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Essay 77 – Advantages and disadvantages of having a car
Gt writing task 2 / essay sample # 77.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Some people claim that there are more disadvantages to having a car than its advantages. Do you agree or disagree? Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of having a car.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Model Answer 1: [Agreement]
The invention of automobiles was one of the most important events of the last century. However, some people argue that people who have cars have more drawbacks than its benefits. In this case, I agree with it. Furthermore, I will discuss both the positive and negative sides of car ownership.
Of late, people look for a way to feel more comfortable on the roads and for many, this can come with a car. In simple words, driving vehicles makes people’s life more convenient as this mode of transport takes all the hassles out of travel arrangements, like booking tickets for trains or buses and waiting in the long line, for example. Besides, personal vehicles have redefined the notion of empowerment for women and mobility for millions of individuals. Personal freedom derived from owning an automobile means people can go to work, shopping and other destinations whenever and at any time without depending on public transport’s fixed schedules.
On the contrary, all of these benefits have come at an enormous cost to the environment. Driving a motor vehicle contributes significantly to environmental damage. The first factor is air pollution as it releases greenhouse gases, like Nitrogen dioxide for example. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, car accounts for nearly 25 per cent of all greenhouse gases released into the ecology. The second factor is water pollution. Cars contaminate water sources in several ways. One is through deicing chemicals and oil, brake dust, and runoff of automotive fluids. In addition, the improper disposal of car oil is also a reason for groundwater pollution. Last but not least, cars contribute considerably to solid waste. This means millions of cars are scrapped every year. But regrettably, in most cases, these cars are not recycled. Ultimately, these are disposed of through a landfill site, which in turn leads to the destruction of the natural environment.
To wrap up, while the car is a convenient mode of transportation, it also has grave disadvantages. In my opinion, the negative impacts attached to having cars vastly outweigh any advantages. This is because it threatens the very existence of mankind.
Model Answer 2: [Disagreement]
In contemporary times, there are conflicting opinions about whether cars bring more harm than benefits, and some clearly express the view that owning cars brings more demerits. In my view, however, the advantages of owning a car significantly outweigh the disadvantages. This essay delves into this issue while also discussing both benefits and demerits of owning automobiles.
To begin with, having an automobile provides immense convenience and saves precious time. For instance, people who live far away from their workplaces or schools can avoid the hassles of public transportation and reach their destinations on time. Furthermore, cars provide freedom of movement, allowing people to travel and explore new places, and engage in outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, and skiing. These benefits contribute to a person’s overall quality of life. And perhaps this is why people who own cars would not want to live without them.
In addition, cars play a crucial role in the economy, providing numerous job opportunities in industries such as manufacturing, sales, maintenance and driving. Furthermore, the availability of cars enhances accessibility to essential services such as healthcare, grocery shopping, and emergency services. If someone, for example, does not own a car, it is less likely that he or she would go out and walk for several miles to get to a shopping mall in a city.
On the other hand, critics argue that cars can be a source of pollution, traffic congestion, and accidents. It is evident that car accidents claim thousands of innocent lives each year. Moreover, owning an automobile is expensive. It requires paying taxes, buying fuel, paying for the servicing and so on. This is why economically less affluent citizens in most countries can not afford a car.
In conclusion, the benefits of owning a car, including convenience, time-saving, mobility, and economic opportunities, outweigh the potential drawbacks. Since cars bring more advantages than disadvantages to their owners, I firmly disagree with the notion.
One Comment to “Essay 77 – Advantages and disadvantages of having a car”
On point!… Short and precise!
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Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of having a car
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Some people claim that there are more disadvantages of the car than its advantages. Do you agree or disagree? Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of having a car.
Give reasons for your answer.
You should write at least 250 words.
Model Answer 1: In our lives, we travel from one place to another for a great variety of reasons and while travelling we greatly depend on cars, whether it is a private car or a public bus. The number of car owners is increasing every day because every person expects the freedom to travel and comfort while travelling. And that is why most of us want to own a car. However owning a car have many advantages and disadvantages as well.
The main advantage of owning a car is it gives the freedom to travel. If you have a car then you don’t need to be limited to fixed routes and timetables. Moreover, a car-owner can take is/her family members with him/her and other necessary goods whenever he/she wish which might have been impossible otherwise. In addition, personal cars give comfort while travelling on the contrary to the public buses which are so crowded and disgusting. You can read books, listen to music or even can play with kids while you are in your own car but those all seem to be impossible in public transport. On the contrary, owning a car is very expensive. The price of the car, the cost of the tax, insurance cost, fuel cost, driver’s salary, car repairing etc. all must be considered before buying a car and that is why it is out of reach of the middle-class people.
Moreover, private cars can not carry many passengers at a time yet occupy spaces in the street. As the number of cars is increasing in the road so does the traffic jam. Perhaps the major disadvantage of cars, in general, is the huge damage they do to human health and to the environment. More cars mean more pollution. The environment pollution is a serious issue today and at any cost, we must reduce the amount of pollution and if we consider it then owning a car is never a good idea.
To sum up, having a car gives someone freedom but if the public transportation system is easily accessible, safe and efficient, then the idea of buying and owning a car should be abandoned.
(Approximately 354 words)
(This model answer has been prepared by the site developer. However, please note that this is just one example out of many possible answers.)
Idea Generation for this IELTS Essay:
Essay Type: Agree / Disagree as well as Advantages & Disadvantages.
Main question of this IELTS Essay:
A. Do you agree that there are more disadvantages of the car than its advantages?
B. Advantages of having a car.
C. Disadvantages of having a car.
Note: This essay topic is a bit tricky. It is a combination of both “Agree/ Disagree” and “Advantages & Disadvantages” type essay. First, you need to write whether you agree or disagree that cars have more disadvantages that the advantages they offer. Again you need to write down the advantages and disadvantages of owning a car. In the introduction part of the essay you need to mention whether you agree or disagree. Then in the following paragraphs you can write the advantages and disadvantages of cars and at the end of each paragraph you can summarise why having a car has more advantages than disadvantages and vice versa.
Disadvantages of having a car:
- Owning a car is expensive and requires additional costs to maintain and repair it. Not all families can afford it.
- Cars have increased the level of air and noise pollution in cities, causing more humans to suffer from respiratory, heart diseases, or cancers.
- City travellers have to spend longer hours on traffic jams. Using more private car, the density of traffic has been increased phenomenally and citizens have had to stay longer time on traffic load.
- As the number of private cars increased, more car passengers have been injured or died by severe accidents.
- More pedestrians’ accidents have been reported annually. As the usage of private cars increases, it is more probable that people walking through the street die by them.
- Private car is more expensive than the public transportation. Paying huge money for tax, renewing of licence, or air care, people have to pay more for using cars.
- More fossil fuels are consumed as more cars are used by people, leading other generations to face a shortage of these fuels.
- The governmental expense will be raised far dramatically. To build and maintenance of more highways for more cars, hire more police force, the local government have to consider a larger budget.
- The use of cars to commute has decreased the average health of car users as they do not need to do any physical movement.
- The consumption of fuels to run the car is contributing to the rise if global warming and affecting the ozone layer.
- The car owners need to worry about the safety and parking places for cars wherever s/he travels.
- It saves the time as the commuters can reach his destination quickly than it would be required in a public bus.
Agreement: Why cars have more disadvantages than advantages? Considering all the disadvantages the cars have to the health, environment, government budget and the hassle and expenses the car owners have to bear, it is quite clear that having a car has more demerits and the advantages it offers.
Advantages of having a car:
- The private car is a convenient mode of transportation. Having more comfortable seats, ventilation or other novel technologies help people to feel better than using other methods, like a bicycle or a public bus.
- Users have more secure privacy compared to using public transportation.
- This will increase more job opportunities because more workers will be involved in working in car companies or as drivers, reducing the unemployment rate.
- The local state will have more budgets, paid by car owners’ taxes, to renew the roads. Annually, car drivers have to pay hundreds of dollars for renewing their car insurance, licence, tickets, or air care.
- Other industries have been developed as car industries developed. The more humans use more private cars, the more car companies have to raise their technology, leading other mother industries to be developed too.
- People can have absolute freedom on deciding the schedule and roads to reach their destination.
- A private car owner can utilise his time but it is very tough to do so on a public bus.
- In a car, a person does not have to worry about the dust, noise and fumes present in the road while in public transportation it is not always possible to avoid those.
Disagreement: Why cars have more advantages that disadvantages?
Considering the advantages the car ownership offers, I would say that it is more beneficial to own a car than using public transportation. Many people might argue against owning a car but I think most of them would buy a car if their financial condition allows them to do so.
[These ideas should be helpful for you to generate your own ideas and writing an excellent essay on the given IELTS Essay topic should be easier for you. If you have new ideas that we might have missed, add them in the comment section and we will publish it.]
Alternative Answer 2: Owning a car is a birth-right for some people while other people try their life-long to purchase one. Apart from these two groups, there are certain people who do not dare to even think about purchasing a car because of their miserable economic conditions. However, for all those people the four-wheel car is a fancy machine with advantages and utility. Owning a car can also bring some drawbacks.
Among the advantages of owning a car, in my opinion, freedom of travelling is the most important one. Someone who owns a car can plan his route, timing and destination. He won’t have to wait for the schedule of a public bus, stand in a long queue, wait for hours for the bus to arrive, and sit in the public bus uncomfortably. A person car gives the freedom, saves time and the owner can utilise the time while he travels. Apart from that, he can carry the grocery, goods and other valuables in the car at his discretion. Owning a car also offers the flexibility of visiting relatives and friends who stay far away without much hassle of a public bus. Taking a child or an old person in a public bus is quite impossible and owning a car would facilitate someone to take his kid, old relatives with him if needed. The comfort and safety of a private car can’t be achieved in a public car. In terms of expense, sometimes personal car saves monthly expenses that would otherwise be required for a person if he travels frequently.
On the other hand owning a car has some disadvantages as well. First of all, private cars require garage and parking hassle. Sometimes the expenses on hiring a driver and purchasing fuel might exceed the budget for the people who could have easily availed public transportations for infrequent journeys. The traffic issue, paper renewal issue, tax, police cases are sometimes too much to handle for the personal car owners. For example, if a public bus gets busted in the middle of a road, the passenger can easily leave it a look for another one. But in this same situation, a private car owner who was riding in his car would have to take the burden of taking care of the busted car and reach to the automobile repairing centres.
In summary, though owning a car has some disadvantages, it offers many advantages as well.
Model Answer 3: People need different modes of transportation to move from one place to another. In the ancient time, they used horses and donkeys for this purpose and to carry their loads. With the development of technology, people invented novel things such as cars, trains, aeroplanes, ships and this development has further enhanced the flexibility and convenience of transportation. Out of these vehicles, the private car is one of the best and most preferred vehicles for people to commute from one place to another but not without consequences.
Private cars have many advantages. Due to this, people who can afford a private car, want to own it. People with low-income class also dream to own a car one day. This simple phenomenon shows how advantageous of owning a private car can be. With a private car, people can plan their own journey, go somewhere whenever they want, take diversions to avoid bad traffic, avoid long queue for ticketing and enjoy the utmost flexibility and privacy of a soothing journey. This is a very handy thing in the emergency cases. For example, when someone gets sick, his family members can easily take him to a hospital regardless of the time. Finally, owning a private car offers someone the freedom to enjoy his time during the journey while it is quite impossible on a public bus.
On the contrary, private car ownership has many demerits as well. It is far more expensive than public transportation. The cost of fuel, driver, licence, insurance, maintenance, repairing etc. will often increase the monthly expense for a family. Furthermore, those cars produce toxic gas such as greenhouse gases, CO2 and CO that are harmful to the human health and the environment. Private cars are the main reason for congestion on the roads and the increasing environmental pollution.
To some up, I think the private car is a very useful vehicle that offers more advantages than demerits to its owner. However, the environmental issues due to excessive use of cars should not be ignored and we should use private cars absolutely when it is necessary and at other times, we should use public transportations.
[Written by Nima ]
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IELTS Essay Sample Answer # Cars
You should spend 40 minutes on this task.
Cars have changed the way we travel. However, some people believe that there are more disadvantages to it than advantages.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of cars?
Write at least 250 words.
SAMPLE ANSWER
Travel is an integral part of our lives and we travel for a great variety of reasons. However, in recent times the number of people owning a car has increased, as people want to now travel with more comfort and freedom.
On the positive side, a private car is more convenient mode of transportation. Having more comfortable seat, ventilation or other novel technologies help people to feel better than using of other methods, like bicycle or public bus. Secondly, it provides more security when compared to public transport. For instance, a women is more likely to feel safe while driving a car at night than coming home late night in public vehicle.
However, a privately owned car also has some disadvantages. Firstly, city travelers have to spend longer hours on traffic jams. With the increase in the use of private cars, the density of traffic has been increased phenomenally and citizens have had to stay longer time on traffic load. Secondly, the use of cars to commute has decreased the average health of car users as they do not need to do any physical movement.
