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Ultimate Guide to IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essays
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Updated On Aug 01, 2024
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The article discusses the structure and strategies for writing an IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay, including planning, vocabulary use, and sample questions with answers and emphasizes practicing to improve scores.
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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 advantages disadvantages essay 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 and go over a few IELTS sample essays of this type.
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 questions of Task 2 Advantages and Disadvantages essay, 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.
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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.
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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 advantages disadvantages essay for IELTS Writing Task 2. So, take up more writing practice tests and make the best use of them.
Ensure you’re using the right structure for IELTS Advantages and Disadvantages Essays!
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Given below are some sample questions for the advantages and disadvantages type of essay 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 advantage and disadvantage essay 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 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
What will happen if I write the exact question statement of the advantages disadvantages essay topic?
What is the importance of the topic sentence of an advantages disadvantages essay?
Is it mandatory to follow the word limit given with the IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay?
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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Kasturika is a professional Content Writer with over three years of experience as an English language teacher. Her understanding of English language requirements, as set by foreign universities, is enriched by her interactions with students and educators. Her work is a fusion of extensive knowledge of SEO practices and up-to-date guidelines. This enables her to produce content that not only informs but also engages IELTS aspirants. Her passion for exploring new horizons has driven her to achieve new heights in her learning journey.
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IELTS Writing Task 2: Advantage/Disadvantage Sample Essay
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In this post, we’re going to look at an IELTS Writing Task 2 advantages and disadvantages sample essay. In this type of Task 2 question, you will read a description of a common situation or practice. From there, you’ll describe the advantages and disadvantages of the idea you were presented with. For more background info and advice on this particular question type, you can go to my post on the Task 2 question types in IELTS Writing.
In this article, I’ll show you a sample advantage/disadvantage prompt and a model essay that responds to the prompt. The model essay is an example of band 9 level writing—this is the highest score you can get on the Writing section. I’ve patterned the essay after this IELTS Writing Task 2 template , which was created by Magoosh IELTS expert Rachel Kapelke-Dale.
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.
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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?
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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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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.
![advantages and disadvantages sample essay advantages and disadvantages sample essay](https://www.ieltsjacky.com/images/xAdvantagesDisadvantagesEssayStructure1a.jpg.pagespeed.ic.C_ozEep2bN.webp)
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:
![advantages and disadvantages sample essay advantages and disadvantages sample essay](https://www.ieltsjacky.com/images/xAdvantagesDisadvantagesFriendsMethod.jpg.pagespeed.ic.LhrNtYB3mE.webp)
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:
![advantages and disadvantages sample essay advantages and disadvantages sample essay](https://www.ieltsjacky.com/images/xAdvantagesDisadvantagesExamplesMethod.jpg.pagespeed.ic.q7VE9vQ87L.webp)
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
![advantages and disadvantages sample essay advantages and disadvantages sample essay](https://www.ieltsjacky.com/images/xAdvantagesDisadvantagesIntroduction.jpg.pagespeed.ic._lPdT75Yrz.webp)
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.
![advantages and disadvantages sample essay advantages and disadvantages sample essay](https://www.ieltsjacky.com/images/xAdvantagesDisadvantagesMainBody1.jpg.pagespeed.ic.r4AQqQXagU.webp)
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.
![advantages and disadvantages sample essay advantages and disadvantages sample essay](https://www.ieltsjacky.com/images/xAdvantagesDisadvantagesMainBody2.jpg.pagespeed.ic.xdZ-jFY9Tg.webp)
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:
![advantages and disadvantages sample essay advantages and disadvantages sample essay](https://www.ieltsjacky.com/images/xAdvantagesDisadvantagesConclusion.jpg.pagespeed.ic.Q94E86aEhj.webp)
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.
![advantages and disadvantages sample essay advantages and disadvantages sample essay](https://www.ieltsjacky.com/images/xAdvantagesDisadvantagesEssay.jpg.pagespeed.ic.5nTGrcHMDt.webp)
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.
![advantages and disadvantages sample essay advantages and disadvantages sample essay](https://www.ieltsjacky.com/images/xAdvantagesDisadvantagesEssayStructure1a.jpg.pagespeed.ic.C_ozEep2bN.webp)
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.
![advantages and disadvantages sample essay advantages and disadvantages sample essay](https://www.ieltsjacky.com/images/xAdvantagesDisadvantagesEssay2.jpg.pagespeed.ic.Do15yCXIjA.webp)
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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: advantages & disadvantages essay
In this lesson you will learn how to produce a band 9 answer for advantages & disadvantages essay in IELTS Writing. As an example, we will use a topic of tourism in modern world . Basically, in all advantages and disadvantages essays your task is to describe positive and negative sides of a given topic + give your opinion.
In this lesson you will:
- see a question sample
- learn effective ways to quickly produce ideas for your answer
- learn band 9 answer structure
for advantages and disadvantages essay in IELTS.
IELTS advantages & disadvantages question sample
For example, you can get this question for IELTS writing task 2:
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 benefits of tourism outweight its drawbacks?
This essay topic is related to tourism. Of course, topics for questions will vary, but ideal answer structure is the same for all advantages & disadvantages essays in IELTS.
Producing ideas for your answer
![advantages and disadvantages sample essay advantages and disadvantages sample essay](https://ielts-up.com/images/advantages-disadvantages.jpg)
Before you start writing your essay, you should always spend 1-2 minutes on producing ideas for your answer . This way, you’ll know what to write about and your answer will be more coherent and well-structured. In case of advantages & disadvantages essay , you need to think of 2-3 advantages and 2-3 disadvantages of the given issue.
Let’s think about advantages and disadvantages of tourism in the modern world.
Advantages of tourism :
- boost in country’s economy due to increased spending
- new job opening for local people
- opportunities to discover new places for individual travelers
Disadvantages of tourism :
- destruction of popular tourist destinations by large numbers of tourists
- development of illegal economic activities
- local people can experience loss of privacy
Now, after we’ve collected some ideas, it’s time to use them in our essay.
Band 9 answer structure for causes & solutions essay
Though there are many ways to structure your IELTS essay, we’ll use this time-tested band 9 essay structure:
- Introduction
- Body paragraph 1 – advantages
- Body paragraph 2 – disadvantages
Tip : before starting to write your essay, decide what you think: does tourism have more advantages or disadvantages? You’ll need to make accent on your opinion in one of the body paragraphs.
We’ll use the opinion that tourism has more advantages .
Introduction Write the introduction in 2 sentences:
- Sentence 1 - paraphrase the question (restate the problem):
Nowadays tourism generates a significant portion of national income for many countries, but it has certain drawbacks too.
- Sentence 2 - tell the examiner what you’re going to describe in your essay:
This essay will examine the advantages and disadvantages of tourism and provide a logical conclusion.
Body paragraph 1 - advantages
- Sentence 1 - state 2 main advantages:
The two main advantages of developed tourism industry are boost in country’s economy and a large number of new job openings for the local people.
- Sentences 2-4 - explain the first advantage + give an example (if possible):
Firstly, tourists spend money on a wide range of services, including hotels, amusements, transportation, food and medical services. This way, tourism yields an additional income, greatly supporting the countries’ economies.
- Sentences 5-7 - explain the second advantage + give an example (if possible):
Secondly, tourism increases the level of employment by bringing new jobs. For instance, the influx of tourists results in a larger demand in restaurant workers, tour guides, hotel staff and employees of retail services, exhorting business owners to hire more people for these positions.
- Sentence 1 - state 2 main disadvantages:
However, tourism also has some major disadvantages like destruction of popular tourist destinations and development of illegal economic activities.
- Sentences 2-4 - explain the first disadvantage + give an example (if possible):
Ancient buildings, temples and monuments struggle to cope with a vast amount of visitor’s traffic and get damaged. Also, the large number of tourists can cause environmental problems. For instance, when places of interest are overcrowded, natural resources often become overexploited.
- Sentences 5-7 - explain the second disadvantage + give an example (if possible):
What’s more, tourism can create more serious situations where criminal issues are involved. The presence of a considerable number of tourists with a lot of money to spend, and often carrying valuables such as cameras and jewelry, increases the attraction for criminals and brings with it activities like robbery and drug dealing.
- Sentences 8 - make an accent on your opinion (we’ll use the opinion that tourism has more advantages ):
However, proper hospitality management and correct usage of tourism revenue by the local government can eliminate these disadvantages.
- Sentences 1-2 - briefly restate the advantages and disadvantages
To conclude, although tourism has certain disadvantages like destructive effects and growth of crime rate, it has an extremely positive impact on country’s economy and provides a large number of new jobs for the local people.
