homeschooling advantages and disadvantages ielts essay

Home Schooling IELTS Essay Advantages Disadvantages

Home schooling ielts essay.

In some countries, there has been an increase in the number of parents who are choosing to educate their children themselves at home instead of sending them school. Do the advantages of home education outweigh the disadvantages?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. You should write at least 250 words.

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It has become increasingly common to see parents in some nations opting for homeschooling rather than sending their children to schools, in recent years. While this method of delivering classes might be advantageous in some respects, I am of the opinion that it is more likely to have a harmful impact.

There are a number of positives to home education. One obvious benefit is that it allows both parents and children to choose the times of their classes flexibly. When, for instance, parents are not able to conduct lessons during the day, they may decide to teach their child early in the morning or in the evening after returning from their work. Another important advantage of homeschooling is that it permits children study at their own pace and thus progress accordingly. In conventional schools, by contrast, different knowledge acquisition rates of schoolchildren are not usually taken into consideration since they have a set curriculum to follow; in other words, whether a child grasps a topic quickly or slowly should study in the same group.

Nevertheless, I would argue that the benefits of education at home are outweighed by the drawbacks. Firstly, children taught by parents tend to lack interaction with their peers, and as a result are likely to grow up to be shy, introverted and dependent individuals. This is likely to make their lives difficult due to problems they may encounter in communicating and socializing with others. I also disfavor the idea of homeschooling because children are not provided with the proof of graduation when taught at home. If no official document, such as a school certificate, confirms children’s completion of school-level education, it is less likely that they can further their education at a college or university.

Home education has both pros and cons. However, despite some advantages, I strongly believe that the latter outweighs the former for homeschooling negatively affects young learners’ personality and hinders future educational prospects.

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Ielts writing task 2 sample 292 - teaching children at home is best for a child's development, ielts writing task 2/ ielts essay:, some people believe that teaching children at home is best for a child's development while others think that it is important for children to go to school., discuss the advantages of both methods and give your own opinion..

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Some People Believe That Teaching Children at Home is Best for a Child’s Development- IELTS Writing Task 2

Updated On Aug 14, 2024

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Sample essay, band 9 sample essay.

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Some people believe that teaching children at home is best for a child’s development while others think that it is important for children to go to school. What are the advantages and disadvantages for homeschooling?

Advantages and Disadvantages essay

Introduction

Sentence 1 – Paraphrase the question topic and use synonyms to do so.

Sentence 2 – Explain that the essay will focus on covering the advantages and disadvantages of the topic.

Body paragraphs

Paragraph 1 – Mention the advantages of home-schooling, like flexible learning, flexible curriculum, emphasis on abstract thinking. Cite examples if possible.

Paragraph 2 – Mention the disadvantages of home-schooling, like a parent’s interference in the child’s education may not be a good thing, that a teacher is an expert in this regard unlike a parent.

Summarise both the sides of the argument and conclude the essay.

It is considered that children should not be home-schooled by parents, rather be given a formal education in an institution. This essay will focus on the various advantages and disadvantages of the notion.

Home-schooling emerged as an alternative to expensive education, where parents themselves took responsibility for their child’s learning. It seems advantageous because the curriculum can be more personalised, compared to a rigid system in place in schools. One can also argue that with home-schooling, the child can be exposed to more abstract thoughts of learning, which make him capable of becoming a better thinker, helping him in the future.

There are certain demerits as well. To begin with, it might not be appropriate for parents to interfere with their child’s education, because a parent might have a dearth of knowledge and it is a teacher who is an expert in this regard. Moreover, teachers are capable of providing scrutinous learning, which a parent might not be able to as love and affection may pose a hindrance.

To conclude, a parent’s pivotal role is ubiquitous in a child’s life, sometimes assuming the role of a teacher as well. Such scenarios might suit well in rare cases, but the presence of a teacher maximises the learning a child can get. It is the parents that instil values and lead their children to become good humans, but it takes a teacher to make a child more knowledgeable and educated.

Education is one of the most important foundations for a child’s development. The manner in which students are tutored has a considerable impact on their growth. As a result, some people opine that homeschooling is better than attending schools, while others are not of the same opinion due to its drawbacks. Thus, the following essay will analyze both views before reaching a reasonable conclusion.