Overall, cars do bring in some great benefits to is owners, in a long run, they tend to harm more than help. But, if the owners take proper care of health and more people pool drive, one will be able to enjoy its advantages better.
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Cambridge IELTS 16 Sample Answer [Driverless Vehicles]
Posted by David S. Wills | Oct 11, 2021 | Model Essays | 0
When practising for IELTS writing task 2, it is very useful to use past exam questions. Unfortunately, as I discussed here , most IELTS questions that you find online are actually fake, but luckily you can find real ones in the Cambridge IELTS book series. The latest in this series is Cambridge IELTS 16 .
Today, I am going to give you a sample band 9 answer to one of the writing questions in this book, which is about driverless vehicles. As you can imagine, it’s a quite interesting topic to cover.
Cambridge IELTS 16 – Task 2
First of all, let’s examine the question. It says:
In the future all cars, buses and trucks will be driverless. The only people travelling inside these vehicles will be passengers. Do you think the advantages of driverless vehicles outweigh the disadvantages?
I don’t think this is very hard to analyse. It is an advantages vs disadvantages question and essentially you are talking about the advantages and disadvantages of driverless vehicles .
A few things to remember:
- Don’t get distracted by the examples in the question. You don’t need to keep repeating “cars, buses, and trucks” all through your essay. You are just talking about driverless vehicles in general and you won’t be penalised for ignoring any of these.
- Whilst the first statement talks about the future and gets into a definition of “driverless,” you don’t really need to talk about these. The question only says “Do you think the advantages of driverless vehicles outweigh the disadvantages?” It is in the present tense and you are thus required to talk about them generally .
- Don’t forget the issue of “outweighing”! It is easy to discuss one or both sides of issue but you must make it clear that ones side “outweighs” the other (or clearly state that neither does).
- In this sort of question, it is really important that you don’t fall into the trap of just mindlessly paraphrasing the statement . This will lead you to write all sorts of weird ideas. Instead, strive to produce a first sentence that generally introduces the topic.
Driverless Car Vocabulary
When it comes to the topic of driverless cars, you don’t need to be an expert in order to produce a great essay (although it certainly would help!). Instead, you should have some language to talk about the following areas:
- The environment
It really depends on what you want to say. Certainly, a decent range of vocabulary about computer systems and other technological ideas would come in useful. If you do want to focus on them as the future, you would also need a grasp of the future tenses .
When it comes to learning topic-specific language, I often recommend Wikipedia, and indeed they have an English-language page on driverless cars (which they call “self-driving cars” – a great synonym!). You can take a look and try noting down some new words.
Here, you can see I have highlighted some useful phrases:
You will also find that Wikipedia pages introduce you to ideas that might be worth discussing in your essays, and on this page we can see people talking about issues related to safety, which are of course fundamental to this topic.
One of the biggest issues in the field of driverless vehicles is that of ethics. This is a vast area to think about, but one that is fascinating and you might appreciate this TED Talk from 2016:
Structuring your Answer
When it comes to questions that ask you to say whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages or not, you need to think carefully about your structure . What you write will depend on your initial position. Do you want to provide balance? You don’t have to , in spite of what some people think.
In my essay, I will say that the advantages greatly outweigh the disadvantages, but I will mention the latter. While it is possible to write a good answer that focuses completely on one or the other, I think in this case it will give my argument some nuance.
My answer will thus look like this:
Introduction | Introduce the topic State that adv. outweigh disadv. |
Body Paragraph 1 | Reason 1 – safety Reason 2 – environment |
Body Paragraph 2 | State disadv. – loss of freedom Explain why this is not significant |
Conclusion | Summarise and reaffirm |
You can see, then, that the reason I have provided balance is in order to argue not just to explain the advantages but to argue against the disadvantages.
Below, I will give you my sample band 9 answer, but remember that there is more than one way to write an amazing essay. This video explains the limitations of sample answers:
Sample Band 9 Answer
Recently, there have been great strides made in the technology required to transition to a system of driverless cars and it has been suggested that one day all vehicles will be automated, with humans merely passengers. This essay will argue that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
The primary reason for adopting driverless cars is the improvement in safety that would inevitably come. At present, cars are immensely dangerous and yet humans continue to drive them. The vast majority of accidents are caused by human error, but this would be totally eliminated in a system whereby all vehicles are automatically updated on the presence of other vehicles. Accidents would be reduced, thereby saving millions of lives per year. Beyond that, the system on which these cars function would ensure that they optimise their routes to avoid traffic, which would not only save people time but reduce the amount of emissions produced by idling engines.
Of course, there are some disadvantages, but these are comparatively minor. One thing that worries most people is the loss of freedom that will come from driverless car systems. At present, in most western countries, the road is viewed as a symbol of freedom and people enjoy getting behind the wheel to move around. In a driverless car, this small pleasure would be diminished. However, this is of course trivial in comparison to the safety and environmental benefits of the proposed driverless system.
In conclusion, the advantages of driverless vehicles vastly outweigh the disadvantages. Although there are a few negatives, the fact that so many lives would be saved makes this future comparatively bright.
Notes on the Answer
I started quite generally and, within that same sentence, brought the topic from “great strides made in technology” to the idea of driverless cars. Then, I stated my opinion. Whilst you don’t have to come down strongly on one side or another, you do need to be consistent throughout.
Paragraph two talked about the advantages of driverless cars. I emphasised the dangers of traditional cars in order to convince my reader that driverless ones are superior. Then I gave an example, which went into the system that these vehicles use. I learned this from a podcast interview with Elon Musk (the CEO of Tesla) that I heard last year. It was very interesting! Anyway, this idea was rounded off with a mini conclusion before I gave my second point.
Paragraph three talked about the loss of freedom that may come, with a good explanation, followed by my dismissal of this idea. I said it “is trivial in comparison to the safety and environmental benefits,” which is hard to deny.
In terms of language, I have used no fancy vocabulary. As I always say, it is better to be straightforward and use real English rather than pluck words at random from a dictionary. However, my language was topic-specific as you can see:
- all vehicles will be automated
- adopting driverless cars
- automatically updated on the presence of other vehicles
- optimise their routes to avoid traffic
- idling engines
- a symbol of freedom
- getting behind the wheel
None of these is considered specialist but all of them are pretty specific to this topic. They are worth learning if you want to be able to talk about vehicles, technology, and the future.
About The Author
David S. Wills
David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.
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- Essay Task 2
Guide to Advantage Disadvantage IELTS Essay Type
- Essay Types
- Double Question
- Advantage Disadvantage
- Problem Solution
- Essay Length
IELTS advantage/disadvantage essays ask you to write about the benefits and drawbacks of a topic as well as (sometimes) asking for your opinion. This guide covers everything you need to know to complete an Academic IELTS advantage/ disadvantage essay. Let’s start preparing with Benchmark IELTS!
Table of Contents
1.1 understanding the question, 1.2 example advantage/disadvantage questions, 2.1 essay structure 1, 2.2 essay structure 2.
- 3.1 Identify key words and phrases
3.2 Organise your ideas
3.3 identify vocabulary, 4.1 introduction, 4.2 main body paragraphs, 4.3 conclusion, 5.1 complete the sample advantage/disadvantage essay, 5.2 advantage/disadvantage sample essay, 1. advantage/ disadvantage essay overview.
This section of the guide will show you how to identify an IELTS advantage/disadvantage question.
Remember, there are five main types of writing task 2 questions:
- Advantage/disadvantage
- Double question
- Problem/solution
It is very important to understand what type of question you are given in the exam so you can respond in an appropriate way: different question types will require different responses.
Advantage/disadvantage essay questions can be presented in several different ways.
Here are some examples of the way an advantage/disadvantage question may be worded:
- Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your opinion.
- Describe the advantages and disadvantages of _____ and give your opinion.
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of _____?
You may also see questions using synonyms for advantage and disadvantage, for example:
- What are the benefits and drawbacks of…?
Be careful, the question itself might not always use words or phrases relating to advantage/disadvantage and they could be hidden in the statement, as seen here:
- Some people believe that using a bicycle as your main form of transport has a lot of advantages , whereas others believe that it has many disadvantages . Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Here is another example of a question where you are asked to give your opinion:
- Do the advantages of … outweigh the disadvantages
After you have identified the essay type , you need to understand what you are being asked to do. To do well in the Task achievement marking component, you need to ‘ address all parts of the task’ .
This type of essay question will always be split into two parts:
- The IELTS statement
- The question
You must always write about both the advantages and disadvantages of the given topic. As we can see in example questions 1-6, sometimes you are asked to give your opinion on the question, and sometimes you are not. Let’s compare the following questions:
You are not being asked to give your opinion
Here are some example advantage/disadvantage essay questions:
In the past, when students did a university degree, they tended to study in their own country. Nowadays, they have more of an opportunity to study abroad.
Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
Today children spend a lot of their free time watching TV.
Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages of this practice?
Also, read the following IELTS Essay Writing Guides
- IELTS Discussion Type Questions
- Double Question IELTS Essay Topics
- Opinion-based Task 2 IELTS Guide
- Problem Solution IELTS Writing Task Statement
The threat of nuclear weapons maintains world peace. Nuclear power provides cheap and clean energy.
The benefits of nuclear technology far outweigh the disadvantages.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
In the past, when students did a university degree, they tended to study in their own country. Nowadays, they have the opportunity to study abroad.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this development?
More and more people prefer to read news online rather than on paper.
Do you think the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience.
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2. Essay Structures for Advantage/Disadvantage Essays
There is more than one way to structure your advantage/disadvantage essay. You could take a thesis-led (opinion in the introduction) or an evidence-led (opinion in your conclusion).
You could also choose to focus on one or more than one advantage/disadvantage in each of your main body paragraphs.
The next two sections will give you two possible ways that you could structure your essay using four clearly organized paragraphs.
Thesis-led approach
Evidence-led approach
3. Planning your Advantage/Disadvantage Essay
Before you start writing your essay, you should give yourself 5 minutes to analyze the question and organize your ideas . Follow the tips below to create a well-planned essay!
3.1 Identify keywords and phrases
It sounds simple, but it is very important that you read the question carefully and understand what you are being asked to write about. To analyze the question, first, identify any keywords and phrases .
You should first identify the topic of the essay. If you do not write about the correct topic, you will score poorly in Task achievement . The general topic can always be found in the IELTS statement.
Let’s take a look at one of the previous examples:
The threat of nuclear weapons maintains world peace . Nuclear power provides cheap and clean energy .
The topic words are underlined and show the general topic of this essay question in nuclear weapons/power/technology .
After you have identified the general topic, you need to locate other keywords that give you more detail about the topic. In this question, the words world peace and cheap and clean energy in bold give you more information about the general topic. Therefore, your essay should only relate to these aspects of nuclear weapons/power/technology .
Now take a look at the question for our model answer at the end of this guide. Can you identify the general topic?
This is an important step that is often skipped by test-takers. By quickly writing down your key ideas, you will avoid repeating or missing any points and improve your score in both Task achievement and Coherence and cohesion .
You could use bullet points , columns , or another preferred method of writing down ideas . Here is an example for our sample essay:
Take a look at our Master Guide for a more in-depth look at idea generation and organizing your ideas.
Taking a moment to write down more uncommon vocabulary related to the essay topic will not only make you feel more relaxed in the exam but will also help you to improve your score in Lexical resources .
This doesn’t have to be a long list, just a few ideas that come into your mind. Here are some examples of the topic of studying abroad:
- Culture shock
- Language barrier
- Broaden one’s horizons
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4. Writing your Advantages/Disadvantages Essay
Your introduction should be the shortest paragraph in your essay (about 40-60 words is perfect).
You need to rephrase the IELTS statement in your own words. This is known as paraphrasing (a key skill to develop for the IELTS exam).
Take a look at our example:
In the past, when students did a university degree, they tended to study in their own country. Nowadays, they have the opportunity to study abroad. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this development? |
You can also briefly state what your essay will be about in one clear sentence. For instance:
This essay will discuss both points of view and then I will give my opinion.
If you are taking a thesis-led approach, you can use one of the following sentence starters to briefly give your opinion:
- I believe that…
- It is my belief that…
- In my opinion,…
A note on the use of the first person ‘I’: Unlike writing task 1, it is appropriate to use the first person in your writing task 2 essay. In fact, it is unavoidable when giving your opinion. But , you should not overuse ‘I’ in your essay and we recommend you limit your use to your introduction and conclusion.
Topic sentences Usually, the first sentence of your main body paragraph will be a topic sentence . The purpose of your topic sentence is to introduce the main idea of your paragraph .
You should include one topic sentence for each advantage/disadvantage . This means that, if your main body paragraphs focus on two advantages/disadvantages , then you should have two topic sentences per paragraph.
Here’s an example: One advantage of studying abroad is that students can improve their language skills.
Here are some other sentence starters you can use for your essays (you can replace the underlined words with vocabulary linked to your topic):
- One advantage of studying abroad is that ….
