advantages and disadvantages essay topics 2022

IELTS Writing Task 2 Advantages and Disadvantages Topics/Questions 2024

The list of Task 2 Advantages and Disadvantages topics that were added by IELTS student in 2024 . These Advantages and Disadvantages questions could be repeated from previous months. Keep in mind that the provided Advantages and Disadvantages questions are not predictions. The collection of Advantages and Disadvantages questions is updated every hour. Choose one of the topics and start practicing answering this type of question to prepare for the IELTS exam and to get a good grade.

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256 Advantages and Disadvantages Essay Topics [2024 Update]

Is globalization a beneficial process? What are the pros and cons of a religious upbringing? Do the drawbacks of immigration outweigh the benefits? These questions can become a foundation for your advantages and disadvantages essay. And we have even more ideas to offer!

There is nothing complicated about writing this kind of essay. Arguably the hardest part is choosing a topic. This article by our custom-writing team will help you with that. Here, you will find:

• great pros and cons essay topics for high school, middle school, and college;
• essay prompts and writing tips.
• 🔝 Top 10 Advantages & Disadvantages Topics
• 👍 Other Advantages & Disadvantages Topics
• ⭐ Top 10 Pros & Cons Topics
• 🆚 Other Pros & Cons Topics
• 💡 Essay Prompts
• ✍️ Writing Tips & Outline

🔍 References

🔝 top 10 advantages and disadvantages topics.

• Benefits of vaccination. 
• Is living abroad worth it? 
• Plastic surgery: for and against. 
• Vegetarianism: benefits and pitfalls. 
• Pros and cons of extreme sports. 
• Disadvantages of having tattoos. 
• Is a Master’s degree a good investment? 
• Negative and positive aspects of animal testing. 
• Are motorcycles convenient or dangerous? 
• Learning a foreign language: pros and cons. 

👍 List of Advantages and Disadvantages Essay Topics

Here’s a list of topics that touch on subjects such as education, work, traveling, living conditions, family, politics, technology, and more.

• Advantages and disadvantages of computers . You can probably think of many positive aspects of using computers. They make communication easier, they can be helpful for your studies, and you get access to a wealth of information. Yet, if you think about it, you will find plenty of disadvantages. For example, computers can break down, or they may be hacked or infected.
• Write about the advantages and disadvantages of the New Year’s Day celebration. New Year’s Day is primarily associated with family gatherings and new beginnings. However, preparation for the party often requires too much effort. Moreover, celebrating all night can have problematic consequences for one’s health.
• Write all arguments for and against Christmas celebrations. During the Christmas holidays, we celebrate family traditions and hold fun meetings. All this is accompanied by delicious food and gift sharing. But sometimes, these events bring no joy. The expenses are too high, and dinner preparation is energy-consuming.
• Advantages and disadvantages of couch surfing. Staying for free at places registered online is becoming increasingly popular among travelers. New friends and authentic communication are additional benefits of couch surfing. However, they don’t guarantee safety and comfort.
• What are the pleasant and unpleasant aspects of gift exchange? Gifts are a crucial part of celebrations such as birthdays or wedding anniversaries. Most people enjoy receiving presents, but not everyone enjoys looking for them. The difficulties of choosing a gift can spoil the holiday mood.
• Pros and cons of buying an artificial Christmas tree. A beautiful Christmas tree decorated with lights instantly creates the holiday atmosphere. If you have an artificial tree, you don’t need to get a new one each year. However, a real Christmas tree is unique and has a pleasant odor.
• What are the pros and cons of school uniforms ? Standard uniforms can save students time while dressing up in the morning. Moreover, it prevents clothes-related bullying and contributes to the discipline necessary for studying. However, such standards impose certain restrictions on children’s individuality.
• Is an official dress code at work a benefit or an obstacle? Almost every company and organization has its requirements for the employees’ appearance. On the one hand, a dress code disciplines workers and demonstrates the company’s seriousness. On the other hand, employees can resist suppressing their self-expression.
• Keeping an online blog : for and against. The Internet provides people with colossal opportunities for finding new hobbies and occupations. For example, everyone can become a blogger: all you need to do is choose a topic and a platform. However, unflattering comments, lack of interest, or extreme popularity can become a serious problem for a blogger.
• A hitchhiking journey: an enjoyable adventure or a dangerous undertaking? Hitchhiking can be a budget option for travelers. This way, people can learn more about the place they’re traveling to and make friends. However, some drivers can turn out to be dangerous.
• What are the strengths and shortcomings of intellectual property rights ? Valuable and original ideas are essential to the success of a person or a company. Intellectual property rights protect data from being stolen by competitors. Opponents of such measures believe that nobody should own ideas and that the information sphere is too vulnerable to manipulations.
• Describe the pros and cons of learning a language with a native speaker. Modern technologies make it possible to communicate with people from all around the world. This ability provides additional opportunities to learn a foreign language with native speakers. A potential downside is the difficulty of finding good teachers or understanding their accents.
• Talk about the benefits and disadvantages of alternative voting methods. Voting by mail or online is convenient for those who find it challenging to come to polling stations. Moreover, this way, people can save time. Nevertheless, the reliability of such methods is still in question.
• Being successful: what are the benefits and pitfalls? Achieving success is the goal of millions of people. It is usually associated with wealth and happiness, but there is also the other side. Successful people often feel more pressure and responsibility and make sacrifices.
• For and against family businesses . Perfect mutual understanding is what people typically expect from a family business. However, this description is more of an idea rather than a reality.
• Being creative: a gift or a curse? Society admires inspiring and mysterious artists. The creative process seems to be an easy activity, but some artists may disagree with this statement. Creativity crisis, procrastination, and lack of understanding from the public are only a few of the shortcomings they have to face.
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of managing your own business. In search of professional freedom, some people start a business. This way, they can have complete control and be their own boss. At the same time, entrepreneurship requires talent and significant effort. Moreover, some businesses may turn out to be unprofitable.
• What are the possible advantages and drawbacks of being a professional athlete? Sport allows people to discover the hidden capabilities of their bodies. Such activities make them stronger and more disciplined, but doing sports full-time requires many sacrifices. Professional athletes endure significant stress and injuries, so this lifestyle is not for everyone.
• Is having young parents a benefit or an obstacle?
• Advantages and disadvantages of being married
• For and against working part-time after school
• What are the pros and cons of writing essays?
• Positive and negative aspects of returning to school as an adult
• Is it better to be living in a small town or a big city ?
• The benefits and shortcomings of living in a large country
• Do the positive aspects of living in the countryside outweigh the negative ones?
• Is working on a rotational basis beneficial or harmful?
• Is it better to be working remotely or in an office?
• Is working with the help of technology beneficial or risky?
• Advantages and drawbacks of physical labor
• Working with customers: perks and shortcomings
• What are the beneficial aspects of working with animals?
• Pros and cons of working with children
• Is making your hobby into a job profitable or disadvantageous?
• What are the pros and cons of changing jobs?
• Quitting a job or being fired: which option is better?
• Working in a multilingual setting: benefits and drawbacks
• Is having a job that requires a lot of traveling exciting or challenging?
• Choosing to pursue a creative profession: pros and cons
• Is hiring older or younger employees more beneficial?
• Privately-owned companies : benefits and pitfalls
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of working for the government?
• Business competition vs. monopoly
• What is better: owning a business with other people or partnership business models?
• Owning a car vs. other modes of transportation
• What are the benefits and shortcomings of using public transportation ?
• Is being self-employed better than working for somebody else?
• Describe the pros and cons of knowing or learning multiple languages
• Choosing to pursue a technical profession : for and against
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of pursuing a humanitarian career?
• Is receiving an education online a waste of time or a good investment?
• Perks and disadvantages of studying on Saturdays
• What are the pros and cons of reducing the length of the summer vacation?
• Completing online courses, classes, or training: arguments for and against
• Learning foreign languages online vs. in class
• What is more effective: private tutoring or group learning?
• Open group discussions during class: for and against
• Is it more beneficial to work in groups or alone?
• Describe the strengths and weaknesses of studying with textbooks
• What are the pros and cons of learning with interactive media?
• Using traditional vs. new methods of teaching
• Is taking tests better than answering questions in a free form?
• Advantages and disadvantages of using exams as a primary source of knowledge assessment
• Giving students different tasks according to their grades: pros and cons
• Is separating students according to their behavior and performance efficient or harmful?
• Strengths and weaknesses of using  multilingual online dictionaries
• Extracurricular activities: pros and cons
• Studying and having a part-time job : benefits and obstacles
• Going to a university in your town vs. moving to another town
• Is living in a dormitory preferable to living at home while studying in college?
• Entering a fraternity or a sorority during college years: arguments for and against
• Living with parents vs. living separately from them
• Is living alone burdensome or delightful?
• What are the obstacles and benefits of having a long-distance relationship?
• Having friends that live abroad or in other cities: advantages and disadvantages
• Being in a relationship vs. being single
• Pros and cons of early marriages
• Visiting the most popular places for tourists: for and against
• What hardships and benefits come with living in the most visited places in the world?
• What positive and negative outcomes do countries and cities that encourage tourism face?
• Pros and cons of visiting unexplored places
• Is it better to travel on your own or with friends?
• Having a tour guide vs. traveling without anyone’s help
• Traveling by car: advantages and disadvantages
• What is better: hiking alone or with other people?
• Short vs. long hiking trips
• Is it better to be tall or short?
• Being a foreigner in a country where you live: benefits and pitfalls
• Listening to music at home vs. live
• Watching movies at home vs. seeing them in theaters
• Is it better to have children early or later in life?
• Being the only child: advantages and disadvantages
• Perks and drawbacks of having siblings
• Being the oldest vs. the youngest sibling
• Describe the pros and cons of sharing items with other people
• Is it better to be living together or apart while being in a relationship ?
• Living in a small apartment: pros and cons
• What are the arguments for and against living in a big house?
• Renting or purchasing a house vs. an apartment
• What are the pros and cons of having a small pet?
• Living in the city center vs. the suburbs
• What benefits and pitfalls come with having a diverse cultural background ?
• Is being a famous actor or musician a positive or negative experience?
• Being a leader or taking up a position of leadership: positive and negative sides
• Going to a private school vs. a public school
• Is it better to have a big or small family?
• Having many friends vs. having few friends
• What is more efficient: being a night owl or an early riser?
• Is waking up early more burdensome than waking up late?
• What are the dangers and benefits of dieting ?
• Does fast food have any advantages?
• Arguments for and against cooking at home
• Bringing food to work or school vs. eating at a cafeteria
• Positive and negative outcomes of regular physical activity
• Rapid technological progress: arguments for and against
• Is it preferable to live in a cold or hot climate?
• Living close to the water (river, lake, sea, or ocean): pros and cons
• What are the positive and negative aspects of countries that have rainy or windy weather?
• Is direct democracy more efficient than representative democracy?
• Pros and cons of various types of government (democracy, autocracy, monarchy)

⭐ Top 10 Pros and Cons Essay Topics

• Advantages of ecotourism
• Pros and cons of facial fillers
• Instant foods: good or bad?
• Is international marriage worth it?
• Classroom debates: pros and cons
• Student loans: benefits and pitfalls
• Working with friends: for and against
• Drawbacks of having a double major
• Arguments for and against quitting social media
• Is working abroad a good or bad experience?

🆚 Pros and Cons Topics for Essays

• Write about the advantages and disadvantages of the United Nations . The UN is a well-known international organization. Its activities aim to support human rights, establish friendly relations between countries, and promote peace. These goals are admirable, but is the organization effective enough in achieving them?
• Is consuming sugar beneficial or harmful? Recently, the media started promoting the idea that sugar is the leading cause of many diseases. On the one hand, we are discouraged from consuming it. On the other hand, carbons are necessary for the human body to receive essential microelements, such as glucose.
• Pros and cons of using Wikipedia . Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia. It’s a popular source of information on countless subjects, from cosmology to literature. It often reveals various aspects of a topic that are interesting to the reader. However, since anyone can edit it, you can never be sure of the information’s accuracy.
• Benefits and drawbacks of living in a multicultural society. Society is becoming more diverse, and immigration is commonplace. Moreover, freedom of choice allows people to adhere to any traditions that are attractive to them. Such conditions help us develop multifaceted humanity but can potentially lead to conflicts.
• Write about the pros and cons of urbanization . In cities, the population is continuously growing, while in rural areas, it decreases. In a metropolis, people have a greater choice for their activities, and their social circle is wider. However, urbanization leads to overpopulation and an increase in stress levels.
• What are the pros and cons of online therapy? Therapy can be a powerful source of motivation and emotional balance. Some people may find it challenging to visit mental health specialists, which makes online consultations a practical option. However, insufficient understanding of facial expressions or faulty Internet connection are some of the obstacles to using this format.
• Describe the strengths and weaknesses of business investments . Investing is a popular way to receive additional passive income. Such activities don’t require too much effort and can be very promising. However, they also have disadvantages, including high risks and the need to have significant starting capital.
• Arguments for and against watching TV shows. Watching TV shows is a trendy pastime. A good plot and interesting characters can be great entertainment. However, some TV shows take too much time to watch, and some plot twists can be disappointing.
• Discuss the pros and cons of freelancing. The advantages include an opportunity to decide where and when to work and choose the tasks. At the same time, a freelancer needs to communicate more with customers, and the income can be uneven.
• The ubiquitous use of surveillance cameras: guaranteed security or loss of privacy? We can see security cameras everywhere, including stores, banks, and houses. They are designed to contribute to our security. However, many believe that in this way, people are losing privacy. Moreover, surveillance technology is quite expensive, and its effectiveness is doubtful.
• Advantages and disadvantages of an authoritarian teaching style . Representatives of the teaching profession often choose a specific model of behavior. For example, an authoritarian teacher is good at motivating and disciplining students. At the same time, this behavioral model can discourage children and cause resistance.
• What are the pros and cons of clinical trials? Clinical trials are created to prove the effectiveness of a specific cure. Patients can get unique medical treatment, which may help other patients in the future. Trials are also associated with risks since unexpected side effects are possible.
• Kindergartens : beneficial social interaction or stress for a child? Preschool is the first step in education for children. In kindergartens, kids form social skills and acquire basic knowledge. Nevertheless, some parents doubt whether it is worth it.
• Write about the advantages and disadvantages of referendums. Referendums can be used to solve political problems. They help governments understand the public’s attitude towards possible changes. However, the conduct of a referendum can be subject to manipulation.
• For and against women’s military service . Gender equality is becoming a part of various spheres of activity. However, in some fields, transformations are occurring slower. Women have already demonstrated their ability to be soldiers and continue to do so. Nevertheless, some army units still question their effectiveness.
• Gun ownership : advantages and disadvantages. The issue of weapons ownership causes serious disputes between politicians. Those who advocate for this idea are sure that people need protection. The opponents of gun ownership believe that gun-related accidents need to be prevented.
• Pros and cons of being optimistic . People who are positive worry less and achieve their goals easily. But optimism can also be an obstacle. For instance, an optimist can underestimate a threat and fail to take cautionary measures.
• What are the pros and cons of being selfish? Selfishness is often perceived negatively in society. Individuals who are showing this quality risk becoming outcasts. However, people may misunderstand selfishness because it sometimes manifests as self-care.
• Benefits of different societal classes
• Market economy vs. free market
• Outline the advantages and disadvantages of a planned economy
• Pros and cons of party systems: one, two, or multiple parties?
• Different voting systems (choice voting, Electoral College): which one is more efficient?
• Different economic systems (capitalism, socialism, and mixed economy)
• Is having a  parliament a benefit or an obstacle?
• Pros and cons of advertising and its  different mediums
• Having a laptop vs. having a desktop computer
• Is the development of artificial intelligence (AI) beneficial or harmful?
• Cloning and genetic modifications: dangers and advantages
• What are the pros and cons of using old research for new studies?
• Is scientific advancement in medicine beneficial or dangerous?
• The growing use of the  Internet of Things  (IoT) in people’s daily lives: pros and cons
• Storing files in the cloud vs. on physical storage devices
• Is having one full-time job more efficient than multiple part-time jobs?
• Networking to build more connections: pros and cons
• Advantages and disadvantages of volunteering
• Having a fixed vs. a flexible schedule
• Being a vegetarian  or  vegan  vs. eating everything
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of having multiple jobs?
• Are hot or cold climates more beneficial for farmers?
• Choosing to pursue a rare profession: benefits and pitfalls
• What are the possible benefits and obstacles of pursuing a trendy job?
• Technical advancement in society: a threat or a welcome change?
• Arguments for and against pursuing extreme sports as a hobby
• Going to a music festival: an unforgettable experience or a nightmare?
• Pros and cons of having access to the Internet
• Are Internet regulations a safety measure or an infringement of rights?
• The positive and negative  effects of globalization
• What are the advantages and downsides of popular culture ?
• Are stereotypes productive in any way?
• Positive and negative outcomes of the rising population on the planet
• The increasing lifespan of people: pros and cons
• The ability to obtain a driver’s license at sixteen vs. eighteen years old
• The right to work without parents’ permission at sixteen years old: pros and cons
• Dangers and possible advantages of global warming  
• Space travel and exploration: a good idea or waste of money?
• Arguments for and against television
• Is open access to books and movies beneficial or damaging?
• Is oral communication better than written communication?
• Nonverbal communication : positive and negative sides
• What are the positive and negative aspects of Facebook  (and other social platforms)?
• Is online dating dangerous or advantageous?
• Having a pen pal: advantages and disadvantages
• What is more efficient: using digital or film cameras?
• Arguments for and against using email as the primary source of conversation
• Is calling better than  texting ?
• Describe the pros and cons of online communication
• Is being open and active on social media dangerous or profitable?
• Pros and cons of different sources of power (gas, oil, wind, solar, nuclear, and others)
• Describe the advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy
• Recycling  and upcycling: benefits and pitfalls
• Pros and cons of organic materials and products
• Plastic and other synthetic materials : life saver or toxic waste?
• Possible benefits and obstacles of using  credit cards
• Arguments for and against different types of financial aid
• What are the advantages and downsides of having health insurance?
• Life insurance : advantages and disadvantages
• Free health care: a longer life expectancy or more logistical challenges?
• Would a free introductory course in higher education improve academic performance or worsen it?
• Describe the pros and cons of taxes
• Is demonetization a success or failure?
• Arguments for and against vaccines
• Are plastic surgeries ethical or not?
• Shopping online vs. in brick-and-mortar stores
• What is more convenient: reading paper books or electronic books?
• Using DVDs vs. streaming platforms for watching movies
• What are the benefits and obstacles of buying music online?
• Storing medical records and other important information online: pros and cons
• Is online banking safe or not?
• Possible risks and benefits of making investments
• Video games and online games: good pastime or waste of time?
• Making movies based on source materials in other media: pros and cons
• Getting news from online sources vs. reading  print media
• Hourly wages and salaries: what is more beneficial?
• Can having a competitive working environment improve or decrease productivity?
• Arguments for and against irregular working shifts : working at night, on weekends, or on holidays
• Pros and cons of services with paid memberships and subscriptions
• Sales, special offers, and coupons: a marketing tool or a real opportunity to save money?
• Positive and negative effects of businesses outsourcing to different countries
• Arguments for and against moving businesses from the city center to the outskirts
• Recruiting one’s employees for new positions vs. hiring new people
• Finding work through connections and relatives: benefits and downsides
• Pros and cons of seeking a job online
• Care facilities  and nursing homes for elderly: advantages and disadvantages
• What are the possible beneficial and harmful effects of having a routine?
• Small business or a big organization: which one has more benefits?
• Buying locally manufactured and grown products vs. buying imported goods
• What are the possible pros and cons of spending more time with teachers than with parents?
• Arguments for and against process automation
• Are robots that replace humans at work dangerous or effective?
• Is reducing the working week beneficial or harmful?
• What are the major benefits and drawbacks of having many national holidays?
• College: to go or not to go?
• Working after high school: advantages and disadvantages
• Taking a gap year before continuing education: is it worth it?
• What benefits and obstacles come with continuing your education ( master’s and Ph.D. degrees)?

