patriotism advantages and disadvantages ielts essay

IELTS Essay: Patriotism and War

by Dave | Real Past Tests | 6 Comments

This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of patriotism and war from the real IELTS exam.

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Some argue that patriotism is the primary cause of wars globally. Others feel that it serves to prevent less ethical politicians from running a country and starting wars.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Many feel that patriotic feelings do more to foment, rather than prevent, conflicts and potential wars. In my opinion, though patriotism can be a positive force in a nation, it is more likely to serve as the justification for armed conflict.

Those who value the benefits of patriotism argue that it is a tool to oppose international interventions. This is most often the case in countries where it is possible for citizens to voice their opinions publicly. A standout example of this would be in the United States as the government is often engaged in unpopular conflicts abroad such as the wars in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Many critics make the argument that the US was originally isolationist and should not now interfere in the affairs of other countries. This appeal to the patriotic roots of the country is persuasive.

However, it is more common for politicians to encourage nationalistic feelings to justify foreign wars. There are examples of this from both the modern era and past historical epochs. For instance, in Medieval Europe there were frequent wars of aggression between France, England, and Spain. The rulers of these countries used both religious and ethnic or nationalistic justifications for either expansion or defensive measures. Over time, patriotism came to be considered a method to distract residents from the domestic situation and motivate them towards a common goal.

In conclusion, despite the legitimate potential advantages of patriotism within a country, I feel that it is more likely to serve as a catalyst for international conflict. In fact, individuals have very little overall impact on whether or not their country enters a war.

1. Many feel that patriotic feelings do more to foment, rather than prevent, conflicts and potential wars. 2. In my opinion, though patriotism can be a positive force in a nation, it is more likely to serve as the justification for armed conflict.

• Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
• Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here .

1. Those who value the benefits of patriotism argue that it is a tool to oppose international interventions. 2. This is most often the case in countries where it is possible for citizens to voice their opinions publicly. 3. A standout example of this would be in the United States as the government is often engaged in unpopular conflicts abroad such as the wars in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. 4. Many critics make the argument that the US was originally isolationist and should not now interfere in the affairs of other countries. 5. This appeal to the patriotic roots of the country is persuasive.

• Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
• Explain your main idea.
• Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
• Keep developing it fully.
• You might add a counterpoint here.

1. However, it is more common for politicians to encourage nationalistic feelings to justify foreign wars. 2. There are examples of this from both the modern era and past historical epochs. 3. For instance, in Medieval Europe there were frequent wars of aggression between France, England, and Spain. 4. The rulers of these countries used both religious and ethnic or nationalistic justifications for either expansion or defensive measures. 5. Over time, patriotism came to be considered a method to distract residents from the domestic situation and motivate them towards a common goal.

• Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
• Explain your new main idea.
• Include specific details and examples.
• Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
• Continue your development.

1. In conclusion, despite the legitimate potential advantages of patriotism within a country, I feel that it is more likely to serve as a catalyst for international conflict. 2. In fact, individuals have very little overall impact on whether or not their country enters a war.

• Summarise your main ideas.
• Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here .

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

Many feel that patriotic feelings do more to foment , rather than prevent , conflicts and potential wars . In my opinion, though patriotism can be a positive force in a nation, it is more likely to serve as the justification for armed conflict .

Those who value the benefits of patriotism argue that it is a tool to oppose international interventions . This is most often the case in countries where it is possible for citizens to voice their opinions publicly . A standout example of this would be in the United States as the government is often engaged in unpopular conflicts abroad such as the wars in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Many critics make the argument that the US was originally isolationist and should not now interfere in the affairs of other countries. This appeal to the patriotic roots of the country is persuasive .

However, it is more common for politicians to encourage nationalistic feelings to justify foreign wars . There are examples of this from both the modern era and past historical epochs . For instance, in Medieval Europe there were frequent wars of aggression between France, England, and Spain. The rulers of these countries used both religious and ethnic or nationalistic justifications for either expansion or defensive measures . Over time , patriotism came to be considered a method to distract residents from the domestic situation and motivate them towards a common goal .

In conclusion, despite the legitimate potential advantages of patriotism within a country, I feel that it is more likely to serve as a catalyst for international conflict . In fact , individuals have very little overall impact on whether or not their country enters a war .

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

patriotic feelings being proud of your country

foment create

rather than prevent instead of stop

conflicts fights

potential wars possible fights

patriotism feeling strongly about your country

positive force does good

serve as the justification are the main reason for

armed conflict wars

value importance of

benefits advantages of

argue contend

tool to oppose international interventions method to stop fights abroad

This is most often the case in countries where usually happens in nations in which

voice their opinions publicly protest

A standout example of this would be in the United States as A good instance is in America where

engaged in unpopular conflicts abroad always fighting wars

critics those who argue against

argument contention

originally isolationist before didn’t interfere with other countries

interfere in intervene

affairs situations

patriotic roots thinking about the past of your country

persuasive convincing

politicians governments

encourage nationalistic feelings make people love their country more

justify foreign wars give reason to fight abroad

modern era nowadays

past historical epochs past eras

frequent wars of aggression fighting others / attacking others

religious and ethnic or nationalistic justifications reasons related to religion, race, nation

either expansion or defensive measures in order to grow bigger or protect yourself

Over time later on

considered thought of as

distract residents make people not pay attention to

domestic situation how things are in the country

motivate them towards a common goal make them come together

despite regardless of

legitimate potential advantages of real possible benefits from

serve as a catalyst for international conflict be the main reason for wars abroad

In fact actually

very little overall impact on whether or not not much effect on the whole regardless if

enters a war starts a fight

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search :

