教育类是所有考生最熟悉的话题，其中有一类话题就是去探讨课程设置。宽泛的题目会涉及到不同的教育体系的抉择—通识教育和职业教育哪种更好？题目也可细化到各个科目：“外语课/ 音乐/绘画是否应该是必修课” ？

常用论点如下：

1、通识教育（general education）的好处更全面的教育使学生有机会发现他们真正热爱的东西。如果他们被限制在一个狭窄的科目范围内，那么他们将无法拓宽他们的学术视野，并找出激励和振奋他们的东西。

A holistic education affords students the pportunity to discover what they are truly passionate about. If they are restricted to a narrow range of subjects, then they would not be able to broaden their academic horizons and figure out what inspires and invigorates them.

我们的当代社会往往需要全面的知识和多样化的技能。例如，经济学家不仅需要对数学和金融有强有力的掌握，而且还需要对可能解释经济趋势的相关社会学因素有细微的了解。

our contemporary society often requires well-rounded knowledge and a diverse skillset. Economists, for example, not only need to have a robust grasp of mathematics and finance, but they also need to have a nuanced understanding of relevant sociological factors that may explain economic trends.

2、职业教育的好处以职业为导向的课程将使学生在职业生活中占得先机。例如，一个专注于科学科目的学生会比一个混合学习科学和人文课程的学生拥有更深入的、针对特定主题的知识和技能，以便将来从事工程工作。

A more career-oriented curriculum would give students a leg-up in their professional lives. For instance, a student who focuses on science subjects would have more in-depth, topic-specific knowledge and skills for a future career in engineering than a student enrolled in a mix of science and humanities courses.

优先选择几个科目对学生来说也更容易管理。与其在不同领域的科目间周旋，学生将能更好地把注意力放在重要的课程上，并取得更好的学术成果。

Prioritizing a few select subjects would be more manageable for students as well. Rather than having to juggle subjects from disparate fields, students would be better able to devote their attention to classes that matter and achieve better academic results.

3、学习历史的必要性历史让人了解我们自己的文化和传统多年来是如何演变的。对许多人来说，这种对过去的记忆突出了本土文化，使社会群体有了归属感。

History throws light on how our own cultures and traditions have evolved over the years. For many people this remembering of the past highlights the native culture and gives social groups a sense of belonging.

历史为我们提供了分析和解释过去问题的工具，它使我们能够看到在现在可能看不到的模式, 从而为理解并解决当前和未来的问题提供了一个重要的视角。

History gives us the tools to analyze and explain problems in the past, it positions us to see patterns that might otherwise be invisible in the present – thus providing a crucial perspective for understanding and solving current and future problems.

4、学习艺术的必要性艺术科目鼓励自我表达和创造，可以建立自信和个人身份感。Arts subjects encourage self-expression and creativity and can build confidence as well as a sense of individual identity.

学习艺术提供了获得新技能的机会。除了不同的艺术形式、媒体和技术的知识外，你还可以在摄影和数字技术等领域获得专业技能。Studying ar provides the opportunity to acquire new skills. As well as knowledge of different art forms, media and techniques you can also gain specialist skills in areas such as photography and digital technologies.

5、其他关键学科的重要性数学：从小学习数学技能可以为孩子将来学习的一切打下基础。研究表明，与其他技能相比，数学技能的发展是未来在阅读和数学方面取得成功的一个更好指标。

Learning math skills at an early age can create a basic foundation for everything a child learns in the future. Research shows that the development of math skills is a better indicator of future success in reading and math than any other skill.

科学：科学有助于我们对周围世界的了解。我们对宇宙的一切了解，从树木如何繁殖到原子是由什么组成的，都是科学研究和实验的结果。

Science helps our understanding of the world around us. Everything we know about the universe, from how trees reproduce to what an atom is made up of, is the result of scientific research and experiment.

语言：语言技能可以成为一个重要的竞争优势，使你在同龄人中脱颖而出。它们是所有职业所需的重要技能之一。

Language skills can be a significant competitive advantage that sets you apart from your peers. They are among the top skills required of all occupations.

我们一起来看个例题：In some countries, secondary schools aim to provide a general education across a range of subjects. In others, children focus on a narrow range of subjects related to a particular career. Which of these two systems is more appropriate in today’s world?

【20190912】这道题可以完美套用我们刚才所说的【职业教育的好处】、【通识教育的好处】。我们就不多说了。

那再看看这道类似题：Some people believe that university education should focus on the skills of employment for the future. Others think they should focus on academic study only. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

【20210612】乍一看不认得，但仔细看看，不也还是在说职业教育和学科学习的好处吗？是不是又能套用【职业教育的好处】以及【其他关键学科的好处】了？

再举个例子：Some people think it is important for all children to learn history in school. Others believe that other subjects are more relevant to children’s lives today. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

【20190801】这个题目要求学生讨论两个观点，“历史学科的重要性”和“其他学科更重要“。

一方面，论证“历史学科是重要的”，我们可以参考以下刚才提到的【学习历史的必要性】中的论点。另一方面，如果你想论证“其他科目更重要”，我们也可以说你觉得更重要的学科，请参考【其他关键学科的重要性】的论点。

总之，在讨论某种教育体系、学科的必要性时，我们可以思考是否该教育体系/学科能提升学生某种能力、是否对将来的职业规划有益处。