- Sentence 2 - give your final opinion
I believe that these benefits of tourism outweigh its drawbacks.
Band 9 answer sample
Nowadays tourism generates a significant portion of national income for many countries, but it has certain drawbacks too. This essay will examine the advantages and disadvantages of tourism and provide a logical conclusion.
The two main advantages of developed tourism industry are boost in country’s economy and a large number of new job openings for the local people. Firstly, tourists spend money on a wide range of services, including hotels, amusements, transportation, food and medical services. This way, tourism yields an additional income, greatly supporting the country’s economy. Secondly, tourism increases the level of employment by bringing new jobs. For instance, the influx of tourists results in a larger demand in restaurant workers, tour guides, hotel staff and employees of retail services, exhorting business owners to hire more people for these positions.
But tourism also has some major disadvantages like destruction of popular tourist destinations and development of illegal economic activities. іAncient buildings, temples and monuments struggle to cope with a vast amount of visitor’s traffic and get damaged. Also, the large number of tourists can cause environmental problems. For instance, when places of interest are overcrowded, natural resources often become overexploited. What’s more, the presence of a considerable number of tourists with a lot of money to spend, and often carrying valuables such as cameras and jewelry, increases the attraction for criminals and brings with it activities like robbery and drug dealing. However, proper hospitality management and correct usage of tourism revenue by the local government can eliminate these disadvantages.
To conclude, although tourism can have certain negative effects like destructive impact and growth of crime rate, it has an extremely positive influence on country’s economy and provides a large number of new jobs for the local people. I believe that these benefits of tourism outweigh its drawbacks.
(299 words)
IELTS Charlie
Your Guide to IELTS Band 7
IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay: tips, mistakes, questions & essays
In this lesson we are going to look at how to answer an IELTS Advantages Disadvantages essay.
You will learn about this IELTS Writing Task 2 essay, using authentic IELTS essay questions , plus the most common mistakes. And I will finish with an IELTS model essay written by me in response to a sample IELTS essay question . So let’s get started!
What Is Your Task?
In this IELTS question type, you are presented with a situation, a development or a trend. Your task is to discuss the advantages and disadvantages related to this situation, development or trend.
In some tasks, you may also be asked to give an opinion on whether the advantages are more significant than the disadvantages. These “outweigh” questions are more common in the IELTS Academic Writing Test, but they can also appear in the IELTS General Training Writing Test.
In many countries, paying for things using mobile phone (cellphone) apps is becoming increasingly common.
Does this development have more advantages or more disadvantages?
Cambridge IELTS 15 General Training Test 4
How To Plan An IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay
If you are aiming for a high band score (band 7 and above) it is absolutely vital that you plan your essay. A good plan will help you to see if you have answered the question, developed your ideas and organised them BEFORE you start writing.
We’re going to plan an essay using my 4 Step Planning Process .
![advantages and disadvantages sample essay 4 Step Planning Process](https://i0.wp.com/ieltscharlie.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/4-step-planning-process-sm.jpg?resize=600%2C300&ssl=1)
Step 1: Understand The Task
First, you need to make sure you understand exactly what you need to write about. So you need to read the question carefully, not quickly!
Think about these three questions:
What is the topic about?
What is the topic NOT about?
How should you respond to the topic?
Let’s go back to this essay question, and answer those 3 questions:
The topic is about mobile phone payments, such as digital wallets, payment apps like Google Pay and Apple Pay, and QR code payments.
The task is NOT about mobile phone apps in general, so don’t discuss the advantages of mobile phones or mobile apps. The task is specific to payment apps.
The question “does this development have more advantages or more disadvantages?” tells you how to respond to the topic. You simply need to answer that question.
Step 2: Decide Your Position
Next, you need to decide your position. In other words, you need to decide what you think.
In an advantages disadvantages essay, your position is your answer to the question .
So in the example question above, your position is your answer to the question: “does this development (i.e. paying for things using mobile phone apps) have more advantages or more disadvantages?”
Step 3: Extend Your Ideas
When you decided your position, you may have started thinking about the reasons for your position, the reasons for your answer. In other words, WHY are you taking this view?
Giving reasons for your view is essential in an IELTS essay. In fact, all IELTS questions tell you to “give reasons for your answer”. So in Step 3, you need to think about your reasons a little more.
However, just presenting your reasons is not enough. You need to develop them.
The two best ways of developing your ideas is by:
- giving explanations of what you mean
- giving specific examples which illustrate what you mean
Together, these add more detail to your answer.
You MUST do this to get Band 7. If you fail to develop your ideas in detail, your band score for Task Response may be limited to Band 6.
Read more about how to develop your ideas in an IELTS essay.
Step 4: Structure Your Essay
The final step in the planning process is to structure your essay. This simply means deciding which main ideas to put in which paragraphs.
I suggest you use almost exactly the same structure, regardless of whether you are taking the Academic or General Training Test:
- Paragraph 1: introduction
- Paragraph 2: discuss what you think are the advantages
- Paragraph 3: discuss what you think are the disadvantages
- Paragraph 4 (Ac): explain if you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages
- Paragraph 4 (GT): summarise your views
IELTS advantages disadvantages essay questions are usually on topics where there are both advantages AND disadvantages. In other words, if you argue that there are only advantages, the IELTS examiner might decide your essay lacks balance, and this could limit your band score for Task Response.
![advantages and disadvantages sample essay ielts-advantages-disadvantages-essay](https://i0.wp.com/ieltscharlie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ielts-advantages-disadvantages-essay.webp?resize=720%2C360&ssl=1)
How To Write Your IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay
Let’s go through how to write the different parts of the essay.
How To Write The Introduction To an IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay
In the introduction to an IELTS Advantages Disadvantages essay, you need to do one or two things.
If you are asked “what are the advantages and disadvantages?” , then just briefly introduce the topic of the essay.
If you are asked for an opinion – e.g. “ do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages”, or “does this development have more advantages or more disadvantages?”, then also add a second sentence where you present your answer to this question.
Introduce The Topic
You should begin with a background sentence which introduces your reader to the topic of the essay. The best way to do this is to paraphrase the topic statement.
How To Paraphrase
Think about the meaning of the topic statement, and briefly rewrite it using your own words. Try not to use the same grammatical structures as in the essay question, and try to move language around. In other words, be flexible. This is important if you are aiming for a Band 7 or higher.
In the example essay question above, the topic statement said:
“In many countries, paying for things using mobile phone (cellphone) apps is becoming increasingly common.”
Here is one way of paraphrasing this:
“Purchasing goods with apps on mobile phones has grown in popularity over recent years.”
This sentence has the same general meaning as the original sentence, but uses different vocabulary and different grammatical structures.
How NOT To Paraphrase
When you paraphrase, do NOT just change individual words with synonyms, or you will get some very strange sentences, e.g.
“In a lot of nations, buying items using portable communication software is becoming more customary.”
DON’T DO THIS! It sounds unnatural and can be confusing for your reader.
Give Your Opinion
If you are asked questions like:
- “do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages”, or
- “does this development have more advantages or more disadvantages?”
then you are being asked for your opinion, in addition to a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages.
So write a 2nd sentence in which you clearly answer this question. e.g.
“In my view, this development has significant drawbacks overall.”
There’s little point in adding a scope sentence: “This essay will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this development.” This kind of sentence doesn’t add much to your essay and the language is quite basic.
Just start writing the body.
How To Write The Body Paragraphs
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
- You can also include a 2nd advantage or 2nd disadvantage in the same paragraph.
This structure is what is meant by developing your ideas, and it is essential for a Band 7.
You can read more about developing your ideas here .
How To Write The Conclusion
In the conclusion to an IELTS Advantages Disadvantages essay, what you write depends on the question.
If you are asked “what are the advantages and disadvantages?” then just write a summary of your ideas.
If you are asked for your opinion – e.g. “do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?” – then answer this question in the conclusion.
Do NOT write any new ideas in your conclusion. If you think of new ideas while writing your conclusion, forget them! It’s too late
Common Mistakes in an IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay
These are the most common mistakes made by Test Takers when writing an IELTS Advantages Disadvantages essay:
- presenting too many advantages and disadvantages: you MUST develop ALL of your ideas to get a high band score, so it’s best to present 3 or 4 advantages / disadvantages in total and explain them all
- not answering the “do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?” question. This question does not appear in all advantages disadvantages essays, but when it does, you must answer it
- writing an overly general statement about the topic in the introduction (e.g. Education is a topic of hot debate)
- The advantages / disadvantages are not explained and illustrated in enough detail. You need to develop all of your points to get a Band 7.