Need more essay ideas? Feel free to use our topic generator !

💡 Pros and Cons Essay Prompts

Pros and cons of living in a big city essay.

For your essay, you can consider the following benefits of living in a big city:

• There are many employment opportunities. Since big cities are places with many companies of different industries, it might be easier to find a job.
• Big cities have better infrastructure. It includes international airports, various dining options, and other opportunities.

The main downsides of living in a big city include the following:

• Higher living costs. Although you can find a job that suits you, living in a big city requires more money.
• High crime rates. The statistics say that big cities usually have higher crime rates than smaller ones.

Pros and Cons of Abortion Essay

Here are some examples of the procedure’s benefits:

• Abortions give women control over their bodies. The choice of whether or not to have children is a right of every woman.
• Every child should be a wanted child. Having children is an enormous responsibility that requires time, money, and energy. Unwanted pregnancies might result in child abuse and maternal depression and have other negative consequences.

You can also write about the following disadvantages of abortions:

• Abortion may lead to future medical problems for the mother. Negative consequences for a woman may include health complications such as infection or heavy bleeding.
• Abortion might result in psychological trauma. Women who undergo an abortion have a high chance of having depression.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Media Essay

Consider these arguments in favor of social media for your essay:

• Social media is an excellent place for online marketing. Nowadays, every big and small company promotes its services online.
• Information spreads online instantly. Thanks to social media, we can immediately receive and share all the urgent news.

And these are the cons you might want to write about:

• Lack of privacy. Location and personal information can be easily shared online and used against you.
• Lack of intimacy. Whether it is a family or friends’ reunion, everyone tends to be less engaged in conversations, instead preferring to scroll on the phone.

Federalism Advantages and Disadvantages Essay

Here are some advantages of federalism for you to write about:

• Federalism supports political participation and policy innovation. Thanks to federalism, we have benefits such as child labor laws and women’s right to vote.
• Federalism encourages groups, individuals, and social movements to help shape public policy and participate in it. It is possible because of the two levels of government that federalism creates.

Now, have a look at the cons of federalism:

• Federalism creates economic disparities across states. It leads to competition between states to attract businesses by lowering regulations and taxes.
• Federalism cuts off federal efforts to address national problems. For example, health care insurance could not be made more accessible to Americans due to legal challenges.

Pros and Cons of Immigration Essay

Immigration has benefits as well as pitfalls. Take a look at the positive aspects first:

• Immigration stimulates economic growth. Immigrants contribute to the labor force, which results in economic development.
• Immigration builds a multicultural society. Because of the immigrants, one country can be more diverse.

And here are the cons that you may consider writing about:

• Immigration might result in a higher unemployment rate. Since immigrants are often willing to work for a lower wage, native-born workers might be displaced.
• Immigration might lead to higher housing costs. Immigrants in limited housing stock areas might contribute to reducing living standards and increasing housing prices.

Pros and Cons of Working in a School Cafeteria Essay

Here are some of the arguments in favor of working in a cafeteria:

• Free lunches for workers. Working with the food, you get to have lunches at your workplace for free.
• Flexible shifts. You can work short hours to keep up with your studies.

However, there are also plenty of downsides, including the following:

• Low wages. The school cafeteria pays minimum wage, which is often not enough.
• Reduced working hours. In a cafeteria, there’s no opportunity to work and earn more.

Essay on Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet

The Internet has plenty of advantages you can cover, including the following:

• You can learn about virtually anything you want online. There are countless resources on the Internet, and it’s possible to access them from any part of the world.
• Unlimited communication. You can reach out to anyone from any part of the globe.

It also has many drawbacks, such as:

• There is a lot of spam on the Internet. We receive advertisements and other unimportant information through emails. Besides, there are many unconfirmed facts online.
• Leaking of personal information. We regularly upload a lot of personal information online. Unfortunately, it might be easily leaked or stolen.

✍️ How to Write a Pros and Cons Essay

Even if you do not have the necessary writing experience, your chances of getting an A+ for this task are relatively high. All you need to do is:

• Think of a good pros and cons topic. Keep reading to find the best topic for your paper.
• Make a list of all advantages and disadvantages and give details about each item. It can help you make a template for your future essay. Make sure to have enough points to cover.
• Draw conclusions on whether something is overall good or bad. Show the results of your research and answer the question your essay asks.
• Check out our article on essay writing to learn how to complete your assignment successfully.

Pros and Cons Essay Outline

The advantages and disadvantages essay should have the following structure:

• Introduction. Briefly introduce your topic, give some background information, and write your thesis statement that covers both sides of the issue.

Studying abroad might be a great experience filled with unforgettable memories, but it also has some financial and psychological pitfalls.

• Main Body. This part introduces both sides of the argument, starting with the positive aspects.
• Pros: introduce the advantages.

Being an international student, you get to meet people from all over the world and experience a new culture first-hand.

• Cons: introduce the disadvantages.

However, you might feel homesick and experience culture shock while studying in another country.

• Conclusion. Summarize your essay by restating your thesis and illustrating your most important arguments for and against the thing in question. If necessary, state whether the pros outweigh the cons. Finish your paper with a strong statement connecting all of your ideas.

Although being an international student has both positive and negative sides, it can bring you many unforgettable memories.

We hope you found the best topic for your pros and cons essay. Let us know what topic you’ve chosen, and don’t forget to share this article with your friends!

Further reading:

• 255 Unique Essay Topics for College Students [2024 Update]  
• 267 Music Essay Topics + Writing Guide [2024 Update] 
• 256 Satirical Essay Topics & Satire Essay Examples [2024]
• 205 Essay Topics for Grade 8, 9, 10, 12 + Writing Tips [2024]
• 220 Best Science and Technology Essay Topics to Write About 
• Pro/Con Essay: Brigham Young University
• Abortion: World Health Organization
• Key Facts on Abortion: Amnesty International
• 7 Financial Pros and Cons of Living in a Big City: Debt.com
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Urban Living: haart
• Should Abortion Be Legal?: ProCon.org
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Media: Medium
• The Pros and Cons of Social Networking: Lifewire
• Pro and Con: Social Media: Encyclopedia Britannica
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism: Lumen Learning
• Federalism: Cornell University
• Federalism: Stanford University
• Pros and Cons of Immigration: Economics Help
• The Pros & Cons of Immigration Reform: Investopedia
• School Cafeteria Pay & Benefits Reviews: Indeed
• Being a School Cafeteria Worker: The Balance Careers
• Advantages and Disadvantages of the Internet: Edraw Software
• Outlining: Harvard University
• Outlining Strategies: Walden University
• Essay Planning: Outlining with a Purpose: San José State University
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Usually,this type of essay made me to feel uncomfortable but samples helped me to realize my mistakes

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Advantage Disadvantage IELTS Essay Topics: Sample IELTS Essay

Different questions are asked in the IELTS paper because the IELTS paper has different sections that test your English capabilities. The advantage-disadvantage type essay is a very common type in the IELTS writing task 2.

It involves a situation that you are asked to comment on, emphasizing the advantages and the disadvantages. You should practice these types of questions through different platforms and understand the pattern of answer delivery. These questions can come from different fields also. In this article, you will find all the relevant information about the advantages and disadvantages of IELTS essay topics.

This section can bring high scores to you if you provide good answers. We are here with some common topics on this category of essay questions. Have a look below to start your journey with the prominent questions that are asked in this portion.

Also Read: IELTS Writing Task 1 Topic Asking Friend to Look After Home: Checkout this Sample Topic and Model Answers

Sample IELTS Essay Topics for Advantage Disadvantage Essay

The sample topics in this area are widely varied. As it is a kind of analytical essay, it can be understood that social issues are the most common topics. Here is a rough list:

#. Advertisement: Advantages and disadvantages of celebrity endorsements, graphic advertisements, foreign products, etc.

#. Transportation: Advantages and disadvantages of public transports, various aspects of commuting, etc.

#. Tourism: Advantages and disadvantages of development of the tourism industry, travel agencies, etc.

#. Education: Advantages and disadvantages of public schools, any particular curriculum, vocational courses, etc.

#. Economy: Advantages and disadvantages of different taxes, government expenditure, etc.

#. Business: Advantages and disadvantages of e-commerce, recruitment from within a company, etc.

#. Food/Health: Advantages and disadvantages of growing fast food joints, veganism, etc.

#. Social Media: Advantages and disadvantages of social media, online news, etc.

#. Family/ Parenting: Advantages and disadvantages of joint family, nuclear family, religious upbringing, etc.

Also Read: IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay Topic Internet Replace Books: Sample Answer of Essay Question

Sample Questions on IELTS Essay Topics

#. Small businesses are disappearing and being replaced by large multinational companies. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

#. Many products that we buy are made in other countries. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this and give your own opinion.

#. Increasing numbers of students are going to university instead of working after high school. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for young people who do this.

#. School children are using computers in school more than ever. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this and give your own opinion.

#. The rise of convenience foods has helped people keep up with the speed of the modern lifestyle. 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 the exams as a form of assessment?

Some more Sample Questions

#. As countries become more developed, many fast food outlets move into the country giving local people greater access to fast food. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

#. Many businesses choose to recruit from within their own company rather than sourcing staff from overseas. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

#. With the advent of social media, more people are getting their news online instead of from print media. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for people who read news online.

#. It is becoming increasingly popular to have a year off between finishing school and going to university. What are the advantages and disadvantages of it?

#. Some people think that it would be better for large companies and industries to move to regional areas outside large urban centres. 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 benefits and drawbacks of this trend?

Also Read: IELTS Writing Task 2 Topic House or Apartment: Tactics to Score above Band 5

A Few Bonus Questions

#. Some parents buy their children a large number of toys to play with. What are the advantages and disadvantages for the child of having a large number of toys?

#. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad/working abroad for a period of time.

#. In some countries, more and more adults are living with their parents after graduating from college, University, or even after finding a job. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

#. Every year large numbers of people migrate from one country to another for different reasons. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of migration for the individual and for society as a whole.

#. Nowadays online shopping becomes more popular than in-store shopping. Is it a positive or negative development? Give your reasons and examples.

Model Answers for Achieving IELTS 9 Band

Sample question.

Nowadays, more people would rather purchase food than cook at home. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?  Give ideas about which is a better way according to you and why?

Due to the busy lifestyle, people are consuming more processed food in spite of cooking food for themselves. There could be several merits and demerits of this uprising trend. In my opinion, homemade food is far more beneficial as compared to readymade food.

Break the Paragraph and Write the Benefits

To commence with the benefits, packaged products such as pasta, noodles, etcetera are easily available in the market. They are instant food products and just need boiling or reheating which in turn saves our time. Also, people get so tired after their hectic routine that they lack the energy to prepare meals.

Therefore, they find it useful to buy readymade food products. In addition, this type of processed food is easy to carry everywhere, even while travelling. In fact, due to additives and taste enhancers, individuals, especially children, love their taste and their salivary buds are stimulated by these sorts of meals.

Also Read: IELTS Writing Task 2: Know the Sample Questions with Answers to Boost Your Essay Preparation

Break the Paragraph and Write the Disadvantages

Despite these benefits, there are ample drawbacks. Firstly, these products are processed and lack their natural nutrition. What is more, many preservatives are added to increase their shelf life which has several health hazards to consumers.

For example, sodium benzoate is one of the popular compounds used for the preservation of packed foods which occasionally can be life-threatening. Secondly, although they are vacuum packed, they can get contaminated by various microbes and cause an abdominal disturbance, sometimes causing other lethal diseases like food poisoning, botulinum, and many more. Additionally, these products can also be expensive for consumers to afford.

Break the Paragraph and Give Your View

To recapitulate, I believe that the use of readymade foods has a plethora of detrimental effects and home-cooked food can provide plenty of nutrients to stay healthy and develop immunity.

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.

Before embarking on college many young people are advised that a year working or travelling may be a good option. This essay will suggest that saving money is the biggest advantage of this and a reduced motivation to study is the primary disadvantage.

Third level education is very expensive and lots of students decide to work for 12 months and save up money before they begin their studies. This allows them to pay for their living costs, tuition fees, and accommodation and focus on their studies, rather than struggle financially or have to get a part-time job on top of their academic work.

The Times recently reported that the average student at a UK university requires over $12,000 per annum just to survive and many drop out because they cannot afford to stay.

Also Read: Recent Exam Question in IELTS Writing Task 2: Check Out the Best Techniques to Write Perfectly for Band 8

Despite these advantages, many students often get used to working or travelling and don’t want to return to a life of study after a year off. This short-term view can cause some to bypass university altogether and go straight into a job that is beneath their capabilities or may not offer the same prospects their future career might have.

For instance, a recent survey by the British Government found that 26% of students who take a gap year never enter tertiary education.

In conclusion, taking a break from studies can be advantageous if it allows people to gather up savings, however, they should also be careful that it does not lead to disillusionment with education altogether.

Advantages and Disadvantages Questions Structure

It is extremely important to understand the pattern and structure of the sections and the questions asked under the sections. The challenge to solve these questions is to meet their structure because each topic of advantages and disadvantages essay questions is vast and each topic requires a particular structure to be followed to answer the question.

You can end up losing marks on these questions if you have not prepared the topics before as per the structure. You should add valid points in the advantages and disadvantages body portion along with some supportive points.

Once you completely understand the structure and what the content should be to lift up your essay, you can earn maximum marks from the examiners. Remember, you can’t go wrong with the vocabulary and grammar. Your words define your ideas, so be particular while using different words and phrases. Practice carefully and you can hit the mark.

Tips for the Questions

The tips for answering these questions include the thinking and analysis of the drawbacks and benefits first. You should spend time calculating the facts or content that you want to include in your answer.

You must have supporting points for each perception whether it is a benefit or a drawback. If your ideas are supported by factual points, they will make an impact. You should not split the advantages and disadvantages, rather you must put the benefits in a single body frame and disadvantages in a different body frame altogether.

You must not go deep into criticizing something or favouring any element or factor. The wisdom is that you must include the safe and secure points in the body of advantages and disadvantages. These are a few tips to be carried out in the section of this paper.

Also Read: IELTS Writing Task 1 Recommend Family Member: Points You Need to include to Obtain the Desired Band

Topics of the problem solution essay IELTS questions are usually social issues that have both positive and negative sides. You will be clearly asked to point out both sides of a particular issue. This type of question is very straightforward and requires organized preparation to achieve a high score.

Hopefully, by following the IELTS essay writing tips you will be able to achieve your desired band but remember to practice these on a daily basis. We believe that this article has helped you in gaining all the extremely potential information for your examination. If you still have any doubts or questions, visit the IELTS Ninja website. All your answers are available on the site with expert advice. You can go ahead to read all the amazing articles present on the website and perform at your best.

Also, updates are given on the site regarding the dates and documents required in the paper. The university details of each English-speaking country are available there that can blow your mind with a volcanic erosion of information. We want you to gain the highest bands to fulfil your dreams.

Best of luck!

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IELTS 2022 Task 2 Advantages & Disadvantages Essay: Topics, Model Answers

• November 2, 2021
• IELTS Preparation ?

International English Language Testing System is a widely popular English proficiency test, and over 11,000 organizations worldwide recognize this. This test assesses the candidate’s ability to communicate in English effectively and is based on four parameters: reading, writing, listening and speaking. In the blog, we discuss IELTS Task 2 Advantages And Disadvantages Essay.

Table of Contents

Out of the four, the writing section appears to be challenging for many. The writing section consists of two tasks and demands that the candidate finish them within 60 minutes.  Task 1 : the candidate must describe a graph, table or diagram, within 150 words. The time allotted is 20 minutes.  Task 2 : the candidate must present their point of view in 250 words and in 40 minutes. This task is overwhelming for many due to the time constraint.  However, candidates must note that the writing section differs from the General Module.  That is why we have compiled a comprehensive guide for IELTS task 2 and mainly focused on the advantages and disadvantages IELTS essay . Writing task 2 is the most difficult out of the two and demands that the candidate possess a wide range of vocabulary. 

