Employment Competition Essay Ideas

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This IELTS essay question was reported in April 2015 and again in January 2023. So, for all essay questions on my site, regardless of the date of publication, please remember that essay questions and topics repeat in writing task 2. This topic is about the employment of older people and the problems this creates. Also note that this page is about ideas that you can use in your essay for this topic. It isn’t a model essay. You can’t write bullet points in your essays.

IELTS Essay Question

Nowadays, more and more younger people need to compete with older people for the same jobs.

What problems does this cause? What would you suggest as a solution?

This essay question focuses on younger people. The instructions ask for problems and solution. Always note whether you are asked to give the causes or the problems.

IELTS Essay Ideas

Problems caused by young and old people competing for work

  • young people will have to compete with older people who have more experience which might mean some young people fail to find work
  • with greater competition for jobs comes more unemployment
  • high unemployment in young people can cause unrest in society leading to problems such as crime
  • if old people are not able to compete with young people, they may not be able to get a job
    • without adequate financial means to support themselves, old people may be thrown into poverty
    • with a growing world population of elderly people, this can be a huge financial crisis

Solutions for young people competing for work

  • one effective solution could be to provide sufficient social benefits for older people to allow them to retire without loosing their standard of living
  • by fixing a clear retirement age over which no one can be employed, it will ensure that the young do not need to compete against older people for work
  • have a fixed quota of jobs set aside for people under a certain age and over a certain age to avoid so much competition
  • another possible answer is to offer a job share between elderly and young people so that both groups can gain some form of employment
  • alternatively, older people could be employed purely to pass on their knowledge and experience to the young rather than taking their positions at work

Alternative Essay Question

Nowadays, more and more older people compete with younger people for the same jobs.

What are the reasons for this? What would you suggest as a solution?

This essay question focuses on older people. You must provide the causes (reasons) why older people compete and also solutions for this situation.

Essay Ideas

Reasons why old people compete with young people for work

  • older people continue being fit for work for longer so wish to continue working
  • some older people do not have enough money put aside for their pensions so must work
  • some elderly people do not want such a long tedious retirement and wish to continue working
  • as older people work for longer, there are less jobs available for the younger generation
  • increased life expectancy raise the proportions of working elderly people

Solutions :

The solutions are the same as given above.

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IELTS Writing Tips: 10 Sentences to Avoid

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These phrases below should be avoided in IELTS Writing Task 2 Essays. They are overused but also not really appropriate for an IELTS essay.

IELTS writing task 2 is a formal essay but it is also a test of your own English language. You can’t cheat by learning sentences to use in your essay. Certainly, you can learn words, but the sentences you write must be created by you during your test and relate directly to the topic (the specific topic) given to you. The examiner is trained to spot sentences which are not typical of your level of English.

Phrases to Avoid in your IELTS Essay

1.

This essay will discuss both sides and give an opinion at the end.

This sentence is poor because it is used for the thesis statement but contains no main points. It is a memorised sentence of 15 words. It only repeats the instructions but adds no information to the essay. Try to avoid using such sentences and just present your answer clearly. Another similar sentence is “I shall put forth my arguments to support my views in the following paragraphs” which should also be avoided. Don’t forget that while these sentences might be fine for a usual academic essay, they are not appropriate for an English language test.

2.

With the development of science and modern technology…

Many students use this expression to start their essay. It is only suitable to use if the essay is about science and technology. It is overused and confusing for the reader if the topic is not science or technology. You don’t need any expression to start your introduction, just paraphrase the essay question directly. Learn how to write an introduction for writing task 2.

3.

In the modern era, … / Since the dawn of time ….

This is overused in introductions. Most essay questions are about current issues so you don’t need to put in a time frame unless it is about an issue in the past compared to the present. “Since the dawn of time…” is not a relevant statement for most IELTS issues and should be avoided. Some students also use “Nowadays” to start their essay. Again this is overused. Try to avoid these phrases and just paraphrase the information given by IELTS.

4.

This is a highly controversial issue. 

Most essay questions in IELTS are not controversial. Controversial means that it is deeply debated and causes strong feeling, for example “the death penalty” which results in a person’s death is controversial but “watching sport on TV or playing it” is not controversial. 99% of all essay questions in IELTS will not be controversial so don’t use this phrase. Also be careful writing “highly debatable” as this is also overused.

5.

The crux of the discussion is …

This is a sentence which is used too often. It would be better to write “The most important aspect…” or “One of the key issues is…” as they are more natural to use in writing.

6.