- Not fully understanding the essay question. This is often caused by reading the question quickly, not carefully.
- Using memorised phrases (e.g. “a hot topic”, “in a nutshell”, “pros and cons”)
- Using “research studies” as examples: examples should illustrate your ideas, not prove them. Read about how to use examples in IELTS essays .
- Trying to use rare or “novel” language: examiners are looking for groups of words used naturally, not rare words.
Sample IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay Questions
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)
In some cultures, children are often told that they can achieve anything if they try hard enough. What are the advantages and disadvantages of giving children this message?
( Cambridge IELTS 15 Academic Test 4 )
Today more and more tourists are visiting places where conditions are difficult, such as the Sahara desert or the Antarctic. What are the benefits and disadvantages for tourists who visit such places?
(Cambridge IELTS 12 General Training Test 5)
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?
(Cambridge IELTS 12 Academic Test 6)
Model IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essays
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Discover the 7 STEPS to BAND 7 in IELTS Writing Task 2
IELTS Advantages and Disadvantages Essay
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This essay provides a plan and model response for an advantages and disadvantages essay in your writing paper.
Essay question:
Nowadays many people choose to be self-employed, rather than to work for a company or organisation.
Why might this be the case?
What could be the disadvantages of being self-employed?
My initial ideas:
Advantages-
- You can create your own schedule
- You can dictate your own pay
- You can travel with work
- You can experience a wider variety of work
- You’re in control
- You can expand and personalise your skill set and knowledge base
Disadvantages-
- It may not be consistently financially successful
- There may be periods of unemployment
- You are responsible for your income
- You are competing with many others
- It may feel lonely
Essay structure
Introduction
Paraphrase the question
Outline main ideas
State opinion (if required)
Main body paragraph 1- Advantage
Topic sentence- example
Explanation- explain the benefits/advantages
Consequence- state the result
Main body paragraph 2- Disadvantage
Explanation- explain the problems/disadvantages
Summarise key points
Loop back to beginning
Many people nowadays are opting to work for themselves, rather than for a company. There is a more palpable shift towards self-employment and a greater detachment from more traditional working structures. This essay will demonstrate how self-employment can lead to financial freedom and more flexibility of one’s output, but it will also show how financial freedom can be risky and the idea of creative flexibility can be illusionary. Whilst acknowledging the drawbacks, this essay will argue how the advantages of self-employment outweigh the disadvantages.
One clear benefit of working for one’s self, is the possibility of financial freedom and creative autonomy. By being self-employed, one has the room to create your own salary. Rather than being hemmed in by a fixed monthly amount, a person working for themselves can exceed this and create a salary that is reflective of their work and one that does not impede them by wider company policy. Although some people can see pay rises, this is seldom seen in many industries and despite the extra hours people work, their pay quickly hits a ceiling. Whereas, self-employment means you are not determined by someone else’s view of what you should be paid. As well as this, someone who is self-employed has more creative control. This is highly important as being passionate about what you do should be a key characteristic with any job. By having more creative control, we can determine what we produce and the effect we want it to have. Therefore, we are in control and can enjoy the work we ultimately decide to produce.
On the other hand, there are obvious disadvantages to being self-employed. Firstly, it can involve some financial risk where each month does not necessarily look financially the same. There may be dips and troughs where the individual is learning less than the previous month. This could seep into other aspects of their life and make certain things difficult, such as paying bills. Secondly, having to be constantly creative can be more difficult than perceived and its reality not as utopian as it may seem. For example, if someone is starting their own business or creating a course, the sole creative output rests on their shoulders and this can be difficult to routinely produce, rather than having a brief to fill which is passed down from a senior or fellow colleague.
In conclusion, whilst there are disadvantages to being self-employed, I believe the potential possibilities and benefits of being self-employed outweigh working for a company. Whilst working for a company is preferred by some, the working world is shifting to a model that is more innovative, creative and less reliant on the traditional ways of work.
word count- 446
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IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Essay Lesson
This lesson is about IELTS advantage disadvantage essay questions when you are told to assess whether the benefits of something outweigh the drawbacks.
The topic of the essay which is used as an example is about the trend to live and work abroad.
Take a look at the essay question we are going to analyse:
People now have the freedom to work and live anywhere in the world due to the development of communication technology and transportation.
Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
Understanding the Task
When you have this type of advantage disadvantage essay it is important to distinguish between this and one that asks you to discuss advantages and disadvantages but does not ask your opinion.
If you are asked “ What are the advantages and disadvantages of….. ” you are not being asked your opinion. You simply have to discuss the benefits and drawbacks.
You could do this in two body paragraphs:
- Body One: The positive points
- Body Two: The negative points
However, if you have the word “ outweigh ” or “ Will this trend have more positive or negative effects? ” then you are being asked for your opinion and you must say which there are the most of – positive or negative impacts.
If you do not do this then you may get your score reduced on ‘ Task Response ’ for not fully addressing the question.
If you look at the IELTS public band descriptors (available to download if you do an internet search or available from your local IELTS centre), you will see that this could reduce your band to a 5 for this criteria (it would not necessarily affect the other three criteria).
(Check this lesson on IELTS Band 7 for an overview of the criteria for getting a band 7 if you are unsure of what the criteria are).
Take a look at these examples:
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?
This advantage disadvantage essay is not asking for your opinion. You could simply write one paragraph on the advantages and another on the disadvantages.
However, this one does:
Will this have more positive or negative impacts?
What does 'Outweigh' mean?
Another point to be careful of is using the word ‘ outweigh ’. It is common for IELTS students to get mixed up when they write the thesis statement, and actually say the opposite to what they write in the essay!
For example, they will say the drawbacks outweigh the benefits, but then give more benefits in the essay. This makes no sense.
So if you are not sure you can use the word correctly, I would recommend not using it in this type of IELTS advantage disadvantage essay. You can just say what your opinion is, as in the thesis in the model answer:
I believe that this has more benefits than drawbacks.
This will avoid any mistakes.
Writing your Thesis
You then need to think of 3 supporting ideas . One for one side and two for the other side.
So you will then have three body paragraphs, one with the drawback / benefit and two with the advantages / disadvantages.
It is common academic practice to start with the opposing opinion to yours, so you can start with the point that you have one idea for.
As explained above, it is very important, especially if you are looking for a band 7 or higher, that your opinion reflects what is in your essay. So if you have said there are more benefits, then you would have two benefits and one drawback.
Now take a look at the advantage disadvantage essay model answer.
Model Advantage Disadvantage Essay
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.
Write at least 250 words.
Advantage Disadvantage Essay Model Answer
These days many people choose to live or work in other countries, which has been made possible because of the convenience of air travel and modern communications. I believe that this has more benefits than drawbacks.
The disadvantage of this development is the distance that is put between family members. If a person moves away it is true that air travel and devices such as skype mean that communication and contact can be maintained. However, it is likely that a person will only be able to return one or two times a year during holidays, and speaking on skype or via email is not the same as face-to-face contact.
Despite this, there are significant advantages it can bring to people’s lives. Firstly, it means that people have the opportunity to see other parts of the world and the way people live. For example, people from the West often go to work in Asia or the Middle East and visa-versa. This enriches many people’s lives as they get to learn about other languages, traditions, cultures and different ways of working from their own country.
In addition to this, on a wider level it may also benefit other countries. If someone moves abroad for work, it is usually because their skill is required there. To illustrate, nurses and Doctors often move to work in hospitals in other countries when there is a shortage, so this is very valuable to the place they move to.
I would therefore argue that although there are disadvantages of the current trend to live and work abroad, they are outweighed by the advantages. It can enrich people’s lives and lives of the people in the countries that they move to.
( 283 Words )
As you can see in the essay, the writer believes there are more benefits so the essay is biased towards this opinion, giving more advantages than disadvantages.
The opinion is very clear, and repeated in the conclusion, and the body of the essay reflects this opinion so there will be no confusion when someone reads it.
Other Ways to Answer the Question
This is not to suggest that this method is the only way to answer this type of question. There could be other ways.
For example, some people advise to write two body paragraphs - one on the advantages and another on the disadvantages, then in the conclusion state which one outweighs the other.
You can do this, but it can look at bit odd if you write about them equally, but then say there are more of one than the other! A conclusion can be cleverly worded to make this work, but that is a high level skill that many candidates do not have.