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Task 2: Advantages & Disadvantages Essay 

In the advantages and disadvantages IELTS essay , candidates are required to provide the benefits and drawbacks of the topic outlined. They are marked on the following: 

• Task response – The candidate is marked on the response they provide for the essay. 
• Coherence & cohesion- Here, the candidate’s ability to paraphrase, use of linking words, and the number of paragraphs written are considered. 
• Lexical resource- Here, the application of collocations, idioms, and sentence construction are taken into account. One must avoid the usage of informal language and the wrong usage of words. 
• Grammatical range and accuracy- The candidate must use proper tenses, punctuations, simple and complicated language to meet the criterion. 

The candidate is required to describe the positive and negative points and, lastly, provide their perspective. For example, suppose the topic is, “ Describe the advantages and disadvantages of tourism in the modern world “. In that case, the candidate must begin by introducing tourism and its significance in the modern world. Then, they can underline its advantages in one paragraph and highlight points such as: 

• How it boosts the country’s economy due to the spending 
• Employment for the local people 
• Discovering new places 

In another paragraph, they must talk about the disadvantages and state: 

• Damage brought to heritage properties and monuments 
• Expensive items might be stolen 
• National resources may be exploited 
• Environmental impact 

However, it is always good to substantiate these facts with example as it can better put a point of view. They can provide the example of the Great Barrier Reef and how it has been destroyed due to tourism. This only enhances the chance of attaining a good score.  Lastly, the student should conclude the topic and end the advantage disadvantage IELTS essay in this way. “Tourism has potential economic benefits for host countries and can pave the path for the development of a harmonious world and an understanding of other cultures. Hence, tourist destinations should try to provide a positive experience and reduce the detrimental effects”. 

Structure of Disadvantages & Advantages Essay 

To achieve a good score, candidates must follow a certain structure. To help students do so, we have outlined the advantages and disadvantages IELTS essay structure. Students must follow this if they intend to get a band score on the higher side:

Introduction 

• Paraphrasing the question 
• Highlight the main points in a few sentences 

Body – Advantages 

• Explain two to three advantages 
• Elaborate on these three 
• Provide an example 

Body- Disadvantages 

• Two to three disadvantages 
• Elaborate 
• Example 

Conclusion 

• Summarise the point

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The Vocabulary of Advantages & Disadvantages Essay 

Usage of the right vocabulary is the stepping stone to success. Whether it is transitional words or phrases, candidates must not overuse them as that can hamper the overall band score. Hence, we have compiled the common vocabulary that students can make use of in the advantages and disadvantages IELTS essay : 

• It appears that 
• The essay will show that 
• The essay will argue 
• To examine this issue, the essay will examine 
• Many people claim that 
• It is often said 
• It is universally accepted 
• Firstly, this essay will explain
• Secondly, this essay will describe 
• First of all 
• Second of all 
• For instance 
• However 
• However, it should not be forgotten that 
• There is ample evidence 
• Numerous studies have consistently found that 
• As such, it can be concluded that 
• To illustrate 
• To paraphrase 
• As a result 
• Consequently
• As an effect 
• The reason why 
• Thereby 
• Hence 
• After all 
• Nevertheless 
• Even if 
• As much as 
• Besides 
• Otherwise  
• In addition 
• Finally 
• To summarise 
• In the end 
• Therefore 

Also Read: How to Send IETLS Score to Colleges

Tips for Advantages & Disadvantages of Essay 

Here below are tips given for advantages and disadvantages IELTS essay that candidates must follow to score well in task 2: 

• Before writing, think about ideas 

The candidate must first list down their ideas using keywords to help them organize them faster. The candidate must try to answer the question only after understanding what the question demands. 

• Paraphrase the question 

Next, the candidate must answer the question and express their ideas properly. They can do this by paraphrasing it and answering it in a simpler language. 

• Plan supporting points 

The candidate must try to substantiate their essay with supporting points as much as possible. Hence, it is best to list them down as that can save time. 

• Aim for the recommended word count 

It is always best to aim for 250-290 words. This way, they can develop their ideas and ensure a smooth flow. Writing a long essay will not fetch more marks at the end of the day, but coherency in the essay will. 

• Structure the essay 

Candidates must structure their essay according to the introduction, advantages, disadvantages and conclusion. This is a time-saving procedure and will help the candidate revise. 

• Use vocabulary 

Candidates must try to use transition sentences in the advantages and disadvantages IELTS essay. They can refer to the vocabulary outlined above and describe their ideas with it. 

• Practice till you ace it 

It is always beneficial to practice the common essay topics before the examination. Even if the same themes do not appear, the candidate will know how to approach them. 

• Don’t produce an essay that you memorized. 

It is always best not to memorize essays as that can hamper scoring. If the same topic does not appear, then the candidate would not write on it. 

Common Essay Topics 

Below we have compiled a list of common advantages and disadvantages of IELTS essay topics that can help students practice and achieve a good band score in this section. However, many common topics have a possibility of reappearing. Nevertheless, students must practice before their exams so that they can answer any questions without much difficulty. 

• Health 
• Environment 
• Globalisation 
• Technology 
• Business 
• Food & Diet 
• Leisure 
• Media 
• Tourism 
• Sports 
• Space Exploration 
• Language 

Advanced essay topics

Task 2 is worth 66% of a candidate’s score. Hence, the candidates must perform well to increase their band’s score. Task 2 contains opinions, advantages and disadvantages IELTS essay, etc. To attain mastery in advantage disadvantage essay IELTS, we have listed down the following advanced essay topics:

• The internet has made knowledge immediately available to people through computers and smartphones around the world. Much of this knowledge is also free. Do the advantages of this type of information outweigh   the disadvantages?
• In some countries, it is illegal for companies to reject job applicants for their age. Is this a positive or negative development?
• Countries are becoming more and more similar because people can buy the same products anywhere in the world. Do you think this is positive or negative development?
• An E-mail has had a huge impact on professional and social communication, but this impact has been negative and positive. Do the disadvantages of using e-mail outweigh the advantages?
• Many parents send their children abroad to study. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the phenomenon.
• Some people prefer to live in a house, while others feel that there are more advantages to living in an apartment. Are there more advantages than disadvantages of living in a house compared with living in an apartment?
• Some parents buy their children a large number of toys to play with. What are the advantages and disadvantages for the child of having a large number of toys?
• In some parts of the world, it is becoming popular to research the history of one’s own family. Why might people want to do this? Is it a positive or negative development?
• Nowadays, more and more people want to get things done instantly. Why is it? Do you think it is a positive or negative development?
• Some experts believe that children should begin learning a foreign language at primary school rather than secondary school. Do the advantages of this outweigh its disadvantages?

Candidates are required to employ the right vocabulary to make Writing task 2 more appropriate and appealing. This detailed guide on the advantages and disadvantages of an IELTS essay with vocabulary, structure, and tips will help students nail writing tasks with ease. 

Related Articles: 

• IELTS Essay Topic on Education
• Guide on IELTS Opinion Essay 
• How to score 6+ in IELTS Writing test 2

Frequently Asked Questions

1. how can i improve my score in writing task 2 .

Ans: Students who aspire to achieve a higher band score in advantages and disadvantages IELTS essay must follow these tips diligently and implement them:  a. Paraphrase carefully  b. Use a wide range of vocabulary for the topic  c. Carefully use collocations and see which verb matches the noun  d. Don’t use informal language 

2. Is it possible to fail in IELTS? 

Ans: No, there is nothing like passing or failing in IELTS. The highest score is 9, and the lowest is that of 0. Hence, students must try to achieve a score on the higher side to help them get accepted in the University of their choice. 

3. Is 7.5 a good score in IELTS? 

Ans: 7.5 is a good score as most colleges accepted it. It is proof that the candidate has a good command of the English language.

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Recent IELTS Writing Topics and Questions 2022

Read here all the newest IELTS questions and topics from 2022.

If you want to evaluate your essay, let's try our service here:

https://ieltsonlinetests.com/ielts-writing-correction-service

Date 3/12/2022

• Task 1: The table below shows the consumption of three basic foods (wheat, maize, rice) by people in four different countries.: http://link.intergreat.com/1nh1p
• Task 2: Some people believe that it is important to spend a lot of money on family celebrations. While others think it is a waste of money. Discuss both views .

Date 8/12/2022

• Task 1: The charts below show the percentage of Australian men and women in three age groups who were employed in 1984, 2001 and 2014: http://link.intergreat.com/ZvpfA
• Task 2: In many countries, not enough students study science subjects. What are the causes ? What will be the effect on society?

Date 10/12/2022

• Task 1: The line graph show changes of employment in the USA : http://link.intergreat.com/KX11Z
• Task 2: Some people believe that success in sports depends on physical ability while others believe that there are more important factors involved success in sports. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Date 17/12/2022

• Task 1: The bar chart illustrates the percentage of how parents in a country spent time taking care of their children in the evening in 2022. http://link.intergreat.com/esp0t
• Task 2: In many countries people increasingly talk about money (how much they earn or how much they pay for things in their daily conversations). Why? Is this a positive or negative development? http://link.intergreat.com/esp0t

Date 22/12/2022

• Task 1: The table below shows population figures for four countries for 2003 and projected figure for 2025 and 2050 (như hình http://link.intergreat.com/ozEkw )
• Task 2: Some people believe that governments should pay full course fees for students who want to study in universities. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Date 26/11/2022

• Task 1: table chart và pie chart ( mixed chart)
• Task 2: Many people think modern communication technology is having some negative effects on social relationships. Do you agree or disagree? http://link.intergreat.com/1kYHG

Date 19/11/2022

• Task 1: The diagram below shows the production of olive oil: http://link.intergreat.com/cskV8
• Task 2: Some people think history has nothing or little to tell us, but others think that studying the past history can help us better understand the present. Discuss both views and give your opinion: http://link.intergreat.com/cskV8

Date 10/11/2022

• Task 1: The diagram shows a process of making a storage area from a material called concrete canvas: http://link.intergreat.com/a0sXw
• Task 2: Some people believe women are better leaders than men. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? http://link.intergreat.com/a0sXw

Date 05/11/2022

Task 1: The barcharts below shows the number of visits to a community website in the first and second year of use. http://link.intergreat.com/VmOOn

Task 2: In many countries large amounts of foods are wasted. Why do you think people waste food in this way? What can be done to reduce the amount of food thrown away?

October 2022

Date 22/10/2022

Task 1: The chart below gives information about European people of different age group went to gym once a month or more between 1990 and 2010

Task 2: The best way to solve the world’s environmental problems is to increase the cost of fuel for cars and other vehicles. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Date 13/10/2022

Task 1: The diagram below shows how oil is expected in use of production of perfume: http://link.intergreat.com/woyq4

Task 2: Many people use written language in a less formal way and in a relaxed way than in the past. Why is that so? Does this development have more advantages or disadvantages? Link: http://link.intergreat.com/woyq4

Date 08/10/2022

Task 1: The table below gives information about the population of New Zealand between 2011 and 2012: http://link.intergreat.com/BWyVf

Task 2: The most important function of music is that it helps people reduce stress. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

September 2022

Date 24/09/2022

Task 1: Barchart

Task 2: Some people say we do not need printed paper newspaper anymore. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Date 17/09/2022

Task 1: Line graph

Task 2: Many parents these days work in other countries, taking their families with them. Do you think the advantages of this development outweigh its disadvantages?

Date 15/09/2022

Task 1: Pie+Barchart

Task 2: Many people believe that scientific research should be carried out and controlled by governments rather than private companies. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Date 10/09/2022

Task 1: The charts below give information about the price of tickets on one airline between Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, over a two-week period in 2013.

Task 2: Some people believe that technology causes more problems for modern society than it solves. Do agree or disagree.

Date 09/09/2022 Task 1: Bar Chart http://link.intergreat.com/T4QQW

Task 2: Some people believe that one of the best ways to solve environmental problem is to increase the cost of fuel for cars and other vehicles. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Date 05/09/2022

Task 1: Pie chart

Task 2: In many countries, more and more young people are leaving school but unable to find jobs. What problems do you think youth unemployment causes for individuals and the society? What measures should be taken to reduce the level of unemployment among youngsters?

Date 03/09/2022

Task 1: Table

Task 2: Some people believe that children that commit crimes should be punished. Others think the parents should be punished instead. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

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Latest Advantages and Disadvantages IELTS Essay Topics

Follow a sure shot IELTS Advantages and Disadvantages essay model to ensure a high score on this task!

Spend time thinking about the advantages and disadvantages of the given statement.

Make sure you have appropriate supporting evidence and examples.

Put your advantages and disadvantages in two distinct body paragraphs.

Write a strong conclusion by restating the main points.

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• Essay Task 2

Guide to Advantage Disadvantage IELTS Essay Type

• Essay Types
• Double Question
• Advantage Disadvantage
• Problem Solution
• Essay Length

IELTS advantage/disadvantage essays ask you to write about the benefits and drawbacks of a topic as well as (sometimes) asking for your opinion.  This guide covers everything you need to know to complete an Academic IELTS advantage/ disadvantage essay. Let’s start preparing with Benchmark IELTS!

Table of Contents

1.1 understanding the question, 1.2 example advantage/disadvantage questions, 2.1 essay structure 1, 2.2 essay structure 2.

• 3.1 Identify key words and phrases

3.2 Organise your ideas

3.3 identify vocabulary, 4.1 introduction, 4.2 main body paragraphs, 4.3 conclusion, 5.1 complete the sample advantage/disadvantage essay, 5.2 advantage/disadvantage sample essay, 1. advantage/ disadvantage essay overview.

This section of the guide will show you how to identify an IELTS advantage/disadvantage question.

Remember, there are five main types of writing task 2 questions:

• Advantage/disadvantage
• Double question
• Problem/solution

It is very important to understand what type of question you are given in the exam so you can respond in an appropriate way: different question types will require different responses.

Advantage/disadvantage essay questions can be presented in several different ways.

Here are some examples of the way an advantage/disadvantage question may be worded:

• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your opinion.
• Describe the advantages and disadvantages of _____ and give your opinion.
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of _____?

You may also see questions using synonyms for advantage and disadvantage, for example:

• What are the benefits and drawbacks of…?

Be careful, the question itself might not always use words or phrases relating to advantage/disadvantage and they could be hidden in the statement,  as seen here:

• Some people believe that using a bicycle as your main form of transport has a lot of advantages , whereas others believe that it has many disadvantages . Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Here is another example of a question where you are asked to give your opinion:

• Do the advantages of … outweigh the disadvantages

After you have identified the essay type , you need to understand what you are being asked to do. To do well in the Task achievement marking component, you need to ‘ address all parts of the task’ .

This type of essay question will always be split into two parts:

• The IELTS statement
• The question

You must always write about both the advantages and disadvantages of the given topic. As we can see in example questions 1-6, sometimes you are asked to give your opinion on the question, and sometimes you are not. Let’s compare the following questions:

You are not being asked to give your opinion

Here are some example advantage/disadvantage essay questions:

In the past, when students did a university degree, they tended to study in their own country. Nowadays, they have more of an opportunity to study abroad.

Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

Today children spend a lot of their free time watching TV.

Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages of this practice?

Also, read the following IELTS Essay Writing Guides

• IELTS Discussion Type Questions
• Double Question IELTS Essay Topics
• Opinion-based Task 2 IELTS Guide
• Problem Solution IELTS Writing Task Statement

The threat of nuclear weapons maintains world peace. Nuclear power provides cheap and clean energy.

The benefits of nuclear technology far outweigh the disadvantages.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

In the past, when students did a university degree, they tended to study in their own country. Nowadays, they have the opportunity to study abroad.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this development?

More and more people prefer to read news online rather than on paper.

Do you think the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience.

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

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:

You can also briefly state what your essay will be about in one clear sentence. For instance:

This essay will discuss both points of view and then I will give my opinion.

If you are taking a thesis-led approach, you can use one of the following sentence starters to briefly give your opinion:

• I believe that…
• It is my belief that…
• In my opinion,…

A note on the use of the first person ‘I’: Unlike writing task 1, it is appropriate to use the first person in your writing task 2 essay. In fact, it is unavoidable when giving your opinion. But , you should not overuse ‘I’ in your essay and we recommend you limit your use to your introduction and conclusion.

Topic sentences Usually, the first sentence of your main body paragraph will be a topic sentence . The purpose of your topic sentence is to introduce the main idea of your paragraph .

You should include one topic sentence for each advantage/disadvantage . This means that, if your main body paragraphs focus on two advantages/disadvantages , then you should have two topic sentences per paragraph.

Here’s an example: One advantage of studying abroad is that students can improve their language skills.

Here are some other sentence starters you can use for your essays (you can replace the underlined words with vocabulary linked to your topic):

• One advantage of studying abroad is that ….
• Another benefit of studying abroad is that…
• One downside of studying abroad is that…
• Another downside of studying abroad is that…

Supporting sentences You should then expand on your topic sentence with a supporting sentence/sentences . Your sentence(s) could either describe a result of the advantage/disadvantage, go into more detail , or explain the reason(s) why these benefits/drawbacks occur.

Our example supporting sentence describes a result of the advantage given in the topic sentence.

Topic sentence – One advantage of studying abroad is that students can improve their language skills.

Supporting sentence – This means that when the students return to their home countries, they will have more employment opportunities.

Here are some sentences starters you can use to begin your supporting sentences:

• This is because…
• The result/consequence/reason is that…
• This means that…
• As a result/consequence,…
• In other words,…  

Giving examples For all writing task 2 essay types , you must support your response with examples. Do not personalize your examples and link them to your life instead, Keep your examples more general . Also, do not refer to made-up statistics .

Here are some instances of suitable and non-suitable examples:

Suitable For example, many young people who study in an English-speaking country for a few years develop strong communication skills and have the confidence to work in an international company when they return home.