There are several benefits of homeschooling that shouldn’t be underestimated. One of the most significant benefits of students learning at home is the one-on-one assistance, resulting in a transparent delivery of knowledge to the student. Home tutoring allows students to maintain the speed and accuracy of learning according to the course requirements. In addition, it gives them the option to spend more time understanding a concept as the schedule is adaptable to their needs. For instance, students studying at home receive individualized coaching from their parents, which improves academic performance. Even the timing can be adjusted to suit their children’s needs. In addition, parents can also be aware of their children’s flaws and can assist them in overcoming challenges faced by them.

However, there are certain drawbacks of homeschooling, such as requiring parents’ undivided attention. Homeschooling can be a time-consuming procedure for parents to teach, specifically if the child has difficulties grasping the subject. If parents spend too much time schooling their children, they may feel constrained and frustrated. Taking practical subjects would be challenging with limited resources at home. Furthermore, parents’ love and affection will act as barriers, preventing them from restraining their children. As a result, teachers in reputable educational institutions are relatively capable of providing intensive tutoring and coaching to students, which a parent may not be able to provide.

To summarise, it is evident that homeschooling allows children to study in a more flexible environment. Though stressful at times, the outcome will be rewarding. Without a doubt, parents are the first teachers who instill positive values and mould their children’s lives at an early age, but it is a teacher who instills basic morality, subject matter knowledge, art, and the value of time, thereby optimizing a child’s learning capacity.

Vocabulary 

• Home-school 

Meaning – Home-schooling, also known as home education or elective home education (EHE), is the education of school-aged children at home or a variety of places other than school. Example – Raju was home-schooled from age 8 to 12.

• Institution

Meaning – an organization founded for a religious, educational, professional, or social purpose. Example – There are various good educational institutions in our city.

• Notion 

Meaning – a conception of or belief about something. Example – I believe in the notion of non-violence.

• Alternative 

Meaning – available as another possibility or choice. Example – Becoming vegetarian is an alternative to the non-vegetarian diet.

• Curriculum 

Meaning – the subjects comprising a course of study in a school or college. Example – The recent policy change implementation has changed the school’s curriculum.

• Abstract 

Meaning – existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence. Example – Nowadays, abstract art is taking the world by storm.

• Dearth 

Meaning – a scarcity or lack of something. Example – The case was dismissed as there was a dearth of evidence.

• Scrutinous 

Meaning – strict, thorough Example – The new headmaster has implemented a scrutinous morning routine.

Meaning – a thing that provides resistance, delay, or obstruction to something or someone. Example – Corruption poses a major hindrance in our country’s road to development.

Meaning – present, appearing, or found everywhere. Example – His ubiquitous presence can be found through his works of literature

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Homeschooling

IELTS essay Advantages and Disadvantages of Homeschooling

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Homeschooling

Some people believe that teaching children at home is best for a child’s development while others think that it is important for children to go to school.

Discuss the advantages of both methods and give your own opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Original Essay:

There is one view that suggests that children should be taught at home for their better development, while there is another view that suggests that it is essential for them to attend school. There are benefits attached to both views. Youngsters who go to school often develop better social skills, and they get better prepared for future jobs. On the contrary, children who are taught at home receive better attention.

Children who study in school tend to develop good social skills. A child studying in school interacts with different children. The young one learns to share things and how to work together. Furthermore, apart from the classmates, the child also gets the opportunity to interact with various people, such as teachers, workers, janitors and supporting staff of the school. This means the child learns how to meet and behave with other people, too.

In addition to the above, schools also prepare youngsters for future. School’s rules and regulations, such as dress code and timings, somewhat resemble with the code of conduct of jobs. Hence, the youngsters attending the school know well about the acceptable behavior in offices. Furthermore, they also learn to how to live without parents which will help them in future when they will leave their parents’ house to live in college’ dormitories.

Those children who are taught at home benefit from getting a proper attention from the teacher. These children easily understand whatever they are taught, hence, their understanding and learning skills develop better than those who attend school.

Though there are some advantages in teaching children at home, but the advantages of sending children to school exceeds than teaching children at home. Thus, I am of the view that it is important to send the children to school because they will develop such skills which are necessary to survive in today’s world.