You could write only about the advantages or only about disadvantages and argue that one vastly outweights the other. However, the fact that the question uses 'outweigh' or 'more' is suggesting that there are both benefits and drawbacks.
The benefit of organising your advantage disadvantage essay as illustrated in this lesson is that by looking at both sides, you will have more ideas to brainstorm . And importantly, your opinion is clear and this is reflected in the essay , which is balanced to reflect and support your opinion.
A model answer for this essay will be posted shortly so watch this space, or sign up using the form on the right to be notifed when there are updates to the site.
Now you can have a practice.
Try to answer this advantage disadvantage essay question:
More and more students are choosing to study at colleges and universities in foreign countries.
Do the benefits of studying abroad outweigh the drawbacks?
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Advantages and Disadvantages [IELTS Writing]
Posted by David S. Wills | Feb 25, 2020 | IELTS Tips , Writing | 0
![advantages and disadvantages sample essay Advantages and Disadvantages [IELTS Writing]](https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/q_lossy+ret_img+to_webp/ted-ielts.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/advantages-and-disadvantages-ielts-writing-1280x640.png)
In task 2 of the IELTS writing test, you may be given a question that asks you about the advantages and disadvantages of something. It is a pretty common question type, and so you should be very familiar with how to answer it.
In today’s article, I will try to show you everything you need to know about writing this sort of essay. First, though, keep in mind a golden rule of IELTS: there is no one perfect way to give an answer! IELTS is just a test of your English skills and there are lots of ways to succeed.
Anyway, I’m going to show you the following:
- A Sample Question for Advantages and Disadvantages
- Two Possible Essay Structures
- A Model Essay
An Overview of Advantage/Disadvantage Questions
First of all, let’s look at the basics. Some of you may never have done IELTS before or may be relatively new to it. If you are an experienced candidate or teacher, you may want to skip this section.
In the IELTS writing test, there are two parts (usually called “tasks”). The first will ask you to describe some sort of visual data like a line graph or bar chart , while the second will be a more traditional essay-type question. It will be about a common IELTS topic such as environment , society, technology , and so on.
You can generally break these question types into five categories:
- Agree or Disagree
- Advantages and Disadvantages
- Causes and Solutions
- Discuss Both Views
- Two-Part Questions
These all require slightly different approaches, but generally you can write at least 250 words, divided into 4 or 5 paragraphs , and end up with a pretty good answer.
Today, though, we’re focusing on the second item in that list: advantages and disadvantages .
Sample Questions
In order to show you what an “advantages and disadvantages” question is, we shall look at a sample question. Here is one from the Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS :
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 should use your own ideas, knowledge, and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence.
In an IELTS writing task 2 question, you often find a sentence or two that introduces an idea, and then another sentence that gives you the task either as an instruction or a question. In this case, it is a question: “What are the advantages and disadvantages of this development?”
![advantages and disadvantages sample essay](https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/q_lossy+ret_img+to_webp/ted-ielts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/sample-advantage-and-disadvantage-question-1024x576.png)
Here, “the development” refers to the change in the previous lines (people now having the opportunity to study abroad). Your task, then, is to think of both advantages and disadvantages to this situation and then explain them. I will show you how to do this in the next section.
If you really want to get better at IELTS writing, take a look at my books .
How to Structure an Advantages and Disadvantages Essay
When you are given this sort of question, you need to brainstorm your answer carefully. That means thinking about the question and generating ideas for what you will say in your answer.
Of course, one thing to remember is that you shouldn’t say too much . Remember that for IELTS you only have 40 minutes to write 250 words and if you just cram as many ideas into the essay as possible, you will either run out of time before you are finished or your essay will seriously lack in terms of Coherence and Cohesion . (This is one of the four components in which you will be marked by the examiner. It is worth 25% of your grade. You can see the marking rubric here .)
I’m going to suggest two structures here for your essay. These are the most common ones, but there are others that are possible.
Example Structure #1
Introduction | Explain topic State purpose of essay |
Body paragraph 1 | Describe advantages Support and explain |
Body paragraph 2 | Describe disadvantages Support and explain |
Conclusion | Summarise what you have said |
This is by far the most common type of structure used for this sort of question and it is definitely very effective. It is easy to use and you could write a really fantastic essay with these 4 paragraphs.
Example Structure #2
Introduction | Explain topic State purpose of essay |
Body paragraph 1 | Describe 1 advantage Explain |
Body paragraph 2 | Describe 2 advantage Explain |
Body paragraph 3 | Describe disadvantage Explain |
Conclusion | Summarise what you have said |
You can see that this is basically the same as the previous one but with an extra paragraph. Some people might find this slightly harder to do, but others might find it easier to separate and explain their ideas. It depends on you. You will not be given a higher score for writing more paragraphs, and in fact having more paragraphs often leads to less cohesion. Still, this is fine and can produce an excellent answer.
You can learn more about how to structure an IELTS essay here . I also have information specifically about introductions and conclusions . Finally, you might be interested in how to write a good essay outline .
Advantage and Disadvantage Model Essay
![advantages and disadvantages sample essay ielts question advantages and disadvantages](https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/q_lossy+ret_img+to_webp/ted-ielts.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/ielts-advantages-and-disadvantages-question-300x213.png)
Now that I have shown you a sample question and discussed how to structure the answer, I want to show you an answer that I wrote for this. Here it is:
In the twentieth century, it became more common for people to move about the world for various reasons, including education. Now it is reasonably common for students to go abroad to study for a few weeks or even a whole semester on programmes like the Erasmus in Europe. This essay will explore the advantages and disadvantages of this sort of arrangement. The advantages of international study are numerous and obvious. To begin with, studying abroad can give students more opportunities for academic advancement, language acquisition, and even networking to help them find jobs when they graduate. This sort of experience helps break down cultural barriers between people of different backgrounds, and also allows for the exchange of knowledge and skill between different institutions. In short, there are many different reasons why it is advantageous for this sort of exchange programme to be established. The disadvantages, on the other hand, are few and comparatively minor. Of course, students who go to live abroad may experience homesickness and culture shock. They may also find that, if their language skills are subpar, they may learn little from their lectures and perform poorly in examinations compared to if they had studied in their home country. From a very different perspective, it is also quite possible that international student exchange could be used in programmes of espionage, as countries may send spies abroad in the guise of students to investigate the research programmes at major universities. In conclusion, there are many advantages to studying abroad from the perspective of students, and also from the standpoint of society and the institutions themselves. The disadvantages are fewer, more minor, and in some cases a bit far-fetched.
Features of the Sample Essay
Here, I have used the 4 paragraph essay because I think it is the best structure in most situations. I will make some notes about each paragraph in this table:
Introduction | I have written two sentences that outline the issue, including a very brief example just to illustrate what it is. I also have one sentence that explains what this essay will do. |
Body paragraph 1 | Here, there are various advantages expressed: academic development, language, networking, cultural assimilation, etc. These are listed logically, with a concluding sentence. |
Body paragraph 2 | I have stated that there aren’t many disadvantages, but I gave two examples: one that is common and reasonable, and the other that is far-fetched but interesting. |
Conclusion | My summary gives a brief overview of my two body paragraphs, restating that there are many advantages and few disadvantages. |
More questions
Finally, I want to show you a few more sample questions for this question type. These are simply intended to give you something to practice with. You can also find a big list of IELTS writing questions here (for both academic and general tests) and if you need help with your answers, you can check out my writing correction service .
There seems to an increasing trend towards assessing students through exams rather than continuous assessment. What are the advantages and disadvantages of exams as a form of assessment?
An increasing number of schools provide tablets and laptop computers for students to use in schools, replacing books and other printed materials like exams and assignments. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?
It is becoming increasingly popular to have a year off between finishing school and enrolling in a university. What are the advantages and disadvantages?
Young adults are now choosing to wait until later in life, often until they are in their 30s, to settle down and get married. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?
Notice that in these questions, there are various topics that have been covered, but the format and idea are the same: You are given a statement and asked what the advantages and disadvantages are.
A Slight Variation
In addition to the questions above, which all require us to simply describe advantages and disadvantages, there is also one last question type. In this case, we are asked very subtly for our opinion:
In some countries, criminal trials are shown on television so that the public can watch them. Do you think the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
As such, when answering this type of question you cannot just state the advantages and disadvantages. You must also include your opinion about whether there are more of one than the other.