Not suitable My cousin spent three years in an English-speaking country and they got an excellent job with an international country when they came back to Spain. ( this example is too personal as it refers to the writer’s family ) ❌

According to statistics, international students are 30% more likely to get a job in an international company when they study overseas. ( this example contains a made-up statistic )

You must include a conclusion to achieve a good score in Task achievement . Your conclusion does not have to be very long, but it needs to be clear and do two main things:

• Paraphrase yourself : summarise the key points in your body paragraphs
• Give your opinion : It depends if you have taken an evidence-led or thesis-led approach, you will either be re-stating the opinion given in your introduction or giving your opinion for the first time.

Make your conclusion easy to identify for the examiner by starting with linking phrases such as:

• To sum up,…
• To summarise,…
• In conclusion,…

When you are paraphrasing the main points of your essay, you need to state that you have examined both sides of the argument (as that is what the question has asked you to do). To do this, consider using a phrase like:

In conclusion, having looked at this topic in detail, it is clear that there are both advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad .

You would need to replace the underlined section with your essay topic.

To give your opinion, you need to use a range of cohesive devices to introduce each example such as:

• From my perspective,…
• In my view,…

You then need to clearly state which side of the argument you agree with (advantage or disadvantage). Remember, your actual opinion does not matter, it is how you present your opinion using English that is important.

Here are some example sentences to do this effectively:

• In my opinion, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
• From my perspective, the drawbacks outweigh the benefits .

5. Example Advantage/Disadvantage Essay and Exercise

Now you’ve taken a look at how to write an advantage/disadvantage essay, let’s look at a model answer.

We have removed some of the words so you can put your knowledge to the test.

Select the correct missing words and complete the model answer.

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 Academic Writing Task 2: Advantages / Disadvantages Essay – Structure and template

Questions for this type of IELTS essay might look like this:

Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages? What are the advantages and drawbacks?

For instance:

Some experts believe that it is better for children to begin learning a foreign language at primary school rather than secondary school. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

HERE WE NEED SYNONYMS:

Advantages – Benefits – Positive Sides

Disadvantages – Drawbacks – Negative Sides

1) If you think that there are more ADVANTAGES:

1§ Introduction: Paraphrase the Task + My Opinion: more benefits (2 SENTENCES) 2§ The first advantage + Explanation + Example 3§ The second advantage + Explanation + Example OR result 4§ One drawback: On the other hand, … + Explanation + Example OR result 5§ Conclusion: sum up the benefits + My Opinion: more benefits (2 SENTENCES)

2) If you think that there are more DISADVANTAGES

1§ Introduction: Paraphrase the Task + My Opinion: more drawbacks (2 SENTENCES) 2§ The first disadvantage + Explanation + Example 3§ The second disadvantage + Explanation + Example OR result 4§ One benefit: On the other hand, … + Explanation + Example OR result 5§ Conclusion: sum up + My Opinion: more drawbacks (2 SENTENCES)

3) If you think that there are ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES at the same time. (Both)

1§ Introduction: Paraphrase the Task + My Opinion: benefits and drawbacks (2 SENTENCES) 2§ The first advantage + Explanation + Example. Moreover, + the second benefit + Explanation + Example. In addition, the third benefit + Explanation + Example. 3§ The first disadvantage + Explanation + Example. Moreover, + the second drawback + Explanation + Example OR result. In addition, the third negative side + Explanation + Example OR result

5§ Conclusion: sum up + My Opinion: benefits and drawbacks (2 SENTENCES)

1) and 2) structures are easier than 3) BUT this is all individual. Choose what suits your own ideas best. ALL 3 OPTIONS OF THE STRUCTURE WORK.

How to master IELTS Writing: Task 1 & Task 2

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• What vocabulary to use
• What you should write to get a high score

Bonus: IELTS Punctuation PDF Guide Everything you want to know to have correct punctuation in your IELTS Writing for 7.0-9.0 Score (31 pages, .PDF)

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IELTS Band 9 Essays

Do you know the difference between an IELTS Band 6 essay and an IELTS Band 9 essay for Writing Task 2?

Most IELTS students don’t, and this is what prevents them from getting the scores they need.

What does an IELTS Band 9 Essay look like?

An IELTS Band 9 Essay is one that shows the examiner that you are an expert user of English.  The official IELTS scale describes an expert user in the following way:

“The test taker has fully operational command of the language. Their use of English is appropriate, accurate and fluent, and shows complete understanding.”

In writing, this means you need to achieve a band 9 in each of the four IELTS marking criteria:

Task response

• Coherence and cohesion

Lexical resource

Grammatical range and accuracy.

Here is a description of the marking criteria for an IELTS Band 9 Essay for Writing Task 2:

That’s quite complex, so I’ve simplified it for you:

• Answer all parts of the question
• Present relevant ideas
• Fully explain these ideas
• Support ideas with relevant, specific examples

Coherence and Cohesion

• Organise your ideas in logical paragraphs
• Include an introduction and conclusion
• Use cohesive devices (also known as ‘linking words’) accurately
• Don’t use too many or too few cohesive devices
• Vary your cohesive devices by using synonyms
• Try to vary your vocabulary, using accurate synonyms
• Use less common topic-specific words that accurately convey meaning
• Check your work for spelling and word formation mistakes
• Use a variety of complex and simple sentences
• Use a variety of appropriate structures
• Check your writing for errors

If you want to know more about the marking criteria for other bands, you can download the full Writing Task 2 band descriptors here.

Watch my video below for the biggest differences between an IELTS Band 6 Essay and an IELTS Band 9 Essay.

Opinion essay  

Band 9 essay sample  .

To see a lesson on the question above, click here .

Discussion essay  

Band 9 essay sample , problems and solutions essay  , advantages and disadvantages essay  .

There are two types of advantages and disadvantages questions:

• Type 1 – Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.
• Type 2 – Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

For more information about these two types of questions, have a look at our page here .

Band 9 Essay Sample (Type 1) 

Band 9 essay sample 1 (type 2) .

To see a lesson on both of the questions above, click here .

Double Question essay  

Band 9 essay sample, what about task 1  what does a band 9 task 1 answer look like for ielts academic and ielts general training.

Just like for Task 2, a Band 9 Task 1 answer needs to show the examiner that the test taker is an expert user of English who can respond fully to all of the marking criteria.  

For more information about how to write a Band 9 Task 1 answer, have a look at our page for Writing Task 1 . 

If you’d like to see the marking criteria for IELTS Task 1, you can download a full description here .

For more about the difference between IELTS Academic and IELTS General, check out our page about IELTS preparation here or this page on the official IELTS website .

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IELTS 2023 Task 2 Advantages And Disadvantages Essay: Topics, Model Answers

Looking for Task 2 Advantages And Disadvantages Essay Click here for everything you need to know format, tips, vocabulary, examples structure Check now!

8/19/2023 3 min read

In the world of language proficiency assessments, the IELTS exam holds a prominent place, and among its various tasks, Task 2 of the Writing module is a pivotal component. This task challenges candidates to delve into the advantages and disadvantages of a given topic, providing a balanced view on a subject. In this article, we will explore the nuances of IELTS 2023 Task 2 Advantages & Disadvantages Essay, unraveling its topics, presenting model answers, and offering valuable tips to excel in this segment of the IELTS exam.

Introduction to IELTS Task 2 Advantages & Disadvantages Essay

IELTS Task 2 Advantages & Disadvantages Essay is designed to assess a candidate's ability to present a balanced argument. In this task, candidates are given a statement or question related to a contemporary issue, social phenomenon, or technological development. The candidates are then expected to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the given topic in a coherent and structured manner. This task assesses not only language proficiency but also critical thinking and analytical skills.

Choosing the Right Topics

Understanding the Significance of Topic Selection

Selecting an appropriate topic is the first step towards crafting a compelling essay. The chosen topic should be relevant, debatable, and have a clear scope for discussing both advantages and disadvantages. Candidates should consider their familiarity with the topic, as well as the potential to provide well-rounded arguments on both sides.

Structuring the Essay

Understanding the essay structure.

A well-structured essay significantly enhances readability and coherence. The IELTS Task 2 Advantages & Disadvantages Essay follows a specific structure that includes an introduction, body paragraphs discussing advantages and disadvantages, and a conclusion.

Introduction

In the introduction, candidates introduce the topic and provide background information. They should also present a clear thesis statement that outlines the main advantages and disadvantages to be discussed in the essay.

Advantages Paragraphs

In this section, candidates enumerate the advantages of the given topic. Each advantage is discussed in a separate paragraph, providing explanations, examples, and possibly personal experiences to support the points.

Disadvantages Paragraphs

Conversely, candidates present the disadvantages of the topic in this section. Similar to the advantages section, each disadvantage is elaborated upon in separate paragraphs, substantiated by relevant examples.

The conclusion wraps up the essay by summarizing the main points discussed in the advantages and disadvantages sections. Candidates should restate their thesis and offer a balanced final thought on the topic.

Model Answers for Various Topics

Technology advancements in education.

The integration of technology in education has brought forth numerous advantages and disadvantages. On one hand, technology enhances engagement and access to information, enabling personalized learning experiences. However, it also raises concerns about screen time, privacy, and the potential for reduced face-to-face interaction.

Urbanization and Its Impact

Urbanization offers improved employment opportunities and access to amenities, contributing to economic growth. Conversely, it leads to issues like overcrowding, pollution, and strained resources. Balancing urbanization's benefits and challenges is crucial for sustainable development.

Online Shopping: Pros and Cons

Online shopping offers convenience and a vast array of choices to consumers. Yet, it diminishes the sensory experience of traditional shopping and poses risks related to cyber threats and fraudulent activities. Striking a balance between the ease of online shopping and the value of in-store experiences is a contemporary challenge.

Tips for Crafting a High-Quality Essay

To excel in the IELTS Task 2 Advantages & Disadvantages Essay, candidates can follow these tips:

Clearly outline advantages and disadvantages before writing.

Maintain a clear essay structure with distinct paragraphs.

Provide specific examples to enhance the credibility of arguments.

Use linking words for smooth transitions between ideas.

Avoid biased language and present a balanced perspective.

Enhancing Vocabulary and Coherence

Candidates should aim to employ a diverse range of vocabulary to convey ideas effectively. Synonyms, idiomatic expressions, and precise terminology can elevate the quality of the essay. Additionally, maintaining coherence through logical flow and organization enhances the readability of the essay.

Addressing Common Mistakes

Candidates often fall into the trap of focusing excessively on one side of the argument. To avoid this, ensure that both advantages and disadvantages are explored equally. Additionally, avoid vague statements and provide specific examples to illustrate points.

Time Management Strategies

Managing time effectively is crucial during the IELTS exam. Allocate a specific amount of time to each section of the essay—planning, writing, and revising. A well-structured essay with clear points is more valuable than a rushed one.

Dos and Don'ts in Task 2

Address all parts of the task question.

Provide a balanced view in advantages and disadvantages.

Maintain clarity and coherence in writing.

Overwhelm the essay with irrelevant details.

Present only one side of the argument.

Neglect proofreading and editing.

In the realm of IELTS Task 2 Advantages & Disadvantages Essay, mastering the art of balanced argumentation is essential. By selecting suitable topics, structuring essays coherently, and presenting model answers, candidates can enhance their writing skills. The ability to analyze and articulate advantages and disadvantages thoughtfully reflects not only language proficiency but also critical thinking prowess.

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IELTS Advantages and Disadvantages Essay

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

Model answer for an ielts advantage disadvantage (outweigh) essay..

Updated:  February 2024

One of the most difficult essay types for many band 6 students is the ‘outweigh’ essay, which is an advantage disadvantage essay that is asking your opinion about which side you think is stronger.

The keyword in the task is ‘outweigh’. So you must cover the advantage and the disadvantage in this essay and clearly state your opinion. Do not only write about the advantages. you will need to cover both sides for a higher score in task response.

If you believe the advantage is stronger you must give your opinion on that in the thesis statement, but also make sure you show what a possible downside is. Have a look at the structures below for this type of essay.

Note that these are just guidelines. There is nothing mentioned in the marking criteria about the correct structure to use.

Check this blog post on the 3 types of advantage disadvantage essays.

Model answer.

People now have the freedom to work and live anywhere in the world due to the development of communication technology and transportation. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

In recent times people have the choice of any location worldwide to live and work because of advances in communication technology and transport. Although there are downsides, this essay argues that the advantages are stronger as this has positively changed work life because people can work remotely via the internet from anywhere in the world.

One considerable advantage of technological innovation in transportation and communication is that it has revolutionised the way people work, bringing new opportunities and employment that did not exist before. In my view, this has had a positive impact on peoples lives due to the flexibility of combining work with travel. For instance, reliable Wi-fi networks and cloud computing, cheaper flights and high-speed trains allow people to live anywhere in the world while working online. Additionally, employees can participate in video conference calls and international forums, while entrepreneurs can run their businesses online from any location worldwide.

Admittedly, there are drawbacks in that some individuals have issues while living and working in different countries. In particular, culture shock and motivational problems while living outside their home country. This tends to lead to frustration for many remote workers who are relocated to offices in other countries. For example, multinational companies often neglect to train employees to deal with culture shock, as they assume that a positive experience on vacation in a new country will lead to easy cultural integration abroad. I believe communication technology has a positive role to play here, such as online coaching, which could help employees with motivation and cultural adjustment.

To conclude, despite the downsides, I believe that the benefits of communication technology and transport are greater because of new opportunities to travel and work online globally.

As you can see, I’m going with one advantage and one disadvantage here. This is ok for a Band 7+ but the essay must be well developed. If you have 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages, you may run out of time and end up with a very long essay at well over 300 words. Keep the essay concise.

You will notice in the thesis statement that I state:

‘Although there are downsides, this essay argues that the advantages are stronger as this has positively changed work life because people can work remotely via the internet from anywhere in the world.’

This shows balance as I have referred to the fact that there is a downside. In main body one, I cover the advantage and give my opinion on this. ‘ In my view, this has had a positive impact on people’s lives… .’

In main body two, I stated:   ‘Admittedly, there are drawbacks….’  this shows the examiner that I’m covering the downsides now.

In the conclusion I refer to the disadvantages again briefly then restate my opinion… ‘ To conclude, despite the downsides, I believe that….’

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Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

“Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?” is a common IELTS essay question in writing task 2 which many students struggle with. Below is an sample essay question to practice this type of essay and also some tips to help you.

Essay Question Sample

In recent years, more and more people are choosing to read e-books rather than paper books. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

Tips for Outweigh Essay Questions

To answer this type of IELTS essay question you must:

• brainstorm ideas supporting both sides first
• this question is asking for your opinion
• answer the question – do you think the advantages or the disadvantages are most important? Which one?
• you can use the word “outweigh” in your introduction if you want
• or you can simply explain if there are more advantages or disadvantages in your opinion
• avoid formulaic statements for your thesis statement – this means don’t use a memorised phrase
• have one body paragraph which gives details about the opposite side to your opinion
• have either one or two body paragraphs which give details of the side you chose to support
• re-state your opinion in the conclusion using different language
• The “outweigh” essay question is not exactly the same as the Advantages and Disadvantages essay question.
• This type of question is very different from the “positive or negative” essay question.

Post your essay in the comments box below for other students to comment on and so you can compare with others.

Recommended for Writing Task 2

• Advantage Disadvantage Sample Essay Questions
• Advs & Disadv Essay Model Answer
• Positive Negative Development Essay Model Answer
• All Writing Task 2 Tips, Model Answers and Free Videos

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Hello Liz, thank you for these resources. I attempted the essay below

Nowadays, more people prefer to read e-books than the traditional paper books. In my opinion, I believe that the advantages of e-books far outweigh whatever disadvantages there may be. Firstly, e-books are weightless. In the world we live in today, most people have mobile devices such as phones and tablets with them most of the time which they can use to access their electronic books wherever they are without the need to take anything else with them. This is particularly useful when travelling as the space that would have been occupied by hard copy books can be used for something more important. Secondly, e-books are advantageous in that they can be shared with friends and loved ones that are miles apart. They also possess the benefit in that if available online, they can be accessed by people far away, even in other countries. This is especially beneficial to students in developing countries who may not be able to access hard copies of newer edition textbooks, however, if these textbooks are available online, they can simply be download on mobile devices. The third and perhaps the most important advantage of e-books is the conservation of trees. Traditional books are made of paper, which is derived from trees. Thousands, if not millions of trees have to be cut down yearly for the purpose of producing paper for books. This practice has contributed to climate change and harmed our environment. Moreover, these trees that are felled were once homes to abundant wildlife such as birds, snakes, frogs etc. which end up being displaced or killed. A few disadvantages of e-books is that they are limited to only those who have mobile devices and access to the internet. Also, the prolonged screen time can be damaging to the eyes especially when the print is small and the text is bulky. In conclusion, e-books are easily accessed at the click of a button on mobile devices, do not take up extra space in bags or luggage, can be easily shared to loved ones and friends, and have a wider coverage in terms of accessibility. Moreover, they preserve our planet by reducing deforestation. I strongly believe that the advantages of using e-books far outweigh their disadvantages.

Thank you Liz!

Go to the main section for writing task 2 on my website and learn about paragraphing. Also have a look at the model essays and how they are written. The model essays are there to learn from.

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? The artificial intelligence technology may produce passenger vehicles in the near future that don’t require any drivers. There are a few negative aspects of this development like loss of jobs for drivers or dependency of humans on machines but from my perspective, the merits surpass the demerits because this advancement will lead to less smoother traffic, ease in travel and lesser accidents. The details of my argument are explained below. Traffic without drivers will cause complete follow up of rules resulting in peace on roads and also create easy journey. The drivers are ultimately humans who can make unintentional mistakes while driving. For instance, if a person is stressed out, his driving might be affected. However, the computers are error free and will follow the instructions installed in them making the driving flawless. In addition, driverless transport system will ensure less accidents securing the life of people and eliminating destruction of vehicles. As the computer operated vehicles will obey the commands inserted in them, the chances of mistakes on roads are diminished. This point cannot be neglected that these new cars and buses will drastically affect the job opportunities for drivers and also produce a sense of dependency in human population upon the technology. However, there may be other jobs to fill in for the drivers related to the new established system. Hence, such transport system will provide a great control over accidents resulting in security of life and assets. To sum up, in my opinion, driverless vehicles will be an exceptional addition to the world for better traffic system and easy journey for the people. Moreover, it will be best in terms of saving lives due to negligible chance of accidents. This advancement will thus flourish a wonderful and prosperous world.

