Cambridge 18 Writing Task 2 Test 2 - Sample Answers (Band 9 to 4-5)

There is disagreement over whether university students should broaden their education by studying subjects outside their main field, or whether they should devote all their time and attention exclusively to their chosen qualification; I will discuss both views before giving my own opinion.

Those who favour a broader education argue that exposure to other disciplines produces more well-rounded graduates who can think creatively and draw connections across fields, skills that are increasingly valued by employers in a rapidly changing job market. A computer science student who also studies psychology, for example, may be better equipped to design genuinely user-friendly software than one who has studied programming exclusively, since understanding how people think and behave is directly relevant to good design.

On the other hand, those who favour specialisation argue that many fields, particularly technical and scientific ones, have become so complex that mastering them fully requires undivided attention and time. A medical or engineering student, for instance, may simply have too much essential material to learn within their core subject to justify diverting significant time towards unrelated disciplines, and doing so risks producing graduates who are only superficially competent in their primary field.

In my opinion, the right balance depends heavily on the subject and the student's career goals. For highly technical, rapidly evolving fields where depth of expertise is essential, I believe focused specialisation is generally more valuable, whereas for fields where creativity, communication, and broad problem-solving matter more, some breadth of study can be genuinely beneficial rather than a distraction.

In conclusion, while both approaches have genuine merit, I believe the ideal degree of specialisation should be determined by the specific demands of a student's chosen field rather than being treated as a universal rule that applies equally to every discipline.

There is debate about whether university students should study other subjects in addition to their main subject, or focus all their time on their main qualification. I will discuss both views before giving my opinion.

Those who support a broader education argue that learning about other subjects helps students become more well-rounded and creative, which employers often value. For example, a computer science student who also studies psychology might design more user-friendly software, since understanding how people think is useful for good design.

On the other hand, those who support specialisation argue that many subjects, especially technical ones, are so complex that they require full attention to master properly. A medical student, for example, may have too much important material to learn in their main subject to spend significant time on unrelated subjects, and doing so might mean they do not learn their main subject deeply enough.

In my opinion, the right balance depends on the subject and the student's goals. For very technical subjects, I think focusing mainly on the main subject makes more sense, but for other subjects, studying additional topics can be genuinely useful.

In conclusion, both views have real merit, but I believe how much a student should specialise depends on their specific subject rather than being the same for everyone. Universities themselves could also help by offering more flexible programmes that allow students in technical fields to take a small number of outside courses without significantly reducing the time available for their core subject, allowing students to gain some breadth without sacrificing depth.

Some people think university students should study other subjects as well as their main subject. Others think students should focus completely on their main subject. I will discuss both views.

People who agree with the first view say that learning about other subjects makes students more well-rounded and creative, which can help them in their future career. For example, someone who studies computer science and also psychology might understand users better.

People who agree with the second view say that some subjects are very complex and need a lot of focus to learn properly. For example, a medical student needs to learn a huge amount of information, so they might not have time to study other subjects as well.

In my opinion, I think it depends on the subject. For very technical subjects, I think focusing on the main subject is better, but for other subjects, learning extra things can be helpful.

In conclusion, both views have good points, but I believe the right choice depends on what subject the student is studying. Universities could also help students by offering more flexible programmes, so that students in very technical subjects can still take a small number of courses outside their main subject without spending too much time away from their core studies. This kind of flexible approach might allow more students to enjoy some of the benefits of a broader education, such as improved creativity and communication skills, without giving up the deep knowledge they need in their chosen field.

Some people think university student should study other subject as well as their main subject. Others think student should focus completely on their main subject. I will discuss both view.

People who agree with the first view say that learning about other subject make student more well-rounded and creative, which can help them in their future career. For example, someone who study computer science and also psychology might understand user better.

People who agree with the second view say that some subject is very complex and need a lot of focus to learn properly. For example, a medical student need to learn a huge amount of information, so they might not have time to study other subject as well.

In my opinion, I think it depend on the subject. For very technical subject, I think focusing on the main subject is better, but for other subject, learning extra thing can be helpful.

In conclusion, both view have good point, but I believe the right choice depend on what subject the student is studying. University could also help student by offering more flexible programme, so that student in very technical subject can still take a small number of course outside their main subject without spending too much time away from their core study. This kind of flexible approach might allow more student to enjoy some of the benefit of a broader education, such as improved creativity and communication skill, without giving up the deep knowledge they need in their chosen field.