Writing Academic Task 2 Band 8.0 Example

There is an immense amount of pressure on students today to succeed academically. There are opinions on how non-academic topics, such as physical exercise and gastronomy, should be excluded from the school syllabus to help young people focus on academic matters. This essay disagrees that children should only focus on academic subjects. Firstly I will argue that physical education and cookery make important contributions to children’s development. Regular physical activity supports students’ health and gives them an opportunity to practise teamwork and self-discipline. Cookery, meanwhile, teaches practical skills that students can use throughout their lives, including how to prepare meals and make sensible choices about food. These benefits are valuable in their own right and cannot be replaced by lessons in academic subjects alone.

Secondly, non-academic lessons can also help students approach their academic work more effectively. A school day devoted entirely to demanding classroom subjects may leave some children feeling tired and less motivated. Activities that involve movement or hands-on learning can provide variety, helping students return to other lessons with renewed attention. This does not mean that physical education or cookery should take priority over core subjects; rather, schools should make room for both.

Admittedly, academic achievement is important, and schools have limited time in which to teach the syllabus. However, removing practical subjects altogether would be an unnecessarily extreme response to academic pressure. Schools could instead manage the timetable carefully and ensure that non-academic classes do not prevent students from studying essential subjects.

In conclusion, I disagree with excluding physical education and cookery from school. Academic learning should remain a priority, but a balanced syllabus that includes practical and physical subjects better supports students’ overall development.