Just a quick comment, try to keep your introduction shorter. You don’t get any extra points for having a long introduction and it wastes a lot of time writing it. Just state your position and don’t give details. All details are for the body paragraphs. It is the body paragraphs that will give you the high score. Review my model answer to see how I do it.

I have always been a sensory person and always appreciated the feel of a paperback on my hand and loved the new-book scent. Be that as it may, it is my conviction that I gain more by obtaining digital copies as opposed to indulging my senses.

First and the most important in this time of financial uncertainty, e-books are more economical than their paperback counterpart. As far as pricing is concerned, digital prices are up to twenty five percent cheaper than physical copies. Sometimes, edition updates are included in the pricing. This is not something that can be done with physical copies. Even with minimal changes in a physical book, a new edition would be released, rendering your owned copy non-current.

This inadvertently decreases your carbon foot print and even if you are not an avid environment advocate, every little thing that is an attempt to go paperless matters. This means no more bulky text books that you have to carry around. Although, I have to say that you may need to keep your devices charged, pay for internet services and and in some cases, buy cloud storage to hold your massive library in one place. After all, you are bringing all your books and making it accessible so that it can be shared across all other devices that you own.

This leads me to the accessibility aspect of the e-books. Gone are the days that you will forget, or worse, lose a book that is worth hundreds of dollars. There were times when an entire collection would be destroyed by a natural calamity. Well, no more. You no longer need to travel and bring five paperbacks and take space from your carry-on. You can even pull an all-nighter when the lights are turned-off, next to your snoring spouse, with the convenience of your e-book app from your mobile device. The draw back is the increasing eye strain brought about by increased screen time from e-book reading.

E-books are by far one of the gifts of this digital age that keeps on giving because it gave us an access to knowledge that we can carry anywhere and possibly connect with anything if we have the means and connection to do so. I strongly believe that the advantages far outweighs the disadvantages so much that I am more than willing to give-up the new-book scent, which is, by the way, saying a lot.

If you are preparing for the IELTS test, it is essential that you understand the way to write an essay for IELTS. It is not the same as any other essay. It has specific requirements which you must learn. This includes length of paragraphs, content, language, linking words, style etc. If you fail to learn this, you will struggle to get a high score even if your English is strong because you will struggle with Task Response and Coherence & Cohesion, which together count for 50% of your marks. See all my free model essays to learn the right way. Notice every detail of the essays: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/ . And consider my advanced lessons in my store which explain precisely how you should write your essay: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/

In current era, the majority of the folks are preferring to read the e-book instead of the paper books around the world. Although, due to the reading on the screens can cause the problems in the eye-sight. I believe that the benefits are far more than the drawbacks because reading the books using laptops, mobiles or tables can be dynamic, and this is the more portable way.

The online reading is dynamic in nature due to the various reasons. Firstly, it contains the sitelinks that can be open in the browser. Secondly, the reader can navigate automatically to any part of the book either by using the index or other bookmarks. Lastly, e-books comes with the sound, one can read listen the part of book in spite of reading. The survey held online also suggest the same reason that more people are inclining toward the electronic edition of books due to its dynamic nature.

Moreover, the books are portable. These days due to the efficient storage systems, the books can be stored in the hard drives and can be taken with someone at any place. In addition to this, the e-books are instantly available in the marketplace. For instance, normally the publisher first publish the online version.

However, the reading of the e-books can also cause some problems as well. The major problems caused by continuously looking at the differenct types of screen can create the vision problems. Thus, a reader cannot read continously read the e-book. For example, the medical report published at University of health, that eye problems are rising due to the online reading.

In conclusion, although the reading caused the certain health problems such as eye vision problem, overall the e-books are more dynamic, can be taken with someone at any place, bought earlier from any part of the world. For these reasons I believe that the advanatages can outweigh the disadvantages.

Even after scrolling through the whole comments and replys, still didn’t find clearification for my doubt. Dear Liz, thanks for this wonderful site. I trust your health is improving ma. This is my doubt. For the adv outweighs disadv question; even if in my opinion I choose adv, am to write about both the adv and disadv and state clearly the adv as my opinion. Then for the to what extent do u agree or disagree/ what do u think type of eassy question, Iam to write only about one side of the opinion I choose through out the intro, body paragraphs and conclusion. Am I right?..Pls I need clarification

When it says “outweigh” it means which is more and which is less. So, if you think the advantages are more, you also think that the disadvantages are less. Understanding this key concept will help you structure your essay.

What types of question is?

Teachers give essay types different names. I call this one example of a direct question essay. It is specifically asking you if you think there are more advantage with less disadvantages or whether you think there are less advantages with more disadvantages – you need to choose one.

“Do you think advantages OUTWEIGH disadvantages”

Is it an advantages and disadvantages essay type OR an opinion essay type? According to some videos, it will be an opinion essay type but according to you, it is an advantages and disadvantages essay type. Which is correct?

Teachers give names to essay types because it helps with classification. Each teacher is different. I classify adv/disadv essays as two kinds. 1) what are the advantages and disadvantages of X” – this type of essay requires you to present both sides. 2) “do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages” – this requires you to choose which is more important and that means you must present your opinion. An actual opinion essay is one where you are given an opinion in a statement by IELTS and are asked to decide if you agree or not. By classifying and teaching in this way, people are usually clearer as to what their aims are. So, don’t get confused with names of essays. You only need to understand what your task is and what your aims are.

Hello Liz, hope all is well.

Please let me know if I understood this; In the 2nd kind “Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages” one needs to give the opinion on advantage is more important or a disadvantage, although one needs to discuss both of them.

Thank you so much for your time and effort 🙂 Kind Regards!

I want you to think more about the instructions and what the task is. 1) do you think the advantages are more and the disadvantages are less? 2) do you think the disadvantages are more important and the advantages are less important? Now choose which approach you take. As you see, each approach contains both advantages and disadvantages but with an opinion behind them.

In recent years, more and more people are choosing to read e-books rather than paper books. Do the advantage outweigh disadvantag? Recently, the majority of people prefer to read e-books instead of paper books. Although there are disadvantages, but in my opinion advantage of reading e-books outweigh disadvantage because of its convenient and availability for acquiring knowledge. To initiate the benefits of reading electronic books, firstly, reading electronic books are more convenient and portable, now days, due to technological advancement, everything is available anywhere and anytime, and people do not carry any paper-based documents with them. Therefore, we can easily access and read electronic books anywhere. For example, we have access and can read electronic books during a trip like inside a train, airplane, and car or even while we are walking on the beach or relaxing in a park we can access our desired book and start reading it, there is no need to carry a paper base books while going far away from home. This resulting acquiring knowledge easily.

On the other hand, there are also downsides for reading electronic books, as it can cause eyes problems due to light of screen. By looking for a long duration of time on a laptop or smartphone screen our eyes, get tired and light hurts, which it can cause serious problems, like losing sight, headache and other problems. For instance, if I look for more than 6 hours a day continuously at my phone or laptop screen, I will get severe headache that even I will be unable to open my eyes. Another disadvantage is that it does not give the feeling of reading a book like the one paper-based and we are not getting the knowledge the way we get from paper books, because by using a laptop or mobile, we somehow lose concentration while reading and we are not able to focus.

To conclude, besides the downsides of reading electronic books, the benefits are more than the disadvantages because it is accessible and convenient to read anywhere and anytime.

An increasing number of people prefer reading e-books over paper-based books. In my opinion, the advantages of reading on electronic devices instead of paper materials outweigh the disadvantages. I will explore through it the following essay.

To start with, e-book has its convenience in terms of accessibility, taking notes and understanding the content. If I were to buy paper books, I would physically go and get it from a store. On the other hand, we can easily make an access to e-book, getting heled by the internet. Furthermore, e-book helps people to get information and take notes faster. As an illustration, paper-based textbooks are replaced by digital materials in many lectures and courses in the present days, because it is easier and faster to get information we need and write down the contents.

Nevertheless, attention tends to drift while we are reading on digital devices such as phones, laptops. and tablets. There are many latent distractions in the devices, making people lose their focus. For instance, our attention can wander, ending up browsing through our social media account or checking up emails. Although there are concentration issues with e-book, this can be handled by turning off notifications or activate ‘Do not disturb mode’ in our digital devices.

In conclusion, there are more advantages in reading e-book compared to paper book due to high easier access and faster in collecting information and organizing it. Moreover, there are ways to stay focused on the content even if we are using electronic devices to read them.

In the last few years, a growing number of people prefer reading e-books instead of paper-based books. In my opinion, there are more advantages of reading e-books rather than paper books. Also, it is much more convenient. Even though e-books are the new trending form of reading, there are some things that may cause trouble for some who use this method. For example, one disadvantage can be that reading on a computer through a screen can be tiring, the long exposure of light hurts the eyes of the reader. It also can lead to eyesight loss in the long run if precautions are not taken. Other negative side of e-books is that it doesn´t give the same feeling as holding a book, some may even say that they cannot feel connected to the story and that it takes more to concentrate. Despite of this, there are several benefits of e-books. The most relevant for me is convenience. For instance, you can download a book or purchase it from an online store and save it in any device you want. In this way, you can take any book you want everywhere you go instead of having to choose for only one because carrying multiple paper books would be too heavy and would take a lot of space. In addition, e-books cost significantly less than buying paper books. This is because paper books have to be printed while e-books are just an online document. Another important advantage is that e-books are more environmentally friendly than paper books, in this way we are helping the environment by saving tons of trees that are taken down annually in order to use it for printing purposes. In conclusion, e-books advantages outweigh the disadvantages in numerous ways such as convenience for the reader, variety, costs, and it also helps the environment. We should all move to more sustainable ways of doing what we love the most like reading.

Some people think that everyone has a right to access a university education and that the government should make it free for all students, regardless of their financial situation. To what extend do you agree or disagree? A section of society believes that all people have the opportunity to get a higher education at academic institutes, besides the government needs to provide a free tuition fee to every student, regardless of their financial status. In my opinion, I strongly disagree with this statement, and the details with suitable examples will discuss in the following passage. Embark, the main drawbacks of getting free tuition fees at university for everyone will pave an unclearness of education and no vacancy for jobs. This is because, if the country – authority give access to pursue fee less education to everyone there will be overpopulate of students at collages, and this will create a demand in collages behalf of admission seats, shortage of professors and lack of class rooms. These will affect the education quality of other students by getting poor education. Take for example, countries in middle east, their government provides free collage studies for every people, but it creates huge flaws, that their university do not have enough teaching facility for everyone due to over strength, as a consequence they acquired a low-level degree and most of them were in backlogs. In addition, come up with free higher studies to every individual by the government will cause huge economic crisis in the country. This is happening because, the budget allotted for the country’s development will mostly be spent on universities and colleges for higher studies, that makes them to rise the price and tax in other commodities and facility. For instance, in India the government have provides a free education to all students, that their major money was spent on education makes them to increases the prices of other public amenities like rise in ticket price of public transport, rise in GST in grocery price and also rate of electrical bill in order to compensate the budget allotted. That negatively impacts the people in economic wise. To recapitulate, overpopulate of students due to free education makes them to acquire an unqualified degree, further the economic of country in struggle because to balance the finance allotted to universities for plenty of pupil. That illustrates it is not possible to provide fees less collage to everyone.

Please check my writing task 2

New technologies have changed the way children spend their free time. Do you think the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages? It is commonly found that, latest technology development has paved a great shift in the way how children spend their leisure time. This essay will demonstrate with relevant support that the drawbacks of this trend out shadow the benefits. PLEASE CHECK MY INTRODUCTION

Many an individual is ambivalent about whether the digital mode of reading holds more precedence over the conventional way of acquiring knowledge. This essay will demonstrate with relevant support that the benefits of electronic books definitely out shadow the associated drawbacks since there is a wide variety of knowledge available readily online than in printed books.

To initiate the benefits of using the digital mode of learning for most individuals, in the current era of modernization. firstly, it is irrefutable that most modern people are becoming conscientious about the perseverance of the environment. Since paper books involve chopping down trees, thus, fewer people prefer taking knowledge from them and choosing electronic types of equipment. Take Kindle, for example, which is widely used by young readers to acquire knowledge. This volume has resulted in lowering the use of wood to make papers in many developed nations.

Another benefit that makes people prefer more of reading more digitally is the cost and maintenance involved. For some, paper books may be good for concentration, it cannot be denied that the same can be there while reading from a device where information is extended along with audio and visuals at a less cost. For example, most of the reading material online does have free referral links to certain video clips which broaden the horizons of knowledge for creative learners. Moreover, electronic media does not require costly maintenance charges to keep them in good condition for long since the downloaded books can be accessed and stored digitally anywhere.

To conclude, it is evident from the aforementioned information that there are compelling reasons for many echelons to reap benefits from reading electronic books, ranging from saving the environment to being cost-effective. It appears that paying an extra amount to own electronic reading devices would surely benefit the readers in the long run.

I think you were supposed to have a body paragraph for the opposing side

In this present world, technology has made our lives faster and easier. Due to improvements in technologies, nowdays a number of people prefer to read books on their mobile phones and laptops rather than choosing physical books. I personally in favour of e-books and Strongly believe that its benefits overpower the drawbacks and in my next few paragraphs, i will discuss about this view.

To Start with, the main advantage of using e books is that we can carry any kind of book conveniently in our smart phones and tablets. In order to read articles or magazines, we do not have to purchase it physically if we may use e-books. For instance, ‘kindle’ a platform provided by Amazon company is famous for its ebook collections. It provides various kind of books with amazing features which can enhance the reading experience. It gives opportunity to Store more than thousand books without lack of any storage and it is not possible for us to store these numbers of book at home.

In addition, there are few more advantages of electronic media. Firstly, we can access it at any time without depending on its availability in shops. Secondly, many applications provide amazing features which can help reader to enjoy the process of reading.And last but not least, we can get a chance to read books without any cost. Various website provide access to free e-books which are not possible to read in shops.

On the other hand, there are few downgrades of e-books. First of all, it will cause serious eyes damages if we use them in long run Constantly without taking breaks. Moreover, Hardware is the most common problem, because of small screens of mobiles, reader has to concentrate more and this will Sometimes result in headache. Further more due to many unethical behaviours it will lead to problems such as piracy of content, which is not good for anyone who is related to making process of book.

In Conclusion, i personally think that it will alway depend on us that how we use the things for our self. If we use the e-books in appropriate manner then its merits are very much as compared to demerits.

Hello teacher Liz, thanks for these excellent materials

Is it ok to write the weaker paragraph, shorter that another one in this type of essay, and spend most of our time writing about what outweigh the other side?

Your main points are supposed to be equally developed. This means body paragraphs are of equal length.

If I am asked that “Do the benefits of this situation outweigh the demerits?”, should I mention my opinion? But if I am asked, “Do you think the benefits of this situation outweigh the demerits?”, I have to mention my opinion such as I think the benefits of this situation outweigh the demerits.

I will wait for your precious feedback.

With regards, Shahparan Islam

If you are asked – Is pizza healthy or unhealthy? Or do the benefits of eating fast food outweigh the health concerns? Are these questions asking your opinion? Yes, they are. When you are asked to choose or are asked to present your position – these are questions that require a clear opinion.

Im taking this saturday my third IELTS academic test (still dont improve writting above 6). And I have found your page very useful!

I have a question: For the type of advantages and disadvantages and outweigh… is it good to end the introduction with something like “…this has brought many benefits but has also created a number of problems” or should I really need to state my opinion on deciding wether there are more advantages than disadvantages? And should I tell which ones in the introduction?

Thank you so much for your response!

I suggest you learn how to write such an essay completely rather than a typed tip. This is about knowing precisely how to write each paragraph. Go to my store, get a lesson and if it’s useful, get more: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/

At present, the number of people is getting more use to reading e-books than paper based books. The e-books have more advantages than paper-based books and one of the main advantage is that we can have any book from all over the world which is just one click away, and it can be done with the help of internet.

As said earlier, electronic book has its own advantages since we need to go physically to buy it or purchase it online and this process takes time and money, while for e-book we can save our time and money because free e-books are also available online, these reduces the efforts involved physically. The mobile phones have the ability to save the e-book and after downloading it from the internet it can be read offline also in train, buses and anywhere you want. These mobile phones are pocket friendly so for instance when your travelling and your bored so you have to go online, download the novel e-book or any book of your choice and enjoy reading it.

In-case of paper based books, it won’t affect your eyes health because in e-book you will be constantly staring at the screen of mobile phone or laptop or computer so this can affect your eyes as you read for long hours. This can be avoided by limiting permissible amount of time to read the e-book. However, the traditional books will a physical space while e-book don’t need it but still many people of older age will prefer the real books over the digital books.

In my opinion, e-books has outweigh advantage when compared to real books as the efforts involved to get an e-book is less and also you can have books from globally. Nevertheless, elderly people will choose paper books because it feels more appealing to them.

Today people spend most of their time working which results in the shortened time for pastime activities. In my opinion, this has more disadvantages than benefits because some people who work long hours can suddenly die from work-related health problems while others can feel guilty for neglecting their family. One of the main advantages of working long hours is a career-related success. Many career-minded people seek promotion and for which, they need to show that they are working very hard by sacrificing their time for hobbies and other activities. This, indeed, could be effective if a person wants to climb a career ladder and reach his or her professional goal. It is common that professionals who stay very late at work can suddenly die from a serious work-related illness. One evident example is that in Japan, men work 16 hours a day in the office and according to one study, many Japanese men die from a heart attack before they retire. Moreover, if a person holds a managerial job which means he was stressed most of his time at work, then it is most likely that he won’t reach his 50s and die as a result of a heart-related illness. Working long hours imply that there will be little time left for family. This can be saddening for workers who miss the most precious time of their growing child. As an illustration, in the US only, many working mothers feel very guilty when leaving their child at daycare from the age zero. Furthermore, these mothers are expected to work as much as regular people who don’t have children. In conclusion, there are a number of advantages and disadvantages to spending a lot of time at work, however, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages because working long hours can be fatal for some, as well as can be a source of guilt for others who would prefer to spend more time with family.

