IELTS Essay Sample: live away while studying

It is better for students to live away from home while studying at university rather than to live at home with their parents. To what extent do you agree?

It is considered by some that leaving one’s hometown, and particularly parents, while receiving a tertiary education has a beneficial effect on young people. I also tend to favour this view, as studying away from home teaches them independency and may improve academic performance.

The obvious argument in favour of living without parents while being enrolled at the university is that students learn how to become independent and gain life experiences, which are of the same importance as their courses, in my opinion. For example, they acquire such essential skills as cooking, housekeeping, and budget planning, that they would probably not learn without leaving their parents. This new knowledge would be helpful in their future life, when they will graduate and live on their own. Admittedly, these activities may distract them from studying; however, managing time may solve the said issue.

Another reason why living away from home may be advisable is that it creates an immersion environment, where students may focus on their subjects more intensively. To illustrate, people in residence halls are surrounded by their peers, who attend the same courses and write term papers on similar topics. This learning environment may stimulate the pursuit of knowledge, while exchanging thoughts and experiences might bring further benefits. At the same time, it should not be overlooked that an individual may also gain negative influence from their fellows, but this as well is a life lesson.

In conclusion, despite the aforementioned disadvantages, such as distracting power of chores and peers, I believe that students could acquire serious benefits from living away from home. Not only would this teach them independence, but also it may improve their studies.