Write at least 250 words · 40 minutes
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Ideas to get you started
- Online study offers flexibility and learning at your own pace
- Classrooms give face-to-face support and social contact
- A mixture of both methods may suit most learners
A plan for this question
- Introduction: paraphrase both views (studying online at home and learning in a classroom with a teacher) and give your opinion straight away: the classroom is more effective for most students, with online study as a useful addition.
- Body 1: why some people prefer online learning: flexibility, studying at your own pace, replaying recorded lessons. Example: a student with a part-time job.
- Body 2: why the classroom works better: a teacher sees confusion at once, a fixed timetable builds discipline, and school teaches cooperation. Example: a teacher explaining a point again in a different way.
- Conclusion: repeat your opinion: keep the classroom at the centre and use online tools for revision and for students who cannot attend.
Model essay
281 words
The rise of online courses has led to a debate about where students learn best. While some argue that studying at home through the internet is more effective, others believe that nothing can replace a classroom with a teacher. In my view, classroom learning remains more effective for most students, although online study is a valuable addition to it.
Supporters of online learning point to its flexibility. Students can study at a time that suits them, work through material at their own pace and replay a recorded lesson as many times as they need. This is particularly helpful for learners with jobs or family responsibilities, such as a part-time worker who can only study late in the evening. In addition, online courses often give access to expert teachers who would otherwise be out of reach.
On the other hand, a classroom offers advantages that are difficult to reproduce on a screen. A teacher can notice immediately when a student looks confused and explain the point in a different way, whereas an online learner who is stuck may simply give up. The fixed timetable and the presence of classmates also create motivation and discipline, which many young people find hard to maintain alone at home. Furthermore, school is where children learn to cooperate, debate and resolve disagreements, skills that are essential in adult life.
In conclusion, although online study offers convenience and freedom, I believe that learning in a classroom is more effective because of the immediate support and the social environment it provides. The best approach is to keep the classroom at the centre of education and to use online tools for revision and for students who cannot attend in person.
Written by Acedmi to show what a high-band essay looks like. It is not an official IELTS sample, and your own ideas can be different.
Useful vocabulary
- flexibility
- Freedom to choose when and how you do something.
- “The main attraction of online courses is their flexibility.”
- at your own pace
- As quickly or slowly as suits you.
- “Recorded lessons allow students to work at their own pace.”
- face-to-face
- In person, not through a screen.
- “Face-to-face teaching makes it easier to ask questions.”
- self-discipline
- The ability to make yourself work without someone checking on you.
- “Studying at home demands a high level of self-discipline.”
- immediate feedback
- A quick response to your work that shows what to improve.
- “In class, students receive immediate feedback on their mistakes.”
- interaction
- Communication between people.
- “Classroom interaction helps shy students gain confidence.”
- distraction
- Something that takes your attention away from what you are doing.
- “Home is full of distractions, from phones to television.”
- blended learning
- A mix of classroom teaching and online study.
- “Many universities now offer blended learning.”
Common mistakes
- Giving your opinion only in the conclusion. The question asks for your view, so state it in the introduction and keep it the same until the end.
- Writing about one side only. Each view needs its own paragraph with a reason and an example, even the view you disagree with.
- Vague reasons such as "online learning is good because it is modern". Name the specific benefit, such as replaying lessons or studying around a job.
What the examiner marks
Four criteria, equally weighted: Task Response (answer every part of the question with a clear position), Coherence and Cohesion (logical paragraphs and linking), Lexical Resource (range and accuracy of vocabulary) and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. An essay under 250 words loses marks for Task Response.