( Written by Charles Harris )

Corrected essay :

There is O ne view that suggests that children should be taught at home for their better development, while there is another view that suggests claims that it is essential for them to attend school. There are benefits attached to both views . Youngsters who go going to school often develop better social skills and life skills , and they get better prepared for future jobs. On the contrary, children these contrast to those who are taught at home receive receiving better attention.

Some phrases like “ there is”, “suggest”, and “on the contrary, children ” are omitted as those are too bulky and sounds repetitive.

This phrase: There are benefits attached to both views has been deleted, as too generic.

It is always good to include your opinion towards both issues in this opening paragraph.

Children who study studying in school tend to develop good social skills as A child studying in school they could interact s with their peers different children . The young one learns to share things values and how to work together. Furthermore, Apart from the classmates, the child they also get s the opportunity to interact with various people, such as teachers, workers, janitors and supporting staff of the school . This means , meaning that the child learns how to meet and behave with other people, too. those who are older than them

The phrases: workers, janitors , have been omitted as those meanings are too close with supporting staff of the school.

Instead of using “things” showing your weak point in Lexical Resources here, you’d better use values.

I have changed other people into those who are older than them as the former phrases contain redundant information.  

In addition to the above, S chools also prepare youngsters for future. School’s rules and regulations, such as dress code and timings, somewhat resemble with the code of conduct of jobs. Hence, the youngsters attending the school know well about the acceptable behavior in offices. Furthermore, they also Again , learn learning to how to live without parents which will helps them about responsibility. they will practice being independent in future when they will leave their parents’ house to live in college’ dormitories.

In addition to the above and also cannot be put in the same sentence as those have the same meaning.  To avoid being repetitive, you need to omit one of them.

Those children who are taught at home benefit from getting a proper attention from the teacher. These children easily understand whatever they are taught, hence, their understanding and learning skills develop better than those who attend school. Not only these, home teaching brings a major benefit to children needing individual attention and encouragement.  If one child needs extra helps with math, then the private teacher could set schedule for such subjects and time allotted to teach this kid. This will reduce the pressure by a child suffering from math’s difficulties, and therefore would enjoy the lesson at home.

The fourth paragraph is lacks of supporting details. Asking journalistic questions:  the 5 W's and H will help you assess most situations, whether you are creating claim, evidence, and/ or explanation as to support your topic sentence in this paragraph.

The first and second sentences beat around the bush. No overall progression is seen in this paragraph.

In conclusion, Though there are some advantages in teaching children at home, but the advantages of sending children to school exceed s than those of teaching children at home. Thus, I am of the view that it is important to I agree that send sending the children to school because they will help them develop such the aforementioned skills which are necessary to survive in today’s world.

You need to use a concluding signal, such as in conclusion, to sum up and any other expressions to show that you are about to end your essay.  

Which are necessary has been omitted as this only repeats on the previous phrase: important

(Words: 325)

Overall: 6.5

Task Response: 6

✓ addresses all parts of the task although some parts may be more fully covered than others

✓ presents a relevant position although the conclusions may become unclear or repetitive

✓ presents relevant main ideas but some may be inadequately developed/ unclear (paragraph 4 is not well-developed)

Coherence and Cohesion: 6

×  arranges information and ideas coherently and there is a clear overall progression (no writer’s opinion towards the intro and body paragraphs)

✓ uses cohesive devices effectively, but cohesion within and/or between sentences may be faulty or mechanical

✓ may not always use referencing clearly or appropriately

✓ uses paragraphing, but not always logically (lack of good supporting evidence for the argument)

Lexical Resource: 6

✓ uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task

✓ attempts to use less common vocabulary but with some inaccuracy

✓ makes some errors in spelling and/or word formation, but they do not impede communication

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: 7

✓ uses a variety of complex structures

✓ has produces frequent error-free sentences

✓ has good control of grammar and punctuation but may make a few errors

This essay is corrected by  Eddy Suaib  - IELTS Teacher at  English Studio Kampung Inggris

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Homeschooling Essay

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Introduction

Why home school, challenges of home schooling, works cited.

Homeschooling refers to the form of education that takes place in a home setup and usually without the restrictions that are found in a traditional education system (Cogan 1). The parent or guardian of the child plays the major role of being a teacher.

Lyman (1) defines home schooling as the art of educating children of school going age at home instead of having to take them to some school. Approaches to homeschooling are as varied as the number of people who opt for it (Lyman 1).

