ESSAY INFORMATION:
Written by: Xuân Phi, 22/10/2023
Supported by: Ex-BC Examiner, 23/10/2023
Question: Many students find it is harder to study at university or college compared to when they were in grade school. Why is this? What are some possible solutions for this problem?
(IELTS Academic – 24/10/2023)
ANSWER (8.0+):
It is more common for college students than school pupils to struggle with their studies. This generally stems from the greater demand for self-study, the more complex nature of knowledge in higher education, and it can be addressed by skill training programs and effective lesson design from educational institutions.
There are two main reasons why university students are more likely to have difficulty in learning. Chief of these is that many of them are new to independent learning. In grade schools, they were usually given clear guidance by teachers, however university lecturers limit their support to only a broad study plan and a recommended reading list, leaving students having to work on their own without much support. In addition, university courses teach more in-depth knowledge which encompasses not only theoretical principles but also the practical applications of their subjects in specific fields. For example, marketing students are required to comprehend the fundamentals of marketing, customer insights as well as technical tools to run a productive ad campaign.
To alleviate this problem, universities should provide additional study skills training and re-design their curriculum. Regarding the former, as an illustration, a number of higher education institutions in Vietnam have introduced free courses which equip freshmen with self-learning techniques and useful resources for support. These courses have proven effective in reducing stress and anxiety among students in their first years at university. For curriculum design, educators can divide complex concepts into more manageable sections and organise seminars with guest speakers being industry experts to help explain terms and ideas more comprehensibly. If the lecture content and delivery were designed adequately, students would be able to achieve their expected lecture objectives more easily.
In conclusion, the struggle of students at university can be explained by the lack of independent learning skills and the specialised nature of their studies. Nevertheless, solutions including additional skill training and appropriate curriculum design can address this issue thoroughly. It is advisable that more study courses should be provided by universities to enhance students’ self-study.
(Word count: 335)
WORD LIST
ENGLISH | TIẾNG VIỆT |
Demand for self-study | Nhu cầu tự học |
Nature of knowledge | Bản chất của kiến thức |
Independent learning | Tự học |
A broad study plan | Một kế hoạch học tập rộng |
A recommended reading list | Danh sách đọc được đề xuất |
In-depth knowledge | Kiến thức chuyên sâu |
Theoretical principles | Nguyên tắc lý thuyết |
Practical applications | Ứng dụng thực tế |
Study skills training | Đào tạo kỹ năng học tập |
Re-design their curriculum | Thiết kế lại chương trình giảng dạy của họ |
Self-learning techniques | Kỹ thuật tự học |
Useful resources for support | Tài nguyên hữu ích để hỗ trợ |
Industry experts | Chuyên gia ngành |