- Another benefit of studying abroad is that…
- One downside of studying abroad is that…
- Another downside of studying abroad is that…
Supporting sentences You should then expand on your topic sentence with a supporting sentence/sentences . Your sentence(s) could either describe a result of the advantage/disadvantage, go into more detail , or explain the reason(s) why these benefits/drawbacks occur.
Our example supporting sentence describes a result of the advantage given in the topic sentence.
Topic sentence – One advantage of studying abroad is that students can improve their language skills.
Supporting sentence – This means that when the students return to their home countries, they will have more employment opportunities.
Here are some sentences starters you can use to begin your supporting sentences:
- This is because…
- The result/consequence/reason is that…
- This means that…
- As a result/consequence,…
- In other words,…
Giving examples For all writing task 2 essay types , you must support your response with examples. Do not personalize your examples and link them to your life instead, Keep your examples more general . Also, do not refer to made-up statistics .
Here are some instances of suitable and non-suitable examples:
Suitable For example, many young people who study in an English-speaking country for a few years develop strong communication skills and have the confidence to work in an international company when they return home.
Not suitable My cousin spent three years in an English-speaking country and they got an excellent job with an international country when they came back to Spain. ( this example is too personal as it refers to the writer’s family ) ❌
According to statistics, international students are 30% more likely to get a job in an international company when they study overseas. ( this example contains a made-up statistic )
You must include a conclusion to achieve a good score in Task achievement . Your conclusion does not have to be very long, but it needs to be clear and do two main things:
- Paraphrase yourself : summarise the key points in your body paragraphs
- Give your opinion : It depends if you have taken an evidence-led or thesis-led approach, you will either be re-stating the opinion given in your introduction or giving your opinion for the first time.
Make your conclusion easy to identify for the examiner by starting with linking phrases such as:
- To sum up,…
- To summarise,…
- In conclusion,…
When you are paraphrasing the main points of your essay, you need to state that you have examined both sides of the argument (as that is what the question has asked you to do). To do this, consider using a phrase like:
In conclusion, having looked at this topic in detail, it is clear that there are both advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad .
You would need to replace the underlined section with your essay topic.
To give your opinion, you need to use a range of cohesive devices to introduce each example such as:
- From my perspective,…
- In my view,…
You then need to clearly state which side of the argument you agree with (advantage or disadvantage). Remember, your actual opinion does not matter, it is how you present your opinion using English that is important.
Here are some example sentences to do this effectively:
- In my opinion, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
- From my perspective, the drawbacks outweigh the benefits .
5. Example Advantage/Disadvantage Essay and Exercise
Now you’ve taken a look at how to write an advantage/disadvantage essay, let’s look at a model answer.
We have removed some of the words so you can put your knowledge to the test.
Select the correct missing words and complete the model answer.
years, it has become much more common for to complete their degree overseas instead of their country. Many believe that there are significant of doing this, while others argue that there are also connected to studying abroad. This essay will discuss both points of and then I will give my opinion. One advantage of abroad is that students can improve their skills. This means that when the students return to their home countries, they will have more employment opportunities. , many young people study in an English-speaking country for a few years develop strong communication skills and have the confidence to work in an international company when they return home. benefit of studying abroad is that you can develop a better understanding of other cultures, for , learning about a country's customs, traditions and cuisines. The consequence of this is that people become more open-minded. , there are some disadvantages of studying abroad. One is that students may miss their friends and family and feel . They may also find it difficult to connect with other students and make friends due to a . Another disadvantage is that students can experience a real culture shock when moving to another country. This is because the culture and language may be different which could lead to frustration for the student and with their study experience. To , it is clear that there are both advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad. In my , the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. Although it is true that the experience may be challenging at first, on , if you study abroad you will have an enriching experience that will broaden your horizons and increase your future prospects. / 21 |
In recent years, it has become much more common for students to complete their degree overseas instead of their house country. Many persons believe that there are significant benefits of doing this, while others argue that there are also drawbacks connected to studying abroad. This essay will discuss both points of mind and then I will give my opinion.
One advantage of study abroad is that students can improve their employee skills. This means that when the students return to their home countries, they will have more employment opportunities. An example, many young people who study in an English-speaking country for a few years develop strong communication skills and have the confidence to work in an international company when they return home. On the other hand benefit of studying abroad is that you can develop a better understanding of other cultures, Example , learning about a country’s customs, traditions and cuisines. The consequence of this is that people become more open-minded.
In the other hand, there are some disadvantages of studying abroad. One backdraw is that students may miss their friends and family and feel homesad. They may also find it difficult to connect with other students and make friends due to a language barrier . Another disadvantage is that students can experience a real culture shock when moving to another country. This is because the culture and language may be different which could lead to frustration for the student and dissatisfaction with their study experience.
To overall , it is clear that there are both advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad. In my thought, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. Although it is true that the experience may be challenging at first, on balance , if you study abroad you will have an enriching experience that will broaden your horizons and increase your future prospects.
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How to Write An IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay?
Are you aiming to achieve a high band score in the IELTS exam? Do you find yourself puzzled by the task of writing an 'IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay'? Then you've landed in the perfect place!
In this comprehensive guide, we'll unlock the secrets to acing this challenging yet rewarding part of the IELTS writing exam. We'll take you step-by-step through understanding the structure of an 'IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay', crafting an effective outline, and using a practical template to write a well-balanced essay.
Whether you're a seasoned IELTS test-taker or new to the game, our guide is packed with actionable tips and examples to help you shine in the exam. Our aim is to make your IELTS preparation journey as smooth as possible.
So, sit back, grab your notepad, and let's dive into the world of IELTS writing. By the end of this guide, you'll be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to write an outstanding IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay. Let's start the journey towards IELTS success together!
IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay Structure
Introdu ction
An effective introduction is vital for setting the tone of your essay. It should introduce the topic in a clear and concise manner, provide some context, and outline the structure of the essay. The intr oduction should be designed to pique the reader's interest, prompting them to read on. Here's a sample introduction for an essay on "The Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Learning":
"With the rapid advancement of technology, online learning has become a prevalent mode of education. This essa y will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this modern educational approach."
Advantages and Disadvantages
The body of your essay will consist of two main sections: the advantages and the disadvantages. Each of these sections should contain one or two paragraphs explaining the relevant points.
For each advantage or disadvantage, start with a topic sentence that clearly states the point. This should be followed by supporting details and examples. A balanced view is crucial here; try to give equal attention and depth to both sides of the argument.
Here's an example for the aforementioned topic:
Advantages:
"One significant advantage of online learning is its flexibility. Unlike traditional classroom settings, online courses allow students to learn at their own pace, making education more accessible for people with busy sc hedules. For instance, working professionals can take up online courses to upskill themselves without compromising their job commitments."
"Another benefit is the vast amount of resources available online. Students have access to a plethora of learning materials like videos, eBooks, and online forums, thereby diversifying their learning experience."
Disadvantag es:
"Despite its numerous benefits, online learning also has its drawbacks. One major disadvantage is the lack of face-to-face interaction. This can lead to feelings of isolation and can also hinder the development of essential social skills."
"Additionally, not everyone has reliable internet access or the necessary technological devices, which can exclude some individuals from accessing online education, thus widening the digital divide."
The conclusion is the final section of your essay. It should not introduce any new information but rather summarise the main points discussed in the essay. It should also reiterate the significance of the topic and provide a clear and compelling concluding statement.
Here's a sample conclusion for our example:
"In conclusion, online learning presents numerous advantages, including flexibility and vast learning resources. However, it also has its pitfalls such as lack of personal interaction and potential exclusion of those without adequate technology or internet access. Thus, while online education is a powerful tool in the modern world, these considerations should be addressed to make it more effective and inclusive."
Remember that the structure outlined here serves as a general guide. The specific requirements might vary depending on the given essay prompt, so it's essential to read the instructions carefully. Keep practicing, and soon you'll master the art of writing an excellent IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay.
Exploring the IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay Outline
An effective outline is your roadmap to a successful essay. It helps organise your thoughts, ensuring a logical flow of ideas from start to finish.
Introduction
Introduce the topic: Your introduction should set the stage for your essay. Begin with a general statement about the topic, then narrow it down to the specific issue you'll be discussing. For example, if you're writing about online learning, you might start by discussing the role of technology in education.
Give a brief overview of what will be discussed in the essay: Following the topic introduction, your next sentence should preview the points you'll discuss - the advantages and disadvantages of the issue. Using our online learning example: "This essay will explore the advantages, such as flexibility and access to vast resources, along with disadvantages like potential isolation and technology disparities, of online learning."
Topic sentence outlining the first advantage: The first sentence of this paragraph should clearly state the advantage you're discussing. For instance: "A key advantage of online learning is its unprecedented flexibility."
Explanation and examples supporting the advantage: Next, explain this advantage in more detail, providing relevant examples or evidence. You could say, "Online courses allow learners to engage with materials at their convenience. For example, a working professional might study after work hours, something not possible with traditional, scheduled classes."
Disadvantages
Topic sentence outlining the first disadvantag e: Like the advantages section, begin with a clear topic sentence stating the disadvantage. Example: "Despite its benefits, online learning also presents challenges, notably a lack of personal interaction."
Explanation and examples supporting the disadvantage: Explain this disadvantage further, again providing examples or evide nce. You could explain, "In online classes, students miss out on face-to-face engagement with peers and teachers, which can lead to feelings of isolation and a lack of essential communication skills."
Summarize the main points: The first part of your conclusion should briefly recap the main points of your essay. Avoid introducing new information here. Using our example, "Online learning, while offering flexibility and a wealth of resources, also presents challenges in terms of personal interaction and technological disparities."
Restate the significance of the topic: Reiterate why your topic is important. You might say, "As technology continues to evolve, understanding the pros and cons of online learning is crucial for educators and students alike."
Provide a clear and compelling concluding statement: Finally, end with a powerful statement that ties your essay together. For instance: "Thus, while online education is a powerful tool in the modern era, its challenges must be addressed to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive learning experience."
Remember, an outline is a flexible tool. It should guide your writing, but don't be afraid to deviate from it if your essay's flow requires it. Use it as a roadmap, not a strict rulebook.
Utilizing the IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay Template
The IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay Template is a powerful tool for shaping your thoughts and ideas into a coherent and persuasive piece of writing. Let's delve into the specifics using an example topic: "The rise of electric vehicles".
Your introduction should succinctly introduce your topic and provide an overview of what the essay will cover. For our example, this might look like:
"The increasing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) is a significant trend in today's automotive industry. This essay will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this growing shift towards electric transportation."
Now it's time to discuss the benefits. Each advantage should be addressed in its own paragraph, beginning with a topic sentence, followed by an explanation, and then an example.
Advantage 1:
Topic sentence: "One notable advantage of EVs is their contribution to environmental sustainability."
Explanation: "Unlike traditional vehicles, EVs produce zero tailpipe emissions, reducing the amount of harmful pollutants released into the environment."
Example: "For instance, replacing a conventional car with an electric one can save approximately 1.5 million grams of CO2 per year."
Advantage 2:
Topic sentence: "Another b enefit of EVs is their potential for cost savings in the long run."
Explanation: "Although the upfront cost of EVs can be higher, their lower operating costs over time can offset this initial investment."
Example: "Research shows that EVs can be 2-3 times cheaper to run per mile compared to petrol or diesel vehicles, depending on electricity prices and driving habits."
Next, outline the drawback s of th e topic, again devoting one paragraph to each point.
Disadvantage 1:
Topic sentence: "Despite their benefits, EVs also have drawbacks, including the current limitation s of battery technology."
Explanation: "EV batteries often have a limited range and can take a considerable amount of time to charge, which can be inconvenient for users."
Example: "For instance, a typical EV may need to be recharged after 150-200 miles, and full charging can take up to 12 hours, depending on the charger type and battery size."
Disadvantage 2:
Topic sentence: "Another disadvantage is the insufficient charging infrastructure, particularly in remote or rural areas."
Explanation: "The lack of widespread, accessible charging stations can make long-distance travel with EVs more challenging."
Example: "In certain rural regions, charging points can be over 100 miles apart, making EV usage less feasible."
Conc lusion
The conclusion shou ld recap the main points, restate the topic's significance, and provide a clear concluding statement.
"In conclusion, the rise of electric vehicles brings substantial benefits, including environmental sustainability and potential long-term cost savings. However, challenges such as battery limitations and insufficient charging infrastructure remain. As the automotive industry continues to evolve, addressing these challenges will be crucial to fully realize the potential of electric transportation."
Remember, the template provided here is a guide, and should be adapted based on the specifics of your essay prompt and the ideas you want to convey. With understanding, practice, and perseverance, you'll be well-equipped to master the IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay.
10 key tips How to write a High Band Advantages Disadvantages Essay
Understand the Structure: Familiarize yourself with the IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay Structure. Your essay should have an introduction, two body paragraphs (one for advantages, one for disadvantages), and a conclusion.
Create an Outline: Before you start writing, make an outline. This will help you organize your thoughts, ensure a logical flow of ideas, and make sure you don't miss any crucial points.