ˌpætrɪˈɒtɪk ˈfiːlɪŋz   fəʊˈmɛnt ˈrɑːðə ðæn prɪˈvɛnt ˈkɒnflɪkts   pəʊˈtɛnʃəl wɔːz ˈpætrɪətɪzm   ˈpɒzətɪv fɔːs   sɜːv æz ðə ˌʤʌstɪfɪˈkeɪʃən   ɑːmd ˈkɒnflɪkt ˈvæljuː   ˈbɛnɪfɪts   ˈɑːgjuː   tuːl tuː əˈpəʊz ˌɪntə(ː)ˈnæʃənl ˌɪntə(ː)ˈvɛnʃənz ðɪs ɪz məʊst ˈɒf(ə)n ðə keɪs ɪn ˈkʌntriz weə   vɔɪs ðeər əˈpɪnjənz ˈpʌblɪkli ə ˈstændaʊt ɪgˈzɑːmpl ɒv ðɪs wʊd biː ɪn ðə jʊˈnaɪtɪd steɪts æz   ɪnˈgeɪʤd ɪn ʌnˈpɒpjʊlə ˈkɒnflɪkts əˈbrɔːd   ˈkrɪtɪks   ˈɑːgjʊmənt   əˈrɪʤɪnəli ˌaɪsəʊˈleɪʃənɪst   ˌɪntəˈfɪər ɪn   əˈfeəz   əˈpiːl   ˌpætrɪˈɒtɪk ruːts   pəˈsweɪsɪv ˌpɒlɪˈtɪʃənz   ɪnˈkʌrɪʤ ˌnæʃnəˈlɪstɪk ˈfiːlɪŋz   ˈʤʌstɪfaɪ ˈfɒrɪn wɔːz ˈmɒdən ˈɪərə   pɑːst hɪsˈtɒrɪkəl ˈiːpɒks ˈfriːkwənt wɔːz ɒv əˈgrɛʃ(ə)n   rɪˈlɪʤəs ænd ˈɛθnɪk ɔː ˌnæʃnəˈlɪstɪk ˌʤʌstɪfɪˈkeɪʃənz   ˈaɪðər ɪksˈpænʃən ɔː dɪˈfɛnsɪv ˈmɛʒəz ˈəʊvə taɪm kənˈsɪdəd   dɪsˈtrækt ˈrɛzɪdənts   dəʊˈmɛstɪk ˌsɪtjʊˈeɪʃən   ˈməʊtɪveɪt ðɛm təˈwɔːdz ə ˈkɒmən gəʊl dɪsˈpaɪt   lɪˈʤɪtɪmɪt pəʊˈtɛnʃəl ədˈvɑːntɪʤɪz ɒv   sɜːv æz ə ˈkætəlɪst fɔːr ˌɪntə(ː)ˈnæʃənl ˈkɒnflɪkt ɪn fækt ˈvɛri ˈlɪtl ˈəʊvərɔːl ˈɪmpækt ɒn ˈwɛðər ɔː nɒt   ˈɛntəz ə wɔː

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

Many feel that p___________________s do more to f________t , r____________________t , c___________s and p_____________s . In my opinion, though p___________m can be a p_____________e in a nation, it is more likely to s_______________________________n for a_________________t .

Those who v______e the b____________s of patriotism a_______e that it is a t__________________________________________s . T__________________________________________________________e it is possible for citizens to v____________________________y . A________________________________________________________________s the government is often e____________________________________________d such as the wars in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Many c______s make the a__________t that the US was o____________________t and should not now i________________n the a______s of other countries. This a________l to the p_______________s of the country is p____________e .

However, it is more common for p___________s to e___________________________________s to j__________________s . There are examples of this from both the m______________a and p________________________s . For instance, in Medieval Europe there were f______________________________n between France, England, and Spain. The rulers of these countries used both r____________________________________________s for e_______________________________________________s . O_________e , patriotism came to be c______________d a method to d_______________s from the d____________________n and m___________________________________l .

In conclusion, d______e the l____________________________________________f patriotism within a country, I feel that it is more likely to s_________________________________________________t . I_______t , individuals have v_______________________________________________t their country e______________r .

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities :

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice :

https://www.historycrunch.com/nationalism-as-a-cause-of-world-war-i.html#:~:text=Nationalism%20was%20one%20of%20the,militarism%2C%20alliance%20systems%20and%20imperialism.

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam :

Your Home Nation/Country

• Where are you from?
• What do you like the most about your country?
• Where would you like to live in your country?
• Are people in your country patriotic?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topics below:

Some people say patriotism causes problems and is negative overall. Others feel that it is beneficial for society at large.

Do the advantages of patriotism outweigh its disadvantages?

IELTS Essay: Patriotism

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How to add a additional paragraph of our own opinion in same question including introduction both paragraphs and conclusion?

You should put your opinion in the introduction and conclusion – you can also have it in the body paragraphs.

But better not to have a 5th paragraph, Manmohit.

Is that clear?

How I suppose to think of that in the ielts exam It’s very hard for me I can’t brainstorm under pressure

Hmm – in that case try thinking from someone else’s perspective – what would a politician say? What would my best friend say?

Practice that and then use the technique on the exam – you only need 1 good main idea for each side.

why i think these two bodies depict two bright sides of patriotism, but in the end you highlight the bad side as catalyst of war.

I write about both sides – and then decide that overall it is bad – like in all my sample answers basically.

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Patriotism is The Primary Cause of Wars Globally - IELTS Task 2 Band 9 Sample Essay

Updated: Mar 19

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Some argue that patriotism is the primary cause of wars globally. Others feel that it serves to prevent less ethical politicians from running a country and starting wars.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

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

You should write at least 250 words.

Get your personalised   IELTS Essay Feedback  from a former examiner

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Model Essay 1

The question of whether patriotism fuels wars or fortifies nations against unethical leadership and conflict is multifaceted. This essay argues that while patriotism can indeed precipitate conflict, it also plays a crucial role in uniting a country against tyranny and aggression, with a focus on the dual nature of patriotism's impact on war and governance.

On one hand, patriotism is often cited as a primary catalyst for war. It can blind citizens to the faults of their own nation, fostering an "us versus them" mentality that exacerbates international tensions. Historical examples abound, with World War I being a poignant case where nationalistic fervour among European powers, coupled with alliances, led to a devastating conflict. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary, interpreted through a lens of fierce patriotism, ignited a war that engulfed the world, illustrating how national pride can escalate disputes into full-scale wars.

Conversely, patriotism can act as a bulwark against the rise of less ethical politicians and the wars they might start. A strong sense of national pride can foster unity and resilience, enabling citizens to stand against leaders who would otherwise manipulate national sentiment for personal or aggressive ends. The role of patriotic movements in the downfall of corrupt regimes, such as the peaceful revolution in Eastern Europe that led to the fall of the Berlin Wall, underscores the potential of patriotism to safeguard democracy and peace. In these contexts, patriotism serves not as a spark for conflict but as a force for collective action against threats to national integrity and global stability.