Nowadays, modern technologies by meaning of gadgets make our life more comfortable. E-book is one of them. I support the point of view when benefits outweigh downsides. There is number of advantages of using e-book. For example, it is quite light thus there is no necessity to take a heavy book everywhere. Especially it is convenient when you are going to a holiday or a business trip. Second profit is e-books are cheaper than paper books. For instance, usually e-books are half or even more cheaper than traditional books. There is no need to buy many real books when it is easy to download e-books thus it is cost-effective and do not take a place for shore them afterwards. Last but not least important plus of e-books is a safety for eye-sight. Specific e-ink do not disturb eyes and do not allow them to get tired as fast as printed books. Additionally, it is simple to regulate a level of light for enjoyable reading. Meanwhile there are also some drawbacks. Plenty of people can not read e-books because they do not feel the real book so this fact hinders them to percept the book and its content from an aesthetic point of view. What is more some people believe that e-books effect on a well-memorizing that’s why the prefer reading traditional books. To conclude, the role of electronic devices will be growing and they provide more freedom. Clearly advantages of e-books outweigh disadvantages. Nevertheless, a plenty of people still choose paper books.

The pros and cons of information technology is a hot topic in every discussion nowadays. With the day to day advancement in the field, people are now able to work and get settled in any place they wish to. Another key factor which supports this development is the improvement of transportation facilities across the globe. This is in fact a positive trend. To begin with, there are plenty of facilities and online platforms which are designed solely to connect people worldwide. This improved communication systems will nullify the feeling of homesickness and missing loved ones to a lot extent. To name a few, whatsapp, duo etc provides videoconferencing facilities for unlimited time. Similarly, even if there is an emergency of some sort, there are plenty of transportation facilities that can be used. For instance, if a person has to travel overseas due to demise of a loved one, he or she can immediately book a flight without any further delay. Besides, many previously unknown places can now be accessed via different transportation means. This has led to development of all faces in those places which resulted in more people choosing to migrate to those countries. As an impact of the development of the Arabian countries, people during 1960’s fled the place in search of jobs and many of them choose to settle there. To conclude, the improvement in communication and transportation facilities is giving people freedom to choose any place to live and work. The advantages of this development therefore definitely outweigh the disadvantages.

E-books are slowly becoming popular among the younger generation day-by-day as compared to the option of paper books. In my opinion, the benefits of using e-books definitely outweighs the drawbacks of using a physical book.

There are a lot of advantages to using an e-book instead of a paper book, for example, e-books are easier to store as they don’t need any physical space and thus, they have a longer shelf life as compared to paper books. Being in digital format, e-books can be easily carried on any electronic device and can also be accessed conveniently from internet. This also includes sharing it with your loved ones.

There is one more particular benefit, which a paper book can never have and that is features like adjusting the font and brightness of an e-book according to readers comfort or quickly looking for the meaning of any word from dictionary just by tapping on it. Last, but not least, using e-books saves a lot of trees by reducing the demand for paper, thereby contributing to a healthier environment.

Despite of having so many benefits over a physical copy, e-books are not for everyone. For older generations, physical books will always be a preference. To some, the look and feel of a physical book is more appealing than an e-book. Some people also have a hobby of collecting books as a memory. Additionally, physical books can be personalized by making hand-made markings on them or signing them for fans.

As evident from above, clearly the benefits of digital books outweigh the disadvantages of using paper books. Nevertheless, paper books will always be prevalent in future for a particular set of people based on their preference.

It is true that people in the recent times prefer to read books on electronic gadgets such as laptops and mobiles instead of paper books. Although I accept there are some drawbacks of this trend, I believe that there are far more benefits. In my view, reading of e-books has some negative impacts on individuals’ health. Firstly, continuous studying of books from electronic equipments has bad impacts on reader’s eyes. Rays emitted from screens make the eye sight weak, and as a result, people need to use spectacles while learning. For instance, medical survey conducted by Indian health department reveals that most cases of low vision in the people are due to long time reading of electronic books. Secondly, digital books distract readers while learning as there are a variety of commercials reflect on the screen which not only divert learner ‘mind but also waste their quality time. However, I would argue that negative impacts are outweighed by positive effects. Reading e-books are cost effective as compared to paper books. One can download a range of digital books from internet, and read them. To illustrate, electronic books are available on different websites, there are various digital books available on one subject written by different authors, which sometimes are very expensive in form of paper books. Moreover, individuals can use digital books on mobiles which made them handy,and they can utilize their free time to go through their favorite subjects and novels at any time. In conclusion, it seems to me that positives of reading e-book are far more significant than the negatives

A government’s role is only to provide defense capability and urban infrastructures, such as roads, water, and power. All other services, such as education, health, and social security, should be provided by private groups or individuals in the community. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is true that protecting national security and maintaining the inviolate territory from other countries as well as furnishing the essential facilities including water and energy are an authority’s responsibility. I, however, completely agree with those who believe that the government should also supply the fields, namely curriculum, the healthcare, and the community welfare system, instead of organizations, individuals in the society.

To begin with, obviously, a state’s role is the macroscopic management, including enacting feasible policies and investing the national budget in the areas that initially serve benefits of the public. The education system that plays an important role in paving the way for the development of a country, would reap certain benefits of such policies, especially the government assists to build new schools and pays the wage for teachers, and forecast the manpower demand of the community. Some studies showed that associations tend to allocate their capital for the services such as vocational schools and language centers rather than for the science-related occupations because of the shorter payback on their investment and the lower the risks. Therefore, letting these companies provide the curriculum, is likely to create more disadvantages than the advantages.

In addition, perhaps, it seems to me that the idea, allowing individuals and personal organizations supply the health and social security area may be impossible for this service requires the great fund with a long-term period and the huge human resources.

Besides, the unequal competitive and exclusiveness also might stem from companies owning the health care and welfare field. In recent researches indicated that the expense of basic medical examination, the expenditure for insurance packages, and the price of medicine in some developed countries in which there are a variety of hospitals operated by private associations are higher than those in developing nations. Consequently, a number of poor cannot afford to pay the medical consultation and treatment expenses, which means the distance among strata in the society could be widened, the community, thus, would fail to thrive.

In conclusion, the concept that organizations and individuals furnishing the social services, education area, and the health-related and welfare filed in particular, is taken into consideration. However, I concur that the government should shoulder this mission.

Try to aim for 300 words or under rather than over 360 words. You won’t get a higher score because your essay is longer. In fact, you open yourself up to more errors and more possibility of a less focused essay. Also ensure that body paragraphs are equally developed.

is the ” do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages” the same as ” discuss the advantages and the disadvantages” ? and thankyou in advance

The discuss instructions ask you to present both. The “outweigh” instructions are asking you to evaluate – too choose. The latter requires an opinion, the former does not.

In last few years, many people have started preferring e-books over paper books. In my opinion, I think there are more advantages of choosing e-books compared to any drawbacks it may cause. Admittedly, there are some minor disadvantages of using e-books. Firstly, reading books on electronic devices for long hours may affect eyes and as a result, it may cause fatigue or lead to weak eye sights. Normally, people like to complete their books as soon as they start reading them, and focusing on a screen for an extended period of time can put a strain on their eyes. For example, one recent research has found that two in ten people who regularly read on mobile devices wear eyeglasses. Secondly, since mobile phones and tablets have limited battery capacity, they can only be used for a certain number of hours, and as soon as the battery runs out, they need to be recharged in order to be used again. This can be frustrating for those who read books on portable devices while travelling if there is no charging facility nearby. Nevertheless, despite the disadvantages above, I think people can benefit more from choosing e-books to read. One of the major advantages of using electronic books is the instant access to an online library that contains millions of books, which can be downloaded to electronic devices such as mobile phones in a matter of few minutes. As many people in today’s societies lead a busy life, they hardly get time for themselves, and going to a store to buy books can be time consuming and inefficient, given their busy schedules. Therefore, the majority of them find downloading e-books from the internet convenient. Another benefit of choosing e-books over paper ones is that they do not cover extra space or add additional weight especially when travelling. Generally, a plethora of adults like to read three to four books during travelling long distances and carrying several books around can be tiring and difficult to manage. In contrast, having multiple books in a single portable device will not only save space but it will considerably be easy to manage. In conclusion, time savings in buying e-books online and convenience while travelling far outweighs any of the drawbacks that may result from using digital books.

Really great essay. I like it. Great. I found new ideas for my essays. It is really useful. Thanks.

Learning a second language is becoming increasingly prevalent among schoolchildren. Some argue that this process should take place at primary school rather than secondary school. In my opinion, the benefits of introducing language lessons at primary education institutions far outweigh the drawbacks.

It is admittedly true that schoolchildren already have many subjects that need to study when starting their education at school. This is because there are some more important classes, which broaden children’s horizon and help with their development. For example, learning mathematics at an early age may help students with their intellectual growth and improve their problem-solving skills. If a language class was incorporated into the curriculum, pupils might not be able to spend enough time learning essential subjects. As this example shows, adding extra lessons at primary school might be undesirable for a child’s development and growth.

However, I believe that there are many advantages of learning a foreign language at an early age. The reason is that children often possess incredible linguistic and learning skills. In addition, children are proven to have better memory than adults by numerous studies. To illustrate this, unlike many educational institutions, a Danish primary school introduced English lessons for its students. Because they possessed the ability to speak English and have a higher proficiency of the language, pupils that graduated from this school were more likely to secure a job offer in the future than those from other educational institutions. Thus, learning a second language should not be postponed until secondary education because the knowledge of a foreign language can improve a child’s future career prospects significantly.

In conclusion, it is certainly true that adding extra lessons, such as language classes, can take away time that could be spend on other essential subjects. However, in my opinion, the advantages of learning a foreign language far outweigh the disadvantages. This is because studying a second language as early as possible can increase the chance of employment in the future.

wow perfect essay! i bet you scored 9

Over the past few years, more people prefer to read e-books over paper books. In my opinion, this scenario has more demerits than advantages. Excessive indulgence in reading e-books can have detrimental effect on health, and it also reduces Social interaction.

Spending multiple hours reading e-books over electronic devices such as Computers, Mobile phone or Tablets can cause adverse effect on health. The radiation emitted from these devices puts our eyes at immense stress, and it could damage or weaken our vision. Futhermore, incorrect reading posture may create tension at shoulder muscles causing headaches and neck pains. For instance, many individuals spend most of their time over computers either for their work reading emails or e-documents, online materials suffer from above mentioned issues at very early age. Secondly, excessive reading of e-books causes individuals to develop addiction to electronic gadgets and in-turn they tend to aloof themselves from others. Since they spend considerable amount of time over their devices, they develop a feeling of insecurity. Finally, ebooks are difficult to read and comprehend compared to hardcopy. With e-books, we cannot highlight or make notes of any important sections.

Of course, people who choose to read e-book save time in purchasing the book. E-books are cheap and easily available compared to paper books. Most of the e-books can be readily purchased from publisher’s website or any online bookstores. We can have access to e-copy within few minutes of our online purchase. To add, e-books are also cheap since there are no printing and distribution cost. To illustrate, my uncle gifted me a hard copy of famous book “Rich Dad Poor Dad” that costed $24.99. The online version of same book costs $8.99. However, cost and time to acquire the book is not the deciding factors. People who chose paper books have more ease to read them without affecting their health and social relations.

To conclude, there are many negative impacts on people’s health and life, who prefer to read more e-books. We should include more paper books in our reading habits to help mitigate the side-effects.

A growing number of humans have been preferring to read e-books instead of paper books for the past few years. While reading books online have many advantages, it will have some drawbacks as well.

One evident benefit that online books offer is that it saves a lot of time and effort. This means that going into a bookshop and search for the books is always time consuming and doesn’t guarantee the book’s availability. For example, a close relative of mine is a university research student and has completed his past assignments with the help of online books, blogs, and forums. Besides, another plus point is that a substantial amount of space can be saved by storing the books electronically in laptops and in mobile devices Of course, the shelves occupies a lot of space and maintaining the book shelf is also difficult. It is also flexible to carry a mobile to a remote location rather than carrying a paper book.

On the other hand, reading online books can cause health issues. By continuously reading a lengthy book online, the rays emitting from the mobile or laptop can cause harm to human eye. In addition, laptops and mobiles requires continuous charging. Reading rhythm is broken if a mobile device is discharged. Online books has caused a profound impact on the libraries. Aptitude towards libraries has almost come to an end and a majority of people prefer to search their required material on the internet. However, we cannot rule out this fact that we may still find some older people around us who loves to sit in the libraries and read newspapers.

In conclusion, as the Social Media has emerged as a strong alternative to Paper Media within the past decade and it is making its root stronger every day, it is most likely that future will become paper less and Online Culture will predominate.

Brother its a well written essay with a good combination of vocabulary and grammar. I got very useful ideas from it but problem is in conclusion you have not mentioned yours point of view regarding advantages or disadvantages. You have just enclosed it by telling future of the world . I thing it would be better if you add your suggestion also with it.

‘A growing number of humans’ well, it doesn’t seem right to start that in the essay.(in my opinion) However,your essay is great.

Hi Liz! I am confused about the grammer rule of this sentence. Could you please correct me if I am wrong? For instance: ‘’A wide range of people say that…’’ if I use ‘a wide range of ‘ structure, do I need to use verb+s or the just the verb is okay? I mean which one is correct? -A wide range of people say that.. -A wide range of people sayS that.. thank you so much!

When you use such a quantifier after a plural noun, the verb will be third person plural – a large number of people say … – a great number of people say …. – a wide range of people say …

Hi liz, when we face this type of advantage/disadvantage task (do the advantages outweigh the dis advantages?) could we bring two reasons for opposite stance in main paragraph 1 and two reasons for our stance in main paragraph 2 and mention that the advantages/disadvantages behind our stance are more important or vital so they outweigh the opposite side? In other words, is it wrong to mention same number of advantages/disadvantages for our stance and the opposite stance in this type of question?

Thanks in advance, Saman

It’s completely fine to do that.

Hy Liz Please write a model essay on this type too It will be helpful Thanks in Advance❤

Hi liz, this is Smruthi from kochi, India. Am giving test on 26th this month.

These days, increasingly people prefer to use electronic books instead of printed books, for reading. In my opinion, this tendency has more advantages when compared to the disadvantages.

Decline of the print media, is a serious disadvantage related to the reduced usage of paper books. Hence, this would result in the closure of libraries, which has been one the most significant part of human life during many phases. Libraries, contain precious and valuable records of numerous domains such as, historical, cultural, religious, scientific, literary, mathematical and so on, which would be lost if not used and managed properly.

However, there are several advantages for the growing trend of reading and studying through e-books rather than the paper books. Firstly, it is the most convenient method of reading as electronic books are easy to carry while travelling and do not have much weight which are some of the highlights of this advanced technology. Secondly, easy access to any topics under the earth at any time with the help of internet and the inexpensive purchase of any books online, are some other advantages of great paramount. Any books to be read can be downloaded within seconds and also be shared among friends, which is a great positivity about the new trend among people. Apart from that, it is not required to carry heavy books like the earlier days, specially which is an inconvenience while travelling, and whole content of a book may be viewed in a small device such as, the mobile or the tablet.

In conclusion, it is the advantages that outweigh the disadvantages when the growing trend of reading e-books, instead of printed books, is taken into consideration. In my opinion, eventhough reduced access to libraries might lead to decline of the print media, but the advanced technology is highly advantegous that it has become the current trend among many.

Please somebody comment on this.. Liz, cud u pls advice how much i wud get for this writing

Sorry I do not comment on writing and I don’t offer a marking service.

This is awesome , very useful thanks

Hi Liz, Thank you for supporting us with IELT. I purchased your advanced lessons. they are of great benefit for me. they open my eyes on very critical points. I have one question so far and hope you find the time and patience to answer it. Regarding the adv outweigh disadvantages alternative model. your sample mentions in the first paragraph ‘despite the drawbacks below I believe the benefits from children doing work experience are extremely useful for their future. in the second paragraph, you write about the few drawbacks that might appear. However, my question is, when we agree the adv outweigh the disadvantages can we organise our essay as follows, ??? Introduction with a clear opinion that adv outweigh the disadvantages Body paragraph one discuss some drawbacks that might appear, ‘ Admittedly, there are some drawbacks’ Body paragraph two, with the advantages ‘ despite the drawbacks above I believe the benefits are extremely useful’ Conclusion. As if we reverse the two paragraphs. Thank you very much for your extreme efforts in helping us. I did the test many times in the past my last attempt was L7 R8 S8 W6 still trying to improve my writing and looking forward to hearing your valuable advice. Thanks,

It’s up to you how you organise your essay. Just make sure it’s logical and not confusing. For example, stick to the order you present in your introduction. Think about what the reader is expecting. However, having clear signposts such as those you suggest is a great way to make things really clear – it all helps towards your score for Coherence & Cohesion.

Hi liz, i just took my ielts today. My question is outweigh. I have a question, i stated in my intro that the benefits does not outweigh the drawbacks. However, in the conclusion, i wasnt able to restate it, but i explained 1 benefit and 2 disadvantages on my conclusion making it clear that i am more on the disadvantage side but i did not literally restate outweigh. Would that be okay?

You don’t need to use the word “outweigh”. No essay requires any particular word. If you showed which side you leaned towards that is enough.

Thank you so much Liz. I hope i get at least a 6.5.

