers. To be a lawyer or businessperson, for example, people have to be ambitious and confident in their own abilities. In this case, being encouraged to be competitive as a child is useful preparation for adult life. However, there are serious downsides to being over-competitive, such as having a poor reaction to failure, and prioritising personal gain over the collective good.

In this sense, co-operation is a more positive trait, as it teaches children how to work productively and effectively with others. Almost every element of adult life involves relationships with others, in both personal and professional spheres. Adults must work together for the good of their family, for example, and most jobs involve some kind of teamwork. To become a well-rounded and ‘useful’ adult, children must learn the importance of working with others towards a collective goal. On the other hand, children who are taught only to co-operate may lack confidence in their own individual abilities, which might hold them back later in life.

Essentially, children need to be taught a healthy balance of both competitiveness and co-operation, since both skills are necessary for success later in life. Children not only need to develop both traits, but they also need to recognise when they should prioritise their own needs and when they should act co-operatively with others.

(291 words)