Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience.
Write at least 250 words.
There is a clear-cut IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay structure. Obviously, the first and the last paragraph of the essay will be for Introduction and Conclusion respectively. Two paragraphs in the body, one for advantages and the other for disadvantages, works best for this type of question in IELTS Writing Task 2 .
Paragraph | Format |
---|---|
1 | Introduction |
2 | Some advantages |
3 | Some disadvatanges |
4 | Conclusion |
While brainstorming for ideas, we need to come up with at least two advantages and two disadvantages to write about. You can write more than two each, but the essay might get unnecessarily lengthy, and some ideas may lack proper development.
There are two elements to include in the Introduction paragraph of IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay.
Introduction: |
---|
There are people who like to spare no expense when celebrating important occasions in life. While throwing lavish parties ensures fun and entertainment for everyone involved, we should bear in mind the negative consequences as well. Apart from draining our hard-earned income, this trend might result in a decadent society obsessed with material indulgence instead of spiritual fulfilment. |
We can see in the sample above for the advantages and disadvantages essay that the Introduction paragraph begins with a paraphrase of the sentence in the question. Then, the second sentence introduces that idea of ā fun and entertainment ā as the advantages, while the third sentence hints at the disadvantages of holding such celebrations like being unreasonably expensive and possibly giving rise to a hedonistic lifestyle.
Introduction: |
---|
Reality shows, where singing, dancing, or other forms of performances are evaluated by public voting, have become ubiquitous in mainstream television. In my opinion, this has helped many deserving individuals to showcase their talents and make a career. However, this might present a wrong message to people that success is a result of popularity and luck instead of hard work. |
Whatever advantages and disadvantages have been alluded to in the Introduction paragraph have to be elaborated in the next two paragraphs.
For the advantages and disadvantages essay in the IELTS test, it is best to write about the pros in one paragraph and the cons in the next. Include at least two positives and at least two negatives of the situation. These points have to be explained in the body paragraphs with the help of examples.
Example: |
---|
There are people who like to spare no expense when celebrating important occasions in life. While throwing lavish parties ensures fun and entertainment for everyone involved, we should bear in mind the negative consequences as well. Apart from draining our hard-earned income, this trend might result in a decadent society obsessed with material indulgence instead of spiritual fulfilment. The obvious reward of lavish celebrations is fun and merriment. I believe that people should not underestimate the importance of enjoying time with family, friends, and neighbors in order to strengthen our relationships and accumulate pleasurable memories. For this, more expenditure translates into a more splendid party. On top of this, organizing posh Gatsbyesque parties might boost the social reputation of the hosts. Not only will the invitees have a great time, they will view the hosts as wealthy and generous. On the other hand, going above and beyond oneās means to hold over-the-top festivities is not sustainable in the long run. In todayās economy, organizing a grand event with food, alcohol, and entertainment costs an arm and a leg. We have heard many stories of how families have become bankrupt trying to keep up with the Joneses. In addition, as a result of this lifestyle, there is a risk of creating a depraved and profligate culture where people yield to their base desires rather than focusing on self actualization. This can be exemplified by comparing the societies of big cities, where ostentatious celebrations are a norm, to rural communities, where people seem to have stronger interpersonal bonds in spite of meagre social functions. |
Example: |
---|
Reality shows, where singing, dancing, or other forms of performances are evaluated by public voting, have become ubiquitous in mainstream television. In my opinion, this has helped many deserving individuals to showcase their talents and make a career. However, this might present a wrong message to people that success is a result of popularity and luck instead of hard work. From my perspective, since talent shows are platforms where competent participants can get much-needed exposure to sustain a career, they are a boon to such individuals. Otherwise, getting a break in the entertainment industry might end up being a life-long struggle or even an impossible dream. Moreover, reality shows based on performance and public judgement may lead to a meritocratic society because only those contestants who are able to win the hearts of the people succeed in such shows. An individualās journey from obscurity to stardom in televised shows is relatively transparent compared to how other artists rise in show business. We can look at Susan Boyle, an elderly singer from the UK whose singing prowess was discovered and brought to light by the reality show Britainās Got Talent, as the right kind of talent to benefit from such programs. Nevertheless, it is often claimed that talent shows reduce the assessment of artistry to a popularity contest. Often, rather than the most gifted candidate, the one with better physical appearance or backstory rises to the top. As a result, participants concentrate on optics as a replacement for honing their skills and improving their performance. While individually this hurts the competent but naĆÆve participants, socially this trend disseminates a dangerous message against the need of effort and perseverance for artistic achievement. |
The final paragraph in the advantages and disadvantages essay questions in IELTS is the Conclusion paragraph . It is customary to write a summary of the main points made in the essay in the Conclusion paragraph.