In conclusion, patriotism holds a dual role, capable of both igniting conflicts and defending against unjust leadership. Embracing its positive aspects can help societies distinguish between unity-driven patriotism and divisive nationalism, fostering peace and deterring war. This underscores the nuanced potential of patriotism to either provoke war or consolidate national unity against threats.

Model Essay 2

Debates surrounding patriotism's impact oscillate between its role as a harbinger of war and a protective shield against misgovernance and conflict initiation. This essay posits that patriotism can inadvertently lead to hostilities but, when channeled correctly, acts as a deterrent to war through the promotion of national unity and ethical leadership.

Patriotism, when misinterpreted or manipulated, can indeed stoke the fires of war, transforming into a catalyst for aggression. It fosters an environment where aggressive nationalism flourishes, often leading to a vilification of 'the other,' and propelling nations towards conflict under the guise of defending national honor. The Falklands War between the UK and Argentina in 1982 serves as an emblematic example of this phenomenon, where heightened nationalistic sentiments on both sides escalated a territorial dispute into a full-blown conflict, demonstrating how excessive patriotism can obscure rational judgment and propel nations into unnecessary wars, disregarding the devastating consequences.

Conversely, patriotism, when channeled positively, can fortify a nation against the machinations of unethical leaders, acting as a unifying force. By cultivating a sense of collective identity and shared values, patriotism can unify a populace to stand against policies that would lead to unjust wars, fostering a sense of responsibility towards global peace. The mass protests against the Vietnam War in the United States illustrate this principle vividly. Americans' patriotic desire for peace and justice spurred widespread demonstrations, showcasing how patriotism, rooted in ethical convictions, can exert pressure on leaders to pursue peaceful resolutions, thus demonstrating its power to enact positive change and encourage a more harmonious international landscape.

In summary, while patriotism has the potential to lead nations into conflict, it also embodies the power to unify and steer them towards peace. By fostering a balanced patriotism that prioritizes ethical governance and peaceful coexistence, societies can mitigate the risk of war and enhance global stability. This nuanced understanding reaffirms the essay's thesis that patriotism's influence is twofold, with the capacity for both conflict and peace.

Model Essay 3

Some maintain that nationalism is the chief culprit behind global conflicts, while others contend that it acts as a safeguard against morally questionable politicians obtaining leadership positions and inciting wars. I believe in proper use of patriotism for both running a country and avoiding war, because an excessive sense of patriotism can lead to aggression and conflict, while the same attribute can serve as a deterrent to war, by promoting strong ethical values and good governance.

However, patriotism sometimes converts into a strong nationalist sentiment leading to conflicts between different countries. Nationalistic fervour often creates a sense of superiority and righteousness, which can lead to a desire for domination and control over others. This desire for control can then lead to aggression and war, as nations seek to assert their dominance over others. For example, the aggressive actions of Germany prior to World War II were fuelled by a strong sense of patriotism or nationalism and a desire to expand the nation's power and influence.

On the other hand, patriotism can also serve as a deterrent to war, as it promotes strong ethical values and good governance. In a democratic system, politicians who espouse patriotic values and support ethical policies are more likely to be elected, while those who engage in unethical activities are more likely to be rejected by the public. This leads to a greater level of accountability and transparency in government, which in turn helps to prevent war. For instance, the democratic system in the South Korea, where elected officials are held accountable to the public, has prevented the country from engaging in large-scale wars of aggression.

In conclusion, both views have merit, and the impact of patriotism on war will depend on the specific circumstances and the type of government in place. However, one thing is certain - patriotism, when used in the right way, can help promote peace and stability in the world.

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Some people say patriotism causes problems and is negative overall

You should spend about 40 minutes on  IELTS writing task 2 .

Some people say patriotism causes problems and is negative overall. Others feel that it is beneficial for society at large. Do the advantages of patriotism outweigh its disadvantages?

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

Sample Answer

Many feel that patriotism has a beneficial impact overall. Although there are legitimate reasons to be proud of one’s country, patriotic feelings generally produce more negatives than positives. In this essay, both aspects of patriotism will be discussed to reach a conclusion.

Proponents of patriotism argue it is a natural impulse with tangible benefits. Firstly, a strong sense of patriotism can be motivating. Individuals who have pride in their country are more likely to work hard for the common good, for example, soldiers serving in the military, healthcare workers during national emergencies, and even familiar workers contributing to a flourishing national economy. Secondly, individuals can invest in their country’s successes to support their self-esteem, like most people who support their country root for their home team. Success elevates their mood and connects them to a broader community.

However, patriotism is often taken to extremes. It occurs most frequently with vulnerable segments of society. For instance, it is common for military recruiters to target less affluent individuals. If they serve in a war abroad, then there is a strong likelihood they will later suffer from a mental or physical handicap. More generally, most people employ patriotism as a proxy for their achievements. This can be evidenced by the uproar surrounding the Olympics every four years. This stereotypically patriotic event costs taxpayers tremendously, inflames tensions between rival countries, and distracts from investing time in personal development.

In conclusion, though patriotism is beneficial economically and in terms of self-esteem at times, the drawbacks of disassociation are more significant. Mental health should not be dependent on the fortunes of one’s compatriots.

Structure of the essay

You were given an advantages/disadvantages essay and you have to decide whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Once you are clear about the advantages and disadvantages, you can plan your essay and then write it.

General Statement – Many feel that patriotism has a beneficial impact overall.

Question Paraphrased – Although there are legitimate reasons to be proud of one’s country, patriotic feelings generally produce more negatives than positives.

Outline of the Essay – In this essay, both aspects of patriotism will be discussed to reach a conclusion.

Body Paragraph 1

• Proponents of patriotism argue it is a natural impulse with tangible benefits.
• A strong sense of patriotism can be motivating.
• Individuals who have pride in their country are more likely to work hard for the common good.
• For example, soldiers serving in the military, healthcare workers during national emergencies.

Body Paragraph 2:

Disadvantages

• Patriotism is often taken to extremes.
• It occurs most frequently with vulnerable segments of society.
• Most people employ patriotism as a proxy for their achievements.
• For example, it is common for military recruiters to target less affluent individuals.

It is more beneficial to take part in sports which are played in teams

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Band 5+: Some people say patriotism causes problems and is negative overall. Others feel that it is beneficial for society at large. What are the advantages and disadvantages of patriotism?

Civilians of many cultures argue that patriotism may prompt serious problems and has severe end, while others believe that it is a feeling of love which is important for everyone. Thus, this essay will consider all pros and cons of this phenomenon.

