Essay 131 – University students should study a full range of subjects

GT Writing Task 2 / Essay Sample # 131

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Many people believe that university students should study a full range of subjects, instead of some specific subjects.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this viewpoint?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.


Model Answer: [Agreement]

Students, in tertiary level education, should focus on one major, according to many. However, many academics opine that universities should introduce some measures to have their pupils lay emphasis on more diverse subjects. It is my firm conviction that studying various subjects provides students with a comprehensive knowledge to deal with many thorny issues and they can develop marketable skills.

To commence with, the challenges of the modern world are more complex than ever before. In simple words, many grave issues cannot be beaten off by a single discipline of knowledge alone. That is to say, experts who have a breadth of knowledge about different subjects can provide the space to bring together these subjects and address these complicated problems. In fact, different subjects shed light on different perspectives on these challenges. A case in point is climate change. It can be examined through the different subject lenses such as meteorology, physics, chemistry, sociology, politics and so on.

Likewise, students can develop and hone many skills through multidisciplinary studies. One key competence is critical thinking. Critical thinking is developed as pupils look across the different subject areas to consider other points of views and can begin to compare and contrast concepts across disciplinary boundaries. In the same way, learning more subjects helps students know how to synthesize many different ideas. To put it another way, students consolidate knowledge by combining concepts from different subject areas, which in turn pave the way of solving complex issues. Besides, having a portfolio of more subjects within the students’ academic profile can thus be marketed to the employers in a distinctively positive light and help them to stand out against their counterparts.

In conclusion, multidisciplinary knowledge provides an effective tool so as to grapple with many insurmountable problems of the earth. In addition to this, mastering more subjects offers a rich view of the world, a wide range of perspectives and many transferable skills-set that employers are interested in. Studying more subjects, therefore, keeps students ahead in life.

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