Example: |
---|
There are people who like to spare no expense when celebrating important occasions in life. While throwing lavish parties ensures fun and entertainment for everyone involved, we should bear in mind the negative consequences as well. Apart from draining our hard-earned income, this trend might result in a decadent society obsessed with material indulgence instead of spiritual fulfilment. The obvious reward of lavish celebrations is fun and merriment. I believe that people should not underestimate the importance of enjoying time with family, friends, and neighbors in order to strengthen our relationships and accumulate pleasurable memories. For this, more expenditure translates into a more splendid party. On top of this, organizing posh Gatsbyesque parties might boost the social reputation of the hosts. Not only will the invitees have a great time, they will view the hosts as wealthy and generous. On the other hand, going above and beyond oneās means to hold over-the-top festivities is not sustainable in the long run. In todayās economy, organizing a grand event with food, alcohol, and entertainment costs an arm and a leg. We have heard many stories of how families have become bankrupt trying to keep up with the Joneses. In addition, as a result of this lifestyle, there is a risk of creating a depraved and profligate culture where people yield to their base desires rather than focusing on self actualization. This can be exemplified by comparing the societies of big cities, where ostentatious celebrations are a norm, to rural communities, where people seem to have stronger interpersonal bonds in spite of meagre social functions. To summarize, as celebrations are important parts of life, some suggest that they should be enjoyed with fervor and opulence so as to build relationships as well as status. However, caution should be adopted to not let things become hedonistic and futile. |
Example: |
---|
Reality shows, where singing, dancing, or other forms of performances are evaluated by public voting, have become ubiquitous in mainstream television. In my opinion, this has helped many deserving individuals to showcase their talents and make a career. However, this might present a wrong message to people that success is a result of popularity and luck instead of hard work. From my perspective, since talent shows are platforms where competent participants can get much-needed exposure to sustain a career, they are a boon to such individuals. Otherwise, getting a break in the entertainment industry might end up being a life-long struggle or even an impossible dream. Moreover, reality shows based on performance and public judgement may lead to a meritocratic society because only those contestants who are able to win the hearts of the people succeed in such shows. An individualās journey from anonymity to stardom in televised shows is relatively transparent compared to how other artists rise in show business. We can look at Susan Boyle, an elderly singer from the UK whose singing prowess was discovered and brought to light by the reality show Britainās Got Talent, as the right kind of talent to benefit from such programs. Nevertheless, it is often claimed that talent shows reduce the assessment of artistry to a popularity contest. Often, rather than the most gifted candidate, the one with better physical appearance or backstory rises to the top. As a result, participants concentrate on optics as a replacement for honing their skills and improving their performance. While individually this hurts the competent but naĆÆve participants, socially this trend disseminates a dangerous message against the need of effort and perseverance for artistic achievement. It should not be overlooked that most of the winners of the biggest shows like American Idol or Americaās Got Talent revert back to obscurity when the show is over. Overall, there are both values and costs to people as well as society of reality-based talent shows on television. On the one hand, hidden gems in the field of art are being discovered day-by-day and the public can appreciate their journeys. On the other hand, while the most deserving artists may never thrive in such environments, television viewers might be indoctrinated to a false sense of how success is achieved. |
Next lesson:
Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? ā A reliable essay format
The government should control the amount of violence on television in order to decrease the violent crimes in society. to what extent do you agree or disagree, nowadays technology is increasingly being used to monitor what people are saying and doing (for example through cellphone tracing and security cameras). in many cases the people being monitored are unaware that this is happening. do you think the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages, ielts essay format: solving writing task 2 easily, a 3-step process for powerful ielts essay introduction paragraph.
Model answer for an ielts advantage disadvantage (outweigh) essay..
Updated:Ā February 2024
One of the most difficult essay types for many band 6 students is the ‘outweigh’ essay, which is an advantage disadvantage essay that is asking your opinion about which side you think is stronger.
The keyword in the task is ‘outweigh’. So you must cover the advantage and the disadvantage in this essay and clearly state your opinion. Do not only write about the advantages. you will need to cover both sides for a higher score in task response.
If you believe the advantage is stronger you must give your opinion on that in the thesis statement, but also make sure you show what a possible downside is. Have a look at the structures below for this type of essay.
Note that these are just guidelines. There is nothing mentioned in the marking criteria about the correct structure to use.
Model answer.
People now have the freedom to work and live anywhere in the world due to the development of communication technology and transportation. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
In recent times people have the choice of any location worldwide to live and work because of advances in communication technology and transport. Although there are downsides, this essay argues that the advantages are stronger as this has positively changed work life because people can work remotely via the internet from anywhere in the world.
One considerable advantage of technological innovation in transportation and communication is that it has revolutionised the way people work, bringing new opportunities and employment that did not exist before. In my view, this has had a positive impact on peoples lives due to the flexibility of combining work with travel. For instance, reliable Wi-fi networks and cloud computing, cheaper flights and high-speed trains allow people to live anywhere in the world while working online. Additionally, employees can participate in video conference calls and international forums, while entrepreneurs can run their businesses online from any location worldwide.
