IELTS Writing Task 2: The Importance of Homework in Education – 6-9

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20 hours ago

A student writing homework to reinforce learning objectives, showing time management and study skills

Introduction

Homework sits at the heart of school life worldwide, which is why the importance of homework in education appears regularly in IELTS Writing Task 2. Examiners like this topic because it blends education policy with everyday experience, inviting clear arguments, real-life examples, and balanced evaluation. In this guide, you will learn how to handle this question type confidently: you’ll see three complete sample essays (Band 5-6, 6.5-7, and 8-9), learn exactly why each one earns its score, and take away high-value vocabulary and sentence structures that boost your band score.

Verified past Task 2 questions on this theme reported by reputable IELTS sources include:

Some people think that homework should be banned, while others believe it is essential for children’s education. Discuss both views and give your opinion. (reported by ielts-blog.com and IELTS Liz)
Many people feel that children should be given homework every day, while others believe it interferes with family time. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. (reported by ieltsliz.com)
Some people argue that homework puts unnecessary pressure on children and should be replaced by extra-curricular activities. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (reported by ielts-blog.com)

For learners who want to strengthen the home-school connection, you may also explore how family support impacts study habits in this resource: The role of parents in child education.

1. Question & Analysis

Some people think that homework should be banned, while others argue it is essential for children’s education. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Question type: Discussion + Opinion (discuss both views, then clearly state and justify your opinion).
Requirements:
- Present both sides with balanced coverage.
- Give your own position and maintain it logically throughout.
- Support with concrete examples (e.g., study habits, Asian exam-driven contexts, after-school tutoring).
Key terms:
- “Banned”: completely prohibited in formal school policy.
- “Essential”: necessary for core learning objectives, not just “nice to have.”
- “Children’s education”: not only test scores but also skills such as independence, time management, and self-regulation.
Common pitfalls:
- Not discussing both sides fairly.
- Hiding your opinion or stating it only in the conclusion.
- Over-generalizing without examples.
- Repeating “homework is important” without specific mechanisms (practice, retrieval, feedback).
Strategic approach:
- Plan 4 paragraphs: Introduction (paraphrase + thesis), View A, View B + your stance, Conclusion.
- Use topic sentences and comparisons to show evaluation.
- Integrate evidence: short studies (without inventing statistics), teacher observations, or national contexts (e.g., cram-school culture in East Asia).
- Aim for precise language: “retrieval practice,” “distributed learning,” “family dynamics,” “intrinsic motivation.”

This debate also intersects with schooling tools; for an overview of how digital tools shape classroom tasks that often extend into homework, see: The role of technology in public education.

A student writing homework to reinforce learning objectives, showing time management and study skills

2. Band 8-9 Sample Essay

A Band 8-9 essay demonstrates a clear, consistently developed position, sophisticated cohesion, precise lexis, and flexible grammar with rare slips.

Essay (approximately 300 words):
Homework is often portrayed as an unnecessary burden; yet for many learners, especially in rigorous curricula, it acts as a bridge between exposure and mastery. While critics fear that assignments erode family time and children’s well-being, I argue that appropriately designed homework is indispensable because it consolidates knowledge and cultivates independent learning.

Opponents of homework typically point to stress, inequity, and diminishing returns. If tasks are monotonous or excessive, students may disengage and families can feel policed by schools. Moreover, when parents have limited time or resources, take-home tasks risk widening achievement gaps. These concerns are legitimate and suggest that schools should limit low-value, repetitive drills. Nevertheless, abolishing homework entirely misconstrues the problem: it is poor-quality homework—not homework per se—that undermines learning.

By contrast, well-calibrated assignments promote retrieval practice and spacing, two evidence-based principles that strengthen long-term retention. Short problem sets in mathematics, for instance, push learners to reconstruct methods independently, while reading logs can train students to annotate and question texts. Crucially, effective homework is targeted, time-bound, and feedback-driven. When teachers provide clear criteria and swift responses, students refine their metacognition—planning, monitoring, and evaluating their study. In exam-oriented systems across Asia, such habits distinguish top performers; they are not innate but rehearsed deliberately.

It is also worth noting that creative and choice-based tasks mitigate stress. A science “mini-investigation” completed over a week, or a vocabulary portfolio that students curate, can preserve autonomy and protect family evenings. In short, the question is not whether to assign homework, but how to design it to maximize benefit and minimize harm.

In conclusion, blanket bans are blunt instruments. With judicious volume, clear purpose, and actionable feedback, homework remains a powerful lever for memory, mastery, and learner independence.

Why this essay excels:

Clear evaluation: not “homework good/bad” but “quality and design” as the decisive factor.
Specific learning science (retrieval, spacing) supports claims.
Precise qualifiers: “time-bound,” “feedback-driven,” “well-calibrated.”
Balanced treatment of equity concerns before rebuttal.
Advanced syntax: concessive clauses and non-defining relatives.
Concrete, culturally relevant examples (Asian exam contexts).
Strong controlling idea reiterated in conclusion.

