Book 5 Academic Writing Test 3 · Task 2
Original planning guidance for the supplied practice prompt. The example is illustrative; it is not a full model answer or a rated response.
Discuss the view that children should develop a sense of competition and the alternative that cooperation prepares them better for adult life. Explain both views and give your own opinion, connecting childhood learning to later behaviour.
Practice target: 250+ words, about 40 minutes.
How to approach this task
- Give competition a fair explanation before criticising it. You might discuss motivation or persistence, then identify the conditions under which those benefits occur.
- Explain cooperation through a mechanism such as sharing knowledge, dividing responsibilities or resolving disagreement. Show how the skill transfers beyond a single classroom activity.
- State your own view explicitly. A qualified position can recognise a role for competition while arguing that cooperative habits deserve greater emphasis.
- Use a focused example for each main idea. Avoid a long description of an education system that never explains how competition or cooperation affects development.
Planning example
A coherent structure is introduction, the case for competition, the case for cooperation with your evaluation, and conclusion. If your position is that cooperation should dominate, explain why its benefits matter more rather than simply repeating that it is good.
Common mistake to avoid
Do not treat working in groups as proof of cooperation. Explain the actual behaviour—sharing, listening or coordinating—that makes the example relevant.
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