Although it may appear as a new concept, Cogan (1) explains that the concept of homeschooling has been with us for a very long time. In the past, it was regarded as the only option available for a majority of people unable to afford the cost of hiring teachers for their children (Cogan 1). For many parents wishing to start homeschooling, the main concern is whether or not they can effectively be able to teach (Jones 1).

With the advent of formal education, homeschooling lost popularity at some point. This saw a tremendous decline in the number of children under the homeschooling program. This trend has now been reversed leading to an increased number of people changing to homeschooling (Cogan 1). According to Lyman, the continuous rise in the number of home schooled students is a clear indication of the amount of dissatisfaction with the quality of education delivered at schools (1).

According to Ray (1), the concept of home schooling is nothing really new. Ray argues that most people who advocate for this kind of education are very much aware of the fact that it is not in any way, a new idea (Ray 1). The recent past has seen a notable growth in the area of home schooling with a good number of parents gaining confidence in the system.

This advancement in homeschooling is attributed to the fact that the traditional education system is dogged with some serious issues; poor discipline and decreased quality of education among others.

According to Jones (1), every family including those who send their children to school is in one way or another homeschooling with others putting in more time than others.

Lyman (1) observed that there are a number of reasons that make people opt for home schooling. Some parents are very much concerned about the increasing crimes at school as well as indiscipline. Others are dismayed by the diminishing education standard.

The bureaucratic setup at schools is also blamed for the mass exodus of parents and their children from a school based learning environment (Lyman 1). There has also been a substantial reduction in the cost of education and most families are able to establish stronger family ties (Lyman 1).

Supporters of homeschooling have strongly argued that it makes it possible to develop an education plan that directly meets the needs of an individual rather than a whole class (Mead 2). A common thought shared by most students who have undergone homeschooling is the fact that the program enables one to think for themselves and this to them is quite valuable (Mead 3). Jones (1) sees this as a very a key objective and therefore, a major motivation for those choosing homeschooling.

People may also choose homeschooling for reasons that may be religious, academic and at times, for their own personal needs (Jones 1).

Even though the idea of homeschooling is becoming very popular, it has various challenges. One of the major concerns raised has to do with the socialization of the homeschooled children. These children may grow up in a setup that completely denies them a chance to meet and interact with other people. Later, they get shocked when they join college only to discover that they were not well socialized.

They begin to face problems dealing with other people who were not brought up like they were (Lyman 2). Fitting in a controlled setup later in life may also become a challenge for the homeschooled students (Lyman 3). A similar argument is presented by Mead (2) who made similar observations. From an environment that is to some extent closed these students have to now learn how to deal with the outside world (Mead 2).

Although proponents of homeschooling claim that there are numerous avenues such as the church or events for homeschooling students available for purposes of socialization, exposing the students to a comprehensive educational experience is just next to impossible (Cogan 1).

Testimonies by some who have gone through homeschooling show that despite the many advantages of homeschooling, the traditional education system presents children with a thorough preparation for what is ahead in life (Mead 3).

Although there are a number of challenges with the homeschooling system, there is a very high likelihood that if implemented in a well thought out manner, there are distinct advantages. Parents who are afraid of subjecting their children to the traditional schooling system where there is increased indiscipline and decline in the quality of education, and are considering homeschooling for their children will need to more creative.

They should endeavor to provide their children with opportunities to interact with the outside world. This will ensure that as they instill discipline in the children, they are also able to prepare them to face the future in a world that is full of hostility.

Cogan, Michael F. Exploring Academic Outcomes of Homeschooled Students. Journal of College Admission , 2010, pp. 1-10.

Jones, Lillian. Introduction to Homeschooling. California: HomeSchool Association of California. 2009. Web.

Lyman, Isabel. Homeschooling: Back to the Future? Washington, DC: Cato Institute. 1998. Web.

Mead, Tyra L. Singing the Praises of Home – Schooling . New York: Hearst Communications Inc. 1999. Web.

Ray, Brian D. Homeschoolers on to College: What Research Shows Us. Journal of College Admission , 2004, pp. 1- 10.

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IvyPanda . (2018) 'Advantages and Disadvantages of Homeschooling'. 18 September.

IvyPanda . 2018. "Advantages and Disadvantages of Homeschooling." September 18, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/homeschooling/.