To begin with, it is undeniable that love towards hometown is the real attitude of a human-being towards others. In other words, being a person of country describes a definition of the word of loyalty. Furthermore, loyal people bring a tremendous amount of benefits to their motherland, namely whatever they do, they accomplish it in order to make a contribution to the prosperity of their country. By this way, those who love their hometown and popularize every corner of this place would definitely gain the ovation of their homies and teach foreigners to feel and appreciate all the provided facilities by the country. Subsequently, having a feeling of patriotism might preclude backwardness.

On the flip side, there may be drawbacks of being addicted to one place and spend precious part of life by making contributions that may never be recognized by anyone. Even though, a number of individuals gaining triumphs or obtaining several awards for their work, the government considers only great contributors but not someone who fails in the middle of the way. In brief, the more people make efforts in terms of developments of their country, it is useless if their efforts are not remarkable.

To sum up, some people say patriotism causes problems and is negative overall, when other part of them feels that it is beneficial for society at large.

Check Your Own Essay On This Topic?

Generate a band-9 sample with your idea, overall band score, task response, coherence & cohesion, lexical resource, grammatical range & accuracy, essays on the same topic:, some people say patriotism causes problems and is negative overall. others feel that it is beneficial for society at large. what are the advantages and disadvantages of patriotism.

A group of people argues that devotion to one’s country has more serious repercussions, whereas others say that it is advantageous for society on a large scale. Patriotism has led to increased terrorism and discrimination, even though it has endeavored to make countries internationally recognizable. Excessive devotion to one’s country has paved the path for […]

It is an inevitable truth that the norm of society has become a controversial talk of the contemporary era. Some people, therefore opine that patriotism is not a positive aspect and has caused some issues while others think that it has a benefit for the whole community. This essay will elaborate on the advantages and […]

In the modern age, patriotism is becoming a hot topic of debate. While it is believed to be beneficial for the society by some people, it is also criticized as negative by others. From my perspective, the advantages of being patriotic are more considerable than the disadvantages. On the one hand, patriotism can result in […]

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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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Ultimate Guide to IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essays

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Updated On Aug 01, 2024

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The article discusses the structure and strategies for writing an IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay, including planning, vocabulary use, and sample questions with answers and emphasizes practicing to improve scores.

Table of Contents

Understanding the question and structure of the ielts advantages disadvantages essay, how to plan your task 2 advantages and disadvantages essay, how to write an advantages disadvantages essay for ielts writing task 2, tips for mastering advantages and disadvantages essay, advantages and disadvantages ielts essay questions and sample answers, practice advantages disadvantages essays ielts with ieltsmaterial, more related ielts advantages disadvantages essay topics:.

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We have all made a list of pros and cons when faced with a difficult decision. An advantages disadvantages essay in IELTS Writing is kind of like an organized pros and cons list.

In this article, we will go over the structure of Task 2 advantages and disadvantages, how to write an advantages and disadvantages essay and go over a few IELTS sample essays of this type.

The IELTS advantages disadvantages essay is a question type you will come across in IELTS Writing Task 2 .

You will be asked to write about the benefits and drawbacks of the topic given. It can be worded in different ways. Let’s see some examples.

• At the present time, the population of some countries includes a relatively large number of young adults, compared with the number of older people. Do the advantages of this situation outweigh the disadvantages?
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of mobile phones in our daily lives.
• Some companies and organizations require their employees to wear uniforms. What are the advantages and disadvantages of wearing a uniform?
• A lot of places in the world rely on tourism as a main source of income. Unfortunately, tourism can also be a source of problems if it is not managed correctly. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of tourism in the modern world. Do you think that the benefits of tourism outweigh its drawbacks?
• What are the pros and cons for children watching television? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant example from your knowledge or experience.
• Globalization has both advantages and disadvantages. Discuss both and give your opinion.

Discussing the Question of Advantages and Disadvantages Essay IELTS

In some questions of Task 2 Advantages and Disadvantages essay, you will be asked to share your opinion. However, in most cases, discussing the pros and cons/benefits and drawbacks/advantages and disadvantages is enough.

The first part of the question for advantage and disadvantage essays in IELTS Writing Task 2 will always be a statement. In the second part, you will get to know whether you have to discuss only the benefits and drawbacks or add your opinion along with it. So, no need to worry!

As you can see in the image above, the first question asks you to share your opinion, whereas in the second, you will have to discuss the advantages and disadvantages.

Structure of the IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay

The IELTS Essay writing task is quite challenging as it requires you to write an essay on an unseen topic from any walk of life – it can range from social issues to environmental discourse. To make it easy, you can practice advantage and disadvantage IELTS Writing Task 2 sample essays based on the following structure breakdown.

• Paraphrase the question statement.
• State what the following paragraphs will discuss.
• Mention your viewpoint (if asked in the question)
• Discuss the advantages.
• Explain the benefits with examples in 2-3 sentences.
• Discuss the disadvantages.
• Explain the drawbacks with examples in 2-3 sentences.
• Summarize the benefits and drawbacks discussed in the essay.

Remember that there is no right or wrong structure for advantages and disadvantages writing task 2 . However, if you use this, it will enable you to plan your essay in no time during the exam.

Join us in our IELTS webinars to learn tricks to handle IELTS Writing Task 2 essays! Explore Now!

The planning for writing any essay type in IELTS Writing Task 2 requires around 5 minutes. The process covers essential aspects such as analysis of the question, organization of the points to be included, identifying relevant vocabulary, and understanding the IELTS Writing Task 2 marking criteria to obtain a good band score .

The following points will provide a concise guide on how to plan your answer for the advantages and disadvantages of essays in IELTS academic writing task 2, save some time to revise your response and achieve a good IELTS band score .

• To answer the advantages disadvantages essay questions in IELTS Writing Task 2, first you have to identify the keywords and instructions in the question to discuss the positives and negatives of the statement.
• Plan your structure, including your main arguments, advantages, and disadvantages, to present your answer in a well-structured manner.
• Take at least 10 minutes to analyze and understand the given statement and evaluate its pros and cons.
• Organize your thoughts and provide a clear and concise response.
• Using appropriate writing task 2 vocabulary and phrases (lexical resource) is important. But avoid stuffing too many words into irrelevant places.
• Ensure that your response remains relevant to the given topic.
• Understand the IELTS writing band descriptors like Task Response, Coherence and cohesion, Lexical resource, Grammatical range and accuracy to obtain a high band score.

