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Should cooking be taught in schools?
IELTS Writing task 2. Write at least 250 words in about 40 minutes.
Some people think that every student should learn to cook at school. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
0 words (minimum 250) · 40:00
How to plan it
- Decide your position before you write. This plan agrees fully.
- Introduction: restate the topic and give your position in one sentence.
- Body 1: the health benefit, with an example.
- Body 2: the independence and money benefit, with an example.
- Body 3: answer the main opposing argument.
- Conclusion: restate your position in different words.
Show a model answer (291 words)
Some people argue that cooking should be a compulsory subject in schools. I agree with this view, because cooking is a practical skill that helps students to stay healthy and become independent, and it can be taught without reducing the time for other subjects.
The first reason is health. Many young people depend on fast food and packaged snacks, which are high in sugar, salt and fat, because they do not know how to prepare simple meals. If students learn to cook basic dishes, such as lentils, vegetables and eggs, they can choose healthier food and understand what it contains. A student who has cooked a meal from fresh ingredients is also more likely to read the labels on packaged food.
The second reason is independence. Many students leave home for university or work in another city, and those who cannot cook often spend a large part of their income on food that is bought outside. Cooking at home is usually cheaper, and it teaches useful habits such as planning a budget, shopping for ingredients and avoiding waste. These skills are valuable for boys and girls equally, and learning them at school removes the idea that cooking is only for women.
Opponents say that the school day is already full and that cooking is the duty of parents. However, one lesson a week would take little time, and it could replace a subject that students find less useful. Moreover, not every child has a parent who can teach them, so school is the only place where all can learn.
In conclusion, teaching cooking in school benefits the health and the independence of young people, and the cost in time is small. I therefore believe that it should be a compulsory subject.
Why it works
- The position is clear in the introduction and again in the conclusion.
- Each body paragraph has one main idea, followed by an explanation and an example.
- The third body paragraph answers the opposing view, which shows balance without changing the position.
- Linking words such as however, moreover and therefore connect the ideas.