Task 2 · · 5 samples

Some people think local governments should spend more money on public learning centres for adults. Others believe this money should be used to improve schools for children. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. Write at least 250 words.

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Plan your answer

Try your own response before reading the samples.

Ideas to explore

  • Schools provide foundational skills and reach nearly all children.
  • Adult learning can help workers retrain and parents participate in community life.
  • Prioritise essential school provision, then support targeted adult courses.

Suggested structure

  1. Introduce both priorities and state your position.
  2. Explain the case for schools with a concrete example.
  3. Explain the case for adult centres and a funding condition.
  4. Restate how the priorities can be balanced.
Useful vocabulary & examples
a qualified judgement
a conclusion with stated limits

Children’s schools should receive a secure basic level of funding, while targeted adult learning centres also deserve support. I favour allocating additional money according to local needs rather than treating the two groups as competitors.

practical consequences
effects on ordinary decisions or activities

Children’s schools should receive a secure basic level of funding, while targeted adult learning centres also deserve support. I favour allocating additional money according to local needs rather than treating the two groups as competitors.

a realistic alternative
another option that can work in the circumstances

Children’s schools should receive a secure basic level of funding, while targeted adult learning centres also deserve support. I favour allocating additional money according to local needs rather than treating the two groups as competitors.

Sample answers

Target Band 9 · Original model answer

319 words · Illustrative target band

Whether an education budget should favour adult learning centres or children’s schools depends partly on what each currently lacks. I would give priority to ensuring that schools can provide a sound basic education, while reserving support for adult programmes that meet needs the school system cannot address. The strongest case for school investment is that early disadvantages compound. A pupil who struggles to read…

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Target Band 8 · Original model answer

312 words · Illustrative target band

A local education budget must serve residents at different stages of life. Some argue that adult learning centres deserve greater investment, whereas others would direct additional funds towards schools. In my view, authorities should secure an adequate school system first, then expand adult provision where it can remedy identifiable gaps in opportunity. The argument for prioritising schools rests on the cumulative …

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Target Band 7 · Original model answer

294 words · Illustrative target band

Limited education budgets force local governments to decide whether to improve schools or expand learning opportunities for adults. Both options have clear benefits. I believe that essential school provision should take priority, but adult courses should be funded where they address a specific local need. Those who favour schools argue that early education has lasting effects. Children who leave primary school witho…

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Target Band 6 · Original model answer

277 words · Illustrative target band

Local authorities have to choose how to spend their education budgets. Some people think adult learning centres should receive more money, while others would prefer improvements to children’s schools. In my opinion, schools should be the first priority, although adult education should also receive some support. There are several reasons to invest in schools. Children need basic skills such as reading and mathematics…

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Target Band 5 · Original model answer

268 words · Illustrative target band

Nowadays some people say government should spend money for adults learning centres. Other people say schools for children need this money. Both ideas are good and I think schools are more important because children are the future. First, children need good schools. If the school has no books, children cannot learn good. Some schools also have very old computers and it is difficult for teachers. Government can buy bo…

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