IELTS Writing Task 2

Advantage & Disadvantage Essays

Choose any one of the three essays below. The selected essay will open with the full question, complete sample essay, and writing suggestions together in one place.

IELTS Writing Task 2

Work or Travel Before University

283 Words
Question

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

Sample Essay

The practice of encouraging young people to work or travel for a year between high school graduation and starting university is common in some countries. Students who decide to pursue this can benefit from an understanding of their desired career and avoid burnout through taking the break. However, these same students may lose the motivation to enter college and struggle to relearn how to study.

On a positive note, students who take time before entering into a university are able to explore who they are and what they enjoy doing, causing them to be excited to study for a career they know that they want when they do return to school. Students can also avoid burnout by taking time away from studying. As a result, students can return to school with clear goals and the energy to achieve them.

Yet this might not be the case. Many countries expect students to enter straight into university after high school because these students have grown accustomed to studying and sitting in the classroom. For students who choose to work or travel in-between high school and college, they may lose skills such as taking notes and fishing schoolwork on time and struggle to relearn how to study in college. Similarly, students who travel or work before college may be hesitant to give up the paid jobs they are working for the sake of taking on college debt.

In conclusion, taking a year to travel or work could benefit students by helping them learn what they want to study in college and prevent exhaustion. However, these same students may lose the skills they have learned in school and choose to pursue a salary instead of more schooling.

What You Can Follow in Your Own Writing
  • Introduction pattern: Question-এর topic paraphrase করুন, তারপর advantage ও disadvantage—দুই দিকের main idea এক লাইনে preview করুন.
  • Useful opening phrase: Advantage paragraph শুরু করতে “On a positive note” ব্যবহার করতে পারেন.
  • Topic sentence: Paragraph-এর প্রথম sentence-এই main advantage স্পষ্ট করুন—যেমন career clarity বা avoiding burnout.
  • Idea development: Main idea → explanation → result এই order follow করুন.
  • Cause & effect: কারণ দেখানোর পর ফলাফল লিখুন; যেমন break নেওয়া → clear goals → better motivation.
  • Result linker: Explanation-এর পর “As a result” ব্যবহার করে consequence দেখাতে পারেন.
  • Disadvantage structure: Study habit loss → difficulty returning to college—এই cause-and-effect pattern follow করতে পারেন.
  • Balanced writing: শুধু positive side না লিখে negative side-এও 1–2টি fully developed idea দিন.
  • Useful vocabulary: career, burnout, motivation, study skills, salary, schooling—এ ধরনের topic vocabulary শিখে রাখুন.
  • Conclusion pattern: নতুন idea যোগ করবেন না; advantage ও disadvantage দুটো paraphrase করে সংক্ষেপে restate করুন.

Sentence Formation — বাক্য গঠন যেভাবে Follow করবেন

1. Introduction / Paraphrase The practice of + verb-ing + object + is becoming/common in + place/time. Example: The practice of taking a gap year before university is becoming common in many countries.
2. Advantage Topic Sentence One major advantage of + noun/verb-ing + is that + subject + can + verb. Example: One major advantage of taking a gap year is that students can discover their career interests.
3. Explanation Sentence This is because + subject + verb + reason/explanation. Example: This is because working or travelling gives young people time to understand what they really enjoy doing.
4. Result Sentence As a result, + subject + can/may + positive or negative result. Example: As a result, they can return to university with clearer goals and stronger motivation.
5. Disadvantage Sentence However, one possible drawback is that + subject + may + verb. Example: However, one possible drawback is that students may lose their regular study habits.
6. Cause → Effect Sentence Because + cause, + subject + may/can + effect. Example: Because they spend a long time away from education, they may find it difficult to adjust to academic life again.
7. Conclusion Sentence In conclusion, although + disadvantage, + subject/topic + can + advantage. Example: In conclusion, although a gap year may weaken study habits, it can help young people gain direction and avoid burnout.
Simple Formula: Introduction → Advantage(s) → Disadvantage(s) → Conclusion
IELTS Writing Task 2

Tourism in Difficult Environments

258 Words
Question

Today more and more tourists are visiting places where conditions are difficult, such as the Sahara desert or the Antarctic. What are the benefits and disadvantages for tourists who visit such places?