1. IvyPanda . "Advantages and Disadvantages of Homeschooling." September 18, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/homeschooling/.

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• School Education /

Essay on Home Schooling in 150, 250 and 400 words

• Updated on  
• Jan 8, 2024

Homeschooling refers to the practice of education at home or any other place outside the school premises. Over the years, the popularity of homeschooling has increased quite a bit. It is much more convenient for both students as well as parents. It saves time, is efficient, and de-stresses children, unlike normal schools that distress children. But just like everything else, along with the pros, homeschooling too has some cons. 

A lot of people believe that education in homeschooling is confined to home boundaries only. These students are not able to develop social skills and find it hard to socialise with others. Some of them become introverts too. These are just misconceptions. We have provided below samples of essays on homeschooling. Let’s have a look at them.

Table of Contents

• 1 Essay on Home Schooling in 150 words
• 2 Essay on Home Schooling in 250 words
• 3 Essay on Home Schooling in 400 words

Also Read:- Importance of Internet

Essay on Home Schooling in 150 words

Homeschooling is a concept that has been becoming quite popular over the years. Especially in times of natural calamities and pandemics such as COVID-19, it has gained quite a reputation for being an alternative to traditional schooling. Some of the benefits of homeschooling include convenience for both, children as well as parents. It provides tailor-fit learning education to children as every child has his/her own learning pace. 

Homeschooling de-stresses children, unlike schools that distress them. But just like any other thing, homeschooling too has some drawbacks. One of the drawbacks that most concern parents is that their child would not be able to have social interaction. Children need to have social interaction in the early stages of childhood to develop their minds. Hence, it’s up to each child and parent whether to take up homeschooling or not. 

Essay on Home Schooling in 250 words

One of the aspects that has been gaining quite a lot of attention and popularity is homeschooling. Over the years, it has been gaining quite a reputation of becoming an alternative to traditional schooling. Homeschooling is a good way to deliver tailor-fit education to children as every child has his/her own pace of learning. 

So for children who are unable to cope with the pace of school education, homeschooling is a great option for them. Homeschooling is extremely convenient for both, children as well as parents. It saves time and money as well. The children who are homeschooled have to deal with less stress as traditional schooling gives them a lot of stress. By tracking the progress of their child on their own, parents get to understand their child better and hence make necessary adjustments for them. 

But just like any other thing, homeschooling too has some drawbacks. One of the major drawbacks is that children who are homeschooled lack social skills. Having social international for children in their early stages of childhood is essential for developing their minds. Children who are homeschooled may even become introverts. Parents might find it stressful for them in the long run to have to homeschool their child if they do it on their own.

They might also not be able to have any time for themselves. Homeschooling is a choice that requires assessing the situation. It might be suitable for some, while others may not find it fit for them. Hence, the decision to homeschool should be made judiciously.

Also Read:- Essay on Pollution

Also Read: How to Prepare for UPSC in 6 Months?

Essay on Home Schooling in 400 words

Over these past few years, the concept of homeschooling has gained quite a lot of attention. Especially in a time like the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become an alternative to traditional schooling for many parents. Parents can hire a tutor for the same or can even teach their children themselves. Homeschooling has a lot of pros for both, parents as well as children. 

Pros of Home Schooling

Homeschooling is much more convenient than traditional schooling. It also saves commuting time and a little money too given what the situation is. Homeschooling allows parents to tailor-fit education for their child. This is great because every child has his/her own learning pace and this way they can easily cope with the learning. In traditional school, all have to learn at the same pace irrespective of whether or not they are learning. 

Also for many students, the school environment can become quite stressful making it difficult for them to get comfortable and hence causing them stress. Homeschooling, on the other, de-stresses children. They are safe from even getting bullied and have the comfort of their own home. Parents get a chance to track their child’s progress and hence, get to know them better. Such a thing generates positivity all around. 

Cons of Home Schooling

But just like any other thing, homeschooling too has some drawbacks. One of the major drawbacks that concern parents the most is that their children would not be able to have proper social interactions. Social interactions are very important in the early stages of childhood to develop a child’s mind properly. 

Failure in that can even lead to a child becoming introverted. Some of the homeschooled children also face problems in mixing with others. For parents, depending on the situation, homeschooling can turn out to be costly as the tutors they hire may charge high fees from them. Parents may also find that they are not able to have time for themselves, which, in the long, can become quite stressful for them.