To understand how emerging tools might reshape take-home tasks and feedback loops, see: Artificial intelligence in education.

3. Band 6.5-7 Sample Essay

A Band 6.5-7 essay is generally clear and well structured, discusses both sides, and maintains a position with some sophisticated language, though with occasional imprecision or repetition.

Essay (about 265 words):
Some people argue that homework should be removed because it puts pressure on families and makes children dislike school. Others claim it is necessary for practice. I believe homework is still important but must be limited and purposeful.

On the one hand, banning homework sounds attractive when we consider stress and limited family time in the evening. After a long day at school, many students attend extra classes or travel far to get home. If teachers then add heavy workloads, children cannot relax or talk properly with their parents. In addition, not all homes can support study equally, which means homework may increase inequality. These arguments show that homework quantity should be controlled.

On the other hand, regular practice is essential for long-term learning. Without revising and repeating skills, it is easy to forget. For example, short math questions and weekly reading tasks help students remember methods and vocabulary. However, homework should be short, clear, and connected to specific goals so that students know why they are doing it. Feedback is also important because it shows learners how to improve next time.

In my view, the best policy is balanced: teachers assign focused tasks that take a reasonable amount of time and avoid low-value repetition. Parents can support by checking routines rather than doing the work for their children. If we redesign homework in this way, it can build discipline and confidence without harming well-being.

Direct comparison with Band 8-9:

Precision: 8-9 uses “retrieval practice” and “metacognition”; 6.5-7 uses “practice” and “feedback” without deeper explanation.
Argument depth: 8-9 evaluates design quality; 6.5-7 states limits but with fewer mechanisms.
Cohesion: 8-9 varies linking phrases; 6.5-7 repeats standard transitions.
Examples: 8-9 includes targeted examples (reading logs, mini-investigations); 6.5-7 uses broader examples (math questions, reading tasks).

4. Band 5-6 Sample Essay

Band 5-6 writing communicates the main ideas but shows uneven development, noticeable errors, repetition, and limited control of complex grammar.

Essay (about 260 words) with error highlighting:
Many people say homework is bad and should be banned. Others say it is very helpful for learning. In my opinion homework is good because students need more time to study and they will get better marks.

Firstly, when students do homework they practice the lessons. Practice makes perfect, so they can remember things more longer. Also teacher can see who is serious student and who is lazy, and this improve discipline. However some students have too much homework and it make them tired. Parents sometimes do the work for them, which is not good.

Secondly, homework prepares students for exams. In many Asian countries, exam is very important so students must do more exercises after school. If there is no homework, students will only play games and watch phones all evening. This is wasting time and they forget school knowledge. Homework also teach time management because they have to plan their day.

In conclusion, homework should not be banned. Schools must give more homework but not too much and check it carefully. In this way, students will improve results and be more successful in the future.

How to improve from Band 6 to 7:

Replace generic claims with mechanisms: e.g., “Homework strengthens retrieval and self-regulation.”
Vary linking: besides “also,” use “moreover,” “consequently,” “by contrast.”
Use precise collocations: “time-bound tasks,” “constructive feedback,” “distributed practice.”
Upgrade grammar: relative clauses, conditionals, and participle phrases.

For students completing research-based tasks at home, it helps to understand safe and ethical online behavior; a useful primer is here: The importance of teaching digital citizenship.

5. Essential Vocabulary for the importance of homework in education

Word/Phrase	Type	Pronunciation	Definition	Example	Collocations
retrieval practice	noun	/rɪˈtriː.vəl ˈpræk.tɪs/	Recalling information to strengthen memory	Retrieval practice in homework improves retention.	engage in, use, embed
spaced repetition	noun	/speɪst ˌrɛp.ɪˈtɪʃ.ən/	Reviewing material at intervals	Spaced repetition aids long-term learning.	apply, schedule, optimize
formative feedback	noun	/ˈfɔː.mə.tɪv ˈfiːd.bæk/	Feedback to improve learning	Formative feedback makes homework meaningful.	provide, act on, timely
metacognition	noun	/ˌmet.ə.kɒɡˈnɪʃ.ən/	Awareness of one’s thinking	Homework can build metacognition.	develop, monitor, reflect on
inequity	noun	/ɪˈnɛk.wɪ.ti/	Unfairness or imbalance	Homework may widen inequity without support.	address, reduce, exacerbate
workload	noun	/ˈwɜːk.ləʊd/	Amount of work	Excessive workload causes stress.	heavy, manageable, reduce
time-bound	adj	/ˈtaɪm.baʊnd/	Limited by a set time	Set time-bound tasks to avoid overload.	task, assignment, schedule
low-value drill	noun	/ˈloʊ ˌvæl.juː drɪl/	Repetitive task with little learning	Avoid low-value drills in homework.	avoid, eliminate, replace with
cultivate independence	collocation	/ˈkʌl.tɪ.veɪt ˌɪn.dɪˈpɛnd.əns/	Build self-reliance	Good homework can cultivate independence.	aim to, help to
undermine well-being	collocation	/ˌʌndəˈmaɪn ˌwɛlˈbiːɪŋ/	Harm health or happiness	Overload may undermine well-being.	risk, may, can
in contrast	linker	/ɪn ˈkɒn.trɑːst/	Shows difference	In contrast, targeted tasks help.	in contrast to
consequently	linker	/ˈkɒn.sɪ.kwənt.li/	Shows result	Consequently, students retain more.	consequently, therefore
abolish	verb	/əˈbɒl.ɪʃ/	Formally end	We should not abolish homework.	seek to, propose to
calibrate	verb	/ˈkæl.ɪ.breɪt/	Adjust precisely	Teachers must calibrate homework volume.	carefully, properly
autonomy	noun	/ɔːˈtɒn.ə.mi/	Independence in decision	Choice-based tasks build autonomy.	student, learner, foster