Sample Essay

In modern times, adventure tourism is becoming increasingly popular. I believe that participating in related activities can be a great way to unwind and learn about global ecosystems. However, visitors may be at risk for becoming seriously ill when facing harsh environments or wildlife attacks.

On the one hand, venturing into the wild is an excellent way to relax. It allows people to experience the most striking features that nature has to offer, from the 360° horizons of the Sahara desert to the ginormous icebergs across Antarctica. Immersed in beautiful environments as such, visitors are granted a chance to forget about the problems they face at home and work. Additionally, ecotourism can also be educational. For example, when traveling in the Antarctic, tourists can learn about native wildlife and how climate change has been impacting this white continent. This can help them become more environmentally aware.

However, there are certain risks to exploring the wilderness. Firstly, visitors may become extremely ill in tough environments. For example, they may be unable to withstand the extreme heat of a desert and develop symptoms of dehydration. Similarly, adventure travel exposes tourists to unpredictable attacks by wild animals like seals in Antarctic regions. Because many visitors have no previous experience handling wild animals, they may be seriously injured and even lose their lives. Best vacation packages due to a dangerous encounter.

In conclusion, visiting remote, wild areas of the world can help people reduce stress and become more environmentally conscious, but only if the risks such as harsh environments and wildlife attacks are handled safely.

What You Can Follow in Your Own Writing
  • Introduction pattern: Topic paraphrase করে benefits এবং risks দুটোই একসাথে preview করুন.
  • Clear position: Introduction-এই আপনি কোন দুইটি benefit এবং কোন দুইটি risk discuss করবেন তার hint দিন.
  • Benefit paragraph structure: Main idea → explanation → example → result sequence follow করুন.
  • Specific examples: Sahara desert বা Antarctica-এর মতো relevant example ব্যবহার করলে idea বেশি convincing হয়.
  • Useful linkers: “On the one hand”, “Additionally”, “For example”, “Similarly”, “Because” natural জায়গায় ব্যবহার করতে পারেন.
  • Result sentence: Example-এর পরে সেটার effect লিখুন—যেমন environmental awareness বৃদ্ধি পাওয়া.
  • Disadvantage structure: Risk → example → possible consequence pattern ব্যবহার করুন.
  • Comparison technique: এক risk explain করার পর “Similarly” দিয়ে related second risk introduce করা যায়.
  • Useful vocabulary: adventure tourism, harsh environment, wildlife, dehydration, environmentally aware, remote areas—এগুলো topic vocabulary হিসেবে follow করতে পারেন.
  • Conclusion pattern: Benefits ও risks balancedভাবে summarize করুন এবং নতুন example/idea যোগ করবেন না.

Sentence Formation — বাক্য গঠন যেভাবে Follow করবেন

1. Introduction / Trend Sentence In recent years, + noun/topic + has become increasingly + adjective. Example: In recent years, adventure tourism has become increasingly popular among travellers.
2. Benefit Topic Sentence One important benefit of + verb-ing/noun + is that + subject + can + verb. Example: One important benefit of visiting remote places is that tourists can escape from the stress of everyday life.
3. Example Sentence For example, when + subject + verb + place/situation, + subject + can + result. Example: For example, when tourists visit Antarctica, they can learn about wildlife and climate change.
4. Result Sentence This can help + object + become + adjective / develop + noun. Example: This can help visitors become more environmentally aware.
5. Risk / Disadvantage Sentence However, there are certain risks associated with + noun/verb-ing. Example: However, there are certain risks associated with travelling in harsh environments.
6. Because Sentence Because + subject + have/has little experience with + noun, + subject + may + consequence. Example: Because many visitors have little experience with wild animals, they may be seriously injured during an encounter.
7. Conclusion Sentence In conclusion, + topic + can + benefit 1 + and + benefit 2, but + risk + must be considered. Example: In conclusion, adventure tourism can reduce stress and increase environmental awareness, but its health and safety risks must be considered.
Simple Formula: Introduction → Advantage(s) → Disadvantage(s) → Conclusion
IELTS Writing Task 2

Children Can Achieve Anything

282 Words
Question

In some cultures, children are often told that they can achieve anything if they try hard enough. What are the advantages and disadvantages of giving children this message?