Use the Right Template: Use the IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay Template as a guide to structure your essay appropriately. This template ensures you don't miss any crucial elements in your essay.
Balance Your Arguments: Make sure to present a balanced view. You should provide an equal amount of information for both the advantages and disadvantages. This shows the examiner that you can objectively discuss a topic.
Use Examples: Include relevant examples to support your points. Examples make your points more concrete and persuasive.
Mind Your Language: Use clear, precise, and formal language. Avoid slang and contractions, and make sure your grammar and punctuation are correct.
Stay on Topic: Stick to the topic throughout the essay. It's easy to go off on tangents, but staying focused on the topic ensures you address the question effectively.
Use Transition Words: Transition words like "However", "Moreover", "Additionally", and "On the other hand" can help your essay flow better. They guide the reader through your thoughts, making your essay easier to follow.
Practice and Review: Regular practice is key to improving your essay writing skills. After each practice, review your essay to identify areas where you can improve.
Manage Your Time: You will have a limited amount of time to write your essay during the IELTS exam. Practice writing essays within a set time frame to ensure you can effectively manage your time during the actual test.
Remember, writing a compelling essay takes practice and patience. Keep refining your writing skills, and you'll be well on your way to achieving a high score on the IELTS exam. Good luck!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is an IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay?
An IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay is a type of essay that appears in the writing section of the IELTS exam. It requires candidates to discuss both the pros and cons of a given topic, displaying a balanced and objective understanding.
2. How do I use the IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay Template?
The IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay Template is a guide to help structure your essay. It typically includes an introduction, separate paragraphs for advantages and disadvantages, and a conclusion. Each paragraph should start with a topic sentence, followed by explanation and examples.
3. What is the best way to structure an IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay?
The best way to structure an IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay is by following the IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay Structure, which includes four main sections: introduction, advantages, disadvantages, and conclusion. Ensure to maintain balance in your arguments, providing equal attention to both pros and cons.
4. How can I create an effective IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay Outline?
To create an effective IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay Outline, start by listing the main points you plan to discuss in your essay. Break down each section into smaller parts, including topic sentences, explanations, and examples for each advantage and disadvantage.
5. How important is it to use examples in an IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay?
Using examples in an IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay is very important. Examples provide solid evidence to support your points, making your arguments more persuasive and relatable.
6. What are some tips for writing an excellent IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay?
Key tips for writing an excellent IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay include understanding the structure, creating an outline, using the right template, balancing your arguments, using examples, sticking to the topic, using transition words, practicing regularly, and managing your time effectively.
7. What are the common mistakes to avoid while writing an IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay?
Common mistakes to avoid include straying off-topic, presenting unbalanced arguments, skipping the conclusion, failing to use examples, and not using transition words to link ideas. Additionally, using informal language, not managing time effectively, and not reviewing your work for errors can negatively impact your score.
Please note, if you want to boost your IELTS Writing score, check these comprehensive eBooks and personalised Essay Feedback by an experienced IELTS examiner.
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How to Plan & Write IELTS Advantages and Disadvantages Essays
Questions for IELTS advantages and disadvantages essays can be worded in several different ways. Here is some typical wording that might be used:
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of….?
- Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
- Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your opinion.
It is also common for synonyms of ‘advantages’ and ‘disadvantages’ to be used, such as ‘benefits’ and ‘drawbacks’, as can be seen in this sample question.
A lot of places in the world rely on tourism as a main source of income. Unfortunately, tourism can also be a source of problems if it is not well-managed.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of tourism in the modern world? Do you think that the benefits of tourism outweigh its drawbacks?
I’ll be using this question to guide you through the process of planning and writing an IELTS advantage and disadvantages essay later on in this lesson.
Here’s what the lesson covers:
- Understanding IELTS advantages & disadvantages essay questions
- Essay structures
- How to plan
- How to write an introduction
- How to write main body paragraphs
- How to write a conclusion
Want to watch and listen? Click on this video.
Click the links to see lessons on each of these Task 2 essay writing topics.
Once you understand the process, practice on past questions. Take your time at first and gradually speed up until you can plan and write an essay of at least 250 words in the 40 minutes allowed in the exam.
The Question
IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay questions fall into two main categories:
- Questions that ask for your opinion.
- Questions that do not require you to state your opinion.
The first part of the question will always be a statement. You will then be asked to write about both the advantages and disadvantages of the idea stated. You may also be required to state your opinion.
Here are two more sample questions for illustration. For the first one, you must give your opinion but in the second, you should not.
1. Small businesses are disappearing and being replaced by large multinational companies.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
2. Most career choices demand vocational skills or specialist knowledge. However, despite this, most schools still teach academic subjects such as history or social studies.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this?
Essay Structures
Now let’s look at two simple structures you can use to write IELTS advantages and disadvantages essays. They're not the only possible structures but are ones I recommend because they are easy to learn and will enable you to quickly plan and write a high-level essay.
I’ll explain later why I’m giving you two slightly different structures.
These structures will give you a well-balanced essay with 4 paragraphs.
One Advantage and Disadvantage or Two?
The question will state 'advantages' and 'disadvantages' in the plural, that is, more than one. However, it is acceptable to write about just one.
This should give you an essay of just over the minimum 250 words. To write about two advantages and disadvantages will require you to write nearer 400 words which are a lot to plan and write in the 40 minutes allowed.
It is better to fully develop one advantage and one disadvantage than ending up with your second idea missing an explanation or an example because you run out of time, but you can write about two if you feel able to or more comfortable doing so.
Having said that, using essay structure 2, where you start with the examples, will enable you to easily add more than one advantage and disadvantage without having to write many more words.
It will be more suitable for some questions than others so bear this in mind when you're writing practice essays and try out both structures.
I’m going to use essay structure 2 to show you step-by-step how to write an IELTS advantage and disadvantages essay. I’ll also give you a model answer using essay structure 1 so that you can compare the two.
How To Plan IELTS Advantages and Disadvantages Essays
The planning process only takes around 5 minutes but it is essential as it will save you time overall and will result in a far better essay and thus, higher marks. Th ere are the 3 things you need to do:
- Analyse the question
- Generate ideas
- Identify vocabulary
# 1 Analyse the question
Analysing the question will ensure that you answer it fully. It’s quick and easy to do. You just need to identify 3 different types of words:
- Topic words
- Other keywords
- Instruction words
Topics words are the ones that identify the general subject of the question and will be found in the statement part of the question.
Here is the question we’re going to be working on. I’ve highlighted the topic words in blue.
So, this question is about ‘ tourism’ .
Many people do this first step of the process and then write about the topic in general. This is a serious mistake and leads to low marks for task achievement.
What we need to do now that we know the general topic, is to understand exactly what aspect of tourism we're being asked to write about.
The other keywords in the question tell you the specific topic your essay must be about.
A lot of places in the world rely on tourism as a main source of income . Unfortunately, tourism can also be a source of problems if it is not well-managed.
By highlighting these words, it’s easy to see that you are being asked to write about the conflicting issues of tourism being ‘a main source of income’ in many places, yet also being ‘a source of problems’.
Your essay must only include ideas relevant to this aspect of tourism.
The instruction words are the question itself. They tell you exactly what to include in your essay.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of tourism in the modern world? Do you think that the benefits of tourism outweigh its drawbacks ?
Here, we are required to write about:
- The advantages of tourism in relation to income generation.
- The disadvantage of tourism in relation to problems it can cause.
- Our opinion as to whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
Note the use of the synonyms ‘ benefits ’ and ‘ drawback ’ in the second sentence of the question.
# 2 Generate ideas
The next task is to generate some ideas to write about.
There are several different ways to think up ideas. I cover them fully on the IELTS Essay Planning page.
I’m going to demonstrate two of them for you here – the ‘friends technique’, which is suitable for most IELTS essays, and the ‘example method’, which perfectly fits essay structure 2.
The ‘ friends technique ’ is the method I generally prefer as it allows you to take a step back from the stress of the exam situation and think more calmly.
Here’s how it works. Imagine that you are chatting with a friend over a cup of coffee and they ask you this question. What are the first thoughts to come into your head? Plan your essay around these ideas.
Doing this will help you to come up with simple answers in everyday language rather than straining your brain to think of amazing ideas using high-level language, which isn’t necessary.
Here are my ideas using the friends technique:
There are far too many ideas here to include in an essay of just over 250 words. Think up a few then pick one advantage and one disadvantage that you think you can develop well.
With the ' example method ', on the other hand, you start by thinking of specific examples related to the question. They can come from your own experience or be something you’ve read or heard about. These examples will generate ideas that will become the main points of your essay.
It works particularly well for the model question I’ve selected for this lesson which is why I’ve included the second essay structure.
Here are my ideas using the examples technique:
Now that we have some ideas, we’re almost ready to start writing our IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay, but first, we have one more task to do.
# 3 Vocabulary
During the planning stage, quickly jot down some vocabulary that comes to mind as you decide what you're going to write about, especially synonyms of key words. This will save you having to stop and think of the right language while you’re writing.
Writing an IELTS Advantages and Disadvantages Essay
We’re ready to begin writing our essay. For the first model answer, I’m going to take you step-by-step through essay structure 2. I’ll then give you a model answer for essay structure 1.
Here’s a reminder of the question and the essay structure.
We’ll now start work on the introduction.
How To Write an Introduction
The introduction to an IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay should have a simple 2 or 3 part structure:
- Paraphrase the question
- Outline the main ideas
- State your opinion (if required)
Our tourism question asks for our opinion so our introduction will have 3 parts.
1) Paraphrase the question
Start your introduction by paraphrasing the question statement.
Question: A lot of places in the world rely on tourism as a main source of income.
Unfortunately, tourism can also be a source of problems if it is not well-managed.
Paraphrased question:
Although holidaymakers contribute hugely to the economies of many popular destinations, the influx of tourists can also cause serious issues.
Note my use of synonyms for some of the key words. It’s fine to repeat one or two words if you can't think of suitable synonyms. Above all, your language must sound natural.
2) Outline statement
Now we need to add a statement where we outline the main points that we’ll be covering in the rest of the essay, that is, an advantage of tourism and a disadvantage of tourism.
Here are the two main ideas I’ve chosen to write about:
- Advantage – Poor areas are now prosperous tourist resorts
- Disadvantage – Displacement of local people
Outline statement:
This essay will demonstrate how tourism can transform the economy of poor areas but will also show that this can lead to such problems as the displacement of local people.
3) Opinion statement
The question also asks for our opinion and it’s essential that we include it in the introduction.
Opinion statement:
Whilst acknowledging that there are drawbacks, the essay will argue that the advantages of the tourist industry outweigh the disadvantages.
So, let’s bring the three elements of our introduction together.
Introduction
This introduction achieves three important functions:
- It shows the examiner that you understand the question.
- It acts as a guide to the examiner as to what your essay is about.
- It also helps to keep you focused and on track as you write.
The two ideas in your introduction will become your two main body paragraphs.
Main body paragraph 1 – Poor areas are now prosperous tourist resorts
Main body paragraph 2 – Displacement of local people
How To Write Main Body Paragraphs
Main body paragraphs in IELTS advantages and disadvantages essays written using structure 2, should contain 3 things:
- Topic sentence – give an example
- Explanation – explain the benefits/advantages
- Consequence – state the result
Main Body Paragraph 1
The topic sentence summarises the main idea of the paragraph. It plays an important role in ensuring that your ideas flow logically from one to another. It does this by acting as a signpost for what is to come next, that is, what the paragraph will be about.
If you maintain a clear development of ideas throughout your essay, you will get high marks for task achievement and cohesion and coherence.
In this instance, the topic sentence will introduce our first example, for which I’ve chosen Thailand.
- Main idea – Poor areas are now prosperous tourist resorts
- Example – Thailand
Topic sentence:
One country that has experienced a significant economic boost from tourism is Thailand.
Next, we must write an explanation sentence that states the main point of our example.
Explanation sentence:
Over the past 50 years, many of its small fishing villages, where people often struggled to make a living, have been developed into thriving holiday destinations.
Finally, we explain the consequence or result of the situation. This is where we give an example of one specific advantage. It is better to pick one and develop it than to just add a long list.
Consequence:
With all the hotels, restaurants, shops and other tourist facilities that have been developed, there are now enough jobs for everyone and the general standard of living has greatly increased. Many local people have spotted new business opportunities and become entrepreneurs which has further diversified the economy.
That’s the 3 parts of our first main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.
We’ll now follow the same process for our second main body paragraph.
Main Body Paragraph 2
Main idea – Displacement of local people
Example – Venice
First, we write the topic sentence to summarise the main idea.
Topic sentence:
In Venice, on the other hand, the huge popularity of the beautiful canals and stunning architecture with visitors from around the world has had a negative impact on local residents.
Now for the explanation sentence that states the main point of our example.
Explanation sentence:
The growing need for tourist accommodation, places to eat and shops has forced many people from their homes to make way for this new development.
