Independence and the help we use
Original practice source: a commentary about independence.
Completing a task alone can give someone confidence. They learn which decisions they can make and recognise a skill which no longer requires another person beside them. Help that arrives too quickly may remove a useful chance to try.
Independence also involves knowing when a task exceeds current understanding. Asking for an explanation can make the next attempt more informed, while pretending to need nobody may leave an avoidable mistake in place. The question is not simply how many people were involved, but whether the person can understand and take responsibility for the choices being made.
A national newspaper is running an essay competition on the statement: “True independence means doing things without help.”
Write an essay for the competition arguing your view. You may use ideas from the source and your own ideas.
60 exam-style questions on Oxford AQA IGCSE English Language 2.2.1 Writing for audience and purpose. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.