For example, a recent study from the IMF showed that… / Research indicates that…

The examples you give in IELTS writing task 2 do not need to come from published sources or known research. They can just be an example of a situation: “For instance, the majority of working people do not have time to cooked balanced meals at home which is why ….”. Certainly, you might write this type of research question in an academic essay for university, but IELTS essays are different – IELTS is a test with specific requirements for band scores.

7.

It can broaden a person’s horizons. 

I have seen this written in so many essays and so have examiners. It would be better to write about “learning more”, “opening their mind to something” or “developing deeper understanding of something”. Don’t learn sentences, just write naturally.

8.

There are good grounds to argue in favour of… / It cannot be denied that…

This is another example of a learned phrase to avoid. It would be better to write more naturally “One reason that X is important / crucial …”. Using more natural language avoids the examiner thinking you are memorising phrases. Also the phrase “it cannot be denied” is very much overused and mostly used incorrectly. “It cannot be denied” means it is 100% fact but most essay contain opinions which are not fact. Therefore, avoid this phrase.

9.

In a nutshell, …

Many students use this idiom to start their conclusion. It is informal and not appropriate to use in IELTS essay writing. To learn how you can start your conclusion, follow the link.

10.

… the aforementioned arguments offer insights into vindications for the impression that…

This is a typical sentence that should be avoided in a conclusion. You only need to restate the main points clearly without using learned phrases.

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Essay Ideas: Should libraries invest in technology or books?

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Ideas for and against libraries invest more in technology than books. This topic of libraries was reported in the IELTS writing task 2 test and can also appear in speaking. Here are some ideas to help you answer this essay question.

IELTS Essay Question

Libraries should provide more books rather than invest in new technology such as computers and e-books. To what extent do you agree?

Ideas for this topic:

Libraries should invest in books

  • Not all books are available on digital format which means some specialised books are still in paper form.
  • Paper books are not easily lost unlike e-books which can be deleted accidentally or malfunction. Paper books are more reliable.
  • Libraries should be responsible for keeping paper books as one day the internet may not exist. It is a known fact that paper books are the only reliable and safe source of information.
  • Paper books help people focus and concentrate. They are not easily distracted. Reading online tempts people to search for new books, visit websites, and look up links rather than focus on the book they are reading.
  • Children should be given paper books to read rather than allowing them to read online which opens them up to uncensored sites.
  • Seeing a shelf full of books and topics is inspiring and stimulates the imagination.

Libraries should invest in technology

  • Technology, such as e-books, allow the same information to be stored in a fraction of the space. This is more cost effective than paper books because they need more storage space.
  • Computers allow users to locate information more quickly, providing better customer service.
  • Looking for and using books online is user friendly. This means people don’t need to leave their seat in order to find one or more books they want.
  • Technology is the way forward for all companies and services.
  • Providing more technology makes more services available as people can access the internet for more information than that provided solely by the library.

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How to Put Examples in Your Essay

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Learn the best way to add examples to your essay to support your ideas. You need to use a range of linking words in your essay and also use them flexibly in different locations in the sentence. See below for a list of useful linking words with sample sentences:

Linking Words for Giving Examples

  • for example
  • for instance
  • to illustrate
  • as an illustration
  • to give a clear example
  • take, for example,
  • such as
  • namely

Video Tutorial: How to Add Examples in an Essay

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Sample Sentences with Supporting Examples

Please note that the linking words do not need to be at the start of the sentence. You can use them more flexibly by changing their location.

Global warming should be taken more serious as it can result in a number of disastrous consequences. To give a clear example, the melting polar ice caps have not only caused a loss of habitat for polar bears but are also threatening seas levels worldwide.

More and more women are choosing to start a family later in life. 20% of women giving birth to their first child, for instance, are over the age of 30 in the UK.

Crimes should not have the same punishment. Minor crimes, such as pick pocketing and traffic offences, should not have the same penalty as major crimes, namely murder and manslaughter.

Children often learn behaviour from the adults around them subconsciously. To illustrate, around 50% of children who are brought up by aggressive parents often use aggression to solve their own problems later in life.

Parents should be responsible for teaching their children right and wrong. If, for example, they see their child using bad language, they should spend time explaining to their child the serious consequences that can result from this type of behaviour.

More and more people are leading sedentary life styles due to work conditions. Take for example office workers in the UK who spend at least 8 hours a day, 5 days a week  sitting in front of their computers.

All Linking Words for Essay Writing

You can find a list of all linking words that can be used in essay writing: Linking Words for Writing.