Finally, a specific example to explain the consequence .
Not only have these people suffered by having to move away from their family and friends but the situation has also resulted in a lost sense of community in the worst affected areas.
That’s the 3 parts of our second main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.
Now we need a conclusion and our IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay is done.
How To Write a Conclusion
The conclusion is a summary of the main points in your essay and can generally be done in a single sentence. It should never introduce new ideas.
If you're below the minimum 250 words after you’ve written your conclusion, you can add a prediction or recommendation statement.
Our essay is already near the minimum word limit so we don’t need this extra sentence but you can learn more about how to write a prediction or recommendation statement for IELTS advantages and disadvantages essays on the Task 2 Conclusions page.
The conclusion is the easiest sentence in the essay to write but one of the most important.
A good conclusion will:
- Neatly end the essay
- Link all your ideas together
- Sum up your argument or opinion
- Answer the question
If you achieve this, you’ll improve your score for both task achievement and cohesion and coherence which together make up 50% of the overall marks. Without a conclusion, you’ll score below band 6 for task achievement.
You can start almost any final paragraph of an IELTS a dvantages and disadvantages essay with the words:
- In conclusion
or
- To conclude
Now all you need to do is briefly summarise the main ideas into one sentence.
Here’s a top tip . Go back and read the introduction to the essay because this is also a summary of the essay. It outlines what you are going to write about.
To create a great conclusion, you simply have to paraphrase the introduction.
Introduction:
Here's the same information formed into a conclusion:
That’s it. We’ve completed our advantages and disadvantages essay. Here it is with the 4 paragraphs put together.
Finished IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay.
Go through this lesson as many times as you need to in order to fully understand it and put in lots of practice writing IELTS advantages and disadvantages essays from past exam questions. Practice is the only way to improve your skills.
Example IELTS Advantages and Disadvantages Essay for 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:
Advantages of tourism – source of income:
- Provides jobs for local people
- Opportunities for local entrepreneurs
- Tourist spending boosts both national & local economy
- Brings improvement in local infrastructure & facilities which benefit whole community
- Helps maintain traditions & culture
Disadvantages of tourism – the problems:
- Money goes to wealthy business owners not local people
- Increased crime
- Illegal activities, e.g. drugs
- More pubs & clubs – changes the local culture
- Increase in property values
- Destruction of the natural environment to build hotels, airports & other facilities
- Displacement of indigenous people
See if you can identify the different parts of the essay and how I have developed them.
That's it. Now it's time for you to get practicing.
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More help with ielts advantages and disadvantages essays & other task 2 essays.
IELTS Writing Task 2 – T he format, the 5 question types, the 5 step essay writing strategy & sample questions. All the key information you need to know.
The 5 Types of Task 2 Essay – How to recognise the 5 different types of Task 2 essays. 15 sample questions to study and a simple planning structure for each essay type.
Understanding Task 2 Questions – How to quickly and easily analyse and understand IELTS Writing Task 2 questions.
How To Plan a Task 2 Essay – Discover why essay planning is essential & learn a simple 4 step strategy, the 4 part essay structure & 4 methods of generating ideas.
How To Write a Task 2 Introduction – Find out why a good introduction is essential. Learn how to write one using a simple 3 part strategy & discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.
How To Write Task 2 Main Body Paragraphs – Learn the simple 3 part structure for writing great main body paragraphs and also, 3 common mistakes to avoid.
How To Write Task 2 Conclusions – Learn the easy way to write the perfect conclusion for a Task 2 essay. Also discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.
Task 2 Marking Criteria – Find out how to meet the marking criteria in Task 2. See examples of good and poor answers & learn some common mistakes to avoid.
The 5 Task 2 Essay Types:
Step-by-step instructions on how to plan & write high-level essays. Model answers & common mistakes to avoid.
Opinion Essays
Discussion Essays
Problem Solution Essays
Advantages & Disadvantages Essays
Double Question Essays
Other Related Pages
IELTS Writing Test – Understand the format & marking criteria, know what skills are assessed & learn the difference between the Academic & General writing tests.
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IELTS Writing Task 2: Advantage/Disadvantage Sample Essay
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.
IELTS Writing Task 2 Advantages and Disadvantages Sample Essay
Before we get started, you should of course first read the sample prompt.
IELTS Writing Task 2 Advantages and Disadvantages Sample Essay Question
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.
IELTS Writing Task 2 Advantages and Disadvantages Model Essay (Band 9)
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
Scoring Rationale
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.
Scorer Commentary (Advantage/Disadvantage IELTS Essay Sample, Band 9)
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:
- 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. The disadvantages of becoming too distant from one’s home community is similarly explored in the second paragraph.
- Each paragraph has a clear topic sentence, followed by supporting details, examples, and a concluding sentence that wraps things up nicely.
- Transitional phrases such as “to be sure” and “even more commonly” are used to clearly link ideas between paragraphs and within paragraphs.
- Vocabulary and grammar are used very fluently; this essay is free of any serious errors in this aspect of English.
More IELTS Writing Task 2 Example Responses
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.
- Two-Part Question Essay
- Causes/Solutions Essay
- Discussion Essay
- Agree/Disagree Essay
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2 responses to “IELTS Writing Task 2: Advantage/Disadvantage Sample Essay”
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! 😀
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IELTS Cambridge 16 Essay: Driverless Vehicles
by Dave | Cambridge 16 | 14 Comments
This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of driverless vehicles, cars, buses and trucks from Cambridge IELTS 16.
Find all the other Cambridge 16 essays and tips for studying in the complete IELTS Cambridge 16 guide here .
Please consider supporting me on Patreon.com/howtodoielts to receive my exclusive IELTS Ebooks – you can even sign up for private live lessons with me!
In the future all cars, buses and trucks will be driverless. The only people travelling inside these vehicles will be passengers.
Do you think the advantages of driverless vehicles outweigh the disadvantages?
A future filled with driverless vehicles is an inevitability. In my opinion, though there are concomitant moral risks, the practical import for health of such a seismic shift will be positive on the whole.
Critics of this trend suggest that machines should not be responsible for the potential loss of human life. This argument rests on the fact that when there is an accident involving humans, it is possible to either assess blame and assign punishment or accept that human error played a role. In contrast, an individual severely injured as the result of a collision caused by a machine may justly feel that all human autonomy and free will is absent from their fate. This is analogous to a natural disaster with the crucial distinction being that humanity has engineered the situation. It is human nature to prefer to control a situation rather than surrender the outcome to an autonomous machine.
Proponents of automated vehicles, on the other hand, argue the tangible ramifications concerning public safety. The evidence overwhelmingly suggests that driverless vehicles cause fewer accidents than humans. The reason for this is that humans are prone to errors related to fatigue, distractions such as smartphones, and, in some cases, altered states. Machines might experience the occasional technical error, however, they are far more consistent by comparison. In fact, the few accidents that have occurred with automated vehicles were the fault of human drivers. If all cars were driverless, this would enable a greater level of sophistication that could, theoretically, all but eliminate automobile accidents.
In conclusion, though many accidents will occur without human agency playing a role, safer roads fully justify this innovation. Companies and consumers must be wary of the influence of automation while also embracing its most transparent benefits.
1. A future filled with driverless vehicles is an inevitability. 2. In my opinion, though there are concomitant moral risks, the practical import for health of such a seismic shift will be positive on the whole.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here .
1. Critics of this trend suggest that machines should not be responsible for the potential loss of human life. 2. This argument rests on the fact that when there is an accident involving humans, it is possible to either assess blame and assign punishment or accept that human error played a role. 3. In contrast, an individual severely injured as the result of a collision caused by a machine may justly feel that all human autonomy and free will is absent from their fate. 4. This is analogous to a natural disaster with the crucial distinction being that humanity has engineered the situation. 5. It is human nature to prefer to control a situation rather than surrender the outcome to an autonomous machine.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific examples/argument.
- Vary long and short sentences and switch to a second reason.
- Stay focused on the second main idea.
1. Proponents of automated vehicles, on the other hand, argue the tangible ramifications concerning public safety. 2. The evidence overwhelmingly suggests that driverless vehicles cause fewer accidents than humans. 3. The reason for this is that humans are prone to errors related to fatigue, distractions such as smartphones, and, in some cases, altered states. 4. Machines might experience the occasional technical error, however, they are far more consistent by comparison. 5. In fact, the few accidents that have occurred with automated vehicles were the fault of human drivers. 6. If all cars were driverless, this would enable a greater level of sophistication that could, theoretically, all but eliminate automobile accidents.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Continue developing it…
- as fully as possible!
- Conclude with the furthest possible result.
1. In conclusion, though many accidents will occur without human agency playing a role, safer roads fully justify this innovation. 2. Companies and consumers must be wary of the influence of automation while also embracing its most transparent benefits.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here .
What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.
A future filled with driverless vehicles is an inevitability . In my opinion, though there are concomitant moral risks , the practical import for health of such a seismic shift will be positive on the whole .
Critics of this trend suggest that machines should not be responsible for the potential loss of human life. This argument rests on the fact that when there is an accident involving humans, it is possible to either assess blame and assign punishment or accept that human error played a role . In contrast , an individual severely injured as the result of a collision caused by a machine may justly feel that all human autonomy and free will is absent from their fate . This is analogous to a natural disaster with the crucial distinction being that humanity has engineered the situation . It is human nature to prefer to control a situation rather than surrender the outcome to an autonomous machine.
Proponents of automated vehicles , on the other hand , argue the tangible ramifications concerning public safety . The evidence overwhelmingly suggests that driverless vehicles cause fewer accidents than humans. The reason for this is that humans are prone to errors related to fatigue , distractions such as smartphones, and, in some cases , altered states . Machines might experience the occasional technical error , however, they are far more consistent by comparison . In fact , the few accidents that have occurred with automated vehicles were the fault of human drivers. If all cars were driverless, this would enable a greater level of sophistication that could, theoretically , all but eliminate automobile accidents .
In conclusion, though many accidents will occur without human agency playing a role, safer roads fully justify this innovation . Companies and consumers must be wary of the influence of automation while also embracing its most transparent benefits .
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
filled with full of
driverless vehicles cars that drive themselves
inevitability will definitely happen
though despite
concomitant related, coming from this
moral risks ethical considerations
practical import actual impact
seismic shift huge change
positive on the whole good overall
critics detractors
trend pattern
suggest say
responsible have a duty
potential loss possible death
argument rests on the fact that position is based in
involving having to do with
possible potential
either assess blame one option is that you can say who is responsible
assign punishment sentence them
accept recognize
human error mistakes by people
played a role had a part in
in contrast however
severely injured hurt badly
as the result of because of
collision accident
caused by happens because of
justly fair
human autonomy people choosing
free will choice
absent lacking
fate what will happen to you in life
analogous comparative to
natural disaster hurricanes, tsunamis, etc.
crucial distinction key difference
engineered the situation created the event
human nature how people are
prefer would rather
control have power over
rather than instead of
surrender give over power to
outcome result
autonomous freedom
proponents supporters
automated vehicles driverless cars, self-driving cars
on the other hand however
argue claim
tangible ramifications real impact
concerning having to do with
public safety the health of people
overwhelmingly clearly
driverless vehicles self-driving automobiles
prone have a tendency to
errors mistakes
fatigue tiredness
distractions ways to lose attention
in some cases sometimes
altered states drunk, under the influence of a substance
occasional sometimes
technical error computer mistake
far more consistent much more reliable
by comparison compared to that
in fact actually
occurred happened
fault mistake
enable allow for
greater level higher
sophistication complexity
theoretically hypothetically
all but eliminate automobile accidents nearly gotten rid of
safer roads fewer accidents
justify give good reason
innovation change
wary worried about
influence effect on
embracing welcoming
most transparent benefits very clear advantages
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search :
fɪld wɪð ˈdraɪvələs ˈviːɪklz ɪnˌɛvɪtəˈbɪlɪti ðəʊ kənˈkɒmɪtənt ˈmɒrəl rɪsks ˈpræktɪkəl ˈɪmpɔːt ˈsaɪzmɪk ʃɪft ˈpɒzətɪv ɒn ðə həʊl ˈkrɪtɪks trɛnd səˈʤɛst rɪsˈpɒnsəbl pəʊˈtɛnʃəl lɒs ˈɑːgjʊmənt rɛsts ɒn ðə fækt ðæt ɪnˈvɒlvɪŋ ˈpɒsəbl ˈaɪðər əˈsɛs bleɪm əˈsaɪn ˈpʌnɪʃmənt əkˈsɛpt ˈhjuːmən ˈɛrə pleɪd ə rəʊl ɪn ˈkɒntrɑːst sɪˈvɪəli ˈɪnʤəd æz ðə rɪˈzʌlt ɒv kəˈlɪʒən kɔːzd baɪ ˈʤʌstli ˈhjuːmən ɔːˈtɒnəmi friː wɪl ˈæbsənt feɪt əˈnæləgəs ˈnæʧrəl dɪˈzɑːstə ˈkruːʃəl dɪsˈtɪŋkʃən ˌɛnʤɪˈnɪəd ðə ˌsɪtjʊˈeɪʃən ˈhjuːmən ˈneɪʧə priˈfɜː kənˈtrəʊl ˈrɑːðə ðæn səˈrɛndə ˈaʊtkʌm ɔːˈtɒnəməs prəˈpəʊnənts ˈɔːtəmeɪtɪd ˈviːɪklz ɒn ði ˈʌðə hænd ˈɑːgjuː ˈtænʤəbl ˌræmɪfɪˈkeɪʃənz kənˈsɜːnɪŋ ˈpʌblɪk ˈseɪfti ˌəʊvəˈwɛlmɪŋli ˈdraɪvələs ˈviːɪklz prəʊn ˈɛrəz fəˈtiːg dɪsˈtrækʃənz ɪn sʌm ˈkeɪsɪz ˈɔːltəd steɪts əˈkeɪʒənl ˈtɛknɪkəl ˈɛrə fɑː mɔː kənˈsɪstənt baɪ kəmˈpærɪsn ɪn fækt əˈkɜːd fɔːlt ɪˈneɪbl ˈgreɪtə ˈlɛvl səˌfɪstɪˈkeɪʃən θɪəˈrɛtɪkəli ɔːl bʌt ɪˈlɪmɪneɪt ˈɔːtəməʊbiːl ˈæksɪdənts ˈseɪfə rəʊdz ˈʤʌstɪfaɪ ˌɪnəʊˈveɪʃən ˈweəri ˈɪnflʊəns ɪmˈbreɪsɪŋ məʊst trænsˈpeərənt ˈbɛnɪfɪts
Vocabulary Practice
I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:
A future f_____________h d____________________s is an i______________y . In my opinion, t_________h there are c______________t m____________s , the p________________t for health of such a s_____________t will be p__________________e .