Admittedly, there are drawbacks in that some individuals have issues while living and working in different countries. In particular, culture shock and motivational problems while living outside their home country. This tends to lead to frustration for many remote workers who are relocated to offices in other countries. For example, multinational companies often neglect to train employees to deal with culture shock, as they assume that a positive experience on vacation in a new country will lead to easy cultural integration abroad. I believe communication technology has a positive role to play here, such as online coaching, which could help employees with motivation and cultural adjustment.
To conclude, despite the downsides, I believe that the benefits of communication technology and transport are greater because of new opportunities to travel and work online globally.
As you can see, I’m going with one advantage and one disadvantage here. This is ok for a Band 7+ but the essay must be well developed. If you have 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages, you may run out of time and end up with a very long essay at well over 300 words. Keep the essay concise.
You will notice in the thesis statement that I state:
‘Although there are downsides, this essay argues that the advantages are stronger as this has positively changed work life because people can work remotely via the internet from anywhere in the world.’
This shows balance as I have referred to the fact that there is a downside. In main body one, I cover the advantage and give my opinion on this. ‘ In my view, this has had a positive impact on people’s lives… .’
In main body two, I stated: Ā ‘Admittedly, there are drawbacks….’Ā this shows the examiner that I’m covering the downsides now.
In the conclusion I refer to the disadvantages again briefly then restate my opinion… ‘ To conclude, despite the downsides, I believe that….’
This lesson is about IELTS advantage disadvantage essay questions when you are told to assess whether the benefits of something outweigh the drawbacks.
The topic of the essay which is used as an example is about the trend to live and work abroad.
Take a look at the essay question we are going to analyse:
People now have the freedom to work and live anywhere in the world due to the development of communication technology and transportation.
Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
When you have this type of advantage disadvantage essay it is important to distinguish between this and one that asks you to discuss advantages and disadvantages but does not ask your opinion.
If you are asked ā What are the advantages and disadvantages ofā¦.. ā you are not being asked your opinion. You simply have to discuss the benefits and drawbacks.
You could do this in two body paragraphs:
However, if you have the word ā outweigh ā or ā Will this trend have more positive or negative effects? ā then you are being asked for your opinion and you must say which there are the most of ā positive or negative impacts.
If you do not do this then you may get your score reduced on ā Task Response ā for not fully addressing the question.
If you look at the IELTS public band descriptors (available to download if you do an internet search or available from your local IELTS centre), you will see that this could reduce your band to a 5 for this criteria (it would not necessarily affect the other three criteria).
(Check this lesson on IELTS Band 7 for an overview of the criteria for getting a band 7 if you are unsure of what the criteria are).
Take a look at these examples:
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?
This advantage disadvantage essay is not asking for your opinion. You could simply write one paragraph on the advantages and another on the disadvantages.
However, this one does:
Will this have more positive or negative impacts?
Another point to be careful of is using the word ā outweigh ā. It is common for IELTS students to get mixed up when they write the thesis statement, and actually say the opposite to what they write in the essay!
For example, they will say the drawbacks outweigh the benefits, but then give more benefits in the essay. This makes no sense.
So if you are not sure you can use the word correctly, I would recommend not using it in this type of IELTS advantage disadvantage essay. You can just say what your opinion is, as in the thesis in the model answer:
I believe that this has more benefits than drawbacks.
This will avoid any mistakes.
You then need to think of 3 supporting ideas . One for one side and two for the other side.
So you will then have three body paragraphs, one with the drawback / benefit and two with the advantages / disadvantages.
It is common academic practice to start with the opposing opinion to yours, so you can start with the point that you have one idea for.
As explained above, it is very important, especially if you are looking for a band 7 or higher, that your opinion reflects what is in your essay. So if you have said there are more benefits, then you would have two benefits and one drawback.
Now take a look at the advantage disadvantage essay model answer.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.
Write at least 250 words.
These days many people choose to live or work in other countries, which has been made possible because of the convenience of air travel and modern communications. I believe that this has more benefits than drawbacks.
The disadvantage of this development is the distance that is put between family members. If a person moves away it is true that air travel and devices such as skype mean that communication and contact can be maintained. However, it is likely that a person will only be able to return one or two times a year during holidays, and speaking on skype or via email is not the same as face-to-face contact.
Despite this, there are significant advantages it can bring to peopleās lives. Firstly, it means that people have the opportunity to see other parts of the world and the way people live. For example, people from the West often go to work in Asia or the Middle East and visa-versa. This enriches many peopleās lives as they get to learn about other languages, traditions, cultures and different ways of working from their own country.
In addition to this, on a wider level it may also benefit other countries. If someone moves abroad for work, it is usually because their skill is required there. To illustrate, nurses and Doctors often move to work in hospitals in other countries when there is a shortage, so this is very valuable to the place they move to.
I would therefore argue that although there are disadvantages of the current trend to live and work abroad, they are outweighed by the advantages. It can enrich peopleās lives and lives of the people in the countries that they move to.