Once you have planned your advantage and disadvantage essay for Writing Task 2, it is time to write down your answer. For this of kind of practice, use authentic and updated IELTS Writing practice tests .

Writing The Essay Introduction

The first thing that you have to do is to write an introduction for an advantages disadvantages essay.

• Your introduction should paraphrase the topic of the essay and try to use different vocabulary/synonyms for the words in the topic, wherever possible.
• Then, give a brief idea about what could be expected in the essay, i.e. the advantages and the disadvantages of the concerned topic.
• Finally, state which side you think weighs the most (when asked for an opinion.)

Body Paragraphs for Advantages And Disadvantages Essay IELTS

Although there is no strict rule about the number of paragraphs for IELTS essays, it is better to limit the number to two. It will not only help you to follow the word count but also keep your essay concise.

Body Paragraph 1

• It should state the advantage/s of the topic.
• This should be backed by practical points, and the examples would be even better.
• Day-to-day incidents and instances can be brought to notice.

Body Paragraph 2

• It should state the disadvantage/s of the topic.
• This as well should be supported by valid points, and the daily incidents and examples can be highlighted to back your points.

How To Write An Essay Conclusion?

You should conclude the topic by providing a summary of the points put forth in the entire essay and how the advantages or disadvantages of the topic outweigh the other (if applicable).

• Make sure to end the essay with a well rounded conclusion.
• Link your ideas discussed in the essay to ensure cohesion and coherence.
• The question/s along with the essay statement should be answered.

To help you to understand this type of essay better, given below are some essential essay vocabulary you must know as well as a sample essay with a detailed outline. We’ve provided you with ample IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay topics to help you hone your essay writing skills.

IELTS Essay Vocabulary

A strong command of vocabulary is crucial for writing an effective advantages disadvantages essay in IELTS Writing Task 2. Your proficiency in English language vocabulary will be evident in how expertly you can select the most suitable expressions to convey precise meanings. Diversifying your vocabulary will enable you to incorporate a greater variety of words in your essays. However, it is important to note that overusing uncommon words and phrases can reduce the relevance of your answer. So, create an advanced vocabulary word list for IELTS to avoid loss of word during the actual exam and utilize time in organizing your thoughts.

Writing an essay on IELTS advantage disadvantage essay topics needs careful preparation and planning. Here are some b est IELTS Writing Task 2 tips for achieving Band 9 with a high-quality essay:

• Understand the Question: Make sure you understand the question and what is expected of you before you begin writing. Decide which advantages and disadvantages you need to talk about and if you need to share your opinion.
• Generate Ideas: Spend a few minutes identifying the benefits and drawbacks of the selected subject. List the main ideas and instances you’ll utilize to support your claims.
• Structure Your Essay: Write your essay with a logical and obvious structure. Begin with an introduction that briefly summarizes your key points and states the subject. After that, give each benefit and drawback a paragraph of its own, and then wrap up by summarizing your points in the conclusion.
• Use Linking Words: To connect your thoughts and create a smooth writing flow, use a range of linking words and phrases, like “furthermore,” “however,” “on the other hand,” and “in conclusion.”
• Support Your Points: Give particular instances, figures, or anecdotes to back up each benefit and drawback you discuss. This will improve the persuasiveness of your arguments and raise your score.
• Plan your Time Effectively: During the exam, manage your time well. Plan your essay for a few minutes, then concentrate on creating paragraphs that are precise and to the point. At the conclusion, give yourself some time to review and make any required changes.
• Practice is the Key to Success: It is the ultimate truth. The more you practice, the more you will become efficient in planning, organizing and structuring your advantages disadvantages essay for IELTS Writing Task 2. So, take up more writing practice tests and make the best use of them.

Ensure you’re using the right structure for IELTS Advantages and Disadvantages Essays!

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Given below are some sample questions for the advantages and disadvantages type of essay and band 9 methodologies of answering them.

Sample Question 1

Sample answer.

Foreign education has become one of the most sought-after ventures in this day and age. A majority of students plan on pursuing higher education in a foreign nation, especially when it comes to a master’s degree. One of the reasons why studying abroad has become such a popular phenomenon is the relaxation of travel laws and procedures across the world. However, there are pros and cons to studying abroad and the following paragraphs will explore the topic and elaborate on why the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

One of the primary reasons for studying abroad is the presence of a more refined and sophisticated education system in several first-world countries. It is common for students from underdeveloped or developing countries like Brazil, China, India, Argentina and other countries to look for better opportunities than the ones available in their native country in terms of academics. Also, residing in a foreign country helps individuals to gain international exposure and also helps them develop social and interpersonal skills, which are extremely important for being eligible for lucrative job opportunities.

Nevertheless, there are numerous drawbacks to travelling abroad for education. First of all, from the beginning of applying to a foreign university to staying in the host country for the entire duration of your degree, it is an exorbitant affair. Such a costly endeavour is often unaffordable for the household of many people. That being said, becoming accustomed to the norms and conventions of an unfamiliar country can be a tough ordeal for many due to differences in culture and social traditions.

Finally, I would like to conclude by saying that foreign education can be a blessing if it is financially feasible for aspiring students. That being said, the benefits of studying abroad surpass the drawbacks for the same.

Check Out – How to Plan an IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay (Best Strategy)

Sample Question 2

Globalization has been one of the most significant phenomena in the last few decades, and it has changed several aspects of human society both economically and socially. There has been remarkable progress in terms of economic and financial development for developing countries due to the expansion of global organizations. However, there are several drawbacks to this rapid progress that need to be addressed. Evidently, globalization has more advantages than disadvantages and the following paragraphs will elaborate on the topic and justify these views.

First of all, the most advantageous aspect of globalization is the advent of numerous international companies and franchises in developing countries. Ever since global brands and corporations have expanded their operations in countries such as India, China, Sri Lanka and many more, there has been a notable increase in employment in these countries. Additionally, due to the remarkable rise in the number of imports and exports, people from third world countries now have access to a vast catalogue of products and services that were previously unattainable.

That being said, there are drawbacks to globalization that create concerning issues for a sizable portion of the global population. One of the most disturbing consequences faced is the exploitation of labour. Many corporations are known to outsource their operations to developing countries due to cheap labour costs. This enables them to accomplish their manufacturing operations without having to provide proper remuneration. Also, due to the use of inexpensive labour, the quality of products is diminished, and customers receive inferior products.