C_______s of this t______d s________t that machines should not be r____________e for the p____________s of human life. This a_________________________t when there is an accident i___________g humans, it is p__________e to e__________________e and a__________________t or a_____t that h_____________r p________________e . I_____________t , an individual s_______________d a_____________________f a c_________n c___________y a machine may j________y feel that all h________________y and f__________l is a_________t from their f____e . This is a_____________s to a n______________r with the c__________________n being that humanity has e_____________________________n . It is h________________e to p_______r to c________l a situation r___________n s____________r the o_________e to an a______________s machine.
P___________s of a_________________s , o__________________d , a_______e the t________________________s c_____________g p_______________y . The evidence o_________________y suggests that d___________________s cause fewer accidents than humans. The reason for this is that humans are p______e to e_______s related to f_________e , d____________s such as smartphones, and, i_______________s , a_______________s . Machines might experience the o____________l t___________________r , however, they are f______________________________________n . I__________t , the few accidents that have o____________d with automated vehicles were the f_______t of human drivers. If all cars were driverless, this would e________e a g_____________l of s_______________n that could, t______________y , a___________________________________________s .
In conclusion, though many accidents will occur without human agency playing a role, s___________s fully j__________y this i___________n . Companies and consumers must be w____y of the i__________e of automation while also e____________g its m_________________________s .
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities :
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice :
https://www.wired.com/story/guide-self-driving-cars/
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam :
Public Transport (Model answer available on my Patreon )
- Does your city use a lot of public transport?
- When was the last time you used public transport?
- Will you still use public transport in the future?
- What would you like to change about the public transport in your city?
Writing Practice
Practice with the same basic topic below and then check with my sample answer:
Today different types of robots are being developed which can serve as companions and workers to help at work and at home.
Is this a positive or negative development?
IELTS Essay: Robots Helping at Home and Work
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14 Comments
Hello, in this essay can I describe one disadvantage in 1st body paragraph and two advantages in 2nd and 3rd body paragraph and finish my conclusion by saying advantages far outweigh disadvantages. Is it correct to format this essay in 3 body paragraph?
Sure, Sandra.
That structure makes perfect sense!
Ok. Cool. Thanx.
Driverless vehicles, such as, buses, cars and truck will become reality someday and those inside such vehicles will only be passengers. I believe that this has more benefits than drawbacks. To begin with, automated vehicles have several undeniable disadvantages. One of the major negatives aspect is related to cost of technology. The amount of software and technology that is required to build driverless vehicles is more likely to be quite expensive,meaning these costs need to be recoup through high sales prices. Consumers may not want to pay such exorbitant costs for these vehicles and may prefer to traditional one’s. The drawback mentioned above should be taken seriously,however, it pales in comparison to numerous benefits it offers. Firstly, it reduces number of incidents of vehicular accidents up to a greater extent. Studies have overwhelmingly shown that automated vehicles cause fewer accidents than humans. The reason for that is humans are prone to errors related to fatigue, distractions, such as smartphones and altered states. Machines might experience occasional error but often outperforms human drivers in terms of driving. Driverless vehicles offer greater level of sophistication that eliminates instances of vehicular collision considerably. Secondly, it offers greater mobility to disabled individuals. Many disabled individuals who aren’t able to drive a car often rely on public transportation, which can be difficult depending on their circumstances. With driverless vehicles, many disabled passengers can enjoy the benefits of enhanced mobility and no longer have to rely on public transportation. In conclusion, despite the drawback related to higher cost and affordability, advantages concerning road safety and conviniences for elderly and disabled make them clearly a positive development. Hence, the merits of automated vehicles certainly far outweigh the disadvantages.
Great, Sandra!
I assume you know it doesn’t have paragraphs but besides that it is strong, some small grammar mistakes: recouped, prefer traditional…, the numerous, the number, etc.
Keep it up!
Thank you for your generosity and valuable feedback. I m really great ful to you and yeah, I am aware of paragraphs, it had 3 body paragraph but after posting it, it became like this. Thanks a lot again!
No problem, Sandra!
Please give feedback
Due to extensive research in the automobile industry, in the near future it has been forecasted that the jobs of human drivers will be taken over by automated self-driving artificial intelligence. This change can be fascinating to imagine as projected in some sci-fi movies, but to what extent it is advantageous to human beings needs to be examined. Though advancement in this technology will be beneficial, in my opinion, this trend has more drawbacks than benefits. In the forthcoming paragraphs, I will support my opinion with reasons.
On the one hand, there are many advantages to driverless vehicles. The problem of lack of human resources will be eliminated. Costs such as training, pensions, and wages will not be applicable. There will never be absenteeism which will ensure public transportation is always on time and without delay as well as around-the-clock services are feasible. Furthermore, people who cannot drive will also be able to take their private cars out by just feeding in the instructions for location into their driverless car gps system.
On the other hand, a number of disadvantages of computer driven motors can be anticipated. First and foremost, due to the implementation of driverless vehicles, a vast population will become unemployed, which will result in increased burden on the government since they will have to take measures to improve the employment rate. Secondly, there will be a high cost involved in upgrading all the systems, which will require an astronomical amount of capital. Only developed countries can afford to do this, because developing countries would rather spend their limited budget on social needs than on technological upgrades. Lastly, machines require continuous maintenance of software to function properly. There is no denial that AI comes with the risk of viruses and hacking, so if people with heinous intentions hack the automobile systems server, then the entire chain of driverless cars will become vulnerable and unreliable until a resolution is found.
In conclusion, driverless cars, buses, and trucks do have a few benefits, but they are overshadowed by disadvantages. Undoubtedly, computers are superior to humans in many ways, but they lack the human touch and pragmatic logical thinking that only humans possess.
Nice job, Samaira!
‘Few would deny’ is a better phrase – more nuanced and also try to balance your body paragraphs a little better.
Thank you, Sir Dave.
Sir/anyone, please feedback. Thanks.
Since the advent of technology, land transportation would be autonomous in the near future, and only passengers would be inside these self-driving machines. Although there are possible unemployment and technical errors, in this essay, I will elaborate on why I believe that convenience and road safety is far beneficial than the downsides.
The potential negative impact on this high technology in the transportation sector is the loss of jobs of thousands of public drivers. Since this automatic machine does not require a manual driver, public vehicle drivers such as taxis and busses will lose their primary source of income, resulting in a higher unemployment rate. It was estimated that 5% of people in New York City alone would be jobless once this phenomenon is fully ramped up. Another point is the inevitable risk of technical problems. This machine is no different from a personal laptop that experiences a sudden hibernation. If this driverless machine shutdown for no reason and the owner has no technical knowledge, he will be stuck in the middle of the road and could be caused congestion, which is chaotic.
On the other hand, proponents of this new advancement, including myself, believe in the great convenience it can offer. Machines don’t get tired and can operate longer without interruption compared to humans. Imagine after whole day work in the office; people can start to relax once you get into their car to their house and even faster for a long road trip, as this will save hours on a stopover to rest. Similarly, this would reduce the enormous number of fatal cases. Robots can constantly work in focus and are programmed to follow traffic rules. Driving in a school zone area, for instance, this AI will automatically set to the maximum speed limit at 40kmp, avoiding possible accidents and making the community safer. Undoubtedly, these self-driving vehicles provide great comfort and alleviate more fatalities than ever before.
In conclusion, advancement in transportation is inescapable. While there is a risk of technical issues and losing jobs, in my opinion, the benefits of convenience and a safe and sound society are far more beneficial in the long term scale.
A little long but good work, Vi!
Some collocations are a little off but overall it is strong writing. Nice examples too.
Keep up the hard work!
Hey Dave, I’m always learning new structures and words from your writing, thanks!
Below is a sample I wrote before reading your sample:
The vehicles of the future have been envisioned to be virtually driverless, with only the passengers being present inside. While many are reluctant to accept this idea as a future possibility with their distrust of such technology, the positive aspects of this phenomenon surpass the drawbacks by a large margin. Firstly, a car being driverless means that artificial intelligence will be incorporated into it and everything will be done automatically. This means that the chances of an accident occurring will become slim, in fact, the chances of an accident due to error of the ‘driver’ will be reduced to zero, and an accident will only occur when there is an external disturbance, such as a car being manually crashed into a driverless car, or for example, when a cat or dog unpredictably runs in front of the car. This, of course, is not an excuse to undermine the immense benefits we get in terms of safety from a driverless car. Secondly, a driverless car will have built-in systems, such as communications systems so it will also know the position of other cars in that area so it can avoid traffic congested routes and reach its destination in the most efficient way possible. This will reduce the average time taken to reach their destination, and will benefit the community as a whole. In contrast, humans are not capable of making the best decisions even if presented with live traffic flow, and though they can sometimes avoid huge traffic by seeing live traffic, it is still highly improbable that all humans will work in harmony to achieve the most efficient route possible. Driverless cars, on the other hand, will be communicating with each other constantly to arrive at an optimum path. In conclusion, driverless cars will not only introduce greater assurance of safety but also ameliorate the traffic congestions that waste so many hours of human life every day.
Keep it up, Nadeem!
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IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essays - Topics, Structure, Tips & Samples
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Updated On Sep 13, 2024
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The article discusses the structure and strategies for writing on IELTS Writing Task 2 advantages and disadvantages topics, including planning, vocabulary use, and provides advantages and disadvantages IELTS essay sample answers to improve scores.
Table of Contents
Understanding the question and structure of the ielts advantages disadvantages essay, how to plan your task 2 advantages and disadvantages essay, how to write an advantages disadvantages essay for ielts writing task 2, tips for mastering advantages and disadvantages essay, advantages and disadvantages ielts essay questions and sample answers, practice advantages disadvantages essays ielts with ieltsmaterial, more related ielts writing task 2 advantages and disadvantages topics.
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We have all made a list of pros and cons when faced with a difficult decision. An advantages disadvantages essay in IELTS Writing is kind of like an organized pros and cons list.
In this article, we will go over the structure of Task 2 advantages and disadvantages, how to write an advantages and disadvantages essay, IELTS writing task 2 advantages and disadvantages topics, and go over a few advantages and disadvantages IELTS essay samples.
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.
- At the present time, the population of some countries includes a relatively large number of young adults, compared with the number of older people. Do the advantages of this situation outweigh the disadvantages?
- Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of mobile phones in our daily lives.
- Some companies and organizations require their employees to wear uniforms. What are the advantages and disadvantages of wearing a uniform?
- A lot of places in the world rely on tourism as a main source of income. Unfortunately, tourism can also be a source of problems if it is not managed correctly. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of tourism in the modern world. Do you think that the benefits of tourism outweigh its drawbacks?
- What are the pros and cons for children watching television? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant example from your knowledge or experience.
- Globalization has both advantages and disadvantages. Discuss both and give your opinion.
Discussing the Question of Advantages and Disadvantages Essay IELTS
In some IELTS Writing Task 2 advantages disadvantages questions, you will be asked to share your opinion. However, in most cases, discussing the pros and cons/benefits and drawbacks/advantages and disadvantages is enough.