Doing this may require a different structure although you can certainly include your opinion in the introduction and conclusion of the 4 paragraph structure mentioned above. However, some people like to do this:
Introduction | Explain topic State purpose of essay |
Body paragraph 1 | Describe 1 advantage Explain |
Body paragraph 2 | Describe 2 advantage Explain |
Body paragraph 3 | State whether there are more advantages or disadvantages Give details |
Conclusion | Summarise what you have said |
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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IELTS Advantages and Disadvantages with Sample Answer
Ielts task 2 writing – advantages and disadvantages essay, types of ielts advantages and disadvantages essays, type 1 – ielts task 2 writing topic, ielts task 2 writing sample, type 2 – ielts task 2 writing topic, more help with ielts essay writing.
Are you wanting to find out how to do well in IELTS Task 2 Writing? If so, you need to become familiar with the IELTS essay ‘Advantages and Disadvantages’ as this is a task type in both IELTS Writing Task 2 for Academic and IELTS Task 2 General Writing. This guide will share some IELTS Task 2 Writing topics, how to structure your response, and an IELTS Task 2 Writing sample. These will help you achieve success in this task on exam day. You should also go to E2 Test Prep and sign up for free. There, you can practise writing this essay type and every other part of your IELTS exam.
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The IELTS Advantages and Disadvantages essay task ( IELTS Writing Task 2) tests your ability to analyse the advantages and disadvantages of a particular phenomenon or issue. There are two types of Advantages and Disadvantages essays:
- Type 1 asks that you simply discuss the advantages and disadvantages.
- And Type 2 asks that you discuss the advantages and disadvantages AND give your opinion on whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
![advantages and disadvantages sample essay IELTS Writing Task 2 sample with the following topic / question: The internet has made knowledge immediately available to people through computers and smartphones all around the world. Much of this knowledge is also free. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this trend.](https://blog.e2language.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/IELTS-Adv_Disadv-blog-1024x576.jpg)
For IELTS essay writing for an advantages and disadvantages essay, you need to use the following structure:
Introduction
- Paragraph 1 (Advantages)
- Paragraph 2 (Disadvantages)
Before you begin to write your IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay, you should make a brief plan. In your plan, be sure to include two advantages and two disadvantages, along with specific evidence or support for those ideas. Here is an example for this essay topic:
![advantages and disadvantages sample essay Plan for IELTS Writing Task 2 showing two advantages, two disadvantages and evidence or support for each.](https://blog.e2language.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/IELTS-Adv_Disadv-blog2-1024x576.jpg)
Creating a good plan like this will mean that, rather than panicking about coming up with ideas mid-way through the test, you’ll be able to concentrate more on the actual writing of the essay.
In the introduction, you should:
- first make a general background statement connected to the topic
- then make a specific statement , e.g. by paraphrasing the exam question in your own words
- finally, provide an answer by saying what you are going to write about in the essay
Sample introduction
(background statement:) The internet is a massive repository of human knowledge and it continues to accumulate more everyday. (specific statement:) At the click of a button, one can access information on just about any topic, from the abstract to the mundane. Not only is the information immediate, but it is also free. (answer:) This essay will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of this trend.
To write your main body paragraphs, you should:
- use topic sentences
- link your ideas
- use clauses of contrast
- conclude with a final statement
Begin Paragraph 1 and Paragraph 2 with a topic sentence . This sentence introduces the paragraph and indicates to the reader what you intend to talk about in the paragraph.
Sample topic sentences
(paragraph 1) There are numerous advantages to internet-based learning. (paragraph 2) Readily available knowledge is not without its disadvantages, however .
Tip : It is a good idea to memorise some topic sentences such as these, as you can apply them to most advantage/disadvantage essays. e.g. There are numerous advantages to … shopping online / taking a gap year / assessing students through exams. Shopping online/ Taking a gap year/ Assessing students through exams is not without its disadvantages, however.
After your topic sentence, you can then communicate the ideas in your plan.
You will also need to link your ideas within your paragraphs. This shows that you have thought about structure and sequencing .
Use phrases like ‘In addition’ and ‘What’s more’ when introducing your second example.
Sample linking ideas
(paragraph 1) In addition to the speed at which one can find out some form of knowledge, the depth of the knowledge available is also more substantial. (paragraph 2) What’s more, we are at the mercy of electronics. While a book can last a century, the internet may be susceptible to failure.
You also have plenty of opportunities in the advantages/disadvantages essay to use clauses of contrast , which are introduced through words such as ‘although’, ‘while’ and ‘despite’. We use these clauses to show that we are contrasting and weighing up the advantages and the disadvantages.
Sample clause of contrast
Although the internet is effective in delivering us information at high-speed, we cannot always rely on computers in the same way that we can with books.
Remember the grammar needed with these structures:
- Although + full clause (Although the internet is effective …)
- While + full clause (While the internet is effective …)
- Despite + verb-ing (Despite being effective …)
- Despite the fact that + full clause (Despite the fact that the internet is effective …)
You should also conclude your paragraphs with a final statement .
Sample final statements
(paragraph 1) Overall, online knowledge nowadays is both efficient and broad. (paragraph 2) In short, there are drawbacks to the expanse of knowledge on the internet.
In the conclusion, you should:
- say what the essay focused on
- write a broad statement about the topic
Sample conclusion
(what the essay focused on:) This essay discussed both the advantages and the disadvantages of free and immediate information available on the internet. (broad statement:) In short, while the benefits are enormous, the drawbacks should not be overlooked.
Learn even more about this type of essay by watching this video with expert IELTS teacher Jay.
Sample Answer
The internet is a massive repository of human knowledge and it continues to accumulate more everyday. At the click of a button, one can access information on just about any topic, from the abstract to the mundane. Not only is the information immediate, but it is also free. This essay will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of this trend.
There are numerous advantages to internet-based learning. Firstly, it makes finding information much quicker. For example, using search engines such as Google, we can simply type in whatever we want information about, and the results are generated instantly. In addition to the speed at which one can find out some form of knowledge, the depth of the knowledge available is also more substantial. For instance, tools such as Wikipedia are much more comprehensive than traditional, paper-based encyclopedias. Overall, online knowledge nowadays is both efficient and broad.
Readily available knowledge is not without its disadvantages, however. One such disadvantage is that internet-based information may be inaccurate. Many people use online forums to share information, but there is no fact checking within these, which can lead to misinformation. What’s more, we are at the mercy of electronics. While a book can last a century, the internet may be susceptible to failure. In short, there are drawbacks to the expanse of knowledge on the internet.
This essay discussed both the advantages and the disadvantages of free and immediate information available on the internet. In short, while the benefits are enormous, the drawbacks should not be overlooked.
For more practice of this type of essay, go to E2testprep.com and sign up for free.
![advantages and disadvantages sample essay IELTS Writing Task 2 sample with the following topic / question: The internet has made knowledge immediately available to people through computers and smartphones all around the world. Much of this knowledge is also free. Do the advantages of this type of information outweigh the disadvantages?](https://blog.e2language.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/IELTS-Adv_Disadv-blog3-1024x576.jpg)
This type of question requires that you do more than simply state the advantages and disadvantages. You are also required to give an opinion on whether you think there are more advantages or more disadvantages. This means that you will need to change the content of your essay slightly, as you need to present a clear position.
The introduction that we looked at above would need to be extended to include a clear statement of your position .
The internet is a massive repository of human knowledge and it continues to accumulate. At the click of a button, one can access information on just about any topic, from the abstract to the mundane. Not only is the information immediate, it is also free. This essay will discuss how (statement of your position:) the benefits of this trend clearly outweigh the drawbacks.
Your first paragraph should be the opinions of others, and the second paragraph should be your position. This can create a stronger argument for your position. You also need to make your position clear in the topic sentences of your first and second paragraphs.
(paragraph 1 – opinion of others) Some commentators have noted the disadvantages of readily available knowledge (paragraph 2 – your position) However, despite the apparent drawbacks, it is clear that there are also significant advantages to internet-based learning.
Using extreme vocabulary such as ‘significant advantages’ demonstrates a strong stance.
You also need to restate your position in the conclusion.
(broad statement:) This essay discussed both the advantages and the disadvantages of free and immediate information available on the internet. (restate position:) Based on this information it is clear that the advantages of free and immediate information available on the internet far outweigh the disadvantages.
For more practice of this type of essay, go to our IELTS course and sign up for free.
Need more help with your IELTS essay writing? We have you covered! For help with IELTS Writing Task 2 for Academic, head to our IELTS Academic page and sign up for free to access method lessons, practice items, live classes with expert teachers and more. Or for IELTS Task 2 General Writing, click here . We have everything you need to help you quickly achieve the band score you desire.
