IELTS Writing Task 2 Lesson 3 Advantages and Disadvantages Essays

In this lesson, we will explore the Advantages and Disadvantages essay type of the IELTS Academic Writing Task 2.

First, we will go over the four steps to approaching the Advantages and Disadvantages essay in IELTS Academic Writing Task 2. Then we will take a closer look at how to plan each paragraph. Finally, we will review two example questions and model essays.

After this lesson, you will be prepared to succeed on this part of the exam.

Now let’s look at the four steps to approaching the IELTS Academic Writing Task 2.

1. Read and Understand - The first thing you will need to do during Writing Task 2 is fully understand the question and underline key words. For this specific question type, you will have to think of these three things:

1. What type of essay will I need to write? (In this case, it will be Advantages and Disadvantages). In this type of question, you will be asked to discuss the positive and negative aspects of a situation, solution or trend. You may also be asked to give your opinion about which side you think is more important. Here is an example question:
   
   
   Question: As a result of global warming, many countries are turning to nuclear power instead of burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. What are the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power stations? Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
   
   
2. How familiar am I with this topic? (This will impact how you plan your ideas in the next step.)
   
   
3. How many advantages and disadvantages do I need to write about? There are three common ways this question is asked. Let’s take a look at the three different outlines in the next step.

2. Plan your Outline - Now you are ready to map out your outline. You will need to understand which outline you should use for the specific question type, as there are three main options for this question type. In order to fully understand the various question types, we will look at examples of each along with the specific outline:

Question 1: In some countries young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year between finishing high school and starting university studies. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for young people who decided to do this.

Question 2: In some countries young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year between finishing high school and starting university studies. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages for young people who decide to do this?

Question 3: Many young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year between finishing high school and starting university. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your own opinion.

3. Make Outline Notes - Now that you’ve chosen and drafted your outline, make notes in your outline using key words for the main sentences of each paragraph. This will help you “map out” your essay and give you a bird’s-eye view of what it will look like. At this stage, you should already be able to identify the main topics of each paragraph. (We will look at this in more depth in our example later.)

4. Start Writing - After planning your outline, begin writing with your introduction and continue from there. Be sure to use a formal tone (do not use contractions, write out numbers lower than 10, etc.) and indent after each paragraph.

Now, let’s take a closer look at how to plan each paragraph.

We will use Outline B from the previous section, as it is both distinctive and very common for the Advantages and Disadvantages essay type. Below, we will detail how each paragraph should be written. As a reminder, Outline B looks like this:

1. Introduction
2. Stronger Side
3. Weaker Side
4. Conclusion

In short, here is what the final Paragraph Planner would look like for Outline B:

I. Introduction
A. Rewritten Question (1 sentence)
B. Thesis Statement (1 sentence)
II. Stronger Side
A. Topic Sentence (1 sentence)
B. First Explanation of Stronger Side (1 sentence)
C. Example of Stronger Side 1 (1 sentence)
D. Second Explanation of Stronger Side (1 sentence)
E. Example of Stronger Side 2 (1 sentence)
III. Weaker Side
A. Topic Sentence (1 sentence)
B. Explanation of Weaker Side (1-2 sentences)
C. Example of Weaker Side (1-2 sentences)
IV. Conclusion
A. Summary of the Main Points (1-2 sentences)
B. Restate Your Position (1-2 sentences)

Model Essay

Topic sentences are in bold.
Explanations and details are in red.
Examples are in blue.

Introduction:

Traditionally, children have begun studying foreign languages at later stages in their educational careers, but some believe that it could be beneficial to introduce them earlier. While there are both advantages and disadvantages associated with this topic, the positive aspects take precedence over the drawbacks. (45 words)

Paragraph 1:

Young children are better able to learn languages for a variety of factors. First off, studies show that young children pick up languages better than teenagers. The younger brains are, the more they are able to retain information in the long-term. It has also been proven that young brains absorb material at a faster rate. Additionally, implementing language lessons in primary schools would allow for more flexibility within the school system. Younger children will be able to engage with the material more frequently through shorter sessions, thus maintaining their enthusiasm and progress. (92 words)

Paragraph 2:

However, there are some disadvantages when it comes to learning languages at an earlier age. Primary teachers may not be qualified to provide lessons in foreign languages, resulting in inadequate teaching. This could demotivate younger students and give them a negative experience in language learning. Further, school districts may not be able to carry on foreign language teaching from primary to middle schools. In this case, students would not only lose their progress, but they would also be demotivated due to the lack of consistency throughout their educational careers. However, these issues can be effectively addressed through consistent support in the school district, and pose only a minor threat to the advantages. (112 words)

Conclusion:

Although there are a few disadvantages regarding the study of a foreign language during primary school, there are a plethora of advantages that outweigh the negative aspects. Young children’s innate abilities should be appreciated and fostered to their full advantage. (40 words)

Total Word Count: 289 words

Note: It is normal for this specific essay to be longer than 250 words. Due to the topic and question type, 30 words over the limit would definitely not count against you.

Write your essay on paper. Once you finish, compare it with the Band 9 model essay in the next section.

Model Essay

In various nations around the world, many people advocate taking a gap year in order to work or travel before beginning one’s tertiary education. While this offers several advantages, there are also some disadvantages worth considering.

There are two main benefits to students travelling or working before university. Firstly, through travelling, they can expand their horizons. When students go abroad, they are exposed to different cultures and customs. As a result, they gain a deeper understanding of the world. In addition, students who work learn to appreciate the value of money. This is because they realize the hard work involved in earning it. Consequently, they may become more thoughtful in their spending habits.

On the other hand, there are notable drawbacks. To begin with, travelling may cause students to feel homesick. Many have never been away from family and friends, so they might experience loneliness and even depression. Furthermore, students who begin working may lose motivation to return to their studies. Since they enjoy financial independence, they might decide to continue working instead of pursuing higher education. This could negatively affect their long-term career prospects, as a university degree is often essential in today’s competitive job market.

In conclusion, taking a gap year can provide young people with valuable experiences and greater financial awareness. However, it may also lead to homesickness or loss of academic focus. Therefore, students should carefully weigh the benefits and drawbacks before deciding whether a gap year is the right choice for them.