The decision of homeschooling shouldn’t be just opted for the convenience of it. Parents should take into account every scenario of their current as well as to some extent, their near future situations to make a correct decision. Hence, it would be fitting to say that the decision to homeschool should be made judiciously.

Related Reads

Homeschooling is much more convenient than traditional schooling. It also saves commuting time and a little money too given what the situation is. Homeschooling allows parents to tailor-fit education for their child. This is great because every child has his/her own learning pace and this way they can easily cope with the learning. In traditional school, all have to learn at the same pace irrespective of whether or not they are learning. Also for many students, the school environment can become quite stressful making it difficult for them to get comfortable and hence causing them stress. Homeschooling, on the other, de-stresses children. They are safe from even getting bullied and have the comfort of their own home. Parents get a chance to track their child’s progress and hence, get to know them better. Such a thing generates positivity all around. 

Some of the benefits of homeschooling include convenience for both, children as well as parents. It provides tailor-fit learning education to children as every child has his/her own learning pace. Homeschooling de-stresses children, unlike schools that distress them.

In some aspects, homeschooling is better than traditional schooling. It is more convenient, children can learn at their own pace, it de-stresses them, etc. but on the other hand, it does have some cons too such as no social interaction which can lead to less developed minds, no healthy competition, etc. 

This brings us to the end of our blog Essay on Homeschooling. Hope you find this information useful. For more information on such informative topics for your school, visit our essay writing and follow Leverage Edu.

Deepansh Gautam

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IELTS Homeschooling Essay

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• Essay Task 2

Guide to Advantage Disadvantage IELTS Essay Type

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

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

Table of Contents

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

• 3.1 Identify key words and phrases

3.2 Organise your ideas

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

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

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

• Advantage/disadvantage
• Double question
• Problem/solution

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

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

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

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

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

• What are the benefits and drawbacks of…?

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

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

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

• Do the advantages of … outweigh the disadvantages

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

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

• The IELTS statement
• The question

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

You are not being asked to give your opinion

Here are some example advantage/disadvantage essay questions:

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

Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

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

Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages of this practice?

Also, read the following IELTS Essay Writing Guides

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

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

The benefits of nuclear technology far outweigh the disadvantages.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this development?

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

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

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2. Essay Structures for Advantage/Disadvantage Essays

There is more than one way to structure your advantage/disadvantage essay. You could take a thesis-led (opinion in the introduction) or an evidence-led (opinion in your conclusion).

You could also choose to focus on one or more than one advantage/disadvantage in each of your main body paragraphs.

The next two sections will give you two possible ways that you could structure your essay using four clearly organized paragraphs.

Thesis-led approach

Evidence-led approach

3. Planning your Advantage/Disadvantage Essay

Before you start writing your essay, you should give yourself 5 minutes to analyze the question and organize your ideas . Follow the tips below to create a well-planned essay!

3.1 Identify keywords and phrases

It sounds simple, but it is very important that you read the question carefully and understand what you are being asked to write about. To analyze the question, first, identify any keywords and phrases .

You should first identify the topic of the essay. If you do not write about the correct topic, you will score poorly in Task achievement . The general topic can always be found in the IELTS statement.

Let’s take a look at one of the previous examples:

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

The topic words are underlined and show the general topic of this essay question in nuclear weapons/power/technology .

After you have identified the general topic, you need to locate other keywords that give you more detail about the topic. In this question, the words world peace and cheap and clean energy in bold give you more information about the general topic. Therefore, your essay should only relate to these aspects of nuclear weapons/power/technology .

Now take a look at the question for our model answer at the end of this guide. Can you identify the general topic?

This is an important step that is often skipped by test-takers. By quickly writing down your key ideas, you will avoid repeating or missing any points and improve your score in both Task achievement and Coherence and cohesion .

You could use bullet points , columns , or another preferred method of writing down ideas . Here is an example for our sample essay:

Take a look at our Master Guide for a more in-depth look at idea generation and organizing your ideas.

Taking a moment to write down more uncommon vocabulary related to the essay topic will not only make you feel more relaxed in the exam but will also help you to improve your score in Lexical resources .

