What is school really for?
A rich, opinion-splitting topic — built for B2–C1 students who are ready to argue their case, with the language to back it up.
Warm-up · ask three
- What’s one subject you loved at school — and one you didn’t?
- What’s the most useful thing school ever taught you?
- If you could change one thing about school, what would it be?
Today’s motion
“Schools should focus on creativity, not exams.”
Which side would you take?
Let's talk
Discussion & debate questions
Start with the easier B2 questions to build confidence, then push to the C1 stretch. Project the generator, filter by level, and give a student 60 seconds.
Random question generator
Press “New question” to put one on the board.
Deck 1
What school is for
- Why do you think education matters? How has it shaped your life?B2
- Is school mainly about getting a job, or is there more to it?B2
- What's the most important thing a school should teach?B2
- Should school prepare you for work, or for life?B2
- Can you learn the most important things outside of school?B2
Deck 2
Your school system
- What do you like and dislike about the school system in your country?B2
- Are exams a fair way to measure students?B2
- Is there too much pressure on students today?B2
- Should students get to choose their own subjects?B2
- Do schools teach enough practical life skills?B2
Deck 3
Fairness & access
- Should education be free for everyone? Why?B2
- Why do you think some students do better than others?B2
- Does everyone really get the same chances at school?C1
- Can education genuinely reduce poverty and inequality?C1
- Is a good education a right, or a privilege?C1
Deck 4
How we learn now
- Could online learning ever fully replace the classroom?B2
- How has technology changed the way you study?B2
- Is traditional school still relevant in the digital age?C1
- Would alternative schools, like Montessori, suit you better?C1
- Will human teachers still be needed in fifty years?C1
Deck 5
Big debates
- Should everyone go to university?B2
- Is education more important for society, or for the individual?C1
- Should creativity matter more than test scores?C1
- Does school kill curiosity, or build it?C1
- Whose job is it to fix unequal education — schools, or society?C1
Argue with confidence
Useful language
The phrases that turn an opinion into an argument. Pre-teach the debate language first — it's what makes this topic work for B2 as well as C1.
Debate phrases
The toolkit for agreeing, disagreeing and building a case.
Giving your opinion
Agreeing & disagreeing
Conceding & countering
Softening a claim (C1)
Words & phrases
Topic vocabulary to sound precise on education.
required by law; you must do it
"School is compulsory until sixteen."
the set of subjects that are taught
"The curriculum feels too narrow."
focused on a practical job or trade
"vocational courses like plumbing."
the chance to move up in society
"Education can boost social mobility."
memorising facts without understanding
"There's too much rote learning."
developed in many different areas
"a well-rounded education."
continuing to learn all through life
"Lifelong learning really matters now."
Judging-an-argument word bank
Words to evaluate what the other side just said.
Classroom game
Motion Draw
Draw a motion, and the two teams take opposite sides — whether they agree or not. Two minutes to prepare, then sixty seconds each to make the case. You judge the stronger argument.
The motion
Press “Draw a motion” to begin.
How to play: Draw a motion and assign sides. Hit Prep 2:00 while teams plan, then Speak 60s for each side in turn. Award the point to the more convincing team — then swap sides and go again.
Model debate
Priya & Marco disagree
Notice how they disagree without falling out — every underlined phrase concedes, counters or softens. Then run the formal debate.
Walking out of an exam hall, still buzzing with adrenaline.
Well, that was brutal. Honestly, I don't think exams prove anything.
Really? The way I see it, they're the fairest system we've got — everyone sits the same paper.
You've got a point, but they only measure who's good at memorising under pressure.
That may be true, but surgeons work under pressure too. Exams test that.
Fair enough, although a nervous person could fail and still be brilliant.
I'd argue that's exactly why we have coursework as well — to balance it out.
To some extent, yes. But coursework can be copied; an exam is at least your own work.
See — now you're defending exams!
Ha, I'm just playing devil's advocate. I still think creativity matters more.
On the other hand, you can't really mark creativity fairly, can you?
That's the hard part. Maybe the honest answer is a bit of both.
Now that I can agree with.
Now hold the debate
Proposition · for the motion
Creativity first
You believe exams are an outdated way to measure learning, and that schools should reward original thinking and real-world skills.
Opposition · against the motion
Exams still matter
You believe exams are fair, clear and necessary, and that "creativity" is too vague to grade or to build a system around.
Your mission
- Take your side, even if it's not what you personally believe.
- Prepare two arguments — each one a Point, an Example and an Explanation.
- Predict one argument the other side will make, and prepare your response.
- Debate: one minute each to argue, then one rebuttal each. Use at least three debate phrases from the language section.
Wind down & write
Choose your writing task
Turn the debate into writing. These are B2–C1 essay tasks — encourage a clear position, real examples, and the linking language from the lesson.
01
"Some say school should prepare us for work; others, for life." Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
02
Write about a teacher who made a real difference to you. What did they do, and what did you learn?
03
"Exams should be abolished." Write a for-and-against essay, then reach a conclusion.
04
Describe your ideal school. What would it teach, how would it work, and why?
05
"Education is the most powerful tool for reducing inequality." How far do you agree?
Exit ticket · 60 seconds
Before you leave
Quick round-the-room close: each student finishes the sentence in their own words. A fast way to surface what they really think.
"Finish this in one sentence: the real purpose of school is…"