The table below compares actual and predicted figures for populations in three different cites.
Write at least 150 words.
Many people say that universities should only offer places to young students with the highest marks, while others say they should accept people of all ages, even if they did not do well at school. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
WRITING TASK 1
The table gives information about the actual number of inhabitants in three different cites, in 1990 and 2000, as well as the estimated population for 2000.
Overall, while the population of Sao Paulo and Jakarta increased between 1990 and 2000, there was a decline in the population of Shanghai. Meanwhile, Sao Paulo remained the most populous city during the period shown.
In 1990, Sao Paulo recorded the highest population, at 15 million, followed by Shanghai and Jakarta, with 13.5 million and 9.5 million respectively. Although Sao Paulo’s population was predicted to reach 24 million by 2000, it only rose to 18 million. Similarly, the number of residents in Jakarta increased by 2 million in 2000, to 11.5 million, which was about 2.5 million fewer than forecasted.
There were 13.5 million people living in Shanghai in 1990 and the population was expected to experience significant growth over the next decade. However, in reality, it dropped to 12.5 million, instead of the forecasted increase to 17 million.
(167 words)
WRITING TASK 2
In today’s society, where the acquisition of knowledge is the key to better career prospects, having access to tertiary education is a life-changing opportunity for many students. However, some claim universities should only accept young students with the highest grades, while others believe every student, regardless of age and academic ability, should be given equal educational opportunities. I will discuss both views and state my opinion in the following essay.
Firstly, high school students with higher grades are more deserved to attend university as their grades somewhat imply that they have superior academic skills compared to their peers, be it a better memory, logical thinking or time management skills. Therefore, such students are more likely to handle the immense workload and pressure at university. Moreover, offering university places to only a limited number of students would result in high-quality undergraduates. For example, most prestigious colleges in Vietnam, whose acceptance rates are low, only recruit the highest scorers in the national university entrance exam to make sure that all of the universities resources are available for students who have a higher chance of success.
As sensible and beneficial as it is, many people oppose the aforementioned idea since they believe that only accepting young academically-gifted individuals is unfair to older students or those who do not do well at school. Firstly, a student’s age or performance at school does not always reflect their potential to succeed at university. Thus, it is unethical to deny access to tertiary education to some students, especially in a world where formal qualifications are of great importance in gaining employment. Also, there is more to college admissions than just academic performance. In fact, many well-known universities in America, like Harvard or Yale, not only accept academically gifted students but also those who are particularly gifted in sport or art. This helps to maintain a diverse community, where each student is valued and rewarded for what they are good at instead of just academic excellence.
In conclusion, although only accepting students with high marks is advantageous in some ways, I believe providing university places for all students is more just and beneficial in the long run.
(360 words)