This doesn’t have to be a long list, just a few ideas that come into your mind. Here are some examples of the topic of studying abroad:

• Culture shock
• Language barrier
• Broaden one’s horizons

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4. Writing your Advantages/Disadvantages Essay

Your introduction should be the shortest paragraph in your essay (about 40-60 words is perfect).

You need to rephrase the IELTS statement in your own words. This is known as paraphrasing (a key skill to develop for the IELTS exam).

Take a look at our example:

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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Your Guide to IELTS Band 7

IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay: tips, mistakes, questions & essays

In this lesson we are going to look at how to answer an IELTS Advantages Disadvantages essay.

You will learn about this  IELTS Writing Task 2  essay, using  authentic IELTS essay questions , plus the most common mistakes. And I will finish with an  IELTS model essay  written by me in response to a  sample IELTS essay question . So let’s get started!

What Is Your Task?

In this IELTS question type, you are presented with a situation, a development or a trend. Your task is to discuss the advantages and disadvantages related to this situation, development or trend.

In some tasks, you may also be asked to give an opinion on whether the advantages are more  significant  than the disadvantages. These “outweigh” questions are more common in the IELTS Academic Writing Test, but they can also appear in the IELTS General Training Writing Test.

In many countries, paying for things using mobile phone (cellphone) apps is  becoming increasingly common. 

Does this development have more advantages or more disadvantages? 

Cambridge IELTS 15 General Training Test 4

How To Plan An IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay

If you are aiming for a high band score (band 7 and above) it is absolutely vital that you plan your essay. A good plan will help you to see if you have answered the question, developed your ideas and organised them BEFORE you start writing.

We’re going to plan an essay using my  4 Step Planning Process .

Step 1: Understand The Task

First, you need to make sure you understand exactly what you need to write about. So you need to read the question carefully, not quickly!

Think about these three questions:

What is the topic about?

What is the topic NOT about?

How should you respond to the topic?

Let’s go back to this essay question, and answer those 3 questions:

The topic is about mobile phone payments, such as digital wallets, payment apps like Google Pay and Apple Pay, and QR code payments.

The task is NOT about mobile phone apps in general, so don’t discuss the advantages of mobile phones or mobile apps. The task is specific to payment apps.

The question “does this development have more advantages or more disadvantages?” tells you how to respond to the topic. You simply need to answer that question.

Step 2: Decide Your Position

Next, you need to decide your position. In other words, you need to decide what you think.

In an advantages disadvantages essay, your position is your answer to the question .

So in the example question above, your position is your answer to the question: “does this development (i.e. paying for things using mobile phone apps) have more advantages or more disadvantages?”

Step 3: Extend Your Ideas

When you decided your position, you may have started thinking about the reasons for your position, the reasons for your answer. In other words, WHY are you taking this view?

Giving reasons for your view is essential in an IELTS essay. In fact, all IELTS questions tell you to “give reasons for your answer”. So in Step 3, you need to think about your reasons a little more.

However, just presenting your  reasons is not enough. You need to develop them.

The two best ways of developing your ideas is by:

• giving explanations of what you mean
• giving specific examples which illustrate what you mean

Together, these add more detail to your answer.

You MUST do this to get Band 7. If you fail to develop your ideas in detail, your band score for Task Response may be limited to Band 6.

Read more about how to develop your ideas in an IELTS essay.

Step 4: Structure Your Essay

The final step in the planning process is to structure your essay. This simply means deciding which main ideas to put in which paragraphs.

I suggest you use almost exactly the same structure, regardless of whether you are taking the Academic or General Training Test:

• Paragraph 1: introduction
• Paragraph 2: discuss  what you think   are  the advantages
• Paragraph 3: discuss  what you think are  the disadvantages
• Paragraph 4 (Ac): explain if you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages
• Paragraph 4 (GT): summarise your views

IELTS advantages disadvantages essay questions are usually on topics where there are both advantages AND disadvantages. In other words, if you argue that there are only advantages, the IELTS examiner might decide your essay lacks balance, and this could limit your band score for Task Response.

How To Write Your IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay

Let’s go through how to write the different parts of the essay.

How To Write The Introduction To an IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay

In the introduction to an IELTS Advantages Disadvantages essay, you need to do one or two things.

If you are asked “what are the advantages and disadvantages?” , then just briefly introduce the topic of the essay.

