Early environmental education has become an increasingly common topic in IELTS Writing Task 2 examinations, appearing in various forms over the past few years. Based on analysis of recent exam trends and role of education in addressing climate change, this theme is likely to remain relevant in future tests.
Students participating in environmental education activities in classroom
Let’s examine a recent IELTS Task 2 question on this topic:
Some people believe that environmental awareness should be taught to children at primary school level. Others think it should be introduced at a later stage. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Analysis of Question Requirements
- Topic: Timing of environmental education
- Task: Discuss both views + personal opinion
- Key points to address: Benefits/drawbacks of early vs. late environmental education
- Format: 4-5 paragraphs, 250-280 words
Sample Essay 1 (Band 8.5)
The debate about when to introduce environmental education has garnered significant attention, with some advocating for early primary school instruction while others prefer delayed implementation. In my view, incorporating environmental awareness during primary education offers compelling advantages.
Those who support early environmental education argue that young children are naturally curious and receptive to new concepts. Primary school students can easily grasp basic environmental principles through hands-on activities like gardening or waste segregation. This early exposure helps develop environmentally conscious habits that become ingrained for life. Similar to The role of schools in climate education, early intervention can shape lasting behavioral changes.
Conversely, proponents of later environmental education contend that older students possess better analytical skills to comprehend complex environmental issues. They maintain that secondary school students can better understand scientific concepts like global warming and ecosystem interactions. Additionally, older students might be more capable of implementing meaningful environmental actions in their communities.
However, I firmly believe that primary school is the optimal time to begin environmental education. Research demonstrates that children who learn about environmental responsibility early develop stronger ecological values and sustainable habits. Moreover, delaying environmental education misses crucial formative years when children naturally connect with nature. The success of numerous primary school environmental programs globally substantiates this approach’s effectiveness.
In conclusion, while both perspectives have merit, the advantages of early environmental education significantly outweigh any potential benefits of delayed instruction. Schools should integrate age-appropriate environmental learning from primary level to foster lifelong environmental stewardship.
Sample Essay 2 (Band 6.5)
People have different opinions about when children should learn about the environment. Some think it should start in primary school, while others believe it should wait until later. I will discuss both sides and share my thoughts.
People who support teaching environmental awareness in primary school say it’s good to start early. Young children can learn simple things like not littering and saving water. They can also do fun activities like growing plants and recycling. These lessons can help them develop good habits early in life.
On the other hand, some people think environmental education should start later. They say older students can better understand difficult environmental problems. Secondary school students can learn about pollution, climate change, and other complex issues. They might also be better at taking action to help the environment.
I think environmental education should start in primary school. When children learn about the environment early, they care more about nature. Also, waiting too long means missing the chance to teach good habits when children are young. Many schools have shown that young children can learn about the environment successfully.
To conclude, although both views have good points, I believe starting environmental education in primary school is better. Schools should teach children about the environment from a young age to help them become responsible adults.
Scoring Analysis
Band 8.5 Essay Features:
- Sophisticated vocabulary: “garnered significant attention,” “ingrained,” “analytical skills”
- Complex sentence structures
- Clear organization and cohesion
- Well-developed arguments
- Academic tone throughout
Band 6.5 Essay Features:
- Simple but clear vocabulary
- Basic sentence structures
- Adequate organization
- Less developed arguments
- More informal tone
Key Vocabulary
- environmental stewardship (n) /ɪnˌvaɪrənˈmentl ˈstjuːərdʃɪp/ – responsible use and protection of nature
- ecological values (n) /ˌiːkəˈlɒdʒɪkl ˈvæljuːz/ – principles regarding environmental protection
- formative years (n) /ˈfɔːmətɪv jɪəz/ – crucial early period of development
- hands-on activities (n) /ˌhændz ˈɒn ækˈtɪvɪtiz/ – practical learning experiences
- waste segregation (n) /weɪst ˌsegrɪˈgeɪʃn/ – separation of different types of waste
Children engaged in outdoor environmental learning activities
Advanced Sentence Structures
- Complex with relative clause: “Research demonstrates that children who learn about environmental responsibility early develop stronger ecological values.”
- Compound-complex: “While both perspectives have merit, the advantages of early environmental education significantly outweigh any potential benefits of delayed instruction.”
- Conditional with modals: “Schools should integrate age-appropriate environmental learning from primary level to foster lifelong environmental stewardship.”
Practice writing your own essay on this topic and share it in the comments below for feedback and discussion.