( 283 Words )
As you can see in the essay, the writer believes there are more benefits so the essay is biased towards this opinion, giving more advantages than disadvantages.
The opinion is very clear, and repeated in the conclusion, and the body of the essay reflects this opinion so there will be no confusion when someone reads it.
This is not to suggest that this method is the only way to answer this type of question. There could be other ways.
For example, some people advise to write two body paragraphs - one on the advantages and another on the disadvantages, then in the conclusion state which one outweighs the other.
You can do this, but it can look at bit odd if you write about them equally, but then say there are more of one than the other! A conclusion can be cleverly worded to make this work, but that is a high level skill that many candidates do not have.
You could write only about the advantages or only about disadvantages and argue that one vastly outweights the other. However, the fact that the question uses 'outweigh' or 'more' is suggesting that there are both benefits and drawbacks.
The benefit of organising your advantage disadvantage essay as illustrated in this lesson is that by looking at both sides, you will have more ideas to brainstorm . And importantly, your opinion is clear and this is reflected in the essay , which is balanced to reflect and support your opinion.
A model answer for this essay will be posted shortly so watch this space, or sign up using the form on the right to be notifed when there are updates to the site.
Now you can have a practice.
Try to answer this advantage disadvantage essay question:
More and more students are choosing to study at colleges and universities in foreign countries.
Do the benefits of studying abroad outweigh the drawbacks?
In IELTS problem solution essays you have to discuss a particular issue and present ideas to solve that problem.
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This paragraph writing lesson provides tips on constructing the best paragraphs for your IELTS essay.
25% of the writing grade is on how you organise your essay so this lesson shows you how to improve your writing coherence.
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Follow a sure shot IELTS Advantages and Disadvantages essay model to ensure a high score on this task!
Spend time thinking about the advantages and disadvantages of the given statement.
Make sure you have appropriate supporting evidence and examples.
Put your advantages and disadvantages in two distinct body paragraphs.
Write a strong conclusion by restating the main points.
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IELTS advantages and disadvantages questions normally give you a statement and ask you to comment on the advantages and disadvantages of that statement.
The problem is that there are 2 different types of advantages and disadvantages essays, each requiring a different approach. If you answer them differently, you risk losing many easy marks.
This lesson will look at each of the three question types and suggest a standard sentence-by-sentence structure for each of them. There will also be sample answers for each of the three questions to help you compare and understand the two approaches.
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 decide to do this.
Some experts believe that it is better for children to begin learning a foreign language at primary schools rather than secondary schools.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
Question 1 simply asks us to discuss the advantages and disadvantages. It does not ask for our opinion or says which side is better or worse, so we should not include this information in our answer.
This requires a simple structure in which the student will look at the advantages in one paragraph and the disadvantages in the other.
Question 2 is different because we have to say if the advantages are stronger than the disadvantages. Notice I didnāt say āif there are more advantages than disadvantagesā. The question is not asking you to talk about numbers but comment on the overall weight of the advantages or disadvantages. For example, there are many advantages to travelling by private jet, but there is one huge disadvantage (the cost) that stops most people from flying that way, and therefore the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.
In this example, we will have to decide which side (advantages or disadvantages) is stronger, affecting our structure. If you choose advantages, you will have to say why these are much stronger than the disadvantages and why the disadvantages donāt hold much weight. You would also have to make this clear in your thesis statement.
Introduction
Sentence 1- Paraphrase question
Sentence 2- Outline sentence
Supporting Paragraph 1 (Advantages)
Sentence 3- Topic sentence (2 Advantages)
Sentence 4- Explain first advantage
Sentence 5- Explain second advantage
Sentence 6- Example of second advantage
Supporting Paragraph 2 (Disadvantages)
Sentence 6- Topic sentence (2 Disadvantages)
Sentence 7- Explain first disadvantage
Sentence 8- Explain second disadvantage
Sentence 9- Example of second disadvantage
Sentence 9- Summary of main points
Sentence 2- Thesis statement (state which one outweighs the other)
Sentence 3- Outline sentence
Main Body Paragraph 1 (Stronger Side)
Sentence 4- Topic Sentence
Sentence 5- Explain why it is strong
Sentence 6- Example
Sentence 7- Topic Sentence
Sentence 8- Explain why it is strong
Sentence 9- Example
Main Body Paragraph 2 (Weaker Side)
Sentence 10- Topic Sentence
Sentence 11- Explain why it is not strong
Sentence 12- Example
Sentence 13- Summary of main points and restate position.
Before college, many young people are advised that a year of working or travelling may be a good option. This essay will suggest that experience gained and money saved are the biggest advantages of this, but delaying careers and reducing motivation to study are the primary disadvantages.
