Some people believe that children learn best when lessons are strictly structured by the teacher. Others think children should be free to choose what and how they study.
A full IELTS Writing Task 2 answer to this question, with a paragraph plan, ideas you can use, and the vocabulary that fits this topic.
The question
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Some people believe that children learn best when lessons are strictly structured by the teacher. Others think children should be free to choose what and how they study.
Discuss both 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.
How to read this question
A discussion question has three obligations, not two: both views, and your own. The single most common reason a competent essay scores 6 here is that the writer discusses both sides fairly and never says what they think — or only reveals it in the last line. State your position in the introduction and the essay organises itself. Note also that "learn best" invites the question <em>best at what</em>, which is where a Band 8 answer finds its argument.
Paragraph plan
Introduction — Paraphrase both views, then state a position: structure and autonomy suit different stages and different goals, so the question is one of sequence, not of choosing a side.
Body 1 — The case for teacher-led structure — novices lack the knowledge to know what they need next.
Body 2 — The case for autonomy — motivation and the ability to direct your own learning are themselves outcomes, and they are only built by practising them.
Conclusion — Structure first, autonomy progressively — the two are stages, not rivals.
Model essay
Band 8.5–9.0 model essay
336 words
According to some, children learn most effectively when their lessons are tightly structured and directed by the teacher. Others maintain that children should be granted the freedom to choose what and how they study. In my view, both approaches have merit, and the most effective outcome combines structured guidance with a degree of student autonomy, depending on the child's age.
On the one hand, proponents of strict structure argue that clear guidance ensures children acquire essential foundational knowledge systematically. To clarify, without a teacher-directed curriculum, young learners may lack the discipline or judgement to identify which topics are genuinely important, potentially leaving critical gaps in their education. For instance, structured mathematics instruction ensures that children master basic arithmetic before progressing to more complex concepts, a sequence that unsupervised exploration might easily disrupt, and this structured foundation later enables them to tackle more advanced material with confidence.
On the other hand, advocates of student-led learning contend that autonomy fosters intrinsic motivation and deeper engagement. To illustrate, when children select topics that genuinely interest them, such as choosing to research a particular historical period or scientific phenomenon, they tend to invest more effort and retain information more effectively than when compelled to follow a rigid, externally imposed syllabus. This approach can also cultivate independent thinking and self-directed problem-solving skills that prove valuable well beyond the classroom, and such intrinsic motivation often persists into adulthood, encouraging lifelong learning.
From my perspective, the appropriate balance depends largely on a child's developmental stage. In early education, structured teaching is indispensable, as young children require guidance to build fundamental literacy and numeracy skills. As students mature into adolescence, however, incorporating greater choice, such as selecting elective subjects or independent projects, can sustain motivation while still operating within an overall structured framework set by educators.
To conclude, despite differing opinions on how children learn best, I believe that structured teaching should predominate during early education, while increasing autonomy should be introduced as students grow older and more capable of directing their own learning.
Created by a Band 8.5–9.0 IELTS Writing achiever — Premium. Sign up free to read the rest of this essay and unlock every model on the site.
This is a discussion (discuss both views) question. The essay above shows you what a strong answer looks like when it is finished. What it cannot show you is how to get there from a blank page in forty minutes.
That is what our Writing Study Library is for: the structure we teach for this exact question type, the paragraph pattern that goes with it, and the sentence openers for each stage — so the essay is planned before you start writing rather than assembled as you go.
Introduction: Paraphrase both views on whether lessons should be teacher-structured or student-chosen, and state the balanced opinion that both matter, depending on the child's age.
Body 1: Explain the case for strict structure: it ensures systematic acquisition of foundational knowledge, illustrated by sequenced maths instruction that builds arithmetic before advanced concepts.
Body 2: Explain the case for free choice: it builds intrinsic motivation and deeper, self-directed engagement, illustrated by children who invest more effort researching self-chosen topics than following an imposed syllabus.
Body 3: Give the writer's own opinion: structure should dominate in early education to build literacy and numeracy, with growing autonomy introduced as children mature into adolescence.
Conclusion: Restate that structured teaching should predominate early on, with autonomy increasing as students grow older and more capable of directing their own learning.
Word or phrase
Meaning
Used in a sentence
proponents
people who advocate for a policy or idea
proponents of strict structure argue that clear guidance ensures children acquire essential foundational knowledge systematically
foundational knowledge
basic knowledge that underlies further learning
clear guidance ensures children acquire essential foundational knowledge systematically
curriculum
the subjects making up a course of study
without a teacher-directed curriculum, young learners may lack the discipline
autonomy
the freedom to act independently
advocates of student-led learning contend that autonomy fosters intrinsic motivation
intrinsic motivation
drive to do something that comes from internal satisfaction rather than external reward
autonomy fosters intrinsic motivation and deeper engagement
syllabus
the outline of topics to be covered in a course
compelled to follow a rigid, externally imposed syllabus
developmental stage
a particular phase in a person's growth
the appropriate balance depends largely on a child's developmental stage
predominate
to be the strongest or main element
structured teaching should predominate during early education
Created by a Band 8.5–9.0 IELTS Writing achiever — Premium. Sign up free to see the ideas and vocabulary for this topic and unlock every model on the site.
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Common questions
Where should my opinion go in a discussion essay?
In the introduction, and again in the conclusion. Saving it for the end is the most common reason a well-written discussion essay scores 6 for Task Response: the examiner has read three quarters of the answer without knowing what you think. Stating it early also makes the body paragraphs easier to organise.
Do I have to give both views equal space?
Roughly equal, yes. The task says discuss both, so a paragraph on one view and two sentences on the other is an incomplete response — even if you disagree with that view. Argue the side you reject at its strongest; it makes your own position more convincing.
Can my opinion be that both views are right?
Yes, but only if you say in what respect. "Both are right" on its own reads as avoidance. "Both are right about different stages" or "about different outcomes" is a real position, and it gives your conclusion something to do.
Is a fourth or fifth paragraph worth it here?
Only if it carries a distinct step. In the Band 8.5 model the fourth paragraph reconciles the two views, which is a genuine move the essay could not do without. Adding a paragraph that merely lists another example is not rewarded and costs you proofreading time.