Looking for help with IELTS Writing Task 1? Read our blog article on how to do well in Task 1, and see our free IELTS Task 1 Writing sample here .
![advantages and disadvantages sample essay](https://blog.e2language.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/3.png)
Author Bio: E2 is the world’s leading test preparation provider. Our expert teachers are fully accredited English teachers, with TESOL, British Council or IELTS certification, and years of IELTS examiner or IELTS teaching experience.
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IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Essay Questions
Prepare for IELTS Advantage and Disadvantage essay questions for Writing Task. Practice IELTS Advantage and Disadvantage essay sample topics to boost score.
When approaching the Advantages and Disadvantages essay in IELTS Writing task 2 , which asks you to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a particular issue, it’s essential to answer it with a clear and structured plan. This type of essay requires you to critically analyse both the positive and negative aspects of a topic, presenting a balanced view while also making your stance clear.
To effectively address this task, you'll need to carefully organise your ideas, develop strong arguments, and ensure your writing is cohesive and well-supported with relevant examples. In this blog, we will help provide you with an overview, sample questions and tips on how to answer the advantages and disadvantages essay in IELTS Writing task 2.
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How to approach the IELTS advantage disadvantage essay question?
Let's explore an IELTS Task 2 question and analyse how you should approach it.
International tourism has brought enormous benefits to many places. At the same time, there is concern about its impact on local inhabitants and the environment. Do the disadvantages of international tourism outweigh the advantages?
This question asks you very specifically to decide if there are more advantages or more disadvantages. You are asked if one outweighs the other, so you must discuss both the advantages and disadvantages. It is not enough to say, "The advantages of international tourism outweigh the disadvantages" and then only describe the advantages in your response. The reader must see both sides of your discussion and the reasons why you think one outweighs the other.
Common errors to avoid with this question type:
Only listing the advantages
Only listing the disadvantages
Presenting both, but not deciding if one outweighs the other
Not presenting your opinion
Approach to addressing this question:
Determine your position—do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? (In this case, there are more advantages)
Present the advantages (three points)
Present the disadvantages (two points), reinforcing your decision that the advantages carry greater weight
Restate your position in the conclusion to ensure the reader understands that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks
Samples of IELTS Advantage and Disadvantage essay questions
You can easily achieve your desired score by practising the IELTS sample test. Here are some sample questions for IELTS Advantages and Disadvantages essay:
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of living in a multicultural society.
Analyse the benefits and drawbacks of using social media platforms for personal and professional purposes.
Examine the positive and negative effects of technology on education.
Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of globalisation in terms of economic growth and cultural diversity.
Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of online shopping for consumers and businesses.
Analyse the advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy sources compared to traditional fossil fuels.
Examine the positive and negative impacts of tourism on local communities and the environment.
Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of remote work for both employees and employers.
Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of genetic engineering in agriculture and its impact on food production.
Analyse the advantages and disadvantages of owning a car versus using public transportation.
10 tips to answer IELTS Advantages Disadvantages essay questions
When it comes to answering advantage and disadvantage essay questions in the IELTS exam, there are several tips and strategies you can follow to maximise your score. Below are a few essential factors to remember:
1. Understand the question
Read the question carefully and make sure you understand the topic and the specific instructions. Identify the advantages and disadvantages that need to be discussed.
2. Plan your essay
Spend a few minutes brainstorming ideas and organising your thoughts before you start writing. Create a clear and logical essay structure with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
3. Introduction
Begin your essay with a concise introduction that provides background information on the topic and presents a clear thesis statement. Provide a clear statement indicating your opinion on whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages or vice versa.
4. Body paragraphs
Dedicate each body paragraph to a specific advantage or disadvantage. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea, followed by supporting details, examples, and explanations. Use cohesive devices such as linking words and phrases to connect your ideas and make your essay flow smoothly.
5. Balanced approach
Even if you believe that the advantages or disadvantages outweigh the other, it's important to present a balanced view. Acknowledge the opposing perspective and provide counterarguments or limitations to your main points. This demonstrates your ability to analyse the topic from multiple angles.
6. Use specific examples
Support your arguments with relevant and specific examples to make your essay more convincing. These examples could be from your personal experience, current events, or general knowledge. Make sure to explain how each example relates to the advantage or disadvantage you are discussing.
7. Vocabulary and grammar
Use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures to demonstrate your language proficiency. Avoid repetition and aim for variety in your word choices. Pay attention to grammar, spelling, and punctuation to ensure your essay is clear and error-free.
8. Conclusion
Summarise the main points of your essay in the conclusion and restate your opinion on whether the advantages or disadvantages are more significant. End with a strong closing statement that leaves a lasting impression on the reader.
9. Time management
Manage your time effectively during the exam. Ensure that you dedicate sufficient time to the planning, writing, and reviewing stages of your essay. It's crucial to leave a few minutes at the end to proofread your work and make any necessary corrections.
10. Practice as much as you can
Familiarise yourself with various IELTS Advantage Disadvantage essay topics and practice writing essays within the time limits. This will help you develop your skills in analysing the topic, organising your thoughts, and expressing your ideas effectively.
Remember to follow these tips and strategies while adapting them to your writing style. Consistent practice and constructive feedback will improve your essay writing abilities and enhance your chances of achieving a high score in the IELTS exam .
Also, if you are planning to take an IELTS test and have questions related to the same, then you can get in touch with your nearest IDP IELTS test centre . Our team of IELTS experts will help you clear all your doubts.
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- Essay Task 2
Guide to Advantage Disadvantage IELTS Essay Type
- Essay Types
- Double Question
- Advantage Disadvantage
- Problem Solution
- Essay Length
![advantages and disadvantages sample essay ielts essay advantage disadvantage type](https://edubenchmark.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/advantage-disadvantage-ielts-essay.png)
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 )
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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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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?
Other IELTS Essay Questions
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IELTS Advantages and Disadvantages Writing Samples Band 8
There is an increasing trend around the world of married couples deciding not to have children. discuss the advantages and disadvantages for couples who decide to do this., nowadays, more people move away from their friends and families for work. do advantages outweigh the disadvantages, with recent improvements online, it is increasingly possible for people to leave reviews for goods and services they have purchased. what are the advantages and disadvantages of this, in some countries, most people prefer to rent their homes rather than buying them.what are some of the advantages and disadvantages of renting homes , many students choose to study at colleges and universities that are far away from the places where they grew up. do the benefits of this outweigh the drawbacks, nowadays, more people move away from their friends and families for work. does this development have more advantages or disadvantages, nowadays, people in most countries decide to have a children later in life. why do they do so do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages, most countries aim to improve their standard of living through economic development, but many important social values can be lost as a result. do the advantages of economic development outweigh the disadvantages, in some countires, many young people choose to work or travel for a year between finishing high school and starting universitiy studies. discuss the advantages and disadvantages., machines are taking over more and more jobs previously done by humans.discuss the advantages and disadvantages., some people believe it is better to raise children in the city, while others consider the countryside to be a more suitable choice., in some countries young people are encourage to work for a year between finishing high school and starting university studies discuss advantages and disadvantages for young people who decide to do this, some employers want to be able to contact their staff at all times, even on holidays. does this development have more advantages than disadvantages, in some countries there are more young people choosing to enroll in work-based training instead of attending university. do the advantages of this situation outweigh the disadvantages, many things that used to be done in the home by hands are now being done by machines. does this development bring more advantages or disadvantages, some employers offer their employees subsidized membership of gyms and sports clubs, believing that this will make their staff healthier and thus more effective at work. other employers see no benefit in doing so. consider the arguments from both aspects of this possible debate, and reach a conclusion., some people think that young people should be required to do unpaid work helping people in the community. are disadvantages of this requirement greater than the benefits for the community and individuals, **nowadays, many people choose to be self-employed, rather than to work for a company or organization. why might this be the case what could be the disadvantages of being self-employed**, people are using a lot of online language translation apps. do the benefits of this outweigh the disadvantages, in some cities public parks and open space are being changed into gardens where local residents can grow their own fruits and vegetables. do the advantages 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.
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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 Task 2 Question Types: Advantages and Disadvantages
by Dave | Understanding Task 2 Writing | 2 Comments
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I have collected a variety of advantages and disadvantages essays from the real IELTS test.
Enjoy and consider signing up for my Patreon Ebooks here .
Health services are a basic necessity. However, private companies have made them quite costly for ordinary individuals.
Do the advantages of private health care outweigh its disadvantages?
