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Should every student be required to take part in sport at school?

A score 160 model answer to a real Duolingo English Test writing question in the official format, with notes on why it scores. Write your own version below it and get an instant rater-style score.

The question

Some schools require every student to take part in sport, including students who dislike it. Do you agree with that rule? Explain your opinion with reasons and examples.
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Score 160 model answer

I agree with the rule, but only if sport is defined generously. Students who dislike sport usually dislike one specific experience: being picked last, being shouted at, being measured against classmates who were always going to win. That is not a reason to excuse them from moving, it is a reason to widen what counts. Swimming, hiking, table tennis and dance all build the habit that actually matters, which is a body that gets used regularly without needing a competition to justify it. Schools offering only football and athletics teach half the class that sport is not for people like them, and that lesson can last thirty years. Make participation compulsory, make winning optional, and let the student pick the activity.

Why this answer earns score 160

  1. Agrees conditionally and states the condition immediately, which is a strong opening on a timed task.
  2. Diagnoses why students object rather than dismissing the objection, so the argument feels fair.
  3. The final sentence compresses the whole position into three clauses.

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Questions about this answer

What score is this model answer?

It is written to score 160, and the notes under it quote the answer's own words to show why.

How long should my answer be?

This model answer is 121 words, and the task asks for at least 50.

What is the most common mistake with a model answer?

Memorising it. Raters recognise recycled answers instantly, so study the moves, then make them with your own ideas.

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