IELTS Essay Questions

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IELTS Writing Task 2: Paraphrasing Practice

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IELTS writing task 2 paraphrasing practice exercise. To get a good mark in IELTS writing task 2 for the criterion of vocabulary, you need to be able to paraphrase. The exercise below is a chance for you to practice your paraphrasing skills.

Paraphrasing a Paragraph

These practice lessons focus on changing words but keeping the same meaning. Paraphrase the paragraphs using the words given. The aim is for you to be accurate with your paraphrasing so only paraphrase if you are sure of the replacement word.

Paraphrasing Practice 1

Paragraph:

Many people, when driving their cars, go over the speed limit in city centers. As a way of solving this, the government should put more speed cameras on major streets to put people off  speeding. If this is done, more people who speed will be caught and this problem will eventually be solved.

Paraphrasing Words:

You do not need to use all the words. You must decide which words to use and which words not to use.

town         an answer            the law           install         motorway         stop        humans         put away         authorities               exceed               deter  from         directly          riding        ought to            key             by doing this            arrested       vehicles               resolved             citizens            large            caught red handed             speed prevention             increasing       urban

ANSWERS & ADVICE

Click to open:

Answers

Answer:

Many people, when driving their cars, exceed the speed limit in urban centers. As a way of solving this, the authorities ought to install more speed cameras on major streets to deter people from  speeding. By doing this, more people who speed will be caught and this problem will eventually be resolved.

Common Mistakes and Explanations

  1. Collocation: drive a car, not ride a car. We use the verb “ride” with bicycles.
  2. A town is not a city.  You can write “city center” or “urban center”. A town is much smaller and this essay is not about small towns and villages.
  3. The government can usually be paraphrased with the word “authorities”.
  4. The word “should” can be paraphrased as “ought to”. This is a common paraphrase.
  5. If you are writing about setting up or putting up equipment, you can use the word “install”.
  6. “to deter” is used to put people off committing a crime or an offence. It is actually a better word to use than “put off” for formal essay writing.
  7. “By doing this” and “As a way of solving this” both have the same meaning in this context. You can’t write “As an answer for solving this” – it isn’t correct English even though the meaning is the same.
  8. “people” are people. We rare use the word “citizen” in an essay about transport. However, it would be acceptable to use it in the second sentence which refers to the government.
  9. “people” cannot be paraphrased as “humans” except in one context – please watch the video below to learn. Any student making this mistake is not studying effectively. The video below explains this very clearly so you should not be making this mistake.
  10. “caught red handed” must be written as it is shown. You can never write “caught red”. There are three words in this idiom. However, this expression is mainly for theft or other crimes in which a person is caught face to face by the police. It can’t be used for speed offences caught by camera.
  11. “vehicles” is used when we don’t know what type of transport is being written about or when we refer to different types. This essay is about cars only which means you can’t use the word “vehicle”.
  12. This paragraph is about “streets”. This is not the same as a “motorway”. A motorway is a very large road outside a city which contains two or three lines in both directions for heavy traffic.

Results and Advice

  • If you had one mistakes, it is acceptable for band 7 or 8.
  • If you have two or three mistakes, it is around band 6.
  • If you are making more mistakes, it means you are not being careful enough with your language.
    • More Mistakes = Lower Score
    • You need to learn both the use and meaning of a word.
    • Don’t aim for range until you can achieve accuracy.
    • When you learn a noun or verb, learn the full collocation.
    • When you learn a word, learn when you can and cannot use it.
    • When you learn an idiom, learn if the words can be changed or not.

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Paraphrasing Practice 2

Paragraph:

It is sometimes thought that it is beneficial for companies to sponsor sports events through advertising. By doing this, extra funding, which is often lacking, can be raised to support sports events and ensure that they continue to run. Furthermore, companies can also contribute clothing or equipment which supports the event, the teams and the players.

Paraphrasing Options:

You must write the paragraph above again by paraphrasing it using the words below. You do not need to use all the words. You must decide which words to use and which words not to use.

some citizens believe       /        some people believe       /      advantage       /   guarantee       /      advantageous        /       industries          /  businesses          / sporting occasions        /      matches   /     when we do this        /    in this way      /      extra cash     /    a lack of      /      in short supply        /   sports matches   /    And      /     industries    /    businesses    /    give      /    donate        /   attire  /  groups     /      performers    /   coordinate  / kit

ANSWERS

Click below:

Answers

There are two answers below. Answer 1 gives you the paraphrased paragraph using the words given. Answer 2 gives you a free paraphrase using different sentences and words.