In conclusion, there is no doubt that the effects of globalization are not entirely positive or negative. Nonetheless, the benefits brought by this occupation outweigh the drawbacks.

There is no doubt that you are preparing for the IELTS Writing Task 2. So, we would recommend you to take up advantage and disadvantage essay topics regularly. The more you practice, the better you will become at solving the IELTS Writing test and answers within the dedicated timeframe.

Check out our well-reviewed IELTS Writing study guide , which includes self-explanatory lessons and sample answers. If you need more guidance, don’t hesitate to contact our IELTS specialists . Make the necessary preparations to improve your score on the IELTS Speaking test and get a Band 8+.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is an advantage/disadvantage essay? How do you identify that the essay falls under this category?

Is it mandatory to put advantages and disadvantages separately in two paragraphs or can I club them?

In case of questions where advantages outweigh disadvantages, I might have to write disadvantages first. Will it affect my score?

Do I have to write more than one point for advantages and disadvantages essays for IELTS Writing?

When can I note down the voc

What will happen if I write the exact question statement of the advantages disadvantages essay topic?

What is the importance of the topic sentence of an advantages disadvantages essay?

Is it mandatory to follow the word limit given with the IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay?

What can I do if my IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay is less than 250 words?

Is there any upper limit for word count for IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay?

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Kasturika Samanta

Kasturika is a professional Content Writer with over three years of experience as an English language teacher. Her understanding of English language requirements, as set by foreign universities, is enriched by her interactions with students and educators. Her work is a fusion of extensive knowledge of SEO practices and up-to-date guidelines. This enables her to produce content that not only informs but also engages IELTS aspirants. Her passion for exploring new horizons has driven her to achieve new heights in her learning journey.

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Some People Say Patriotism Causes Problems And Is Negative Overall

• IELTS Writing Task 2

IELTS Writing Task 2 with sample answer.

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write at least 250 words.

Some people say patriotism causes problems and is negative overall. Others feel that it is beneficial for society at large

Do the advantages of patriotism outweigh its disadvantages?

Sample Answer:

Patriotism is a concept that has been debated for centuries. It is generally understood to be an intense love for one’s country, and has been linked to important developments in history, yet some argue that it is a negative force in society. This essay will analyse both sides of this argument, and will ultimately conclude that the benefits of patriotism outweigh the drawbacks.

Patriotism can lead to positive change in society, as it encourages citizens to take pride in their nation and work to make it a better place. For example, the American Revolution was a direct result of the patriotism of the colonists, who were determined to establish their own form of government. Patriotism can also lead to increased economic growth, as nations with a strong sense of patriotism tend to have a stronger sense of national unity, which encourages citizens to invest in their country’s economy. Similarly, patriotism can be a unifying force in a nation by bringing together people of different cultural backgrounds, which can foster an atmosphere of harmony.

Despite these advantages, there are also some drawbacks to patriotism. For instance, it can lead to an unhealthy sense of xenophobia and intolerance, as citizens become too focused on the notion of their own nation’s superiority. This can lead to discrimination and even violence against those of different nationalities. Additionally, patriotism can be manipulated by those in power, leading to a sense of false pride and a lack of critical thinking when it comes to national policies.

Overall, it is clear that patriotism can have both positive and negative effects. However, the advantages of patriotism outweigh the disadvantages, as it can be a unifying force and a source of inspiration for citizens to actively work towards the betterment of their countries. It is, therefore, important that nations promote a sense of patriotism in a responsible manner, to ensure that nations can reap its benefits without allowing it to become a negative force in society.

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How to Plan & Write IELTS Advantages and Disadvantages Essays

Questions for IELTS advantages and disadvantages essays  can be worded in several different ways. Here is some typical wording that might be used:

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of….?
• Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your opinion.

It is also common for synonyms of ‘advantages’ and ‘disadvantages’ to be used, such as ‘benefits’ and ‘drawbacks’, as can be seen in this sample question.

A lot of places in the world rely on tourism as a main source of income. Unfortunately, tourism can also be a source of problems if it is not well-managed.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of tourism in the modern world? Do you think that the benefits of tourism outweigh its drawbacks?

I’ll be using this question to guide you through the process of planning and writing an IELTS advantage and disadvantages essay later on in this lesson.

Here’s what the lesson covers:

• Understanding IELTS advantages & disadvantages essay questions 
• Essay structures
• How to plan
• How to write an introduction
• How to write main body paragraphs
• How to write a conclusion

Want  to watch and listen? Click on this video.

Click the links to see lessons on each of these Task 2 essay writing topics. 

Once you understand the process, practice on past questions. Take your time at first and gradually speed up until you can plan and write an essay of at least 250 words in the 40 minutes allowed in the exam.

The Question

IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay questions fall into two main categories:

• Questions that ask for your opinion.
• Questions that do not require you to state your opinion.

The first part of the question will always be a statement. You will then be asked to write about  both  the advantages  and disadvantages of the idea stated. You may also be required to state your opinion.

Here are two more sample questions for illustration. For the first one, you must give your opinion but in the second, you should not.

1. Small businesses are disappearing and being replaced by large multinational companies.

Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

2. Most career choices demand vocational skills or specialist knowledge. However, despite this, most schools still teach academic subjects such as history or social studies.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this?

Essay Structures

Now let’s look at two simple structures you can use to write IELTS advantages and disadvantages essays. They're not the only possible structures but are ones I recommend because they are easy to learn and will enable you to quickly plan and write a high-level essay.

I’ll explain later why I’m giving you two slightly different structures.

These structures will give you a well-balanced essay with 4 paragraphs.

One Advantage and Disadvantage or Two?

The question will state 'advantages' and 'disadvantages' in the plural, that is, more than one. However, it is acceptable to write about just one.

This should give you an essay of just over the minimum 250 words. To write about two advantages and disadvantages will require you to write nearer 400 words which are a lot to plan and write in the 40 minutes allowed.

It is better to fully develop one advantage and one disadvantage than ending up with your second idea missing an explanation or an example because you run out of time, but you can write about two if you feel able to or more comfortable doing so.

Having said that, using essay structure 2, where you start with the examples, will enable you to easily add more than one advantage and disadvantage without having to write many more words.

It will be more suitable for some questions than others so bear this in mind when you're writing practice essays and try out both structures.

