Compulsory Full-time Education until 18 — 02.08.2026
Essay type: Opinion (agree / disagree — to what extent)Band 6.5-8.0Stance: Largely agreeTarget ≈ 300 wordsModel essay: Band 8.0
Student's Edition
Ngô Đức Thảo
MTESOL · Academic Director
Task 2 Topic
Some people think young people should be required to have full-time education until they are at least 18 years old. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
1Task analysis
Item
Detail
Essay type
Opinion (agree / disagree — to what extent)
Main topic
Whether the law should make all young people stay in full-time education until the age of 18
Keywords
young people · required · full-time education · at least 18 years old
Task focus
Judge whether compulsoryfull-time education should continue until 18
Required position
Say clearly how far you agree or disagree and keep the same position in every paragraph
Plain-English meaning
Should all teenagers have to stay in school or college full-time until they are 18?
Hidden trap
Note required and full-time. A balanced answer may support education until 18 but allow flexible forms such as apprenticeships or vocational training
Chosen stance
Largely agree. Extending education to 18 builds human capital and safeguards adolescents, but 'full-time education' should be interpreted flexibly to include apprenticeships and technical training
Main-idea plan
BP1 → longer education builds human capital and narrows inequality · BP2 → it safeguards adolescents, provided flexible pathways (apprenticeships, technical training) are included
2Idea generation
Body 1 — Human capital and life chances
Builds human capital for a knowledge economy ✓ strongest
Narrows gaps between rich and poor
Broader civic and health benefits dự phòng
Body 2 — Safeguarding adolescents — with flexible pathways
Safeguards adolescents from exploitation and risky choices ✓ strongest
Flexible routes keep disengaged students motivated
Rigid academic rules may increase dropout dự phòng
✓ strongest = ý dùng trong bài mẫu · dự phòng = ý thay thế, không có trong bài mẫu.
3Skeleton
Introduction
General statement: Leaving age = policy issue
Paraphrased task: Rewrite: law obliges education until 18
Thesis: Largely agree, broad definition
Body 1: Human capital, knowledge economy; narrows inequality
Body 2: Safeguards adolescents; apprenticeships, technical routes prevent disengagement
Conclusion: Restate the opinion → summarise both reasons → final thought
4Plan & write your paragraphs
How to use: Read the main idea, tap the cue words to add them to the box, then write
your own sentence. Your essay is built automatically at the bottom and saved in this browser.
Introduction(50–70 words)
0 words
Goal: Topic → rewrite the statement → give your opinion.
General statement
Main idea: Leaving age = policy issue
Starter: As economies become increasingly … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Paraphrased task
Main idea: Rewrite: law obliges education until 18
Starter: Some argue that the … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Thesis
Main idea: Largely agree, broad definition
Starter: I largely agree, provided … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Body Paragraph 1 — Human capital and life chances(100–125 words)
0 words
Goal: Reason 1: explain it and give an example.
Topic sentence
Main idea: Human capital, mobility
Starter: The strongest argument for … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Explanation 1
Main idea: Automation risk
Starter: In a labour market … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Example
Main idea: Qualifications improve life chances
Starter: Two additional years of … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Explanation 2
Main idea: Narrows inequality
Starter: Crucially, it is often … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Further development
Main idea: Adaptable workforce
Starter: Society also benefits from … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Link
Main idea: Compelling case
Starter: The economic case is … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Body Paragraph 2 — Safeguarding adolescents — with flexible pathways(100–125 words)