Answer 1: Some people believe that it is advantageous for businesses to sponsor sports events through advertisements. In this way, extra funding, which is often in short supply, can be raised to support sports events and guarantee they continue to run. Furthermore, companies can also donate kit which supports the event, the team and the players.

Word Changes and Tips

  1. It is sometimes thought that = Some people believe that
  2. it is beneficial = it is advantageous
  3. companies = businesses (you should not paraphrase companies as industries)
  4. By doing this = In this way (you should not write “When we”, it is too informal for an IELTS essay)
  5. extra funding should not be paraphrased as extra cash (it is too informal in this context. Although, the word “cash” can be used in other situations, such as talking about using cash or cards)
  6. is often lacking = in short supply (you should not paraphrase it as “a lack of” because it is grammatically incorrect)
  7. sports events – it’s best not to paraphrase this. The words “sports occasion” is incorrect in meaning. Not all words can be paraphrased. But you can give examples of sports events instead. Some words will be repeated in English.
  8. Furthermore can’t be paraphrased as And because and never goes at the start of a sentence in a formal IELTS essay.
  9. clothing should not be paraphrased as attire in this context. Certainly the meaning is similar but the word attire does not relate to sports wear. The word “sports wear” is the best paraphrase to use.
  10. The word kit includes both clothing and equipment used in sport.
  11. players should not be paraphrased as “performers”. The word “performers” is not used in sport in this context.

Free Paraphrasing

Answer 2: Some people think it is advantageous for sports companies to use advertising to sponsor sports events, such as football matches or the Olympics.  The extra funding from businesses is frequently much needed, as government funding can be limited. Sports events benefit from the extra finances as the money allows them to continue running and also, at times, provides teams and players with free sports wear or equipment, which are often too costly for

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Paraphrasing Practice 3

Below is an IELTS essay question. The biggest problem people have is paraphrasing the question for the background statement, which is the first sentence of the introduction paragraph. 

 

Essay Question: Artists need a certain amount of freedom to develop their creativity. Some people think that artists should have total freedom to express any thoughts and ideas. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Do you think the background statements below are good?

Think about the language, meaning and IELTS essay writing techniques.

  1. Art is an important part of our society. Creators are creative thinkers who bring ideas, colours and thoughts into our lives. They should not be shackles to express ideas, according to some.
  2. Since art requires a quantity of emancipation to be creative, some believe that artists ought to be granted all the freedom of expression they like.

ANSWERS

Click below:

Answers
  1. This background statement has too many errors. 
    • The background statement should be focused only one paraphrasing the precise meaning of the question, but adding more unnecessary detail. So, the first sentence “Art is an important part of our society” is irrelevant to our essay topic. This essay is not about the importance of art but about freedom of expression for artists.
    • The next sentence mentions “colour” – this is also off topic.
    • The final sentence has a vocabulary error with the word “shackles”. It is a great word to use, but it is used incorrectly so it will lower the band score.
    • Correct Background statement: 
      1. Artists are creative thinkers who require a level of freedom for their creativity. For this reason, some people believe that artists should not be shackled in anyway and their ideas not be censored. 
  2. This background statement has some issue with vocabulary. 
    • quantity should be replaced by degree.
    • emancipation is not a synonym that is appropriate for this topic and context. A better word would be autonomy. 
    • like should be replaced with require.
    • Otherwise, the background statement is well written with a very good grammar structure.
    • Correct Background Statement:
      • Since art requires a degree of autonomy to be creative, some people believe that artists ought to be granted all the freedom of expression they require.

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IELTS Essay Structure & Paragraphs

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IELTS Essay Structure and Paragraphing is essentially the same for all types of IELTS essays. IELTS Writing Task 2 has five types of essays and they are all structured more or less the same. You are advised to use only 40 mins to write your writing task 2 essay so it is a short, highly focused, highly relevant, well-organised essay.

IELTS Paragraphing, Structure & Marking

The examiner will mark how well structured your essay is. This is part of the marking criterion of Coherence and Cohesion, which is 25% of your writing task 2 marks. In this criterion, the examiner will check:

  1. the overall essay structure
  2. how ideas are put into paragraphs to help the reader navigate the essay
  3. how topic sentences are written to help the reader understanding the paragraph
  4. how supporting points are organised within body paragraphs
  5. how linking devices and signposts are used to direct the flow of the essay.
    1. You can find a list of linking devices here: IELTS Writing Task 2 Linking Words

You can learn more about the marking for this criterion and others on this page: IELTS Writing Task 2 Band scores5 to 8 Explained.