6. High-Scoring Sentence Structures

Complex subordination

Formula: Subordinate clause + main clause (although/whereas/while)
Example (from Band 8-9): While critics fear that assignments erode family time, I argue that well-designed homework is indispensable.
Why it scores well: Balances two ideas concisely; shows control of concession.
Additional examples:
- Although volume matters, design quality matters more.
- Whereas bans are blunt, reform is targeted.
Common mistakes: Misplacing comma; using “although” and “but” together.

Non-defining relative clauses

Formula: Noun, which/whose + clause, main clause
Example: Well-calibrated assignments, which promote retrieval practice, strengthen long-term retention.
Why: Adds precise, non-essential detail elegantly.
Additional examples:
- Feedback, which must be timely, guides improvement.
- Choice tasks, which protect autonomy, lower stress.
Mistakes: Forgetting commas; using “that” instead of “which.”

Participle phrases

Formula: -ing/-ed phrase + main clause
Example: Targeting essential skills, teachers can keep tasks short yet effective.
Why: Condenses cause or method; improves fluency.
Additional examples:
- Providing clear criteria, schools reduce confusion.
- Designed poorly, homework breeds resentment.
Mistakes: Dangling participles that don’t modify the subject.

Cleft sentences

Formula: It + be + focus + that/who + clause
Example: It is the quality of homework that determines its value, not the quantity.
Why: Emphasizes key contrasts; strong rhetorical effect.
Additional examples:
- It is timely feedback that accelerates progress.
- It is autonomy that keeps motivation high.
Mistakes: Overuse; wrong tense agreement.

Advanced conditionals

Formula: If + were to + base verb, + would/could + verb
Example: If schools were to abolish homework, many students would lose structured practice.
Why: Hypothetical reasoning; planning and evaluation.
Additional examples:
- If parents were to supervise routines, stress could fall.
- If tasks were calibrated, inequity might lessen.
Mistakes: Mixing second and third conditional forms incorrectly.

Inversion for emphasis

Formula: Not only + auxiliary + subject + verb, but also + clause
Example: Not only does effective homework build memory, but it also fosters independence.
Why: Stylistic variety; emphasizes dual benefits.
Additional examples:
- Only by limiting volume can schools protect well-being.
- Rarely is a blanket ban the best solution.
Mistakes: Forgetting subject-auxiliary inversion after the negative adverb.

7. Self-Assessment Checklist

Before writing:

Identify question type (discuss both + opinion).
Decide your clear stance and 2-3 key reasons.
Note examples: subject areas, Asian exam culture, equity concerns.

While writing:

Open with a precise thesis.
Topic sentence each body paragraph.
Balance both views; avoid one-sided development.
Use at least 2 advanced structures naturally.

After writing:

Trim repetition; check cohesion variety.
Replace generic words with precise collocations.
Verify 250+ words; ensure opinion is explicit.

Time management:

5 min plan (ideas + structure)
30 min write (2 body paragraphs minimum)
5 min edit (lexis + grammar + links)

For families guiding home study without overstepping, you can compare approaches highlighted in: role of parents in children’s education.

Conclusion

The importance of homework in education makes it a staple of IELTS Writing Task 2: it invites balanced discussion about learning, equity, and student well-being. To score higher, move beyond slogans like “homework is good/bad” and show how design, feedback, and time limits shape outcomes. With practice, you can adopt the high-scoring structures here, refine topic vocabulary, and craft arguments that feel both nuanced and practical. A realistic improvement timeline is four to eight weeks of weekly timed practice plus feedback. Write your own essay on the set question today, then compare it to the Band 7 model and revise. For those exploring broader system trends related to after-school learning, this overview complements the discussion: The role of technology in public education. And if you are integrating online research into assignments, responsible behavior matters as much as content; see: The importance of teaching digital citizenship.