The main advantages of a gap year are learning more about the world and earning money. For students who have just finished secondary school, working or travelling for a year will allow them to learn what life is like outside of the education system. Also, third-level education is very expensive, and many students decide to work for 12 months and save money before they begin their studies. The average student at a UK university requires over Ā£10,000 per annum to survive, and many drop out because they cannot afford to stay.
Despite these advantages, students lose a year that could have been used to advance their future careers, and they often get used to working or travelling and donāt want to return to a life of study. As job markets are very competitive, an extra year of experience can make a massive difference when applying for jobs, and those who took a gap year are at a disadvantage. Moreover, some decide to bypass university altogether and go straight into a job that is beneath their capabilities or may not offer the same prospects their future career might have. For instance, jobs in the service industry are easy to get without a third-level education, and many gap students fill these roles only to be stuck in them for the rest of their lives.
In conclusion, taking a break from studies can be advantageous if it allows people to accumulate savings or learn more about the world. However, they should also be careful that it does not delay the start of their careers and lead to disillusionment with education.
Some authorities think that it is more favourable for pupils to begin studying languages at primary school instead of secondary school. This essay will argue that the advantages of this outweigh the drawbacks. The essay will first demonstrate that the earlier someone learns an additional language, the more likely they are to master it and that it brings added cognitive benefits, followed by an analysis of how the primary disadvantage, namely confusion with their native tongue, is not valid.
The main reason to start kids off with foreign languages early is that this increases the likelihood they will achieve fluency in adulthood. That is to say that they will have far more years to perfect their skills, and speaking bilingually will seem perfectly normal. For example, in countries such as Holland and Norway, where English is taught from a very young age, most adults speak it at an advanced level. Learning a second language also helps to improve overall cognitive abilities. In other words, it benefits the overall development of a childās brain. It is well known that bi-lingual children are significantly more likely to score higher in Mathematics and Science.
Those opposed to this say that it causes the child to become confused between their mother tongue and the other language. However, there is actually no evidence to support this view and children from bilingual families do just as well in both languages. My son was brought up speaking both Vietnamese and English and outperforms most of his classmates in both.
On balance, the fact that early foreign language learning leads to higher fluency and improved brain function clearly outweighs the flawed argument that it impairs the uptake of native languages.
Now that you are more confident about IELTS advantages and disadvantages essays, you can practice and reach the level you need.
Do you need me to correct your essays and give you feedback on them? Check out our VIP Course .
I hope this has been of help to you, and please let me know if you have any questions or feedback.
The British Council and IDP also have some useful resources for IELTS preparation.
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I started IELTS Advantage as a simple blog to help 16 students in my class. Several years later, I am very humbled that my VIP Course has been able to help thousands of people around the world to score a Band 7+ in their IELTS tests.
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In this post, we’re going to look at an IELTS Writing Task 2 advantages and disadvantages sample essay. In this type of Task 2 question, you will read a description of a common situation or practice. From there, you’ll describe the advantages and disadvantages of the idea you were presented with. For more background info and advice on this particular question type, you can go to my post on the Task 2 question types in IELTS Writing.
In this article, I’ll show you a sample advantage/disadvantage prompt and a model essay that responds to the prompt. The model essay is an example of band 9 level writing—this is the highest score you can get on the Writing section. I’ve patterned the essay after this IELTS Writing Task 2 template , which was created by Magoosh IELTS expert Rachel Kapelke-Dale.
Before we get started, you should of course first read the sample prompt.
With modern transportation, workers and students are increasingly mobile, and have more and more opportunities to study and work abroad. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this development. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Nowadays, both work and study can easily take a person out of their home country. This can be good because people can explore new cultures now more than ever. At the same time, world travelers may become disconnected from their own home countries. In this essay, I will take a closer look at the aforementioned key advantage and key disadvantage.
To be sure, ordinary people now have unprecedented access to life abroad. It is easier than ever to work or study in a foreign land for months and even years. Many large international corporations offer overseas work to their employees, just as nearly all universities provide study abroad options at partner campuses overseas. Ultimately, nearly any adult anywhere in the world can potentially immerse themselves in another language or culture, with support from their bosses or teachers.
The problem is that international workers and students sometimes become unconcerned with the affairs in the nations they are from. This kind of apathy can prevent people from doing their civic duty. As one example, people from countries with compulsory military service may spend years abroad and even renounce their citizenship to avoid protecting their homeland. Even more commonly, people who go abroad may choose not to vote in elections back home, failing to make their voice heard on important matters. So modern mobility can undermine one’s ability or desire to make a difference back home.
Learning about other cultures by actually living abroad is a powerful tool for better intercultural understanding. However, as valuable as this is, sometimes going abroad can cause people to ignore the importance of their own culture and country. Not all students and workers should go abroad, and the ones that do should not forget their role in their country of origin.
Word count: 294
This IELTS Writing Task 2 advantages and disadvantages sample essay is held to the same standards as any other Writing Task 2 essay. These standards are listed in the official rubric for IELTS Writing Task 2 . If you read the level 9 description carefully and compare it to this essay, you should see the reasons it has a top score. But I’ve also included scorer commentary immediately below.
