This is a high-scoring sample answer for the following Cambridge C1 Advanced writing Part 1 essay question on Methods schools and universities use to help students find suitable jobs. What do you think? Collocations about the education can be found here. Below, also, is a list of less common vocabulary with definitions. Read the sample answer, then send me your essay in the comments. I will give you a quick score and also some comments if I have time. Why not start today?
C1 Advanced Task 1 Essay Sample Answer
Your class has taken part in a seminar on whether the education system does enough to help young people to find jobs which fit their abilities and interests. You have made the notes below.
Methods schools and universities use to help students find suitable jobs
• providing courses and qualifications
• work experience programmes
• careers advice
Some opinions expressed in the seminar:
‘We study lots of things which we’ll never use in any future job.’
‘Without work experience you’d have no idea what to study at university.’
‘Some of my teachers can’t give me advice because they’ve never done any job other than teaching.’
Write an essay discussing two of the methods in your notes. You should explain which method is more effective, giving reasons in support of your answer. You may, if you wish, make use of the opinions expressed in the seminar, but you should use your own words as far as possible.
Write your answer in 220-260 words in an appropriate style.
There is an ongoing discussion as to whether employment relating to graduates’ skills is catered for by today’s secondary and tertiary educational institutions. Although the system is not perfect, I believe that students’ needs are being met for two main reasons.
Primarily, the courses at schools, colleges and universities should enable their graduates to be highly employable. Even though many think some subjects are irelevant and will never help them find a job, having the background knowledge in many such subjects is beneficial. Many engineering students, for example, resent having to take a course such as accounting until they need to price a project for approval. Furthermore, a firm foundation in several of these background subjects is often more attractive to an employer than specialisation.
As essential as such a broad base is, work experience is a more practical route for a student to find employment. Going to work day after day and completing real world tasks is an enormously effective method for students to discover their ideal working environments, and thus saves them much worry and stress. If a recent languages graduate has work experience in a publishing house for instance, they may realise that another, more demanding job would be better for them. On the other hand, if the student and the company are a good fit for each other, future employment perhaps with the promise of further training, could be desirable for both.
In conclusion, although educational curricula and work experience both offer students substantial help in finding their ideal careers, in my opinion the latter is much more practical and has the benefit of being able to offer employment before graduation.
Remember to post your essay in the comments at the bottom of this page so I can give you a score!
Less Common Vocabulary for C1 Advanced Writing
ongoing – continuing
catered for – to provide or supply what is desired.
tertiary education – education after high school
to price something – to calculate how much something, such as a project, will cost
real world tasks– jobs that need doe in real life, not just in theory
a good fit – to work well together
curricula – plural of curriculum which is the subjects studied in a course
Even more vocabulary on education is available here.
Remember to post your essay in the comments at the bottom of this page so I can give you a score!
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