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Competitive sports, both team and individual, have no place in the school- IELTS Band 9 Sample Essay

Updated: Jun 27

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.


Write about the following topic:


Some people believe that competitive sports, both team and individual, have no place in the school curriculum.

How far do you agree or disagree?


Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experiences.


You should write at least 250 words.


Task 2 Band 9 Essay Sample (Some people believe that competitive sports, both team and individual, have no place in the school curriculum.)

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Sample Essay 1

The ongoing debate surrounding the incorporation of competitive sports into school curricula encompasses a plethora of perspectives. I am a staunch advocate for a comprehensive and versatile educational system that embraces an array of athletic activities, as they contribute significantly to students' robust cognitive and physical well-being, instill discipline, facilitate coping with despondency, and foster exceptional teamwork.


In competitive settings, students frequently exert themselves to greater extents during training, thereby enhancing their fitness levels and expanding their personal conceptions of their physical capabilities. As they observe these advancements, their self-esteem flourishes, and they transcend the boundaries of their perceived potential. Mastering the art of losing gracefully is a skill that is as vital as exhibiting grace in victory. Competitive sports provide an ideal platform for cultivating this skill, particularly since many students are in a developmental stage where they are forming their identities. Inculcating good sportsmanship early on can ensure that students perpetuate these commendable practices throughout all aspects of their lives and into adulthood.


School sports that demand outwitting opponents serve as a fertile ground for nurturing a collaborative mindset among students. This is because such competitions necessitate consistent training, which fosters regular interaction and bonding. Striving collectively towards the shared objective of triumphing in a game is the most efficacious approach to cultivating camaraderie and friendship. This shared experience and emotional connection bolsters loyalty and trust within a team. Furthermore, even students engaged in individual sports rely on the support of their coaches, friends, and families, all of whom partake in the athlete's journey throughout the season. Consequently, competitive sports within school activities engender harmony and cooperation among students.


In light of this rationale, I firmly maintain that the inclusion of competitive sports in school curricula is of utmost significance, as they contribute immeasurably to students' invaluable physical and cognitive development.


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Sample Essay 2

The contention that competitive sports, encompassing both team and individual disciplines, have no rightful place in the school curriculum is a subject of considerable debate. This essay disagrees with the assertion, positing that such activities are integral for holistic student development and foster invaluable life skills. The ensuing discussion will elucidate the multifaceted benefits of competitive sports in educational settings, including physical well-being and the cultivation of teamwork and resilience.


Firstly, competitive sports serve as a vital catalyst for physical health and fitness among students. In an era where sedentary lifestyles are increasingly prevalent, due to the rise of digital entertainment and academic pressures, incorporating these activities within the school curriculum encourages regular exercise, combating obesity and related health issues. Furthermore, the structured nature of school sports ensures that students engage in physical activity consistently, setting a foundation for a healthy lifestyle that can persist into adulthood.


Secondly, beyond the physical advantages, competitive sports instill essential life skills such as teamwork, leadership, and resilience. Team sports, in particular, necessitate cooperation and communication among peers, fostering a sense of community and mutual respect. Individual sports, while focusing on personal achievement, teach discipline and self-motivation. These experiences are invaluable, preparing students for the collaborative environments of the workforce and teaching them how to navigate challenges with determination and grace.


In conclusion, the argument that competitive sports, both team and individual, have no place in the school curriculum overlooks their substantial contributions to student development. These activities not only promote physical health but also cultivate critical personal and interpersonal skills. Therefore, rather than being excluded, competitive sports should be embraced within educational frameworks as tools for nurturing well-rounded individuals equipped to thrive in both personal and professional spheres.


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Sample Essay 3

There has long been a controversy between people who hold a multitude of views with regards to competitive sports’ inclusion in school curriculum. I am strongly of the opinion of multifaceted and well-rounded education system that incorporates diverse categories of sports because it helps students grow with strong cognitive and physical health, practice discipline, cope up with despondency and develop an incredible team spirit.

In a competitive environment, students will often push themselves harder in training which results in their improved fitness levels as well as extending an individual’s boundaries about their perception of what they are physically capable of. When they experience these improvements, their self-esteem grows, and they broaden their limitations of what they can achieve. Losing well is another skill which is equally as important as winning gracefully. A competitive game is the perfect place to develop this skill as many students are at an age where they are maturing and deciding what type of person they want to be. Engraining good sportsmanship early can ensure students carry these good practices across every aspect of their lives and into their adulthood.


Sports in schools that involve craving for outsmarting the opponents are the breeding ground for the students’ teamwork mindset, because the competitions need regular training which provide regular community and bonding. Working together towards a common goal of winning a game is the most effective way to grow camaraderie and friendship. It is this shared experience and emotion that builds loyalty and trust within a team. It is not just team sports that require team work, even the students who involve in individual sports also require support from their coach, friends, and family, whom all share in the journey through the sporting season. Thus, competitive sports in school activities breed the harmony and collaboration among the students.


Under this line of thinking, I strongly believe that competitive sports in school curriculum are of paramount importance as they come up with the students’ precious physical and cognitive development.


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