Hi ms liz, im cycy from the philippines and i would like to ask a favor if you could check my task 2 essay if it is enough to get a good score. Thank you so much and God bless.

Books are considered as one of our sources of information. Recently, most individuals prefer to acquire information through the use of e-books rather than paperbound.

There are broad of array of reasons why the use of internet-based books becomes more trendy than traditional ones. One of them is accessibility. Thanks to the internet, we can easily obtain all the books that we need without having a single sweat. E-books has become much available that it can easily bring forth all the latest editions from news to educational books in an upmost comfort. With this growing trend, people can do more things without the need to visit any libraries. People can now have more available time to do other things and it comes in handy especially to those men and women who have limited time because of work. It also opens great opportunity to writers both professionals and aspiring authors who publish and share their works so that other people would enjoy reading and also to gain avid readers and followers around the globe.

The drawbacks of using this growing trend is that people become too lazy since searching for wanted books is as easy as preparing a cup of tea. Moreover, there are malicious individuals whos main reason of using e-books is to steal especially to unprotected internet site by means of illegal hacking and frauds. Plagiarism is also one of the major concerns of our recent authors that are quite hard to irradicate due to easy access of these available books in the internet world.

Despite of the these disadvantages, there are still more people, both readers and writers prefer of using internet based books. Nowadays, work and personal demands has given us time almost nothing to spare and so, using e-books gives more advantages. Furthermore, there are internet sites that protects the rights of authors and purchasers from the dangers of internet frauds ang crackers.

In conclusion, people become more practical and much wiser of using internet based books. And so, the advantages of using this trend outweighs the disadvatages.

Er.. i see some typo errors.. sorry about that in advance..

And grammar.. ugh! Frustrating..

I’m from India. I want to purchase your Advanced Learning Videos but the payment Amount is in Dollars. I need to know, if i can subscribe to your paid lectures?

Paypal will change the currency when you choose the country.

Hello liz, How tougy will i be marked if an essay questions says go you agree with adv being more than dis adv and i answered with an dis adv out weigh dis adv rather than an opinion essay structure?

I do not understand your question. This is not an opinion essay. It is an adv outweigh disadv essay which requires you to give your opinion. I teach each essay type separately because they are not completely the same.

I hope you can comment on this different essay Essay Question: More People decided to have children in their later age than in the past. Why? Do advantages this outweigh disadvantages?

Essay: Nowadays, newly married couples prefer to have children after many years of their marriage which is completely different than people in the past. Moreover, parents in the past prefer to have many children compared to recent ones. So, I will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of having babies in later age and, Do parents aware that disadvantages is more than benefits.

Recently, People think that having children in later age will give parents high advantages for many reasons. Firstly, people in late thirtieth have more life experience than of younger age. So, they can give this life knowledge to their toddlers. Secondly, It thought that children of of older parents always have higher economical life than of younger ones, as a result these children can start their life with less problems.

Beside the benefits, there are drawbacks affect the relation between parent and children because of the age difference. Today, life style changes very fast compared to past which lead to difference in mentality. Although, older people can give larger experience to their children, they see life in older fashion not like their children which in turn can’t handle every problem faces his child. As well as, older parents are less energetic than younger ones, children need highly active parent to can play and tech them sports they are like.

In conclusion, Having children in later age can positively affect the children and increase their life patterns and negatively affect them by different way of thinking. So, having children in earlier age is much more better than older age for both children and parents.

*writing a title for the essay & subtitle for body paragraphs * Is it essential?

As you can see, I have not done that with any of my model essays. If it was necessary, I would have done it.

Hi Liz! Thanks for all the excellent webpage! I have a question too. The essay question is the following: Both governments and individuals are spending vast amounts of money on protecting animals and their habitat. This money could be better spent dealing with fundamental issues in society as poverty and health care. To what extent do you agree?

I prefer to write one-sided essay as it is easier to my mind. But the question is: is it ok to write 2 body paragraphs of reasons why animals and their habitats should be protected and not mention the poverty and health care part at all or is it a mistake and I should add a 3rd paragraph which discusses why additional money should not be diverted to poverty and health care?

Thanks for you answer Anne-Liis

You can’t ignore part of the essay question. This is a two issue question. Your opinion must relate to both issues. If you believe that money should be spent on animals and their habitat, you also do not believe this money should be re-directed to health care and poverty. That is your full opinion and it is one sided.

hi liz , Mam, I do have the same doubt, as you say that we need to accept a view and reject another view, so let’s take the above example. so mb1 will be the reason why it should be spent on protecting animals, so will our mb2 be about that I do not believe this money should be redirected to health care [won’t it be a discussion essay ] . can you please kindly elaborate with the above example.

A discussion essay would ask you to discuss both sides without bias: why people agree with protecting animals and why people agree with funding health care. Two sides, both explained why people support them. You are not supporting both sides. You are saying I agree with A and I don’t agree with B. It is your opinion. One you have a positive opinion for and the other you hold a negative opinion. If you are unable to see the difference, there is nothing more I can do to help you.

if i was not able to understand the question correctly,what they are expecting then at that time what could i do ??? how can i write that task?? i am not that much good in english so according to my english how can i get good band in writing ???any tips???

IELTS is an English language test. You get a good score if your English is a good level. Addressing the task in writing task 2 is only 25% of your marks. The rest is about paragraphing, linking, vocab and grammar.

Hi Liz I have a confusion in giving solutions to cause solution essays.. shall i write “these steps should be taken” or “we should take these steps” im actually confused in using “we” “us” “our” or shall i give solution generally? Please help i have exam tomorrow

Some teachers say not to use “we” or “us”, others say it’s ok. I choose the middle ground – use other phrases: One possible step towards solving this is …. The best solution is … One effective answer is to …

Hii Liz! I have a doubt. May I use “a good garden may have some weeds” when starting paragraph related to disadvantages.

Do not use idioms – they are informal and the essay must be formal. See this page for all tips: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

Few experts believe that it is better for to learn a foreign language at primary schooling rather than high school Do advantages outweigh disadvantages My answer to to this question has

2 advantages and 1 strong disadvantages Which side should be my opinion? Advantages are 1. Easy for child to learn a language at early age and makes him easier to learn communication skills 2. As learning non native language makes individual to use more brain leading to improving his problem solving skills

Demerits are Foreign language often harm mother tongue of individual when he learn this nonnative language at early age As child tend to mix and add loan words of other language into his native language when he speaks his mother tongue

The aim of this essay is to present your opinion. You MUST decide if the advantages are more important than the disadvantages or vice versa.

I am disappointed that you didn’t give me a feedback, although you already gave feedback for others who submitted after me.

But thanks God, I have passed the exam with the score I want

Thanks anyway!

Unfortunately, I can’t answer everyone due to the hundreds and thousands of students who contact me. Well done with your results 🙂

Hi, I am Belinda from Ghana. I have my ielts exams next month(7th April). I’d appreciate it if i can get feedback on my essay below on the above topic.

These days, a lot more people are are often using e-books rather than the traditional textbooks. This essay will outline why the use of internet based books is more beneficial compared to paper books.

Over the years, paper books such as textbooks, journals, etc have been the source of information. Long hours are spent in libraries searching for books to complete assignments or to get term papers done. This can be very tedious and tiring. There are instances when there are limited numbers of a particular book. Hence, usage depends largely on its availability. This can cause delays and sometimes frustrations if deadlines are to to met. Another aspect of paper books is that, some of them tend to be big and very heavy. Thus, there is no ease of carrying them around.

On the other hand,the internet has made e-books easily accessible. Internet based books can be safely downloaded anytime, anywhere by so many people at the same time without having to worry about library closing times or when the last user is returning the book. This can either be free or at a fee. Portable technological devices like laptops, tablets or mobile phones can be used to accommodate e-books conveniently. E-book users have the additional benefit of easily carrying it around. Again, e-books can be kept for as long as the user wants and sharing of information from internet based books is easily done. For instance, if there is a group assignment to be done, an e-book version of a textbook can be downloaded and circulated among members without physically meeting each other.

In conclusion, i would like to say the benefits of e-books outweighs that of paper books. This is because e-books are readily available, easily accessible and convenient to carry about.

Nowadays, larger number of people are preferring e-books instead of paper books. In my opinion, I agree because our preferences change with time, and technology is everywhere now.

Due to the cheap prices of e-books, they might be absolutely the best choice for readers. Additionally, it is simply few clicks in no time and you can find the book you want from internet. Furthermore, keeping environment safe and clean require us to eliminate our usage of plastic covers, packaging, and non-recycled materials. Navigation, zooming, adding bookmarks, and highlighting favorite words, are so easy in electronic books.

On the other hand, no one can deny how physical books are comfortable for eyes. for some people searching for books in libraries and bookstores, are fun. some books are treasure and worth thousands of dollars if founded. many readers love the touch, smell of old paper books, they even remember some events in their lives when reading their private books.

Moreover, e-books may cause eye illness, especially when reading from tablets or mobiles with high brightness and with lights off. the darkness outside the screen causes eye to make extra efforts in order to see words. Additionally, non-licensed e-books are illegal and waste authors copyrights

To sum up, reading paper books will never be obsolete but e-books readers will continue growing. As we are technology addicts, we will always look for less efforts and free ways to get the books we need.

Hi Liz, may i ask, if my answer is the advantages outweigh the disadvantage, which side should i write first on the body paragraph? The side that i didn’t choose (disadvantages) or the side that i chose (advantages)?

Kindly reply. Thanks and have a great day!

Follow the same order you presented in your introduction. The examiner is checking your logical order of information. Keep topics sentences written clearly so the reader knows which paragraph is which.

Hi Liz, Please solve my confusion, the topic asked “are there more advantages than disadvantages of living in a house compared with living in an apartment?” What should be my strategy? adv of living in a house – BP1 disadv of living in a house – BP2 Please suggest .

This is not asking you to discuss. It is asking for your opinion. Are there more advs and less disadv or are there more disadv and less advs.

Hi Liz, Thanks for all your tips and advices . I’d like to ask you if it’s alright to list just ONE disadvantage, eventhough the question clearly states disadvantageS (ie plural form).

To illutrate : (in this case I’d like to say that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, therefore I’m implying that by putting TWO Advantages and only ONE Disadvantage):

Intro BP 1- Advantage 1 + Explanation BP 2- Advantage 2 + Explanation BP 3- Disadvantage + Explanation Conclusion

Would it be okay? Thank you in advance Liz 🙂

Sure it’s fine.

Thank you :))

Hi Liz, in your course you suggested three body paragraphs Incase there are one adv and two disadvantages. What if I write the one long advantage in one paragraph and combine two short disadvantages into one paragraph. Is it ok? Thank you!

There is no right or wrong. As long as your paragraphs are logical, it’s fine. But it does mean that one idea will be very developed and two will not be equally developed. Each idea should be equally developed in writing task 2.

Thank you Liz and happy new year!

Happy 2018 🙂

I am struggling with this question and tmr is the due date pls help me

I suggest you get my advanced lesson which explains this type of essay in depth: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/

Thank You Very Much Mrs.Liz

Can someone please comment on my essay. I be really greatful as I’m aiming for band 7.

Recently, majority of individuals are preferring to read books online rather than custom hand books. In my opinion, there are several advantage to reading books online as they are easily available as well as one can always look for the latest versions easily.

There are few disadvantages to reading e-books instead of paper books. Firstly, many readers find it difficult to read for a long time on screen whereas, reading a book is more pleasurable experience as it is tangible and involves fligging through the pages which many readers find amusing. Moreover, they are portable and a person can easily carry them along anywhere.

On the other hand, more and more people are opting to read books online due the many advantagess that out weight the disadvantages. To begin with, e-books are easily available anytime no matter how long ago they were published. As a result of advancement in the modern technologies, a mere touch can open up thousands of varieties to choose from and therefore lessened human efforts in search for the particular book. Furthermore, latest version of books can be viewed online easily anywhere in the world, unlike the paper books that require multiple months in publication and even more to get distributed. E- books don’t loose quality of the script over the period of time hence their material is everlasting. In conclusion, majority of pepole are opting to read e-books instead of paper books due to several advantages that outweigh the disadvantages of reading online including easy accessibility of books online along with the availability of latest modified versions at doorstep.

Hi, I cannot find any major errors in your essay. However, you could improve on paraphrasing the statement “advantages that outweigh the disadvantages”. I think you could use, “there are more benefits than its drawbacks” or ‘there are more good things to consider than the negative ones it brings”. 🙂 Good luck on your exam

I really appreciate your correction and indeed I find it difficult to paraphrase…hope I would improve. Many thanks for your time:)

Would it be alright to add questions in your essay to prove your point? For example, with regards to nuclear technology maintaning world peace.

I would really like to argue “How long could it maintain world peace before it destroys the world?”

Your task is not to present questions but to present supporting arguments “It certainly would not be able to maintain world peace for long before it destroyed the world…”

Hey Liz, What’s the difference between an outweigh type of essay and a disadvan/advan type of essay ?

Thanks in advance .

One requires an opinion and the other does not.

Hey LIZ I made a big mistake today. I forgot to put the disadvantages in the “do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?” Essay . I just kept discussing the advantages in the body paragraphs. How bad did I goof ?

It will affect your score for one of the four marking criteria which is called Task Response. TR counts for 25% of your writing task 2 marks. you’ll score lower in that area but you can hopefully pull your score up in the other criteria and in task 1. Fingers crossed 🙂

Thanks a lot Liz. I passed. You’re the best. Your website is awesome

Well done 🙂

Hi Kaine. How was your score in this particular writing test? Did you manage to get above 7? pls reply

Hey! Yes I passed. I got 7 on the dot. Was really lucky. Maybe my paper 1 made up. Thanks. Goodluck with yours

I did that today as well.. I wrote three paragraphs on advantages ☹️☹️ Did you manage to get a 7?

Hey Natasha. Yes I got a 7 on the dot. I’m sure you’lo be fine *fingers crossed* . Please let me know how it goes. Goodluck

I am very thankful to you. Your website is very helpful to me. Thank you so much.

Just a quick question, if I completely agree that the disadvantages outweighs the advantages, do I still need to write the advantages or I could stay on one idea, which all about disadvantages?

Thank you in advance!

You need to explain why one is more important than the other. This means you will refer to both.

Copy that, thanks again! 😀

Thanks for all your help. You have be amazing. I have my test tomorrow but i just came across this “outweigh” question. Kindly clarify how i should go about it. After my Introduction, do i give advantages of e-copy, which i think is more advantageous, then proceed to give disadvantages of paper copies?

Help! I have a feeling it might just come up tomorrow.

Thanks in advance.

You express your opinion – which are more important? If you think the ads are more important than the disadvs, then you explain this in your essay.

Regarding the question: “Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages” If, for example, my answer is that there are more advantages to this. Do I write the advantages in the body paragraph as an opinion format? Or do i just write my opinion statement on both the introduction and conclusion instead?

Your entire essay will show and explain why you think that the advantages are more important than the disadvantages.

Hi Liz, First of all,thankyou for your feedback.I took IELTS today and I didn’t much practice of writing.I just went through your tips about writing.Thankyou for that. My essay was “Some people believe that young students should be taught to put more effort and do better than others while some argue that everyone should work together for each other’s benefit”. Do the disadvantages of competition among students outweigh the advantages of working together?. I had no idea abot this type of question but I took it as opinon asking essay. I wrote in my introduction” I completely concur that pros of working in group are more than cons of it” (A thesis statement).Not exactly but it was something like that. Is it fine ? Then in 1st body paragraph I wrote the advantages of working together and gave two reasons with an example.After this,I wrote second paragraph with disadvantages of competition and working alone to excel than others and in the end I gave conclusion.Is it okay? I didn’t put the adv/disadv of both arguments but adv. of one and disadv. of other just to support my point of view in two separate paragraphs. Please reply briefly this is my first comment here and I am bit worried regarding this.

I think you’ve done very well if you hadn’t prepared for this question. Yes, it is asking for your opinion. It sounds like you’ve handled it just fine. Now try to relax and wait for your results. Let me know what happens – I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you 🙂

For sure! There is another thing with respect to reading and listening.I wrote some answers like: “The pronghorns”,”attitude” and in other “The Royal Antelope”. Different answers with different capital letters. Is it fine? Thankyou Mam,once again.

Capital letters are not marked so don’t worry for listening and reading.

Hi Liz, quick question! If the question asks: “adv outweigh the disadv.”. Should I start the first BP with advantages (following the same order as it is in the statement) or should I always start with the opposite side of my opinion (regardless of the statement order)?

Yes, keep the same order. It’s easier for the reader.

Hi Liz! I’ll be taking my academic next week and this was a practice I did timing 40min for task2. I’d love to hear your opinion on weather I explored the disadvantages enough and how I did overall! [* I kept the typos for a real assessment ]

“Some experts believe that it is better for children to begin learning a foreign language at primary school rather than secondary school. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?” Essay: It is expected in these days that by the end of secondary education years, students are familiar, wife not fluent, in another language. It is believed by many specialists in education that having an early start in learning can have a more positive outcome. By my own experience, I believe that being exposed to a second language from early childhood is essential. By starting e second language at first grade, children will get used, since day one, to having the subject and will know that it is as important as all the other subjects. Also, many agree that the earlier a person is exposed to new languages the easier it is to comprehend and speak. A clear example of that is children with parentes that come from different countries, they grow up in a bilingual environment, so they learn effortlessly. Nevertheless, these kids might not be interested in this language, which can be a challenge for teachers, who must create a inovative* and fun lessons. Another problem may be that parents also don’t have the knowledge to help with homework assingments*. On the other hand, if we think about students only getting in touch with this language later in life, this may result in slower process of learning and the scenario of less time throughout the years in school to get at least aqquainted* with the basics of the language. In conclusion, living in the 21st Century means having global connections. And the likelyhood* of using another language that is not your primary one is huge, especially for work and/or terciary* studies. Therefore, learning this skill as early as possible in school certainly has more benefits and facilitates ones possibilities.

Thanks in advance!