Read my essay here.
In many cities, planners tend to arrange shops, schools, offices and homes in specific areas and separate them from each other.
Do you think the advantages of this policy outweigh the disadvantages?
Young people are often influenced in their behaviors by others in the same age group. Some argue that peer pressure is important while others feel it has distinct disadvantages.
Do the disadvantages of peer pressure outweigh the advantages?
Nowadays, most countries can improve the standard of living through economic development, but some social values are lost as a result.
Do you think the advantages of this phenomenon outweigh the disadvantages?
Many people argue that restaurants should be required to disclose the nutritional information of the dishes they serve.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
Get the full EBook here on Patreon.
Around the world, people are now living longer than ever before in the past. Some say an ageing population creates problems for governments. Others believe there are benefits to society having more elderly people.
To what extent do the advantages of possessing an ageing population outweigh the disadvantages?
Read my sample here.
New technologies have changed the way children spend their free time.
Do you think the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?
It has been suggested that primary children should learn how to grow vegetables and keep animals.
It is important for people to take risks, in both their professional lives and personal lives.
Do the advantages of taking these risks outweigh the disadvantages?
Some people say patriotism causes problems and is negative overall. Others feel that it is beneficial for society at large.
Do the advantages of patriotism outweigh its disadvantages?
In many cities, problems related to overpopulation are becoming more common. Some governments are now encouraging businesses and individuals to move out of cities to rural areas.
Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?
Nowadays, a lot of offices employ open-space designs instead of separate rooms for work.
Read my sample answer here.
The world should have only one government rather than a national government for each country.
People these days watch TV, films and other programmes alone rather than with other people.
Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
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?
People nowadays tend to have children at older ages.
Nowadays the differences between countries are becoming less evident because people follow the same media.
Do the advantage of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?
Fewer and fewer children are willing to look after their parents as they get older these days.
It is now possible for scientists and tourists to travel to remote natural environments, such as the South Pole.
Machines are taking over more and more jobs previously done by humans.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your own opinion.
The personal information of many individuals is held by large internet companies and organisations.
Do you think the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
It is sometimes suggested that primary schoolchildren should learn how to grow vegetables and keep animals.
Do you think that the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
In the past, knowledge was contained in books. Nowadays, knowledge is uploaded to the internet.
In the past, most people worked for small businesses, while more people now work for large businesses.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of working for large businesses?
In many countries, plastic containers have become more common than ever and are used by many food and drink companies.
Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
In many workplaces, online communication is now more common than face-to-face meetings.
Many large supermarkets are being built today while the number of small shops is decreasing.
The global demand for oil and gas is increasing. Some believe that we should therefore encourage the exploitation of remote areas.
In many countries, fast food is becoming cheaper and more widely available.
Do the disadvantages of this outweigh the advantages?
Many retired people today are choosing to live in other countries.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?
In some cultures, children are often told that they can achieve anything if they try hard enough.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of giving children this message?
Many schools today require students to work without pay for companies as part of their education.
Is this more advantageous to students or companies?
Some believe that we should invent a new language for international communication.
These days people spend more and more time at work and less time at home.
The use of social media is replacing face-to-face interaction among many people in society.
Many museums charge for admission while others are free.
Do you think the advantages of charging people for admission to museums outweigh the disadvantages?
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 advantage of this situation outweigh the disadvantages?
Recent research has shown that business meetings and training are increasingly taking place online.
Recommended for you.
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Latest IELTS Writing Task 1 2024 (Graphs, Charts, Maps, Processes)
by Dave | Sample Answers | 147 Comments
These are the most recent/latest IELTS Writing Task 1 Task topics and questions starting in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and continuing into 2024. ...
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Recent IELTS Writing Topics and Questions 2024
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Read here all the newest IELTS questions and topics from 2024 and previous years with sample answers/essays. Be sure to check out my ...
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IELTS Cambridge 18: Average Monthly Change Line Chart
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This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay from the new IELTS Cambridge 18 book of past tests on the topic of average monthly ...
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IELTS Essay Task 1: Employment for Men and Women
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This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of employment for men and women in 1970 and 2000 in Belgium, the ...
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IELTS Topic: Entertainment
by Dave | Topics | 0 Comment
Here are all my IELTS sample answer essay on the topic of entertainment - enjoy all! Dave ...
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Template for Advantages and Disadvantages Essay
In this post, we will explore the template that can be utilized for the Advantages and Disadvantages IELTS Essay. It’s important to emphasize that merely having the template isn’t sufficient to achieve high bands in IELTS. This template serves as a basic structure, covering only 50% of the essay aspect. Generating ideas that meet the cohesion and coherence criteria outlined in the IELTS Band Descriptors is equally vital. Remember, practice is key to perfection. Regular practice will help you cultivate unique and cohesive ideas.
Below, you’ll find explanations for some key writing terminology.
Topic Sentence: A sentence that expresses the main idea of the paragraph in which it occurs.
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Supporting Sentences: The supporting sentences, also called the body of the paragraph, are used to support, explain, illustrate, or provide evidence for the idea expressed in the topic sentence. Supporting sentences should focus on the following:
- They should provide the main supporting points for the paragraph’s main idea (topic sentence)
- There are usually 2 – 4 supporting sentences in a paragraph.
- They should be arranged in a logical order.
- They should NOT begin a new topic or introduce a new idea.
Advantages and Disadvantages IELTS Essay Template
1. Write an introduction to the topic 2. Think of two advantages to the situation and provide clear examples 3. Think of two disadvantages and write about these with good support 4. Write a short conclusion giving your overall opinion
Plan / Structure:
1. Paragraph 1: Introduction 2. Paragraph 2: 1 Advantage with example 3. Paragraph 3: 1 Advantage with example 4. Paragraph 4: 1 Disadvantage with example 5. Paragraph 5: 1 Disadvantage with example 6. Paragraph 6: Conclusion + Your Opinion
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Nowadays, (Write a general sentence about the topic) . For many people, (Write an extra sentence to support the first sentence) . However, there are both pros and cons to deciding to do this. In this essay, I will discuss some of the reasons why (reword the topic sentence) and some of the challenges to be overcome.
Let’s begin by looking at the advantages of (topic sentence). One of the main positives of (write the first advantage here). What I mean by this is that (explain the advantage further) . For instance, (give an example related to the advantage) . This can make you (conclude the advantage) .
Secondly, (write the second advantage here) . Take (write what your example is about) for an example. In addition, (write a concluding sentence about the advantage) .
Turning to the other side of the argument, (write the first disadvantage in a sentence). To be more precise, (write some more sentences about the first disadvantage) . Let’s use (write what your example is about) as an example. This often leads to (write a concluding sentence about the disadvantage).
Another issue is that (write the second disadvantage here) . In other words, (write one or two sentences to explain the second disadvantage) . This process takes time and can be especially challenging if (write a concluding sentence about the second disadvantage).
All things considered, (Write a general one-sentence summary of the topic) . You need to weigh up the pros of (write two advantages here which you wrote in the second and third paragraph) , and the cons of (write two disadvantages here which you wrote in the third and fourth paragraph). Personally, I believe the benefits in terms of (write the same 2 advantages using different words) eventually outweigh any negatives. IELTSXpress.com
Model Essay Advantages and Disadvantages
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic:
These days, more and more people are going to other countries for significant periods of time, either to find a job or to study. There are clearly many benefits to doing this, but people who live abroad can also face some difficulties. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of living and working in a foreign country. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.
Nowadays, taking a here out to live or study abroad is becoming increasingly popular. For many people, especially young adults, the chance to spend an extended period of time overseas is an attractive one. However, there are both pros and cons to deciding to do this. In this essay, I will discuss some of the reasons why moving abroad is so popular and some of the challenges to be overcome.
Let’s begin by looking at the advantages of moving away. One of the main positives of heading overseas is that it broadens your horizons. What I mean by this is that you have the chance to meet people from different cultural backgrounds and learn to cope with foreign customs and food. This can make you more rounded as a person.
Secondly, moving abroad can lead to a better quality of life. Take British people for an example. Thousands of people from the UK move to Spain and Australia every year. These countries have warmer climates and encourage a better work-life balance. In addition, by living Overseas, you can gain qualifications and language skills, which may improve promotion prospects on your return.
Turning to the other side of the argument, culture shock is a major problem. Many people who take a year out find it hard to cope with the language barrier, the food, and general cultural differences. This often leads to homesickness and in some cases a sense of isolation.