Sample Essay

In some cultures, children are often given the message that as long as they work hard enough, they can accomplish anything. I believe sending them this message may increase their chances of success in life and also help them grow as a person. The main downsides may be that it can deprive them of a happy childhood and even make them doubt themselves.

On the positive side, the message in question may help increase children's odds of success in life. It can make them believe in their talents and abilities. Such self-assurance can motivate them to work hard to move toward their goal. They may also experience personal growth in the process. When they commit to a goal, they learn to become, for example, more accountable and resourceful in order to make it a reality. Abilities like these can be valuable in their personal as well as their future professional lives.

On the negative side, telling children they can realize any of their dreams through hard work may prevent them from enjoying their childhood. They may devote all their free time to pursuing their goal, leaving little time to have fun with their peers. The message may also lead to self-doubt. Children are too young to be mentally strong enough to face big failures in life. The fact that they fail despite all the hard work may lead them to doubt their ability and intelligence.

In conclusion, telling children anything is achievable if they put in enough effort may raise their odds of success in life and also help in their personal growth. However, it may also come with the disadvantages of causing self-doubt and keeping them from having a happy childhood.

What You Can Follow in Your Own Writing
  • Introduction pattern: Question paraphrase করে 2টি advantage এবং 2টি disadvantage-এর short preview দিন.
  • Useful contrast phrases: Positive side-এর জন্য “On the positive side” এবং negative side-এর জন্য “On the negative side” ব্যবহার করতে পারেন.
  • Topic sentence: Paragraph-এর শুরুতেই main point বলুন—যেমন success বা self-doubt.
  • Idea development: একটি idea বলার পর সেটি কেন হয় এবং কী effect তৈরি করে—দুইটাই explain করুন.
  • Example technique: Accountability ও resourcefulness-এর মতো qualities example হিসেবে ব্যবহার করে abstract idea explain করতে পারেন.
  • Logical chain: Message → motivation → hard work → success/personal growth—এভাবে logical progression follow করতে পারেন.
  • Negative chain: Too much pressure → less free time → unhappy childhood, অথবা failure → self-doubt—এ ধরনের cause-and-effect chain ব্যবহার করুন.
  • Paragraph control: এক paragraph-এ খুব বেশি unrelated idea না দিয়ে 1–2টি main idea ভালোভাবে develop করুন.
  • Useful vocabulary: personal growth, self-assurance, accountability, resourceful, self-doubt, abilities, intelligence—context অনুযায়ী ব্যবহার করতে পারেন.
  • Conclusion pattern: Introduction-এর sentence হুবহু copy না করে same idea paraphrase করে balanced summary লিখুন.

Sentence Formation — বাক্য গঠন যেভাবে Follow করবেন

1. Introduction / Paraphrase In some cultures, + subject + are often + past participle + that + clause. Example: In some cultures, children are often told that they can achieve anything through hard work.
2. Positive Topic Sentence On the positive side, + noun/message/idea + may help + object + verb. Example: On the positive side, this message may help children develop confidence in their abilities.
3. Logical Development Such + noun + can motivate + object + to + verb + in order to + goal. Example: Such self-confidence can motivate children to work harder in order to achieve their goals.
4. Personal Growth Sentence When + subject + commit to + noun, + subject + learn to become + adjective(s). Example: When children commit to a goal, they learn to become more responsible and resourceful.
5. Negative Topic Sentence On the negative side, + verb-ing + object + may + negative effect. Example: On the negative side, putting too much pressure on children may prevent them from enjoying their childhood.
6. Failure → Self-doubt Sentence If + subject + fail despite + noun/effort, + subject + may begin to + verb. Example: If children fail despite working hard, they may begin to doubt their ability and intelligence.
7. Conclusion Sentence In conclusion, although + message/idea + may + advantage, it can also + disadvantage. Example: In conclusion, although this message may encourage success and personal growth, it can also create pressure and self-doubt.
Simple Formula: Introduction → Advantage(s) → Disadvantage(s) → Conclusion