IELTS Writing Task 2: Advantages and Disadvantages Essay - Question 1 Model Answer

 

Question 1 Model Answer 

In some countries young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year between finishing high school and starting university studies.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for young people who decided to do this.

  Notes

Advantages
 1) Opportunity to find a job and save money - Expensive education
2) Get some experience – solidify your goals to get a more realistic idea of your future career.

Disadvantages:
1) You might find your break too interesting/distracting and end up not wanting to go back into formal education.
2) Your study skills may have diminished, making it harder for you to adjust to life in schooling.

Introduction

Sentence 1 - paraphrase the question (restate the problem)

Some students are suggested to take a break from schooling before entering college, but the issue also has some negative effect. This essay will examine the advantages and disadvantages of the problem and provide a logical conclusion.

Body paragraph 1 - advantages

     Sentence 1 - state 1st main advantage:

One of the main advantages of taking a gap year is an opportunity to find a temporary job and save some finances to complete education.

Sentences 2-4 - explain the first advantage + give an example (if possible):

Firstly, nowadays education is expected to be very expensive and not everybody could afford that. This way, by earning money students would get a chance to cover some costs for a degree without getting in debts while studying. The Times recently reported that the average student at a UK university requires over $12,000 per annum just to survive and many drop out because they do not manage to pay.

Sentences 5-7 - explain the second advantage + give an example (if possible) or supported detail:

Secondly, being involved in work activities is a good possibility to gain valuable skills and experience in certain fields. This chance would be significantly reasonable for solidifying one’s goals to get a more realistic idea of the future career. Moreover, new practice and knowledge would help identify a student’s major while schooling.

Body paragraph 2 – disadvantages

Sentence 1 - state 1st main disadvantage + give an example (if possible) or supported detail:

However, taking a break from schooling has some major disadvantages. Firstly, one might find the break too interesting/distracting, and end up not wanting to go back into formal education. Many students appreciate their independent lifetime full of travelling and new experiences so much that often have a hard time to resume schooling. In this case, one would lose a chance to get a degree and build a career.

Sentence 2 - state 2nd main disadvantage + give an example (if possible) or supported detail

Secondly, study skills may have diminished, making it harder for young people to adjust to life in education. According to research/statistics, students who took a year off after high school get lower marks than the ones who embarked on college after finishing school.

Conclusion

Sentences 1-2 - briefly restate the advantages and disadvantages.

To conclude, even though a year’s break is a good possibility to save finances and gain experience, it still can negatively impact on education by weakening students’ learning skills and their yearning to complete a degree.

In some countries young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year between finishing high school and starting university studies. 

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for young people who decided to do this.

Some students are suggested to take a break from schooling before entering college, but the issue also has some negative effect. This essay will examine the advantages and disadvantages of the problem and provide a logical conclusion.

One of the main advantages of taking a gap year is an opportunity to find a temporary job and save some finances to complete education. Firstly, nowadays education is expected to be very expensive and not everybody could afford that. This way, by earning money students would get a chance to cover some costs for a degree without getting in debts while studying. The Times recently reported that the average student at a UK university requires over $12,000 per annum just to survive and many drop out because they do not manage to pay. Secondly, being involved in work activities is a good possibility to gain valuable skills and experience in certain fields. This chance would be significantly reasonable for solidifying one’s goals to get a more realistic idea of the future career. Moreover, new practice and knowledge would help identify a student’s major while schooling.

However, taking a break from schooling has some major disadvantages. Firstly, one might find the break too interesting/distracting, and end up not wanting to go back into formal education. Many students appreciate their independent lifetime full of travelling and new experiences so much that often have a hard time to resume schooling. In this case, one would lose a chance to get a degree and build a career. Secondly, study skills may have diminished, making it harder for young people to adjust to life in education. According to research/statistics, students who took a year off after high school get lower marks than the ones who embarked on college after finishing school.

To conclude, even though a year’s break is a good possibility to save finances and gain experience, it still can negatively impact on education by weakening students’ learning skills and their yearning to complete a degree.

330 words