Some countries require every school student to learn a second language from the age of six.
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 countries require every school student to learn a second language from the age of six.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
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
The strongest answers separate two claims that are usually merged: that young children acquire languages more easily, and that starting early therefore produces better results. The first is broadly true of pronunciation; the second depends entirely on how much exposure follows, and two hours a week for twelve years produces very little. Making that distinction gives the essay something precise to argue.
Paragraph plan
Introduction — Paraphrase, then signpost: real advantages in pronunciation and in attitude, but the benefit depends on intensity, and there is a genuine opportunity cost.
Body 1 — Advantages — younger learners achieve native-like pronunciation, treat bilingualism as normal, and gain cognitive flexibility.
Body 2 — Disadvantages — thin weekly exposure produces almost nothing, the curriculum time comes from somewhere, and compulsion at six ignores which language will actually be useful.
Conclusion — The age is not the variable that matters; intensity is, and a compulsory low-intensity start may discredit the subject.
Model essay
Band 8.5–9.0 model essay
319 words
According to some, foreign language education should be incorporated into the primary school curriculum. In my view, the advantages of this initiative can outweigh its drawbacks, provided that children's long-term fluency is supported and their homework load remains balanced.
On the one hand, early exposure to a second tongue can afford children a long-term career advantage. To clarify, Proficiency in languages, combined with appropriate academic credentials and experience, represents a highly valued asset in competitive professional environments. Therefore, by securing linguistic competence during formative years, they reduce the need for intensive adult language training and can instead devote their efforts to expanding their knowledge base. This can strengthen their position relative to other candidates. Moreover, early bilingual education also familiarises children with different cultures. Given that language-learning resources frequently integrate culturally embedded narratives and traditions, children develop a deeper understanding of native-speaking communities. Subsequently, children develop a broader global perspective, which may reduce cultural bias, encourage tolerance from an early age, and contribute to more inclusive social behaviour in later life.
On the other hand, these advantages can be undermined if countermeasures are not taken to address potential drawbacks. First, an excessive academic burden, exacerbated by language instruction tasks, may compromise children's development of essential literacy and numeracy competencies. To prevent such adverse effects, educational frameworks should accommodate individual learning pace while preserving structured continuity. Furthermore, parental monitoring is also critical to prevent the eventual attrition of language skills, which can compromise the long-term benefits of language competence. To prevent this, parents should supervise their children to ensure continued exposure. For instance, continual reading, conversation or media consumption can help promote long-term fluency.
To conclude, the benefits of language acquisition, such as better employment prospects and more tolerant attitudes, can easily outweigh potential drawbacks. However, children should maintain continuous exposure to the language within a flexible learning framework, so that gradual regression and burnout do not negate these benefits.
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 an advantages and disadvantages 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 mandatory early foreign-language teaching from age six and state the conditional position that its advantages outweigh the disadvantages provided fluency support and workload balance are maintained.
Body 1: Argue the cases where advantages outweigh: early language exposure builds a long-term career edge by reducing the need for costly adult training, and exposes children to other cultures, building tolerance and a broader global outlook.
Body 2: Identify the conditions needed to stop disadvantages becoming serious: excessive language homework can hurt literacy and numeracy unless learning pace is properly managed, and skills can regress without parents ensuring continued exposure through reading and conversation.
Conclusion: Restate that the career and cultural benefits of early language learning outweigh the drawbacks, provided children maintain continuous, balanced exposure so regression and burnout do not erase these gains.
Word or phrase
Meaning
Used in a sentence
proficiency
a high degree of skill or competence in something
Proficiency in languages, combined with appropriate academic credentials and experience, represents a highly valued asset
formative years
the early period of life during which character and abilities are developed
by securing linguistic competence during formative years
familiarises
makes someone acquainted with or knowledgeable about something
early bilingual education also familiarises children with different cultures
embedded
fixed firmly within a surrounding context
language-learning resources frequently integrate culturally embedded narratives and traditions
countermeasures
actions taken to counteract a danger or problem
these advantages can be undermined if countermeasures are not taken to address potential drawbacks
numeracy
the ability to understand and work with numbers
may compromise children's development of essential literacy and numeracy competencies
attrition
the gradual reduction or wearing away of something
parental monitoring is also critical to prevent the eventual attrition of language skills
burnout
a state of physical or mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress
so that gradual regression and burnout do not negate these benefits
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
How do I challenge a claim that seems obviously true?
Split it into its parts. "Children learn languages easily" and "starting early produces better results" look like one claim but are two, and only the first is well supported. Separating merged claims is one of the most reliable ways to produce a distinctive argument.
Is it acceptable to say a policy could do harm rather than just fail?
Yes, if you can show the mechanism. Explaining that repeated failure teaches children they are bad at languages is a specific harm, not a rhetorical flourish, and it demonstrates the kind of extension examiners look for.
Should I mention which language should be taught?
Briefly, as a genuine complication of compulsion at six. Choosing for a child whose future is unknown is a real drawback of mandating it so early — but keep it to a sentence or two so it supports the argument rather than replacing it.
