# Adults returning to education: IELTS Writing Task 2 samples Writing Task 2 - Education More and more adults are returning to education later in life. Why do people decide to study as adults? Is this a positive or negative development? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words. Source: Sample answers and examiner notes are written by Testmigo. ## Band 6 sample Nowadays, many adults are going back to school or university when they are older. There are several reasons why they decide to study again, and I believe this is a positive development for both the people and the society. The main reason is jobs. The world of work is changing very fast and many jobs need new skills, especially about computer and technology. For example, my uncle worked in a bank for twenty years, but when the bank started to use more online services, he must take a course in data analysis to keep his job. Another reason is that some people want to change their career or get a promotion, so they need a higher qualification. Also, some adults study for their own interest, like learning a language or history, because they did not have a chance when they were young. Online courses make this more easy because people can study at home in the evening. In my opinion, this trend is mostly positive. Firstly, adults who study can get better jobs and more salary, and this is good for their family. Secondly, the country also get benefit because the workers have more skills and the economy can grow. However, there are some problems. Courses can be very expensive, and parents who work full time have not much time for their children if they study at night. Some people feel very tired and stressed because of this. In conclusion, adults return to education because of jobs, career and personal interest. Although it can be expensive and stressful, I think it is a positive development, and governments should help adults to study by giving them cheaper courses. **Examiner notes.** This Band 6 essay answers both questions and states a position ("mostly positive") that is kept to the end. The uncle who retrained in data analysis is a relevant example, but the other reasons are listed in one sentence each, and the drawbacks are mentioned rather than weighed. Errors such as "he must take", "more easy" and "the country also get benefit" are noticeable but do not block meaning. For Band 7, the writer would extend each reason and explain why the benefits outweigh the costs. ## Band 7 sample In many countries, it is no longer unusual to see people in their forties or fifties attending evening classes or enrolling on university courses. Adults return to education for a variety of practical and personal reasons, and in my view this trend is a largely positive one, despite the pressures it can place on learners. The most common motivation is probably the changing job market. As technology transforms industries, skills that were valuable twenty years ago can quickly become out of date, so workers need to retrain in order to remain employable. An office administrator, for example, may need to learn digital tools that did not exist when she left school. Other adults study because they want to change career completely or because a higher qualification is required for promotion. Finally, some people simply want to learn something they missed when they were younger, and the growth of flexible online courses has made this far more achievable for people with jobs and families. I believe this development is mainly positive. For individuals, gaining new qualifications can lead to more secure and better-paid work, as well as greater confidence. For the wider economy, a workforce that keeps updating its skills is better able to adapt to new industries. There are, admittedly, some drawbacks. Courses can be expensive, and working parents in particular may find it difficult to balance study with their jobs and childcare, which can lead to stress and exhaustion. In conclusion, adults decide to study again mainly to keep up with a changing job market, to advance or change their careers, and for personal satisfaction. Although the financial and time costs are real, the benefits for both learners and society make this a positive trend overall. **Examiner notes.** This Band 7 essay answers both questions directly and keeps a clear position from the introduction to the conclusion. The reasons are logically grouped and the office administrator example supports the job-market point. However, the career-change and personal-interest reasons are under-developed, and the drawbacks are acknowledged without being answered. A Band 8 essay would develop every reason with a concrete illustration and explain why the costs do not outweigh the benefits. The Band 8 and 9 samples are free with an account on the [topic page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/writing/topics/task-2/adults-returning-to-education). ## Common questions ### How many words should I write? At least 150 words for Task 1 and 250 for Task 2. Writing a little more is fine; an answer under the minimum loses marks. ### Can I use these sample answers in my test? No. Memorised material is marked down and you will not get this exact question. Use the samples to see what each band does with the same task.