I generally don’t give free feedback on essays. However, I’ll make a couple of points: 1. “By my own experience” is not appropriate for an IELTS essay. It is informal. If you want to express your opinion, do it clearly – In my opinion. 2. “kids” is informal vocabulary and not appropriate for IELTS. See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/kids-or-children-teens-or-teenagers-which-is-best-to-use-in-ielts/ 3. Your conclusion is about 50 words – much too long. You’ve got the potential to do well if you learn the right techniques and understand more about what is required and what is acceptable for an IELTS essay.

Thank you very much for the response and observations! Trying reeeally hard to learn all I can until Saturday! Your videos and blog are helping imensily!!!

Good luck!!

Heyy lizz i want to ask u , you said previously that we shoud write in the body paragrapgh (1 para) explaining the oppsite side : actually am a little bit confused because it’s really like the advantages and disadvantages essay , can u tell me the diffrence between them so i can be aware while am writing.

The advantages and disadvantages does not require an opinion – you present both sides equally. The outweigh essay requires an opinion – which one is more important – you explain your view why A if more important than B

Hello Liz, It seems that ”do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages” essay is exactly similar to the Advantage-Disadvantage essay seeking an opinion. Plz, guide me if I am wrong.

Thanks in advance 🙂

The instructions are asking for your opinion/ It is asking you to choose which is more important than the other.

Hello. Do we always have to put 2 main points for the opposite view and 3 on our side? Or is it fine to just give 1 for the former and 2 for the latter? Thank you so much,Liz.

Yes, it’s fine to do as you suggest.

Thank you for this free wonderful opportunity Liz.

Hi Liz; here’s my essay to the above question about e-books

There is an increasing number of people who prefer reading e-books over traditional paper copies. In my opinion, although there are some drawbacks to e-books, I believe that the advantages are far more significant than these disadvantages.

Some people consider e-books to lack the traditional essence of an actual paper book. Owning a book is different to having a digital copy as some say that it gives the book more value. For instance, a book can be kept for life and borrowed to friends whereas an e-book could be accidentally deleted in seconds. Others argue against e-books as it is thought that reading on a bright screen for long periods of time can have damaging effects on the eyes, however paper books do not cause problems in the same way.

In contrast e-books are believed to be far better than paper books according to some. They are easily accessible on many devices such as laptops, tablets and mobile phones which the majority of people own nowadays. In addition to this reference points within a particular book are found much more easily compared to flicking through pages of a paper copy which can be time-consuming and difficult. Furthermore, e-books saves people’s time by the lack of need to go to a library or book shop and can be accessed from home.

It is a lot cheaper to buy an e-book than a traditional book, especially compared to the hardback versions which can be very expensive. Money is saved once more as there are no travel costs to gain access to an e-book, but there is a paper book as mentioned before. As well as this, most e-books offer the first chapter for free to give the buyer a chance to see if the book is worth their money. On the other hand when buying traditional copies this option is not available and the reader must judge the book by it’s cover. Admittedly, there is a blurb on the back of paper books but this is not enough to see whether a book is worth the buy. Not to mention that the blurb is also available on all e-books too.

In conclusion, I think that in regards to e-books there are more significant and numerous advantages compared to the fewer disadvantages. E-books are more efficient for today’s busy lifestlyle and moreover encourages reading in this modern setting, which I believe to be very important.

Isn’t it longer than it is supposed to be ?

Great essay.. Well done

i think this is a great essay. 🙂

It sounds great.

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?

The advancements in communication and modes of transport have resulted to more job opportunites abroad,which claimed by many to have more positive effects.However, others say that residing and working in other locations have only resulted in more negative effects.I believe that there are more benefits than drawbacks, if people start to accept work and live abroad. On the one hand, one major drawback of having a job in another country, is being away from the family members. To illustrate this, in the Philippines, the father of the family is sometimes forced to work overseas in order to provide better for his growing family.Eventhough, there are modernized applications like Skype, which let him see his relatives in the Philippines more often, still there is no physical contact between them. As a result, once the father goes home to his family, his children are sometimes less affectionate and behave awkwardly when he is around. On the other hand, one advantage why it is better to apply for an occupation abroad is for the reason that companies in other countries offer higher salaries. Let us take the nurses’ job as an example, in the Philippines, nurses working in non-government hospitals have a mere 200 USD wage per month, as compared to a 1200 USD monthly salary in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, more nurses take this opportunity to be employed in another country, to supply better for their family’s everyday needs. Another compelling reason why people move to abroad for work is because it gives them the opportunity to experience another culture. For instance, when people from Asia go to the West or Middle East for work, then this enriches their lives as they get to learn another languages, customs, and traditions. Thus, raising their cultural awareness and becoming less judgemental. In conclusion, although living and working abroad have some drawbacks, I believe that its advantages outweigh its disadvantages for the reasons that jobs overseas pay higher and enrich people’s lives.

Dear Liz, i have got serious misunderstanding about structure of opinion essays. For example topic : More and more students choose to go to another country for their higher education . do you think the benefits outweigh the problems associated with it. So, at first i have to write introduction, then positive side and of cource negative one. After it comes to opinion right? what i have to write in opinion if i agree that advantages outnumber it’s disadvantages. So, please can you explain me the structure fully and more clearly about oinion part of this essay. Thanks in advance

It takes time to explain the structure fully. I can’t do it in a few sentences. I think about purchasing my advanced writing task 2 lesson which covers this type of essay: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore

Can I use academic vocabolary for general essay task 2?

Yes, it’s fine.

Previous was wrong Introduction^ Cutting-edge technologies have altered human’s activities entirely including reading book habit.Hence, it is common nowadays to see people reading books by means of electronical devices accordingly reading less by using tangible books. Nevertheless, I believe that popularising of e-books will have relatively more benefits than traditional paper books for several broad reasons. I’m not quite certain about thesis. What do you think Liz?

Dear NICK, You have put your idea/argument in the Intro para. Your opinion should go to the Body paras. Here, in intro para, you should not add or omit what is given by the IELTS test. You are required to paraphrase the statement first and then answer the question by reflecting on your opinions.

Hi Liz, Just finished my official IELTS writing in the Philippines hours ago with a task 2 question:

People now buy more consumer goods because of cheaper price tags.

Do you think the advantages outweigh the Disadvantages?

My point of attack was I wrote the introduction with my opinion that it does outweigh the drawbacks

For body 1, I stated it enabled families to provide the needs of its members in terms of food and medicine + placed 1 disadvantage which was Quality which i pointed out as negligible.

For body 2 I wrote diversity of products to choose from. Brings in good competition for the manufacturers, further decreasing the prices, resulting to more work opportunities. + stated a negative which was biases by the masses for products leading to downfall of smaller companies.

Then i concluded with a brief summary of advantageous points as well as the negatives then reaffirmed that indeed the advantages are more important than the drawbacks

Was my attack acceptable? i just read from this article that i shouldve written both sides in two separate body paragraphs.

*people now live more and more in societies with plenty of cheap consumer goods

Do you think the advantage overweigh the disadvantages

whats your score for u approach?

Unfortunately i got a 6.5 for it. After reflecting i found out I need to have 2 body for adv and 1 for disad for it to answer the question more

exactly. Having your advantages in 1 paragraph and disadvantages in another paragraph make your the essay more orderly, thus, you will have a better score in your cohesion and coherence. 🙂

*make your essay more orderly 🙂

Dear Sir/Madam,

I would like to request you please could you post one more video for how to write body paragraph for writing task 2 ? is it not possible please tell me how i got your more video?

thank you. salim

See my advanced writing task 2 lessons for detailed training in IELTS essay writing for a high score: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore All the best Liz

Hi liz.Am from KSA and I want to purchase your advanced writing lessons but I dont have a paypal account ,is it possible to purchase them using visa card?!

Sorry for the delay in replying. There are two payment options. The first option is through a paypal account. The second option is using your credit or debit card. You can see the two payment options on the payment page: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore All the best Liz

People now use more and more internet to do tasks (eg. Shopping, paying bills, buy movie tickets) rather then in person. Do the advantages outweigh disadvantages?

= i have written all the advantages y people prefer internet and includes 4 examples and some disadvantages in 2nd body paragraph.. Let me know the correct answer please. M very upset…. (correct if any mistake is in the topic line)

https://ieltsliz.com/liz-notice-2015-2016/

Hi, Liz. I’ll be waiting for your response when you come back. My doubt concerns eletronic media language. The word ‘app’ is very common in everyday conversation about technology. Should I use the word ‘application’ or ‘computer software’ if I ever need to use the word ‘app’, or can I use the abbreviated form (app) in my essay? For example, in the sentence “Nowadays people are resorting to apps on their smart phones as a means of increasing access to daily services (…)” do you think the abbreviation rather than the word ‘applications’ would be inappropriate? Thanks in advance. 🙂

Hi Liz mam you are doing very good job. Actually I have a problem in reading module please could you help me

Hi Liz. What are the advantages and disadvantages? and Do the advantages outweigh disadvantages? these 2 questions are same right? responses to these 2 questions are almost same paragraphical order?

The first one (Advantages and Disadvantages asking to say about both) body paragraph 1 Advantage and body paragraph 2 Disadvantage . But the second one you need to say your opinion, that is the difference.

In the first question (what are the advantages and disadvantages)? you should discuss the advantage in the first body paragraph and the disadvantage in the second body paragraph. possibly in equilibrium. However, in the second question (do the advantage outweigh)? you must have a positional statement in your introduction for which you will devote two body paragraphs discussing it and utilize only one body paragraph for the opposite idea. This means your response is not in equilibrium, (say 80% and 20% or 70% and 30%). the position you choose in your introduction carries the higher percentage.

Dear Liz, you are great teacher

Rising a number of electronic book causes the decrease in paper books. However, some people think it is positive to go ahead, where as others contradict it. This essay will discuss its both sides. On one hand ,there are several benefits of electronic books. First, the group of people using this book can access to wide range of information, which means they can read unlimited informations that are available in e- books. Second, people do not have to carry bundles of paper book everytime beacause e-books are portable and less heavy that can be carried in pocket or in a small bag. Therefore, people can use them in public places, for example, while travelling in trains, buses , or even in aeroplanes and also in parks, supermarkets as well as at work and universities. Third, as e-books are small so, it do not require spacial space at home, where as paper books need more area and it creates more waste.

On the other hand, this has some drawbacks too. One problem is it make people more lazy. This is because of the minimal hand movement required in e-book , where only a button click is needed to get all information. Another issue is the uncertanity of electronic machine, which means it can stop working any time. Inaddition, long period of using e -book may create some health problems such as vision problem and headache. And finally, every consumer can not afford to buy it because these books are expensive in market.

In conclusion, although e-books can cause some problems and are expensive, overall it is positive because it do not create pollution and does not require special space and also it is necessary to step forward in this technololical era.

Sorry I don’t comment on writing. All the best Liz

“this essay will discuss both sides” is the one of the 10 sentences that are not useful and lower your score according to Liz anyway

Hi Liz, we are so grateful that you help so many students around the world especially those who can’t afford to pay for school fees like me. would you please explain a bit more about the tip you gave us above, “” have one body paragraph which gives details about the opposite side to your opinion” -Do i still need to follow that even if i chose one sided opinion? -Please correct if i am wrong : One sided opinion = introduction + 1st Body P which supports one side A + 2nd body P which supports the same side A (+ 3rd body P which supports the same side A) + conclusion? So i don’t talk or support the other side B. Please help, I am confused.

Hi Liz.. I am taking coaching for GT Ielts but confused on one matter..My teacher suggested that if you give only one side view with strong and comprehensible ideas then the chances of getting high marks is more..and if you will write partial view means some for agree and disagree both..then there will be less marks.. Can you please suggest that how it should be??I am targeting for 8 bands in writing section so this clarity is essential to me. Thanks a lot.

You don’t get more marks because you have chosen a different position. You get marked on your ability to present a position and support your position. It is easier to support a one sided approach and it is more difficult to present a balanced view. For that reason, teachers recommend students to aim for the one sided approach to avoid such mistakes. I also think that students who have not received professional training in the balanced view should not attempt it. All the best Liz

Thanks for your reply Liz..actually according to my teacher, I am good at writing on both aspects but she opines that I should write with single view approach.. That’s why I got confused.. If question is- to what extent do you agree or disagree..then if I am having vivid points on both aspects then is it good to write on both or only one view? Thanks!!

It is difficult to write a balanced view because it does NOT mean you agree with both sides at all. I suggest you follow your teacher’s advice. If you wish to get professional training in writing the one sided and also the balanced approach, see my advanced lesson: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore All the best Liz

Hello, please take a look at my essay, it is not 250words, i just want to know if i have written correctly. i think i got off-topic and don’t knnow exactly how i can improve my writting. Thank you in advance.

Recently, increasing number of people prefer reading e-books instead of paper books. In my opinion, drawbacks of this trend overweigh its advantages.

E-books are convinient, because of their size and memory. people can dawnload many of their favorite books in one technology and carry it with themselves. Another good side of electroic books is their screenlights which make us able to read even at dark. I always use my e-book during exams, because i do not want to put 4-5 books in my bag.

In contrast, as all electronic devices e-books are bad for eyes. To illustrate 60% of e-book users suffer from eye-related problems and complain that they see everything in blur. However, higher percentage of population tend to buy e=books, thatswhy demand for paper books countiniously decline by directly leading to increased unemployment rate. Book-publishing companies go to bankrupcy or merge with others, because of low sales and high competition. For example, in late twentieth century the number of books published exceeds current figures.

In coclusion, disadvantages of e-books are more serios and long-lasting than advantages.

Sorry I don’t give feedback on writing. Liz

U have to write 1 intro . 2 advantages 30 % 3 disadvantages 70 % and then ur opinion paragragh and then conclusion total 5 para

Hi Dear Liz, If I write BP1= advantages of using e-books rather than paper books BP2= disadvantages of using e-books instead of paper books

conclusion= there are more uses in using e books over paper books.

Please advice me is this the correct way or in BP2 do I have to write,the disadvantages of paper books,i’m confused of that

You present your opinion in the introduction, not conclusion. There is only one question to answer so answer it at the start of your essay not the end. Please see my coming paid video for training. Liz

when are you releasing the advantages and disadvantages video?

I have just a few more clips to film. Then I need to edit the film. So, hopefully it’ll be ready within two weeks. Fingers crossed. Liz

Thank you so much miss.

Hello, I have a question …. When I write the inntroduction of any essay I must paraphrase the sentence given at the beginning, but when I write my conclusion I must restate the ideas that I paraphrased it in the itroduction, this means can I restate it using the same words given in the sentence? Because I been in told that words that I used in introduction and in conclusion mustn’t be the same.

Yes your conclusion contains the main ideas paraphrased. Liz

answer the essay Q in the conclusion use paraphrasing summarize your ideas from the intro and body paras in the conclusion and never share new ideas two sentences can be adequate

Hello ms.liz, I wonder what type of essay I should practice, because I don’t really know what type they may ask us in ielts writing task 2? Is it discussion text, information text, description…..etc?

Thx anyway, Yassmin

WAtch the free information video on this page to learn about the types of essay in writing task 2: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore Liz

Hi Liz I need your advice please Is it ok to use this sentence as theise statement “This essay will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of such a measure.” Or is it overused

Thank u in advance for your help 🙂

Don’t use learned phrases. That is a whole sentence which you have learned and copied. The examiner has seen it used many, many times. Don’t use it. All the best Liz

Hi Liz! Which is the correct order? To develop the opposite site and then the two body paragraphs with my opinion, the reverse or it doesn’t mind?

Put the advantages in one BP and the disadvantages in the other BP. Make sure you clearly show which outweighs which. Liz

Thank you for your response!

I’m interested in Constantinos’ question too. In your post you said put one body for the position you don’t support and one or two paragraphs for the position you support. So I have some questions:

1) It’s better to put the position you don’t support in your first body paragraph right – end with the stronger position in the subsequent body paragraphs?

2) You suggested in response to constantinos just one paragraph of each. But you can do it one paragraph for weaker position and two for stronger position right – as you recommended is possible in your post.

3) It’s ok to mention just one point for the weaker position even though the question says “advantages” or “disadvantages” – i.e. “s” plural. Thank you

You put adv in the first BP and disadvantages in the 2nd BP. Keep it simple and clear. However, it is possible to have just one adv and two disadv in separate paragraphs if you wish to support disad. If you can’t think of plural advs then that’s fine. Liz

Just few years back, plenty of people are selecting to read e-books instead of than paper books in my opinion, i concur reading papers books rather than reading e books because e-books need to charge a battery and handle with care, but sometimes e-books are most helpful in traveling i could download the number of books in on e-book system i dont have to carry number of books.

dear mam, is this correct in information.

Sorry but I don’t comment on writing. Please see my notice at the top of my blog. All the best Liz

How can i paraphrase “advantages & disadvantages”? Can i use this symble & in ielts?

Never use language symbols instead of common words. The only accepted symbols are percentage and currency symbols. Liz

Dear Liz, I’m confused about planning the structure for the advantages disadvantages essay? Can you do me a favour by point out what the possible structure are for advantages and disadvantages? Regards, Julie Great acknowledgement!

This is not an “advantage and disadvantage essay”, this is an “adv outweigh disadv” essay. However, got both, you will usually have two body paragraphs – one for each. Liz

It is a one side essay or two side? I mean to say

Intro Body 1 for merits Body 2 for merits Body 3 for demerits Conclusion

75% pros 25% cons

One side essay Intro= I think merits are morethan demerits? Body 1 adv Body 2 adv Conclusion

It is a direct question which you must answer. Do you think the advantages are more important than the disadvantages? You give your answer in the introduction and explain it in the body. Liz

excellent explanation. thanks

Hello miss Liz , Could you please give me an example about “memorized phrase” that we should not use it ?? Regards,

Here’s an example “it is a highly controversial issue” or “in this essay I will discuss both sides and give my opinion”. Liz

okay , it is fine Thanks

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