IELTS Essay Ideas: Is Art a Waste of Time?

While some people think that art if an important subject for children to study, others think it is a
waste of time.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

Ideas

Art is Useful

 art is a means of expression

 children need to learn to express their thoughts and feelings
 it is often easier for young children to draw pictures than to express complex feelings in
words
 art is a creative form
 creative thinking should be developed
 creative thinking is beneficial later in life
Art is A Waste of Time

 there are other more important subjects that would benefit children for their future life
 the importance of technology, sciences and languages
 studying art does not lead to a successful career
 most artists struggle to make a living from selling their art
Opinion

 art is a valuable subject but should not be a main focus on any curriculum or detract from
other more important subjects
 having a balance of subjects is the best way to help children develop a balanced character
in life
Essay Question

Art is considered an important part of a society as well as an expression of its culture. Do you
think it is important for children to be taught art? Do you think children should be encouraged to
focus on art rather than other subjects?

Model Answer

It is commonly believed that art plays a fundamental role in society as artists are able to express
their thoughts and their culture in their work. In my opinion, children should definitely learn art
because they can develop creativity and learn to express themselves in their art work but it should
not be taught to the detriment of other subjects.

Firstly, art is an essential subject which children, especially young children, should learn in order
to help promote their creativity and imagination. Without the development of imagination and
creative thinking, children will struggle to grow into dynamic, individual thinkers when they
reach adulthood. Furthermore, some children are particularly gifted in their creative abilities and
studying art can help them nurture their talents.

Another important advantage for children when practicing art is that it provides a medium
through which they can express their emotions and feelings. In other words, young children do
not have the linguistic capabilities to put their ideas into language and thus communicate directly.
Therefore, by using art, they are able to convey meaning through pictures and symbols. For this
reason, many child psychologists often study the art work of children to gain an insight into what
they think and feel.

Finally, however, regardless of how useful the study of art is for children, this should not result in
more focus being placed on art rather than other subjects. Children need to have a balance of all
subjects so as to facilitate a healthy development both mentally and physically. Thus, ensuring
that there is a healthy balance of art, sciences, languages and physical education in the school
syllabus is essential.

In conclusion, while art certainly helps a child develop creativity as well as express their thoughts,
it should be taught equally alongside all other subjects. A school curriculum should offer a
balance of subjects.

Source: Liz
VOCABULARY ABOUT ART

play a fundamental role đóng vai trò thiết yếu

to the detriment of something có hại cho, lấn át

reach adulthood đến tuổi trưởng thành

to be gifted có tài năng

nurture talents nuôi dưỡng tài năng

convey meaning truyền tải ý nghĩa, thông điệp

gain an insight into tìm hiểu sâu hơn về

facilitate tạo điều kiện thuận lợi

Idioms Topic Art

Idioms Meaning Example

After spending months in his studio,

to bear fruit Có kết quả như mong muốn
Pierre’s hard work finally bore fruit.

Through his realistic and very detailed

to bring something to life Mang lại sức sống sculptures, the artist brought local
historical figures to life.

Van Gogh’s use of bright colors makes

to be eye-catching Bắt mắt
his sunflower pictures very eye-catching.

Caspar David Friedrich’s Moonrise by

to grab someone Hấp dẫn ai đó
the Sea really grabs me.

The artist’s mother-daughter portraits

to move someone Làm ai đó cảm động really moved the young mother and she
began to cry.

It is fair to say that the work of

to stand the test of time Trường tồn với thời gian Leonardo da Vinci has stood the test of
time.

This new television set reflects the state

state of the art Hiện đại, tiên tiến
of the art in screen technology.