I’m going to use essay structure 2 to show you step-by-step how to write an IELTS advantage and disadvantages essay. I’ll also give you a model answer using essay structure 1 so that you can compare the two.

How To Plan IELTS Advantages and Disadvantages Essays

The planning process only takes around 5 minutes but it is essential as it will save you time overall and will result in a far better essay and thus, higher marks. Th ere are the 3 things you need to do:

• Analyse the question
• Generate ideas
• Identify vocabulary

# 1  Analyse the question

Analysing the question will ensure that you answer it fully. It’s quick and easy to do. You just need to identify 3 different types of words:

• Topic words
• Other keywords
• Instruction words

Topics words are the ones that identify the general subject of the question and will be found in the statement part of the question.

Here is the question we’re going to be working on. I’ve highlighted the topic words in blue.

So, this question is about ‘ tourism’ .

Many people do this first step of the process and then write about the topic in general. This is a serious mistake and leads to low marks for task achievement.

What we need to do now that we know the general topic, is to understand exactly what aspect of tourism we're being asked to write about.

The  other keywords  in the question tell you the specific topic your essay must be about. 

A lot of places in the world rely on tourism as a main source of income . Unfortunately, tourism can also be a source of problems if it is not well-managed.

By highlighting these words, it’s easy to see that you are being asked to write about the conflicting issues of tourism being ‘a main source of income’ in many places, yet also being ‘a source of problems’.

Your essay must only include ideas relevant to this aspect of tourism.

The  instruction words  are the question itself. They tell you exactly what to include in your essay.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of tourism in the modern world? Do you think that the  benefits of tourism outweigh its drawbacks ?

Here, we are required to write about:

• The advantages of tourism in relation to income generation.
• The disadvantage of tourism in relation to problems it can cause.
• Our opinion as to whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Note the use of the synonyms ‘ benefits ’ and ‘ drawback ’ in the second sentence of the question.

# 2  Generate ideas

The next task is to generate some ideas to write about.

There are several different ways to think up ideas. I cover them fully on the  IELTS Essay Planning  page.

I’m going to demonstrate two of them for you here – the ‘friends technique’, which is suitable for most IELTS essays, and the ‘example method’, which perfectly fits essay structure 2.

The ‘ friends technique ’ is the method I generally prefer as it allows you to take a step back from the stress of the exam situation and think more calmly.

Here’s how it works. Imagine that you are chatting with a friend over a cup of coffee and they ask you this question. What are the first thoughts to come into your head? Plan your essay around these ideas.

Doing this will help you to come up with simple answers in everyday language rather than straining your brain to think of amazing ideas using high-level language, which isn’t necessary.

Here are my ideas using the friends technique:

There are far too many ideas here to include in an essay of just over 250 words. Think up a few then pick one advantage and one disadvantage that you think you can develop well.

With the ' example method ', on the other hand, you start by thinking of specific examples related to the question. They can come from your own experience or be something you’ve read or heard about. These examples will generate ideas that will become the main points of your essay.

It works particularly well for the model question I’ve selected for this lesson which is why I’ve included the second essay structure.

Here are my ideas using the examples technique:

Now that we have some ideas, we’re almost ready to start writing our IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay, but first, we have one more task to do.

# 3  Vocabulary

During the planning stage, quickly jot down some vocabulary that comes to mind as you decide what you're going to write about, especially synonyms of key words. This will save you having to stop and think of the right language while you’re writing.

Writing an IELTS Advantages and Disadvantages Essay

We’re ready to begin writing our essay. For the first model answer, I’m going to take you step-by-step through essay structure 2. I’ll then give you a model answer for essay structure 1.

Here’s a reminder of the question and the essay structure. 

We’ll now start work on the introduction.

How To Write an Introduction

The introduction to an IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay should have a simple 2 or 3 part structure:

• Paraphrase the question
• Outline the main ideas
• State your opinion (if required)

Our tourism question asks for our opinion so our introduction will have 3 parts.

1)  Paraphrase the question

Start your introduction by paraphrasing the question statement.

     Question:   A lot of places in the world rely on tourism as a main source of income.             

      Unfortunately, tourism can also be a source of problems if it is not well-managed.

Paraphrased question:  

Although holidaymakers contribute hugely to the economies of many popular destinations, the influx of tourists can also cause serious issues.

Note my use of synonyms for some of the key words. It’s fine to repeat one or two words if you can't think of suitable synonyms. Above all, your language must sound natural.

2)  Outline statement

Now we need to add a statement where we outline the main points that we’ll be covering in the rest of the essay, that is, an advantage of tourism and a disadvantage of tourism.

Here are the two main ideas I’ve chosen to write about:

• Advantage – Poor areas are now prosperous tourist resorts
• Disadvantage – Displacement of local people

Outline statement:  

This essay will demonstrate how tourism can transform the economy of poor areas but will also show that this can lead to such problems as the displacement of local people.

3)  Opinion statement

The question also asks for our opinion and it’s essential that we include it in the introduction.

Opinion statement:  

Whilst acknowledging that there are drawbacks, the essay will argue that the advantages of the tourist industry outweigh the disadvantages.

So, let’s bring the three elements of our introduction together.

     Introduction

This introduction achieves three important functions:

• It shows the examiner that you understand the question.
• It acts as a guide to the examiner as to what your essay is about.
• It also helps to keep you focused and on track as you write.

The two ideas in your introduction will become your two main body paragraphs.

Main body paragraph 1  – Poor areas are now prosperous tourist resorts

Main body paragraph 2  – Displacement of local people

How To Write Main Body Paragraphs

Main body paragraphs in IELTS advantages and disadvantages essays written using structure 2, should contain 3 things:

• Topic sentence – give an example
• Explanation – explain the benefits/advantages
• Consequence – state the result

Main Body Paragraph 1

The  topic sentence  summarises the main idea of the paragraph. It plays an important role in ensuring that your ideas flow logically from one to another. It does this by acting as a signpost for what is to come next, that is, what the paragraph will be about.

If you maintain a clear development of ideas throughout your essay, you will get high marks for task achievement and cohesion and coherence.

In this instance, the topic sentence will introduce our first example, for which I’ve chosen Thailand.

• Main idea –  Poor areas are now prosperous tourist resorts
• Example – Thailand

Topic sentence:  

One country that has experienced a significant economic boost from tourism is Thailand.

Next, we must write an  explanation sentence  that states the main point of our example.