The score report below is based on the official IELTS Writing Task 2 rubric . This report also looks very similar to the Magoosh IELTS essay scoring service .
Overall Band Score: 9
CATEGORY | Task Achievement/Response | Coherence and Cohesion | Lexical Resource | Grammatical Range and Accuracy |
---|---|---|---|---|
SCORE | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
What was done well in the essay:
If you found this example essay helpful, you’ll love the rest of them. Click the links below to access model responses for the other common Task 2 question types.
David is a Test Prep Expert for Magoosh TOEFL and IELTS. Additionally, he’s helped students with TOEIC, PET, FCE, BULATS, Eiken, SAT, ACT, GRE, and GMAT. David has a BS from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and an MA from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. His work at Magoosh has been cited in many scholarly articles , his Master’s Thesis is featured on the Reading with Pictures website, and he’s presented at the WITESOL (link to PDF) and NAFSA conferences. David has taught K-12 ESL in South Korea as well as undergraduate English and MBA-level business English at American universities. He has also trained English teachers in America, Italy, and Peru. Come join David and the Magoosh team on Youtube , Facebook , and Instagram , or connect with him via LinkedIn !
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will it be correct to include brain drain and the problem of excessive number of immigrants in the disadvantage part?
Hi Paromita,
If you can support these ideas in the essay and explain why they are disadvantages, then that could work if your reasoning is sound.
Hope that helps! š
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This essay provides a plan and model response for an advantages and disadvantages essay in your writing paper.
Essay question:
Nowadays many people choose to be self-employed, rather than to work for a company or organisation.
Why might this be the case?
What could be the disadvantages of being self-employed?
Advantages-
Disadvantages-
Introduction
Paraphrase the question
Outline main ideas
State opinion (if required)
Main body paragraph 1- Advantage
Topic sentence- example
Explanation- explain the benefits/advantages
Consequence- state the result
Main body paragraph 2- Disadvantage
Explanation- explain the problems/disadvantages
Summarise key points
Loop back to beginning
Many people nowadays are opting to work for themselves, rather than for a company. There is a more palpable shift towards self-employment and a greater detachment from more traditional working structures. This essay will demonstrate how self-employment can lead to financial freedom and more flexibility of oneās output, but it will also show how financial freedom can be risky and the idea of creative flexibility can be illusionary. Whilst acknowledging the drawbacks, this essay will argue how the advantages of self-employment outweigh the disadvantages.
One clear benefit of working for oneās self, is the possibility of financial freedom and creative autonomy. By being self-employed, one has the room to create your own salary. Rather than being hemmed in by a fixed monthly amount, a person working for themselves can exceed this and create a salary that is reflective of their work and one that does not impede them by wider company policy. Although some people can see pay rises, this is seldom seen in many industries and despite the extra hours people work, their pay quickly hits a ceiling. Whereas, self-employment means you are not determined by someone elseās view of what you should be paid. As well as this, someone who is self-employed has more creative control. This is highly important as being passionate about what you do should be a key characteristic with any job. By having more creative control, we can determine what we produce and the effect we want it to have. Therefore, we are in control and can enjoy the work we ultimately decide to produce.
On the other hand, there are obvious disadvantages to being self-employed. Firstly, it can involve some financial risk where each month does not necessarily look financially the same. There may be dips and troughs where the individual is learning less than the previous month. This could seep into other aspects of their life and make certain things difficult, such as paying bills. Secondly, having to be constantly creative can be more difficult than perceived and its reality not as utopian as it may seem. For example, if someone is starting their own business or creating a course, the sole creative output rests on their shoulders and this can be difficult to routinely produce, rather than having a brief to fill which is passed down from a senior or fellow colleague.
In conclusion, whilst there are disadvantages to being self-employed, I believe the potential possibilities and benefits of being self-employed outweigh working for a company. Whilst working for a company is preferred by some, the working world is shifting to a model that is more innovative, creative and less reliant on the traditional ways of work.
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Students & Learners stepping their legs forward to achieve their dreams like scoring top in various competitive examinations and IELTS and TOEFL should be familiar with all Advantages and Disadvantages of respective courses and general topics. General Awareness is the basic tip for all such candidates so get a good grip on all general concepts of India & the World along with their pros and cons for better learning and giving your best in numerous competitions, international & national entrance exams.
Mainly this guide makes you understand what is advantage & disadvantage and how important it is and why it is necessary to know about advantages & disadvantages of each topic for every student. Letās get started with the fundamentals like definitions of advantages and disadvantages later you can jump into the main motive of this tutorial by using the quick links prevailing here.
What is meant by the term advantage, what is meant by the term disadvantage, some advantages & disadvantages sentences examples, why is it important to know the advantages and disadvantages of any topic, choosing a pros and cons topic, how to talk about advantages and disadvantages, faqs on benefits and drawbacks of any concept.
