IELTS Writing Task 2: 'homework' mistakes

Here are some sentences that people wrote about the "homework" topic that I shared with you in last week's lesson. Can you correct the mistakes and improve the sentences?

1. Fierce debates have been provoked if assignments ought to be done by students.
2. Although there are some merits of doing homework, I would argue that homework is not as vital as the public reckons.
3. They always garner the top scores in every competition of major subjects.
4. There are people who argue the benefits of getting rid of homework from the students.
5. Since home work is gainful for students, teachers need to ensure that they are not burdening students with excessive tasks.
6. Children in school prefer to undergo everything what they learn rather than try hard in homework.

Note: Apart from any grammar mistakes, each of the sentences above contains a word or phrase that doesn't work in the context. Can you identify the vocabulary problem in each sentence?

Comments

[Ali]

Simon Please check my comment here!

H1-Fierce. I would say hot/hard debates
2-Reckon. It is an informal word so I would say believe

3-Garner- I would say achieve.
4-getting rid- I would say of not having homework.
5-gainful.I would say beneficial.
6-undergo. I would say practice

[Joe]

1 fierce
2reckons
3 garner
4 getting rid
5gainful
6 undergo

[A]

There has been a continuous debate whether students should be asked to do assignments.

Although many people believe that homework has great advantages for children, I would argue that homework is not as vital as the public reckons.

They are more likely to receive a higher score on the tests for core subjects in the curriculum.

There are people who would argue that students could benefit from the cancellation of homework.

Teachers need to ensure that they are not burdening students with excessive tasks because too much workload could pose a threat to students' mental health.

Children in school prefer to undergo everything that they learn rather than work hard in homework.

[amy]

1\Fierce debates have been provoked whether assignments ought to be done by students.
2\Although there are some benefits of doing homework, I would argue that homework is not as vital as the public think.
3\They always achieve the top scores in every test of major subjects.
4\There are people who are in favor of the benefits of cancelling the students'homework.
5\Since home work is beneficial for students, teachers need to ensure that they are not burdening students with excessive tasks.
6\Children in school prefer to undergo everything that they learn rather than try hard in homework.

[Rio]

Words and phrases don't fit the context are as follows:
1. Fierce debates have been provoked
2. Merits, as vital as, the public reckons
3. Garner
4. Getting rid of homework from students
5. Since...is gainful, burden...with...
6. Undergo everything what they learn

Here are my versions of the six sentences:
1. It is argued that assignments should be done by students.

2. Although there are some advantages of doing homework, I would argue that homework is not essential.

3. They always achieve the top score in every competition.

4. There are people who argue about the benefits of getting rid of homework from the curriculum.

5. Homework is helpful for students. However, teachers need to ensure that do not give students excessive tasks.

6. Children prefer classroom learning to doing homework.

[joanne]

1. It is strongly debated that students should complete the assignments
2.Although there are more advantages of doing homework, I would argue that it is not as vital as the public considers.
3.They always achieve top scores in every tests of major subjects.
4.There are people who argue the benefits of no homework for students.
5.Since home work is useful for students, teachers need to ensure that they do not assign students with excessive tasks.
6. Children prefer classroom learning than doing homework

[Minh]

Here's my answers:

1. Fierce debates would have been promoted if students carried out their assignments.

2. Although there are some benefits of doing homework, I would argue that it is not as vital as the public consider.

3. They always get high marks in the tests of main subjects.

4. Some people argue about benefits of removing homework from students.

5. Although homework is helpful for students, teachers should ensure that they are not going to assign students unnecessary tasks.

6. Children prefer to experience things that they learn in school rather than dedicate to homework.

[Simon]

ANSWERS FROM SIMON:

First, here are the words that seem inappropriate:

1. "fierce" seems too strong or exaggerated.

2. "reckons" is a bit informal when we use it to mean "believe". For example, "I reckon you should tell her" is informal / chatty.

3. "garner" - you can't say "garner scores".

4. "getting rid of" is too informal for a task 2 essay.

5. "gainful" doesn't make sense here.

6. "undergo" doesn't make sense here.

Well done if you identified these words as being inappropriate!

Note:
People often make mistakes when they try too hard to use "difficult" or less common words. Good examples of this problem are the use of garner, gainful and undergo.

[Simon]

FROM SIMON (continued)

Here are my corrected versions of the sentences:

1) People have different views about whether school pupils should have to do homework.

Or:

Opinions differ as to whether (or not) school children should be given homework.

2) Although there are some benefits of doing homework, I would argue that homework is not as important as the public believes (or: as most people believe).

3) They always get / achieve the top exam scores in the main school subjects.

4) There are people who argue that the benefits of not giving students homework outweigh the drawbacks.

5) While homework can be beneficial, teachers need to ensure that they are not burdening students with excessive tasks.

6) School children prefer to learn in the classroom rather than at home.

[Kami]

Hi Simon

Your post are appreciated in advance.But,You made it too simple and I know you are more into writing simple sentences along with correct ones. However, what if I were fascinated by more advance and complex structures to use while I apply correct grammar? I failed to find any grammar mistake in the first sentence. Besides, I am using what native teachers taught me.

Thank you for consideration and your best piece of advice

[Rio]

Hi Simon,

I just realised that getting rid of is informal phrase. Anyway, I'd like to thank you for correcting our work.

[Wuyi]

1. (Heated) debates have been provoked if assignments ought to be done by students.

1. Although there are some merits of doing homework, I would argue that homework is not as vital as the public (believe / hold)

1. They always (achieve) the top scores in every competition of major subjects.

1. There are people who argue the benefits of (ridding students of homework)

1. Since home work is (beneficial) for students, teachers need to ensure that they are not burdening students with excessive tasks.

1. Children in school prefer the active process of learning to the tedious work of homework.

[Jagpreet]

People have different views regarding whether students should have to do homework or not. I belive that teacher's should give them homework but in limit.

[Simon]

Kami,

That's a useful question. Please read the lessons this weekend, where I'll try to answer you.

[Firdavs]

Hello guys!
I have taken IELTS Academic on 20 May and my results are (L-7.5, R-7, S-6.5, W-6, Overall Band=7). But my speaking should be at least 7. If anyone want to practice speaking please text me. My e-mail: [email protected]

[Amir Hossein]

Dear Simon,

Could you please clarify the meaning of "should have to do" in the following statement?It seems weird to me.

People have different views about whether school pupils should have to do homework.