The first part of the question for advantage and disadvantage essays in IELTS Writing Task 2 will always be a statement. In the second part, you will get to know whether you have to discuss only the benefits and drawbacks or add your opinion along with it. So, no need to worry!
As you can see in the image above, the first question asks you to share your opinion, whereas in the second, you will have to discuss the advantages and disadvantages.
Structure of the IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay
The IELTS Essay writing task is quite challenging as it requires you to write an essay on an unseen topic from any walk of life – it can range from social issues to environmental discourse. To make it easy, you can practice advantage and disadvantage IELTS Writing Task 2 sample essays based on the following structure breakdown.
- Paraphrase the question statement.
- State what the following paragraphs will discuss.
- Mention your viewpoint (if asked in the question)
- Discuss the advantages.
- Explain the benefits with examples in 2-3 sentences.
- Discuss the disadvantages.
- Explain the drawbacks with examples in 2-3 sentences.
- Summarize the benefits and drawbacks discussed in the essay.
Remember that there is no right or wrong structure for advantages and disadvantages writing task 2 . However, if you use this, it will enable you to plan your essay in no time during the exam.
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The planning for writing any essay type in IELTS Writing Task 2 requires around 5 minutes. The process covers essential aspects such as analysis of the question, organization of the points to be included, identifying relevant vocabulary, and understanding the IELTS Writing Task 2 marking criteria to obtain a good band score .
The following points will provide a concise guide on how to plan your answer for the advantages and disadvantages of essays in IELTS academic writing task 2, save some time to revise your response and achieve a good IELTS band score .
- To answer the advantages disadvantages essay questions in IELTS Writing Task 2, first you have to identify the keywords and instructions in the question to discuss the positives and negatives of the statement.
- Plan your structure, including your main arguments, advantages, and disadvantages, to present your answer in a well-structured manner.
- Take at least 10 minutes to analyze and understand the given statement and evaluate its pros and cons.
- Organize your thoughts and provide a clear and concise response.
- Using appropriate writing task 2 vocabulary and phrases (lexical resource) is important. But avoid stuffing too many words into irrelevant places.
- Ensure that your response remains relevant to the given topic.
- Understand the IELTS writing band descriptors like Task Response, Coherence and cohesion, Lexical resource, Grammatical range and accuracy to obtain a high band score.
Once you have planned your advantage and disadvantage essay for Writing Task 2, it is time to write down your answer. For this of kind of practice, use authentic and updated IELTS Writing practice tests .
Writing The Essay Introduction
The first thing that you have to do is to write an introduction for an advantages disadvantages essay.
- Your introduction should paraphrase the topic of the essay and try to use different vocabulary/synonyms for the words in the topic, wherever possible.
- Then, give a brief idea about what could be expected in the essay, i.e. the advantages and the disadvantages of the concerned topic.
- Finally, state which side you think weighs the most (when asked for an opinion.)
Body Paragraphs for Advantages And Disadvantages Essay IELTS
Although there is no strict rule about the number of paragraphs for IELTS essays, it is better to limit the number to two. It will not only help you to follow the word count but also keep your essay concise.
Body Paragraph 1
- It should state the advantage/s of the topic.
- This should be backed by practical points, and the examples would be even better.
- Day-to-day incidents and instances can be brought to notice.
Body Paragraph 2
- It should state the disadvantage/s of the topic.
- This as well should be supported by valid points, and the daily incidents and examples can be highlighted to back your points.
How To Write An Essay Conclusion?
You should conclude the topic by providing a summary of the points put forth in the entire essay and how the advantages or disadvantages of the topic outweigh the other (if applicable).
- Make sure to end the essay with a well rounded conclusion.
- Link your ideas discussed in the essay to ensure cohesion and coherence.
- The question/s along with the essay statement should be answered.
To help you to understand this type of essay better, given below are some essential essay vocabulary you must know as well as a sample essay with a detailed outline. We’ve provided you with ample IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay topics to help you hone your essay writing skills.
IELTS Essay Vocabulary
A strong command of vocabulary is crucial for writing an effective advantages disadvantages essay in IELTS Writing Task 2. Your proficiency in English language vocabulary will be evident in how expertly you can select the most suitable expressions to convey precise meanings. Diversifying your vocabulary will enable you to incorporate a greater variety of words in your essays. However, it is important to note that overusing uncommon words and phrases can reduce the relevance of your answer. So, create an advanced vocabulary word list for IELTS to avoid loss of word during the actual exam and utilize time in organizing your thoughts.
Writing an essay on IELTS advantage disadvantage essay topics needs careful preparation and planning. Here are some b est IELTS Writing Task 2 tips for achieving Band 9 with a high-quality essay:
- Understand the Question: Make sure you understand the question and what is expected of you before you begin writing. Decide which advantages and disadvantages you need to talk about and if you need to share your opinion.
- Generate Ideas: Spend a few minutes identifying the benefits and drawbacks of the selected subject. List the main ideas and instances you’ll utilize to support your claims.
- Structure Your Essay: Write your essay with a logical and obvious structure. Begin with an introduction that briefly summarizes your key points and states the subject. After that, give each benefit and drawback a paragraph of its own, and then wrap up by summarizing your points in the conclusion.
- Use Linking Words: To connect your thoughts and create a smooth writing flow, use a range of linking words and phrases, like “furthermore,” “however,” “on the other hand,” and “in conclusion.”
- Support Your Points: Give particular instances, figures, or anecdotes to back up each benefit and drawback you discuss. This will improve the persuasiveness of your arguments and raise your score.
- Plan your Time Effectively: During the exam, manage your time well. Plan your essay for a few minutes, then concentrate on creating paragraphs that are precise and to the point. At the conclusion, give yourself some time to review and make any required changes.
- Practice is the Key to Success: It is the ultimate truth. The more you practice, the more you will become efficient in planning, organizing and structuring your IELTS Writing Task 2 advantages and disadvantages sample answer. So, take up more writing practice tests and make the best use of them.
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Given below are some advantages and disadvantages IELTS essay samples and Band 9 methodologies of answering them.
Sample Question 1
Sample answer.
Foreign education has become one of the most sought-after ventures in this day and age. A majority of students plan on pursuing higher education in a foreign nation, especially when it comes to a master’s degree. One of the reasons why studying abroad has become such a popular phenomenon is the relaxation of travel laws and procedures across the world. However, there are pros and cons to studying abroad and the following paragraphs will explore the topic and elaborate on why the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
One of the primary reasons for studying abroad is the presence of a more refined and sophisticated education system in several first-world countries. It is common for students from underdeveloped or developing countries like Brazil, China, India, Argentina and other countries to look for better opportunities than the ones available in their native country in terms of academics. Also, residing in a foreign country helps individuals to gain international exposure and also helps them develop social and interpersonal skills, which are extremely important for being eligible for lucrative job opportunities.
Nevertheless, there are numerous drawbacks to travelling abroad for education. First of all, from the beginning of applying to a foreign university to staying in the host country for the entire duration of your degree, it is an exorbitant affair. Such a costly endeavour is often unaffordable for the household of many people. That being said, becoming accustomed to the norms and conventions of an unfamiliar country can be a tough ordeal for many due to differences in culture and social traditions.
Finally, I would like to conclude by saying that foreign education can be a blessing if it is financially feasible for aspiring students. That being said, the benefits of studying abroad surpass the drawbacks for the same.
Check Out – How to Plan an IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay (Best Strategy)
Sample Question 2
Globalization has been one of the most significant phenomena in the last few decades, and it has changed several aspects of human society both economically and socially. There has been remarkable progress in terms of economic and financial development for developing countries due to the expansion of global organizations. However, there are several drawbacks to this rapid progress that need to be addressed. Evidently, globalization has more advantages than disadvantages and the following paragraphs will elaborate on the topic and justify these views.
First of all, the most advantageous aspect of globalization is the advent of numerous international companies and franchises in developing countries. Ever since global brands and corporations have expanded their operations in countries such as India, China, Sri Lanka and many more, there has been a notable increase in employment in these countries. Additionally, due to the remarkable rise in the number of imports and exports, people from third world countries now have access to a vast catalogue of products and services that were previously unattainable.
That being said, there are drawbacks to globalization that create concerning issues for a sizable portion of the global population. One of the most disturbing consequences faced is the exploitation of labour. Many corporations are known to outsource their operations to developing countries due to cheap labour costs. This enables them to accomplish their manufacturing operations without having to provide proper remuneration. Also, due to the use of inexpensive labour, the quality of products is diminished, and customers receive inferior products.
In conclusion, there is no doubt that the effects of globalization are not entirely positive or negative. Nonetheless, the benefits brought by this occupation outweigh the drawbacks.
There is no doubt that you are preparing for the IELTS Writing Task 2. So, we would recommend you to take up IELTS Writing Task 2 advantages and disadvantages topics regularly. The more you practice, the better you will become at solving the IELTS Writing test and answers within the dedicated timeframe.
Check out our well-reviewed IELTS Writing study guide , which includes self-explanatory lessons and advantages and disadvantages IELTS essay sample answers. If you need more guidance, don’t hesitate to contact our IELTS specialists . Make the necessary preparations to improve your score on the IELTS Speaking test and get a Band 8+.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is an advantage/disadvantage essay? How do you identify that the essay falls under this category?
Is it mandatory to put advantages and disadvantages separately in two paragraphs or can I club them?
In case of questions where advantages outweigh disadvantages, I might have to write disadvantages first. Will it affect my score?
Do I have to write more than one point for advantages and disadvantages essays for IELTS Writing?
When can I note down the voc
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What is the importance of the topic sentence of an advantages disadvantages essay?
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What can I do if my IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay is less than 250 words?
Is there any upper limit for word count for IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay?
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Ielts writing task 2 sample 678 - what are the pros and cons of using public transport, ielts writing task 2/ ielts essay:, many people prefer to use public transportation while others say that personal cars are the best mode of transportation. excessive use of private cars is considered to be the main reason for the traffic jam in many cities and that's why the use of public transportation is encouraged., in your opinion what are the pros and cons of using public transport.
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IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Essay: Driverless Vehicles
This week’s IELTS model essay is on the topic of driverless vehicles . It’s a 2-part, or IELTS direct question essay from the General Training Test. It is taken from Cambridge IELTS Academic Book 16 .
In the future all cars, buses and trucks will be driverless. The only people travelling inside these vehicles will be passengers. Do you think the advantages of driverless vehicles outweigh the disadvantages? Cambridge IELTS 16 Academic Test 4
This is on the topic of transport. Specifically, it’s about driverless cars, buses and trucks. In other words, vehicles that do not have a human driver; instead, they are driven by computer. You may have read in the news about companies like Google developing driverless cars . It’s a controversial topic!
I must admit, this is not a topic I’ve thought about much, so I had to think hard to get some good ideas. Overall, I think there are advantages to driverless vehicles because they should be safer than human drivers, but it will also lead to job losses.
Recent years have seen the emergence of technologies to develop vehicles that can effectively drive themselves, and this may eventually render human drivers redundant. On the whole, I think that the benefits of this development will outweigh any drawbacks.
Automated vehicles have the potential to massively improve road safety because they could massively reduce accidents caused by human error. People are prone to making mistakes, often caused by getting tired or distracted while driving, leading to serious accidents. Computers which control vehicles don’t suffer from these weaknesses, and so as long as they are programmed correctly, errors like these should be eliminated. For instance, cars can be made to brake automatically in emergencies or if the distance from the car ahead is too small. Admittedly, we occasionally hear of fatalities caused by driverless vehicles being tested, but these are statistically insignificant when compared to deaths caused by human error both now and in the future.
An additional benefit to driverless vehicles would be a reduction in transport and haulage costs since there is no driver to pay. This would make food and other goods cheaper. For example, a major factor in food prices in supermarkets is the wages paid to delivery drivers.
However, there is a downside to this since drivers would lose their jobs. In modern economies, tens of thousands of people are employed as HGV drivers, as well as drivers of taxis and delivery vans, so the widespread adoption of automated vehicles would have a major impact on job opportunities. Nevertheless, this problem can be mitigated against with investment in training and job creation in other areas.
In conclusion, I do feel that despite the job losses it will entail, the benefits in terms of cost and road safety makes driverless vehicles something to welcome.
(297 words)
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To get an excellent score in the IELTS Task 2 writing section, one of the easiest and most effective tips is structuring your writing in the most solid format. A great argument essay structure may be divided to four paragraphs, in which comprises of four sentences (excluding the conclusion paragraph, which comprises of three sentences).
For we to consider an essay structure a great one, it should be looking like this:
- Paragraph 1 - Introduction
- Sentence 1 - Background statement
- Sentence 2 - Detailed background statement
- Sentence 3 - Thesis
- Sentence 4 - Outline sentence
- Paragraph 2 - First supporting paragraph
- Sentence 1 - Topic sentence
- Sentence 2 - Example
- Sentence 3 - Discussion
- Sentence 4 - Conclusion
- Paragraph 3 - Second supporting paragraph
- Paragraph 4 - Conclusion
- Sentence 1 - Summary
- Sentence 2 - Restatement of thesis
- Sentence 3 - Prediction or recommendation
Our recommended essay structure above comprises of fifteen (15) sentences, which will make your essay approximately 250 to 275 words.