Another issue is that it can be difficult to start a new life from scratch. In other words, when you move abroad, you have to make new friends and find your place in the community. This process takes time and can be especially challenging if there is also a language barrier to deal with.
All things considered, starting life in a foreign country is never easy. You need to weigh up the pros of the better lifestyle, weather, and so on, and the cons of culture shock and language barrier. Personally, I believe the benefits in terms of personal growth eventually outweigh any negatives.
Also Check: Gap Year Advantages Disadvantages IELTS Essay
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Advantages and Disadvantages Sample Essay
IELTS Advantages and Disadvantages essay:
- Plan your answer.
- State what your essay will discuss in your introduction.
- List the advantages and disadvantages in the next two paragraphs.
- Briefly mention both in your conclusion.
- Do not offer an opinion – you are not asked to do so.
- Read this sample essay for an example.
Multinational companies are becoming increasingly common in developing countries. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?
More and more transnational corporations are setting up branches and factories in less developed nations. This essay will first suggest that reduced labour costs is the primary benefit for these companies, while bad publicity because of Human Rights abuses is the main drawback.
The main reason multinationals set up shop in poorer countries is because it is much cheaper for them to get their goods manufactured there, due to comparatively lower salaries. In an ever more competitive marketplace, it is simply unsustainable for most companies to pay Western wages when they can pay someone a fraction of the cost to do the same job. For example, the only reason an iPad or iPhone can be sold for less than $499 is that a worker in China can assemble the unit for approximately one-tenth what an American would expect to be paid.
Despite this economic benefit, Apple has recently come under scrutiny because of appalling conditions in many of its Asian factories. Workers in their Foxconn plant in China had to work under such grim circumstances, including 15-hour shifts, pressure to meet unrealistic quotas and low wages, that several of them committed suicide by leaping off the factory roof. The New York Times reported that this resulted in a 12% drop in the sale of Apple products, especially after it was reported that Apple had installed nets to stop any employees killing themselves in the future.
In conclusion, huge global companies may reap the rewards of low operating costs in developing countries, but they should also keep in mind that they have a responsibility towards their workers and any infringements of their rights could negatively affect their image and stock price.
Need help writing essays like this? Check out our ESSAY CORRECTION SERVICE .
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My name is Christopher Pell and I'm the Managing Director of IELTS Advantage.
I started IELTS Advantage as a simple blog to help 16 students in my class. Several years later, I am very humbled that my VIP Course has been able to help thousands of people around the world to score a Band 7+ in their IELTS tests.
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New developments in renewable energy are making headlines and inspiring hope in communities worldwide, from a remote Arctic village working to harness solar and wind power under challenging conditions to a U.S. Air Force base planning an advanced, utility-scale geothermal power system.
As much of the world grapples with mitigating the effects of climate change and global warming, innovation and advancements in renewable energy have emerged as a bright spot. Solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, geothermal energy and biomass energy generation is better for the planet than the burning of fossil fuels including oil, natural gas and coal.
But for all of the advantages of renewable energy, its development and use has disadvantages, too. Let’s take a look at both.
The advantages of renewable energy power sources are wide-ranging, and some are more obvious than others.
Inexhaustible supply
One of the main benefits of renewable energy sources like the sun, wind and water is that they will never run out. In contrast, non-renewable resources are not only finite, but cost more as their availability declines and require more extreme extraction methods with greater environmental impacts.
Carbon-free energy generation
The goal of the clean energy transition is decarbonization . Carbon dioxide emissions reached 11.2 gigatonnes (Gt) in 2022 from oil alone, whereas renewable energy generation emits little to no carbon emissions to power homes, cars and businesses.
A cleaner, healthier environment
The burning of fossil fuels, like coal, releases airborne pollutants such as nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide, while the mining of these resources can result in water pollution and damage animal habitats. Using renewable energy in place of fossil fuels can reduce these pollutants and help mitigate risks to human health and natural environments.
Energy independence
Renewable energy provides for stronger energy security by opening up new opportunities for domestic energy production, thereby reducing reliance on foreign-sourced energy supply. For example, since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, European countries have sought to reduce their imports of Russian oil and gas. In 2023, domestic renewable energy production in Europe rose to account for a record 44% of the EU’s electricity mix while imports from Russia declined, helping build a more stable, resilient power grid.
Less maintenance
For certain types of renewable energy sources, the maintenance and maintenance costs of their infrastructure are minimal. Solar photovoltaic systems, for example, generally don’t have moving parts and can last 25 years or more with little maintenance. Hydroelectric power plants typically have low operating costs and require little maintenance as well, with long-lasting equipment that can remain in operation for decades.
Affordable energy
When it comes to costs, renewable energy sources once compared unfavorably to fossil fuels. But as fossil fuel prices rise renewable energy has emerged as an affordable alternative energy option. An estimated 96% of new utility-scale solar and wind power projects had lower generation costs than new coal and natural gas plants. As more renewable energy resources are integrated into power grids, businesses are also implementing energy management programs to optimize energy usage and reduce overall energy costs.
Job creation
While both clean energy and fossil fuel industries have seen job growth in recent years, growth has been markedly faster in the former. As a result, clean energy roles now account for more than half of the 67 million jobs in the global energy sector. Such growth is fueling demand for additional workers and retraining for existing fossil fuel workers to transition to the renewable energy industry.
For all the celebrated benefits of renewable energy, the sector has some downsides as well. Understanding the disadvantages of renewable energy can help organizations better plan its deployment. Here are some of the cons of renewable energy projects today:
High upfront costs
Shifting to renewable energy technologies saves money in the long run but component costs and initial costs for set-up can be expensive. For example, small businesses can expect to pay USD 100,000 or more for commercial solar installations, depending on their energy needs. However, legislation for incentives, tax credits and various rebates can help offset these costs.
Location and landmass requirements
Most renewable energy power generation is location dependent—solar farms require unobstructed sunlight, hydropower requires water movement, wind farms require open spaces and traditional geothermal power requires proximity to sources of hot water. In many cases, renewable energy systems require a lot of space—more than traditional power stations. Research conducted by the ICF Climate Center found that large-scale renewable energy installations require 10 times more land than coal- and natural gas-fired power plants.
Production volatility
Renewable electricity generation is vulnerable to weather conditions: solar power is susceptible to cloudy days, hydropower to droughts and wind power to calm days. As such, guaranteeing the amount of energy produced at any given time is a challenge. To help companies adapt to this volatility, solutions like the IBM Environmental Intelligence Suite use sensors, geospatial data , advanced analytics, machine learning , artificial intelligence (AI) and weather data to generate day-ahead wind and solar forecasts .
Storage requirements
Due to the intermittent nature of renewable power, batteries are required to collect energy during peak production periods for distribution in a controlled, consistent manner during periods of low- to non-production. Energy storage systems to support utility-scale applications are costly but technology is being developed to support more affordable long-term storage.
Supply chain limitations
Supply chain hurdles are hindering the installation of renewable energy projects. According to a report by McKinsey, project developers face three main challenges : access to raw materials and rare earth metals amid a projected shortage; access to the talent and machinery necessary; and little supplier diversification for critical components. For example, in the case of polysilicon, a material used in solar panels, 79% of global capacity is concentrated in China, making the solar PV industry vulnerable to disruptions in that country.
Carbon footprint and waste
Although solar and wind power emit no harmful emissions during power generation, the manufacturing, installation and transportation of renewable energy equipment does often produce greenhouse gas emissions . Additionally, waste products are created during asset production process and disposal, with wind turbine blades and solar panels taking up space in landfills.
Businesses in the renewable energy industry or interested in sourcing renewable power can proactively monitor renewable energy trends with the right tools. The IBM Environmental Intelligence Suite uses historical energy generation data, weather data and more to generate high-accuracy energy forecasts for wind and solar assets to inform key decision-making at the enterprise level.
Try the IBM Environmental Intelligence Suite for free
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The article discusses the structure and strategies for writing an IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay, including planning, vocabulary use, and sample questions with answers and emphasizes practicing to improve scores.
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IELTS Advantages and Disadvantages essay: Plan your answer. State what your essay will discuss in your introduction. List the advantages and disadvantages in the next two paragraphs. Briefly mention both in your conclusion. Do not offer an opinion - you are not asked to do so. Read this sample essay for an example. […]
New developments in renewable energy are making headlines and inspiring hope in communities worldwide, from a remote Arctic village working to harness solar and wind power under challenging conditions to a U.S. Air Force base planning an advanced, utility-scale geothermal power system.. As much of the world grapples with mitigating the effects of climate change and global warming, innovation ...