You can also find moreĀ Essay Writing articles on events, persons, sports, technology, and many more.
The definition of advantage means anything that provides a more favorable position, greater opportunity, or a favorable outcome. Mainly the synonyms of advantage are gain, benefit, profit, and many other. You can find advantages in almost all things and concepts that we are using, facing, listening, watching, etc. in life.
The definition of disadvantage is the state or an example of being in an unfavorable circumstance or condition. Also, you can say it as something that puts one in an adverse position or condition. The synonyms of disadvantage are drawback, limitations, negative, disbenefit, etc. Every topic includes both advantages and disadvantages because nothing is perfect in this world.
Here are some advantage related sentence examples that we use generally on daily basis or occasionally:
Below are a few of the sentences instances on disadvantage that makes you understand where we use the term frequently & hardly:
In the above sections, you have seen advantages and disadvantages meaning, synonyms, and some example sentences. Now, we are taking a step forward & going to know about a few Advantages and Disadvantages Topics that are most commonly asked in various private and govt. competitive exams and IETLS too.
So, candidates who are appearing for such entrance examinations should be aware of the top-most topics on advantages & disadvantages. Just click on the available links and happily grab all the information of the respective concept.
Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of any topic is very important to examine or to use or judge. As it is not invincible or has immortality but should know prior for better understanding & thinking. For example, if you take a smartphone without knowing its pros and cons you canāt use it properly. By chance, if you drop your phone into water it may destroy it as it comes under disadvantage. In case you have read these disadvantages of smartphones prior then you will take care of it more than you imagine.
Not just in things, it is also important to be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of general topics like political issues, technologies, financial sectors, online education, exams because it helps to make a good decision while speaking or writing in various competitions.
Picking up the right topic can make you perform well in competitions and examinations. If we donāt have an option to choose a topic on advantages and disadvantages then itās gonna be headed for disaster when you havenāt worked on it.
What I meant to say here is preparing all the topics prior before going to appear any competitive exam or IETLS can be the most awesome thing. Also, you can find many topics that have advantages more than disadvantages.
If you had a choice of choosing advantages and disadvantages topic then go for something interesting, trending, and controversial to give your best shot in multiple outlooks or perceptions.
Keeping these points in mind, refer to our provided list of pros and cons topics and get some good assistance while attempting any competitions, or examinations, or entrance tests.
Most of the time we will see and use advantages and disadvantages terms while discussing specific things or any common topic. But the terms that can be used rather than advantages & disadvantages are as such:
If we take any advantages and disadvantages of the topic, we can discuss it by listing them one by one or by using the comparison table or by putting them in an image format for easy sharing. With the help of our available listed topics, you can find the pros and cons in all three ways for better understanding & knowledge.
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Home ā Essay Samples ā Social Issues ā Illegal Immigration ā Advantages of Immigration
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Published: Aug 1, 2024
Words: 636 | Page: 1 | 4 min read
Economic growth, cultural diversity, enrichment of society.
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Illegal immigration is a contentious and multifaceted issue that has been a topic of debate for decades. While the term "illegal" implies a breach of immigration laws, it's essential to acknowledge that this issue has various [...]
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. "The Economic and Fiscal Consequences of Immigration." The National Academies Press, 2017. Center for Immigration Studies. "The Employment Situation of [...]
In the context of the United States, the issue of Illegal immigration has its historical roots, current trends, and profound socioeconomic implications. It encompasses legal, political, economic, and social dimensions, making it [...]
At the heart of the illegal immigration debate lies a complex interplay of societal, economic, and ethical considerations, each demanding careful examination and nuanced understanding. While the legal status of undocumented [...]
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Illegal immigration has been a hotly debated topic in the United States for many years, and it continues to be a contentious issue today. The influx of undocumented immigrants into the country has sparked heated discussions on [...]
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Positive and negative outcomes of the rising population on the planet. The increasing lifespan of people: pros and cons. The ability to obtain a driver's license at sixteen vs. eighteen years old. The right to work without parents' permission at sixteen years old: pros and cons.
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The advantage-disadvantage type essay is a very common type in the IELTS writing task 2. It involves a situation that you are asked to comment on, emphasizing the advantages and the disadvantages. You should practice these types of questions through different platforms and understand the pattern of answer delivery.
Understanding the Question and Structure of the IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay . The IELTS advantages disadvantages essay is a question type you will come across in IELTS Writing Task 2. You will be asked to write about the benefits and drawbacks of the topic given. It can be worded in different ways. Let's see some examples.
2.2 Essay Structure 2. Planning your Advantage/Disadvantage Essay. 3.1 Identify key words and phrases. 3.2 Organise your ideas. 3.3 Identify vocabulary. Writing your Advantage/Disadvantages Essay. 4.1 Introduction. 4.2 Main body paragraphs. 4.3 Conclusion.