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Demand for food is increasing worldwide. What is the causes of this topic? What measures can be international community take to meet this demand?
In some countries, people's weight has significantly increased, while their levels of health have decreased. what do you think may be the causes of this problem,and what solutions can you suggest to solve them, some people believe that we should reduce air traveling for ecological reasons. do you think that this would be a positive or negative development and how it could it be achieved, some university students want to learn about other subjects in addition to their main subjects. others believe it is more important to give all their time and attention to studying for a qualification. discuss both these views and give your opinion., you and your family are planning to spend a weekend at a seaside hotel. write a letter to the hotel for making the arrangement. let them know: when you will be arriving and leaving; what type of rooms you would like and ask how much the weekend will cost; inquire about activities and places of interest near the hotel..
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IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Sample Essay Questions
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
- make sure you have relevant supporting points
- put your advantages together in one body paragraph and the same with the disadvantages
- follow a safe advantage disadvantage essay model
Advantage / Disadvantage Essay Questions
It is becoming increasingly popular to have a year off between finishing school and going to university. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?
Some people think that it would be better for large companies and industry to move to regional areas outside large urban centers. Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
With the rise of e-books comes the decline in paper books. Some people see this as a good step forward while others do not. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?
The rise of convenience foods has helped people keep up with the speed of the modern life style. What are the advantages of this trend? Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
There seems to be an increasing trend towards assessing students through exams rather than continual assessment. What are the advantages and disadvantages of exams as a form of assessment?
Space exploration costs tax payers an exorbitant amount of money each year. What are the advantages and disadvantage of spending money on space exploration?
Many elderly people are no long looked after by their families but are put in care homes or nursing homes. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?
It is often considered that change is more beneficial to people than trying to avoid it and have everything remain the same. Do you think the advantages of change outweigh the disadvantages?
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IELTS advantage disadvantage essay
Model answer for an ielts advantage disadvantage (outweigh) essay..
Updated: 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.
Check this blog post on the 3 types of advantage disadvantage essays.
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: ‘Admittedly, there are drawbacks….’ 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….’
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IELTS essay samples for band 9
Find IELTS essay examples, crafted to help you understand the nuances of Task 2 and achieve a Band 9 score. From structure to samples, we've got you covered.
Are you aiming for excellence in your IELTS Writing ? Essays with a band 9 are identified by their excellent consistency, sophisticated language, and perfect grammar. These essays effectively address the task with well-developed arguments and a clear structure, showcasing a deep understanding of the topic.
Whether you're a beginner looking to improve or an experienced test-taker seeking that extra edge, this guide will provide you with IELTS essay samples and examples to help you achieve a band 9 in your IELTS test . So, let's delve into the world of high-scoring essays and discover how to take your writing prowess to new heights!
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Step by step guide for scoring a band 9 in IELTS Essay task
Here’s a step-by-step guide to scoring well on IELTS Essay Task 2:
Understand the task requirements : Read the prompt carefully to understand what’s being asked. Determine whether you need to write an opinion, discussion, or problem-solution essay. Note any specific instructions, word limits, or key points you need to address.
Plan and organize your ideas : Spend a few minutes brainstorming and generating ideas related to the task. Create a clear outline, including an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Organize your ideas logically and choose the main points for each paragraph.
Write an engaging introduction : Start with an interesting opening to capture the reader’s attention. Provide background information on the topic and clearly state your thesis or main argument, which will guide the rest of your essay.
Develop coherent body paragraphs : Begin each body paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea. Support your points with relevant examples, facts, or evidence. Ensure smooth transitions between paragraphs to maintain coherence and flow.
Showcase language skills and vocabulary : Use a wide range of vocabulary and grammatical structures. Express your ideas clearly and accurately and use cohesive devices like linking words to connect your ideas.
Conclude effectively : Summarize the key points from the body paragraphs in your conclusion. Restate your thesis and provide a clear closing statement. End with a memorable thought or a thought-provoking question.
Revise and edit : Set aside time to review your essay for grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, or typos. Check for coherence and clarity and make necessary revisions to enhance the overall quality.
Practice time management : Allocate time wisely for each task (Task 1 and Task 2).
Practice writing essays within the time limit to improve speed and efficiency. Monitor your progress and adjust your writing speed as needed.
Seek feedback and improve : Share your essays with a teacher, tutor, or native English speaker for feedback. Identify areas for improvement and focus on refining those skills. Regularly practice building confidence and improve your technique.
By following these steps and practising consistently, you can enhance your performance in IELTS Writing Task 2 and work towards achieving your desired band score.
IELTS essay samples for achieving a band score of 9
Below are several IELTS essay samples that exemplify the high language proficiency required for a band score of 9. These samples can provide valuable insights into the standards needed for top scores. Please remember that these are for reference purposes only and should not be copied directly.
Latest IELTS essay examples
Ielts essay writing sample: advantages and disadvantages of technology in education.
Introduction : In recent times, technology has significantly impacted the education sector, bringing both advantages and challenges. This essay will explore the benefits and drawbacks of integrating technology into education and will argue that the positive aspects outweigh the negatives.
Body Paragraph 1 (Advantages) : A key benefit of technology in education is the expansion of learning opportunities. Interactive multimedia tools enable students to access a broad range of information and resources, facilitating a deeper understanding of complex topics. Technology also enhances student engagement and supports active learning through personalized and interactive teaching methods.
Body Paragraph 2 (Disadvantages) : Despite these benefits, using technology in education has some drawbacks. For example, excessive dependence on technology may reduce face-to-face interactions and impede the development of important social skills. Additionally, the presence of inaccurate or biased information online can challenge the reliability and accuracy of academic sources.
Body Paragraph 3 (Benefits Outweigh Drawbacks) : Nevertheless, the advantages of technology in education far surpass its drawbacks. Integrating technology helps bridge traditional teaching with the digital era, equipping students with the skills required for careers dependent on technological proficiency. Technology also supports distance learning, reaching students in remote areas or those with limited access to educational resources.
Conclusion : To sum up, technology has revolutionized education by enhancing learning opportunities and fostering student engagement. Although there are some disadvantages, the benefits of integrating technology into education outweighs the drawbacks. Educators should maintain balance between traditional methods with technological tools to optimize the effectiveness of both.
IELTS essay Writing sample: The impact of global warming on the environment
Introduction : Global warming, primarily driven by human activities, is a major issue with extensive environmental consequences. This essay will show its effects on the environment and argue that immediate action is necessary to address its harmful impacts.
Body Paragraph 1 (Temperature Increase) : One major effect of global warming is the global rise in temperatures. This increase contributes to the melting of polar ice caps and glaciers, which leads to rising sea levels and more frequent extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and heat waves. Additionally, higher temperatures disrupt ecosystems, threatening various plant and animal species.
Body Paragraph 2 (Biodiversity Loss) : Global warming also poses a serious threat to biodiversity. As temperatures rise, many species face difficulties adapting or migrating to suitable habitats, leading to their decline or extinction. The resulting loss of biodiversity undermines ecosystem stability, as each species plays an important role in maintaining ecological balance.
Body Paragraph 3 (Environmental Degradation) : Another impact of global warming is environmental degradation. Rising temperatures contribute to ocean acidification, which damages coral reefs and marine ecosystems. Furthermore, increased carbon dioxide levels create oceanic dead zones, harming marine life. Deforestation, driven by the need for resources and agricultural land, worsens global warming by decreasing the Earth’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide.
Concluding Paragraph: To conclude, global warming has significant effects on the environment, including temperature rise, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. Urgent and collective action is required to combat this issue, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, adopting sustainable practices, and protecting natural habitats. Through concerted efforts, we can mitigate the effects of global warming and safeguard our planet for future generations.
These IELTS essay samples illustrate the structure, vocabulary, and coherence needed to achieve a band 9 score. Practice writing within the time limits of the IELTS test (40 minutes for the writing section) to enhance your skills.
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Model Answer 1: [Agreement] The invention of automobiles was one of the most important events of the last century. However, some people argue that people who have cars have more drawbacks than its benefits. In this case, I agree with it. Furthermore, I will discuss both the positive and negative sides of car ownership.
Advantages of having a car: The private car is a convenient mode of transportation. Having more comfortable seats, ventilation or other novel technologies help people to feel better than using other methods, like a bicycle or a public bus. Users have more secure privacy compared to using public transportation.
provides. car. owners with more freedom, pleasure, and flexibility, particularly for long-distance travel. Another significant advantage is safety. Car. travel provides a private and secure space for drivers, reducing the risk of exposure to contagious diseases commonly associated with public transport. Furthermore.
While the essay provides a thorough examination of both advantages and disadvantages of having a car, there could be a slight improvement in the variety of examples. For instance, including examples from different countries or contexts could provide a more comprehensive picture. ... Writing9 was developed to check essays from the IELTS Writing ...
Clearly state what could be expected from the essay, i.e. advantages and disadvantages of owning a car. Body paragraphs. Paragraph 1: Motor vehicles, and particularly cars seem inexorable from the present world's regime. Cars come with a myriad of advantages, and the first one that comes to mind is the level of comfort that they have brought ...
B. Advantages of having a car. C. Disadvantages of having a car. Note: This essay topic is a bit tricky. It is a combination of both "Agree/ Disagree" and "Advantages & Disadvantages" type essay. First, you need to write whether you agree or disagree that cars have more disadvantages that the advantages they offer.
To get an excellent score in the IELTS Task 2 writing section, one of the easiest and most effective tips is structuring your writing in the most solid format. A great argument essay structure may be divided to four paragraphs, in which comprises of four sentences (excluding the conclusion paragraph, which comprises of three sentences).
Overall, cars do bring in some great benefits to is owners, in a long run, they tend to harm more than help. But, if the owners take proper care of health and more people pool drive, one will be able to enjoy its advantages better. IELTSBAND7. Cars is an ielts essay sample answer provided by ieltsband7 dehradun to ensure band 9 in the writing ...
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 an advantages vs disadvantages question and essentially you are talking about the advantages and disadvantages of driverless vehicles. A few things to remember: Don't get distracted by the examples in the question. You don't need to keep repeating "cars, buses, and trucks" all through your essay.
4. Writing your Advantages/Disadvantages Essay 4.1 Introduction. Your introduction should be the shortest paragraph in your essay (about 40-60 words is perfect). You need to rephrase the IELTS statement in your own words. This is known as paraphrasing (a key skill to develop for the IELTS exam). Take a look at our example:
The IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay Template is a powerful tool for shaping your thoughts and ideas into a coherent and persuasive piece of writing. Let's delve into the specifics using an example topic: "The rise of electric vehicles". ... Example: "For instance, replacing a conventional car with an electric one can save approximately 1.5 ...
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:
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. IELTS Writing Task 2 Advantages and Disadvantages Model Essay (Band 9) Nowadays, both work and study can easily take a person out of their home country.
IELTS advantages and disadvantages questions normally give you a statement and ask you to comment on the advantages and disadvantages of that statement. Answer structure for the type of essay. Introduction; Body paragraph 1 - advantages; Body paragraph 2 - disadvantages; Conclusion; Examples to start your body paragraph:
Vary long and short sentences and switch to a second reason. Stay focused on the second main idea. 1. Proponents of automated vehicles, on the other hand, argue the tangible ramifications concerning public safety. 2. The evidence overwhelmingly suggests that driverless vehicles cause fewer accidents than humans. 3.
To answer the advantages disadvantages essay questions in IELTS Writing Task 2, first you have to identify the keywords and instructions in the question to discuss the positives and negatives of the statement. Plan your structure, including your main arguments, advantages, and disadvantages, to present your answer in a well-structured manner.
Model Answer 1: While some people choose to use public transportations, others prefer to use their own cars. It is believed that the excessive usage of personal cars has caused congestion problems in big cities and therefore people should use public transportations more often. However, public transportations have their own positive and negative ...
Here is a sample IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay from IELTS Writing Task 2. It's on the topic of car taxes, and how they are used to reduce traffic congestion. Taxes are imposed on private cars by government to solve the traffic problem and also to improve public transport. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.
This week's IELTS model essay is on the topic of driverless vehicles. It's a 2-part, or IELTS direct question essay from the General Training Test. It is taken from Cambridge IELTS Academic Book 16. In the future all cars, buses and trucks will be driverless. The only people travelling inside these vehicles will be passengers.
To get an excellent score in the IELTS Task 2 writing section, one of the easiest and most effective tips is structuring your writing in the most solid format. A great argument essay structure may be divided to four paragraphs, in which comprises of four sentences (excluding the conclusion paragraph, which comprises of three sentences).
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.
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 essay Writing sample: Advantages and disadvantages of technology in education. Introduction: In recent times, technology has significantly impacted the education sector, bringing both advantages and challenges. This essay will explore the benefits and drawbacks of integrating technology into education and will argue that the positive ...