IELTS Writing Task 2 – Advantages and Disadvantages Essay
Plan with a plus and minus list, explain two advantages and two disadvantages in separate paragraphs, and give every idea a result or an example. Then try the practice question below.
Key points
The example question from the video
These days, many young people take a gap year, a year of travel or work, between finishing school and starting university. What are the advantages and disadvantages of taking a gap year? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.
Band 9 model answer from the video (297 words)
Nowadays, it is increasingly common for school leavers to spend a year travelling or working before they begin their university studies. This has clear benefits, as it helps young people to mature and make better choices about their future, but it also has some drawbacks, such as the cost and the risk of losing the habit of studying.
The main advantage of a gap year is that it gives young people time to grow up. Living away from home, whether they are travelling abroad or working in a café, teaches them to manage money, solve problems and deal with new people. As a result, they often arrive at university more confident and independent than students who come straight from school. Another benefit is that a year away from the classroom helps students decide what they really want to study. For example, someone who plans to study medicine might volunteer in a hospital and realise that the job is not right for them. This could save them from wasting several years and a large amount of money on the wrong degree.
On the other hand, taking a gap year also has some disadvantages. Firstly, it can be very expensive. Flights, accommodation and travel insurance cost a great deal, so many families cannot afford it, and some students start university already in debt. Secondly, after twelve months without lessons or exams, some young people find it difficult to return to studying. They may forget important knowledge, or they may enjoy earning money so much that they decide not to go to university at all.
In conclusion, a gap year can help school leavers become more mature and choose the right course. However, it can be costly, and some students struggle to get back into the habit of studying afterwards.
Chapters in this video (12)
Useful phrases for this essay
| Word / phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| benefits / drawbacks | simple synonyms for advantages / disadvantages | This has clear benefits, … but it also has some drawbacks. |
| The main advantage of … is that … | introduce advantage 1 | The main advantage of a gap year is that it gives young people time to grow up. |
| Another benefit is that … | introduce advantage 2 | Another benefit is that a year away from the classroom helps students decide what they really want to study. |
| As a result, … | show the effect | As a result, they often arrive at university more confident and independent. |
| On the other hand, … | move from the good side to the bad side | On the other hand, taking a gap year also has some disadvantages. |
| Firstly, … / Secondly, … | list the disadvantages | Firstly, it can be very expensive. |
| In conclusion, … However, … | sum up both sides | In conclusion, a gap year can help school leavers become more mature. However, it can be costly. |
Practice task: Working for yourself
Today, more and more people work for themselves as freelancers instead of working for one company. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.
Plan first: a plus column and a minus column, then pick the two ideas on each side you can explain best.
Body paragraph 1: two advantages. Body paragraph 2: two disadvantages. Don't mix them.
This version doesn't ask for your opinion, so the conclusion just sums up both sides.
Show model answer (try first!)
These days, a growing number of workers choose to be self-employed rather than having a permanent job with a single employer. This gives them more freedom and the chance to earn more, but it also brings some drawbacks, such as an unstable income and a lack of support.
The main advantage of freelancing is the freedom it offers. Freelancers can decide when, where and how much they work, so they can fit their job around their family or their hobbies. For example, a freelance designer can work from home in the morning and pick up their children from school in the afternoon. Another benefit is that successful freelancers can earn more than employees. Because they work for several clients at the same time, they are not limited to one salary. As a result, a skilled translator or programmer may be able to double their income within a few years.
On the other hand, working for yourself also has some disadvantages. Firstly, the income is often unpredictable. A freelancer may have plenty of projects one month and almost none the next, which makes it difficult to pay rent or plan for the future. Secondly, self-employed people do not receive the support that a company provides. They usually have no paid holidays, no sick pay and no colleagues to ask for help, so they may feel stressed and lonely.
In conclusion, freelancing allows people to control their own time and can lead to higher earnings. However, it can also mean an unstable income and a lack of the security and support that employees enjoy.
262 words
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