Overall IELTS Essay Structure

How many paragraphs should I have in my IELTS essay? What is the best IELTS essay structure?

All IELTS essays will have the following structure:

An introduction

Body Paragraph 1

Body Paragraph 2

Body Paragraph 3 (optional)

Conclusion

IELTS essays are designed to be quite short, between 270 and 290 words. This means you will have in total either four or five paragraphs with about a total of 290 words. You will not get a higher score for a longer essay. In fact, a longer essay can open you up to more criticism and a lower score.

 The main bulk of your band score will be in the body paragraphs. The introduction and conclusion are of course vital, but they play more of a functional role to the essay.

Can I have one body paragraph or four body paragraphs?

No, you can’t. Having only one body paragraph means you have failed to organise your main ideas into paragraphs and you will get around band 5 for Coherence and Cohesion if you do this.

If you have too many body paragraphs it means that each individual main idea has not been sufficiently developed and that will also lower your score for Task Response. For example, band 5 Task Response is when the ideas have not been developed and band 7 is when ideas have been extended. Of course, there are other factors involved that impact your score in both CC and TR.

Individual Paragraphs & Content

Introduction Paragraph

This always has two statements. One is the background statement and one is the thesis statement. This does not vary no matter what the essay type is. You will always start by paraphrasing the IELTS essay question details – meaning the specific issue given to you. And you will always have a thesis statement which either introduces the reader to your opinion ( your position) or presents main points.

Introduction Paragraph for IELTS Essays Video

An oldie but a goodie and still relevant today.

Note:

Sorry about the handwriting in the video. It was my first ever video.

Body Paragraphs

These paragraphs form the main part of your essay structure. Each body paragraph must have a main theme or main idea. If your ideas are jumbled up and scattered between paragraphs you will get a low score for CC marking criterion. So, each body paragraph must be unique in content and not overlap in content with other body paragraphs.

Within the body paragraph, you will always start with a topic sentence. This is a statement that contains your main idea or theme. It must be clear for the examiner to read. By reading this sentence, the aim of the paragraph is made clear.

All supporting points that follow will explain your main idea or central theme. Each sentence must be 100% critical to the essay and connect both to the main idea and essay question. At no time do you add extra padding or unnecessary description or information. These are highly focused, skills-based essays.

Conclusion

This is the shortest paragraph of only one or two sentences that restates your opinion or main ideas. The biggest problem is having NO CONCLUSION. Running out of time is the biggest problem which causes people to miss out their conclusion. See the video below to learn why this is such a problem. Other issues with the conclusion are: 1) using the right linking word to start your conclusion 2) not going off topic with new ideas.

Why your Conclusion is Essential

What to do with the last 5 mins of your writing task? Is it ok to not have a conclusion paragraph?

IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay Structure Example

Some people think that constructing bigger roads will help to prevent traffic problems.

To what extent do you agree?

Notice: overall structure, paragraphing, paragraph content and linking words.

It is sometimes thought that in order to address traffic congestion bigger roads ought to be built. In my opinion, while this is one way to tackle traffic problems, there are drawbacks to this solution and therefore other measures may need to be taken.

Constructing wider roads could certainly have a positive impact on the flow of traffic, particularly during rush hours. Roads in most developed cities were not built to handle the sheer volume of traffic that exist these days which is why traffic often grinds to a halt. Consequently, wider roads should be able to accommodate more traffic and theoretically reduce congestion. However, in some cases wider roads have been shown to actually encourage car use which could negate this solution.

With the growing number of private cars on the road, having wider roads may not be enough to tackle future congestion problems. For this reason, improving public transport and encouraging people to use it also needs to be implemented. Most people find that public transport is unreliable and too costly. By making public transport a cost effective, attractive option, it will be possible to reduce car use and ease long-term congestion.

Finally, it must be considered that some major cities have infrastructure that does not allow for expansion in terms of the size of roads. With growing populations and growing demands for housing, space is becoming a rare commodity and road expansion is sometimes not feasible. Therefore, by taking traffic overhead or underground by constructing bridges and tunnels, it is possible to reduce surface level traffic which ultimately solves road traffic congestion.

In conclusion, although I agree that road expansion is a potential solution, improving public transport and looking at alternative traffic flow options must be considered to effectively tackle traffic problems.

(under 300 words)

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Can you use quotes or idioms in your IELTS essay?