If you are asked for an opinion – e.g. “ do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages”, or “does this development have more advantages or more disadvantages?”, then also add a second sentence where you present your answer to this question.

Introduce The Topic

You should begin with a background sentence which introduces your reader to the topic of the essay. The best way to do this is to paraphrase the topic statement.

How To Paraphrase

Think about the meaning of the topic statement, and briefly rewrite it using your own words. Try not to use the same grammatical structures as in the essay question, and try to move language around. In other words, be flexible. This is important if you are aiming for a Band 7 or higher.

In the example essay question above, the topic statement said:

“In many countries, paying for things using mobile phone (cellphone) apps is becoming increasingly common.”

Here is one way of paraphrasing this:

“Purchasing goods with apps on mobile phones has grown in popularity over recent years.”

This sentence has the same general meaning as the original sentence, but uses different vocabulary and different grammatical structures.

How NOT To Paraphrase

When you paraphrase, do NOT just change individual words with synonyms, or you will get some very strange sentences, e.g.

“In a lot of nations, buying items using portable communication software is becoming more customary.”

DON’T DO THIS! It sounds unnatural and can be confusing for your reader.

Give Your Opinion

If you are asked questions like:

• “do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages”, or
• “does this development have more advantages or more disadvantages?”

then you are being asked for your opinion, in addition to a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages.

So write a 2nd sentence in which you clearly answer this question. e.g.

“In my view, this development has significant drawbacks overall.”

There’s little point in adding a scope sentence:  “This essay will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this development.” This kind of sentence doesn’t add much to your essay and the language is quite basic.

Just start writing the body.

How To Write The Body Paragraphs

In an IELTS Advantages Disadvantages essay, you need to present the advantages and disadvantages in the body paragraphs.

Write the advantages and disadvantages in separate paragraphs.

Each main body paragraph should contain:

• An advantage (or disadvantage) – your main idea
• A more detailed explanation of this
• An example which illustrates this
• You can also include a 2nd advantage or 2nd disadvantage in the same paragraph.

This structure is what is meant by developing your ideas, and it is essential for a Band 7.

You can read more about  developing your ideas here .

How To Write The Conclusion

In the conclusion to an IELTS Advantages Disadvantages essay, what you write depends on the question.

If you are asked “what are the advantages and disadvantages?” then just write a summary of your ideas.

If you are asked for your opinion – e.g. “do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?” – then answer this question in the conclusion.

Do NOT write any new ideas in your conclusion. If you think of new ideas while writing your conclusion, forget them! It’s too late

Common Mistakes in an IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay

These are the most common mistakes made by Test Takers when writing an IELTS Advantages Disadvantages essay:

• presenting too many advantages and disadvantages: you MUST develop ALL of your ideas to get a high band score, so it’s best to present 3 or 4 advantages / disadvantages in total and explain them all
• not answering the “do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?” question. This question does not appear in all advantages disadvantages essays, but when it does, you must answer it
• writing an overly general statement about the topic in the introduction (e.g. Education is a topic of hot debate)
• The advantages / disadvantages are not explained and illustrated in enough detail. You need to develop all of your points to get a Band 7.
• Not fully understanding the essay question. This is often caused by reading the question quickly, not carefully.
• Using memorised phrases (e.g. “a hot topic”, “in a nutshell”, “pros and cons”)
• Using “research studies” as examples: examples should illustrate your ideas, not prove them. Read about  how to use examples in IELTS essays .
• Trying to use rare or “novel” language: examiners are looking for groups of words used naturally, not rare words.

Sample IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay Questions

In the future all cars, buses and trucks will be driverless. The only people travelling inside these vehicles will be passengers. Do you think the advantages of driverless vehicles outweigh the disadvantages?

(Cambridge IELTS 16 Academic Test 4)

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

( Cambridge IELTS 15 Academic Test 4 )

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

(Cambridge IELTS 12 General Training Test 5)

At the present time, the population of some countries includes a relatively large number of young adults, compared with the number of older people. Do the advantages of this situation outweigh the disadvantages?

(Cambridge IELTS 12 Academic Test 6)

Model IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essays

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Charlie is a former IELTS Examiner with 25 years' teaching experience all over the world. His courses, for both English language learners and teachers, have been taken by over 100,000 students in over 160 countries around the world.

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