IELTS Task 2 Writing

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Online education is rapidly increasing in popularity. What has led to this development? What are the advantages and disadvantages of online learning compared to in-class instructions? Provide examples and explanations.

Learning via the internet is quickly becoming mainstream among pupils. What are the motivating factors behind this change? What are the positives and negatives of remote learning versus in-person study? Give examples and explanations. 

Write at least 250 words. 

*When you are practicing Task 2 at home, your planning, and developing ideas should take 20 – 30 minutes, and you should write it all down!

*During your official exam, your Task 2 planning MUST not take more than 5 minutes, you should only write down the paraphrase of the question and your thesis. 

TOPIC = Online education

Controlling Idea(s) = reasons for its popularity and the advantages and disadvantages

*Third person essay

What is online education?

Remote learning through the use of computers and the internet whereby students and teachers are separated by space and/or time. 

Why is online education popular? (What are the advantages of online learning?)

It is more accessible (no restrictions of distance or boarders), convenient (less time, no commute), diverse (for teachers and content), affordable.

How does it work?

Through the use of a computer and the internet; software, video, audio, camera, mic. 

Why can online educations be disadvantageous compared to in-class learning?

Distractions (less focused), technical problems, lower quality of socialization with peers and teachers, lack of physical movement.

(***What has accelerated online learning nowadays? A: viral infection, pandemic) 

THESIS (the points for discussion and persuasion in your essay)

Some negatives of remote learning are more distractions and less socialization while the main reasons for virtual learnings rise in popularity, and its benefits, are convenience, affordability, and diversity.

Introduction (hook, background, thesis)

Certainly, the revolution of online education is well under way worldwide. Modern technology, namely the computer and the internet, has enabled billions of people to learn from the comfort of their homes and this has had a massive impact on education systems.  Some negatives of remote learning are more distractions and less socialization while the main reasons for virtual pedagogy’s rise in popularity, and its benefits, are convenience, affordability, and diversity.

Body 1 – Topic Sentence – introduce, in detail, the concept/points of body paragraph 1 (more distraction and less socialization)

Two commonly observed deficits of learning from the comfort of the home are plenty of competing stimuli that draw attention from studies as well as a lack of interaction with peers. (Explanation – Why? What do you mean?) Friends, family, the television, or even the smell of a home-cooked meal can frequently distract home learners from their studies, and it is much easier to get up from the lesson and engage in these interruptions than doing this while sitting in a physical classroom. Furthermore, learners are not able to easily start a conversation and group work with their peers because they are often unavailable in time and/or space with virtual learning. (Example – 9/10 “Oh yeah, that’s happened with me. I can empathize” Think of 2 or 3 examples and pick the best one. Ideally, it is an example that may be applied to both body paragraphs.) When designing a business plan in an online class, it is easy to procrastinate and play football with friends instead of doing the work, also, delays happen because of poor communication among group members.  (Connecting/concluding sentence) However, these deficits of online learning can be managed and there are many benefits to such method of study. 

Body 2 (Topic, Explanation and Example) 

Many students favour and opt for online courses because it saves them time and money and they can choose their educational path from a broad range of courses and teachers that they can study from anytime and anywhere. (Explanation) Through distance learning, students do not need to spend hours each week commuting to school and they can pick from thousands of different courses taught by millions of teachers worldwide. Often, many of these courses cost a fraction of in-class learning because there are significantly lower overhead costs. A business degree in a physical university can costs over 20 thousand dollars in tuition, but the same degree completed online may only cost two thousand dollars. 

Conclusion (points restated, argument strengthened, take-home-message)

In conclusion, although internet education can lack focus and interaction, its rise to stardom is fueled by its accessibility, cost, and variety. It is definitely an effective method of learning that is continuing to develop and helps propel humanity towards the next level of pedagogy.