Below is a list of IELTS sample essay questions for advantage / disadvantage essays in writing task 2. These essay types are often taught together with discussion essays but I think it is worth studying them separately to be better prepared. Advantage / Disadvantage Essay Tips. spend time planning the benefits and drawbacks of the statement given.
This essay topic is related to tourism. Of course, topics for questions will vary, but ideal answer structure is the same for all advantages & disadvantages essays in IELTS.. Producing ideas for your answer. Before you start writing your essay, you should always spend 1-2 minutes on producing ideas for your answer.This way, you'll know what to write about and your answer will be more ...
In an IELTS Advantages Disadvantages essay, you need to present the advantages and disadvantages in the body paragraphs. Write the advantages and disadvantages in separate paragraphs. Each main body paragraph should contain: An advantage (or disadvantage) - your main idea. A more detailed explanation of this. An example which illustrates this.
It is important for people to take risks, in both their professional lives and personal lives. Do the advantages of taking these risks outweigh the disadvantages? Read my sample here. Some people say patriotism causes problems and is negative overall. Others feel that it is beneficial for society at large.
Sample topic sentences. (paragraph 1) There are numerous advantages to internet-based learning. (paragraph 2) Readily available knowledge is not without its disadvantages, however. Tip: It is a good idea to memorise some topic sentences such as these, as you can apply them to most advantage/disadvantage essays. e.g.
Example IELTS Advantages and Disadvantages Essayfor Structure 1. Now, here's a model answer for essay structure 1. First, a reminder of the structure and the ideas I generated using the friends technique. Ideas generation - Friends technique. I've underline the ideas I've chosen to write about in this second essay:
in body paragraph 1, give advantages (a topic sentence, two advantages and details/examples) in body paragraph 2, give disadvantages (a topic sentence, two advantages and details/examples) Finally, write the conclusion where you have to summarise advantages and disadvantages. For the second type of essay, restate your opinion as well. Step 4.
Here are some sample IELTS advantage disadvantage essay sample questions: Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of living in a multicultural society. Analyse the benefits and drawbacks of using social media platforms for personal and professional purposes. Examine the positive and negative effects of technology on education.
The biggest mistakes with this are 1) using inappropriate linking words 2) stating a different main point that hasn't been given in the essay 3) running out of time to write the conclusion. See this video lesson about using the last 5 mins of your writing test: Last 5 Mins Tips.
3. Some disadvatanges. 4. Conclusion. While brainstorming for ideas, we need to come up with at least two advantages and two disadvantages to write about. You can write more than two each, but the essay might get unnecessarily lengthy, and some ideas may lack proper development.
One of the most difficult essay types for many band 6 students is the 'outweigh' essay, which is an advantage disadvantage essay that is asking your opinion about which side you think is stronger. The keyword in the task is 'outweigh'. So you must cover the advantage and the disadvantage in this essay and clearly state your opinion.
IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Essay Lesson. This lesson is about IELTS essay questions when you are told to assess whether the benefits of something outweigh the drawbacks. The topic of the essay which is used as an example is about the trend to live and work abroad. Take a look at the essay question we are going to analyse:
New technologies have changed the way children spend their free time. Do you think the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages? It has been suggested that primary children should learn how to grow vegetables and keep animals. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages? Check out sample essays for IELTS and more preparation ...
IELTS advantages and disadvantages questions normally give you a statement and ask you to comment on the advantages and disadvantages of that statement. The problem is that there are 2 different types of advantages and disadvantages essays, each requiring a different approach. If you answer them differently, you risk losing many easy marks.
What was done well in the essay: This essay has over 250 words. This is a small but important way to avoid needlessly losing points due to the IELTS Writing word count penalty. The essay does a good job of covering both the advantages and disadvantages. The advantage of easy access to foreign experiences is explored in the first body paragraph.
This essay provides a plan and model response for an advantages and disadvantages essay in your writing paper. Essay question: Nowadays many people choose to be self-employed, rather than to work for a company or organisation. ... Topic sentence- example. Explanation- explain the benefits/advantages. Consequence- state the result . Main body ...
Students & Learners stepping their legs forward to achieve their dreams like scoring top in various competitive examinations and IELTS and TOEFL should be familiar with all Advantages and Disadvantages of respective courses and general topics. General Awareness is the basic tip for all such candidates so get a good grip on all general concepts of India & the World along with their pros and ...
26 July 2021. IELTS Essay # 308 - Advantages and disadvantages of living in a house compared with an apartment. 03 August 2022. IELTS Essay # 38 - Advantages and disadvantages of establishing educational institutions in residential areas. 29 March 2023. IELTS Essay # 1237 - In the future all cars, buses and trucks will be driverless. 28 June 2023.
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Conclusion. In conclusion, immigration offers numerous advantages to the countries that welcome immigrants. From economic growth to cultural diversity and the enrichment of society, immigrants bring valuable contributions that enhance the overall well-being of a nation.
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