GT Writing Task 2 / Essay Sample # 116
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
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.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Model Answer:
Academicians are split on the issue that how much freedom pupils should be given in choosing university courses. While many opine that students ought to study science and technology-related subjects, which pave the way for the future career, I subscribe to the view that learners should be given complete liberty to select the subject they love and feel interested in.
On the one hand, there is a myriad of reasons why tertiary students ought to only study subjects that will prove useful in the future. The most compelling reason is that this will provide students with countless windows of opportunity to seek a prestigious job after completing graduation. For instance, in the USA, graduates can earn a handsome salary if they work as a scientist or programmer. Apart from it, emphasizing science and technology studies in universities will accelerate the pace of technological innovations, and thereby stimulating economic growth in the long-run.
On the other hand, I would readily concur with the notion of letting adult students select whatever subjects they like as it will help students attain brilliant academic performance when they have a passion for learning. Take my friend Robin as an example; instead of selecting science and technology, he just took business administration course and has managed to carve a niche for himself as a specialist in the Human Resource Management arena. Besides, offering a broad range of courses at the tertiary level is crucial for any society. A case in point is Social Science which is utmost important in areas like social care, business, and the justice system, to mention but a few.
To conclude, it seems reasonable to assume that while science and technology are no doubt important, the importance of other subjects should not be ignored as these subjects also play a vital role in individual life and society as a whole. So tertiary students should be given the freedom to learn subjects they feel passionate about.