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Idioms, quotes and proverbs are often used inappropriately in IELTS Writing Task 2 essays. Read below to learn whether you should or should be using them in your IELTS writing task 2 essay.

Will I get a higher score using idioms in my IELTS essay?

The answer is clear – no. Idioms are mostly informal because they are descriptive. Idioms such as “it cost an arm and a leg” are too informal to use in a formal IELTS writing task 2 essay for both Academic IELTS and General Training IELTS.. However, there are some idioms which are suitable but they are not always suitable for the topic you might be given so don’t necessarily aim as a strategy to use them. Such suitable idioms are: in the long run / the key to this issue / give rise to / bridge the gap / shed light on / pave the way etc. If your essay topic and aims allow you to use these idioms, that’s great. But such idioms are still not actually required for a high score in Vocabulary because there are other options.

The marking criteria for Vocabulary which relates to idiomatic language is not just about idioms. Idioms are just one type of idiomatic language and as I explained above, not necessarily the best type. Phrasal verbs, on the other hand, are often great to use in your essays, such as to look up / to look after /  to look down on /  to bring about / bring up / bring forward / bring up etc. All these phrasal verbs are examples of idiomatic language that can be used in your IELTS essays to boost your score.

Using Quotes in IELTS Essays

Regarding quotes, the examiner will give you a score based on your own level of English language, not the words you remember from another person. While quotes are suitable for academic essays at university, they will not help your band score for IELTS. Instead, use the idea from the quote and write it in your own words. Your essay should be written using your own language, not memorised phrases or sentences from other people.

What about proverbs in IELTS writing?

I would also recommend avoiding proverbs as well. Most proverbs are not appropriate for academic writing. Here’s an example of an inappropriate proverb in writing “all that glitters is not gold”. While the meaning might be perfect for your essay, it would be better to write “people should not be deceived by appearances because they can be deceptive” The latter sentence has a much better variety of appropriate vocabulary for a high score and each word has clearly been chosen by you to demonstrate your own level of English.

Can I use quotes, idioms or proverbs in my IELTS speaking test?

Proverbs and quotes are not usually academic and for that reason are better suited to speaking. However, don’t lose your fluency score because you are trying to remember an idiom. You get a high score when you use appropriate, natural language in the right context. So, don’t try to fill your answers with idioms or proverbs. Using quotes is not really suitable for IELTS because they are not your own words.

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IELTS Essay Ideas: Is History a Waste of Time

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Below are ideas for the topic of history in IELTS writing task 2. This essay is about how important history is to learn. This can relate to the subject of history as a whole or children spending time learning history. You should use the ideas given below and adapt them to the specific essay question given by IELTS.

Sample IELTS Essay Question

Some people think that studying history is a waste of time while others think that it is essential to learn. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

IELTS Essay Ideas

Below are ideas for both side of the argument. A useful definition of history is “it is the study of past events, particularly human affairs.”. It might be the study of a country or of a person in the past. It might involve a particular event or a general situation at a given time in the past.

History is a Waste of Time

  • Most people memorise dates, names and facts when they study history. This information is not useful in everyday life or for the future.
  • If we could actually learn from history, history wouldn’t be full of the same repeated mistakes. However, the same mistakes are made again and again which makes history irrelevant to learn for the future.
  • History is a subject that is rarely used in people’s lives so it would be better to focus on science or technology which is more relevant to the future and today’s society.
  • Each historical event has different perspectives. For this reason, it makes learning history a waste of time because events can also be interpreted in a different way which makes what we learn in history less valuable.
  • Many school curriculum have been set and are rarely changed. That curriculum includes little current history which is the only type of history that helps people understand the world they currently live in.

History is Important

  • History helps young people understand their own culture and how their culture and country have evolved.
  • History gives identity and helps unify people. It gives people a sense of roots and belonging.
  • History teaches people what their forefathers experienced and suffered in the past in order to make their country what it is today.
  • History teaches us about travesties which have occurred in the past, such as the Holocaust. It is essential for both people in the past, present and future to never  forget such events in order to honour the memory of those lost and to ensure it never happens again.
  • History helps us understand change. It records and helps people understand successes and failures. Through these studies people can learn about change and how others are affected by it.
  • It shows patterns of behaviour or events in the past and their outcome which can help us avoid similar outcomes in the future.
  • Learn about the past often gives a glimpse of the future. It shows a path of development that will continue past the present and into the future.
  • Valuable information can often be found in history, such as traditional medicines. Learning about past lifestyles and techniques used by people in the past can hold the secrets to remedies or cures no longer used.

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