How to read the question

• This is a discuss both views and give your opinion essay, so you need a balanced discussion of each view plus a clear personal position, ideally stated in the introduction and repeated in the conclusion.
• The first view is about university students learning other subjects in addition to their main subjects, so it is not about school pupils or about changing to a different degree.
• The second view says it is more important to give all their time and attention to studying for a qualification. The key idea is total focus on the degree, so explain why that focus might lead to better results or careers.
• Your opinion can support one view or a qualified middle position, for example that a small number of related extra subjects is valuable as long as the main degree does not suffer.
• Avoid turning the essay into a general discussion of whether university is useful, or of hobbies and part-time jobs; the extra activity in the question is studying other academic subjects.
• Each view needs reasons and concrete examples, such as an engineering student taking economics or a medical student with a very heavy workload.

Suggested position

Both approaches have merit, but I believe that studying some additional subjects is the wiser choice for most students, provided that it does not undermine their main qualification.

Paragraph plan

1. 1

   Introduction

   Paraphrase the two views, studying beyond the main degree versus concentrating entirely on the qualification, and state your opinion: extra subjects are worthwhile if they do not harm core studies.

2. 2

   Body paragraph 1: the case for total focus

   Explain that a degree is a large investment of time and money, often funded by loans, and that grades affect access to postgraduate study and jobs. Add that demanding courses such as medicine or engineering leave little spare time, so extra subjects could cause stress and lower results.

3. 3

   Body paragraph 2: the case for broader learning

   Argue that employers value graduates with skills from outside their specialism. Give examples such as an engineering student studying economics or a computer science student learning a foreign language, and add that university offers rare access to expert teaching that can reveal new interests.

4. 4

   Conclusion

   Restate that the benefits of broader study outweigh the risks, and explain the condition: choose one or two complementary subjects so the main qualification still receives proper attention.

Ideas and arguments

• Tuition fees and student loans make a degree a major financial investment, so students may feel they must maximise their grades.
• Top grades can be essential for scholarships, postgraduate places and competitive graduate schemes.
• Courses such as medicine, law and engineering have heavy workloads, leaving little time for extra subjects without stress.
• Employers increasingly value transferable skills, such as communication, teamwork and adaptability, that are often developed outside a student's specialism.
• A complementary subject can make a graduate more employable, for example a scientist who studies business or a programmer who learns a foreign language.
• Many modern problems, such as climate change or artificial intelligence, require knowledge from several disciplines.
• University may be the last chance to access expert teaching in many fields for free or at little extra cost.
• Exploring other subjects can help students discover a passion or a more suitable career before they commit to one path.

Band 8+ model answer

298 words · An original model answer written for ieltswrites, not an official answer. It stays in English, as in the exam.

Why this answer scores highly

Task Response

Both views are discussed fully with relevant reasons and examples, and the writer's position, a conditional preference for broader study, is stated in the introduction and confirmed in the conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion

Each body paragraph is devoted to one view and opens with a clear topic sentence, while linking devices such as on the other hand, for instance and moreover connect ideas without being mechanical.

Lexical Resource

Topic-specific vocabulary such as complementary subjects, specialism, commercially viable and postgraduate courses is used precisely, and the wording of the question is paraphrased throughout.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

The essay uses conditional clauses, relative clauses, passive forms and phrases like provided that and as long as accurately, with a good mix of simple and complex sentences.

Useful vocabulary

main subject

the principal subject of a student's degree; also called a major

specialism

the particular field a person studies or works in

broaden one's horizons

gain wider knowledge and experience

complementary subject

a subject that adds useful knowledge to the main subject

interdisciplinary

involving two or more academic subjects

transferable skills

abilities that are useful in many different jobs and situations

academic workload

the amount of study, assignments and exams a student must complete

tuition fees

money paid to a university for teaching

postgraduate study

study at university after completing a first degree

employability

how attractive a person is to employers

well-rounded

having a wide range of knowledge, skills and experience

spread oneself too thin

try to do too many things so that none of them is done well

commercially viable

able to make enough money to succeed as a business

Common mistakes

• Giving only one side or failing to state a personal opinion, when the task requires both views and your own position.
• Writing about schoolchildren or about hobbies and part-time jobs instead of university students studying additional academic subjects.
• Presenting your opinion only in the final sentence, so the examiner cannot follow your position through the essay.
• Using vague claims such as other subjects are useful for life without explaining how or giving an example.
• Misunderstanding the second view as students who do not want to learn anything, rather than students who prefer to concentrate fully on their qualification.
• Repeating the phrases main subjects and qualification throughout instead of paraphrasing with degree, specialism and course.

Frequently asked questions

Which Cambridge book is this question from?

This question about whether university students should study other subjects or focus fully on their qualification is Writing Task 2 of Test 2 in Cambridge IELTS 18 Academic, published in 2023.

Can I agree with both views in my opinion?

Yes, a balanced opinion is acceptable if it is clear, for example that extra subjects are valuable as long as they do not damage the main degree. State this position early and keep it consistent.

Where should I give my opinion in a discuss both views essay?

Give it in the introduction and restate it in the conclusion. You can also signal it in the body, for example by presenting the view you agree with second.

How many words should I write for this Task 2?

Write at least 250 words; about 270-310 words is usually enough to discuss both views and give your opinion in 40 minutes.