Explanation sentence: 

Over the past 50 years, many of its small fishing villages, where people often struggled to make a living, have been developed into thriving holiday destinations.

Finally, we explain the  consequence or result  of the situation. This is where we give an example of one specific advantage. It is better to pick one and develop it than to just add a long list.

Consequence:

With all the hotels, restaurants, shops and other tourist facilities that have been developed, there are now enough jobs for everyone and the general standard of living has greatly increased.  Many local people have spotted new business opportunities and become entrepreneurs which has further diversified the economy.

That’s the 3 parts of our first main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.

We’ll now follow the same process for our second main body paragraph.

Main Body Paragraph 2

Main idea –  Displacement of local people

Example – Venice

First, we write the  topic sentence  to summarise the main idea.

Topic sentence:

In Venice, on the other hand, the huge popularity of the beautiful canals and stunning architecture with visitors from around the world has had a negative impact on local residents.

Now for the  explanation sentence   that states the main point of our example.

Explanation sentence:

The growing need for tourist accommodation, places to eat and shops has forced many people from their homes to make way for this new development.

Finally, a specific example to explain the consequence .

Not only have these people suffered by having to move away from their family and friends but the situation has also resulted in a lost sense of community in the worst affected areas.

That’s the 3 parts of our second main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.

Now we need a conclusion and our IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay is done.

How To Write a Conclusion

The conclusion is a summary of the main points in your essay and can generally be done in a single sentence. It should never introduce new ideas.

If you're below the minimum 250 words after you’ve written your conclusion, you can add a prediction or recommendation statement.

Our essay is already near the minimum word limit so we don’t need this extra sentence but you can learn more about how to write a prediction or recommendation statement for IELTS advantages and disadvantages essays on  the Task 2 Conclusions page.

The conclusion is the easiest sentence in the essay to write but one of the most important.

A good conclusion will:

• Neatly end the essay
• Link all your ideas together
• Sum up your argument or opinion
• Answer the question

If you achieve this, you’ll improve your score for both task achievement and cohesion and coherence which together make up 50% of the overall marks. Without a conclusion, you’ll score below band 6 for task achievement.

You can start almost any final paragraph of an IELTS a dvantages and disadvantages essay  with the words:

• In conclusion

        or

• To conclude

Now all you need to do is briefly summarise the main ideas into one sentence.

Here’s a top tip . Go back and read the introduction to the essay because this is also a summary of the essay. It outlines what you are going to write about.

To create a great conclusion, you simply have to paraphrase the introduction. 

Introduction:

Here's the same information formed into a conclusion:

That’s it. We’ve completed our advantages and disadvantages essay. Here it is with the 4 paragraphs put together.

Finished IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay.

Go through this lesson as many times as you need to in order to fully understand it and put in lots of practice writing IELTS advantages and disadvantages essays from past exam questions. Practice is the only way to improve your skills.

Example IELTS Advantages and Disadvantages Essay for Structure 1

Now, here’s a model answer for essay structure 1. First, a reminder of the structure and the ideas I generated using the friends technique.

Ideas generation - Friends technique

I’ve underline the ideas I’ve chosen to write about in this second essay:

Advantages of tourism – source of income:

• Provides jobs for local people
• Opportunities for local entrepreneurs
• Tourist spending boosts both national & local economy
• Brings improvement in local infrastructure & facilities which benefit whole community
• Helps maintain traditions & culture

Disadvantages of tourism – the problems:

• Money goes to wealthy business owners not local people
• Increased crime
• Illegal activities, e.g. drugs
• More pubs & clubs – changes the local culture
• Increase in property values
• Destruction of the natural environment to build hotels, airports & other facilities
• Displacement of indigenous people 

See if you can identify the different parts of the essay and how I have developed them.

That's it. Now it's time for you to get practicing.

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More help with ielts advantages and disadvantages essays & other task 2 essays.

IELTS Writing Task 2  – T he format, the 5 question types, the 5 step essay writing strategy & sample questions. All the key information you need to know.

The 5 Types of Task 2 Essay   – How to recognise the 5 different types of Task 2 essays. 15 sample questions to study and a simple planning structure for each essay type.

Understanding Task 2 Questions  – How to quickly and easily analyse and understand IELTS Writing Task 2 questions.

How To Plan a Task 2 Essay  – Discover why essay planning is essential & learn a simple 4 step strategy, the 4 part essay structure & 4 methods of generating ideas.

How To Write a Task 2 Introduction  – Find out why a good introduction is essential. Learn how to write one using a simple 3 part strategy & discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

How To Write Task 2 Main Body Paragraphs  – Learn the simple 3 part structure for writing great main body paragraphs and also, 3 common mistakes to avoid. 

How To Write Task 2 Conclusions  – Learn the easy way to write the perfect conclusion for a Task 2 essay. Also discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

Task 2 Marking Criteria  – Find out how to meet the marking criteria in Task 2. See examples of good and poor answers & learn some common mistakes to avoid.

The 5 Task 2 Essay Types:

Step-by-step instructions on how to plan & write high-level essays. Model answers & common mistakes to avoid.

   Opinion Essays

   Discussion Essays

  Problem Solution Essays

  Advantages & Disadvantages Essays

  Double Question Essays

Other Related Pages

IELTS Writing Test  – Understand the format & marking criteria, know what skills are assessed & learn the difference between the Academic & General writing tests.

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Some people say patriotism causes problems and is negative overall Others feel that it is beneficial for society at large Do the advantages of patriotism outweigh its disadvantages

Some people say patriotism causes problems and is negative overall. Others feel that it is beneficial for society at large.

Do the advantages of patriotism outweigh its disadvantages?

Many feel that patriotism has a beneficial impact overall. In my opinion, although there are legitimate reasons to be proud of one’s country, patriotic feelings do generally produce more negatives than positives.

Proponents of patriotism argue it is a natural impulse with tangible benefits. Firstly, a strong sense of patriotism can be motivating. Individuals who have pride in their country are more likely to work hard for the common good. This applies to a variety of positions in society and may include soldiers serving in the military, healthcare workers during times of national emergencies, and even common workers contributing to a flourishing national economy. Secondly, individuals can use investment in their country’s successes to support their own self-esteem. Most people support their country similar to how sports fans root for a team. Success elevates their mood and connects them to a wider community.

However, patriotism is often taken to extremes. This occurs most frequently with vulnerable segments of society. For instance, it is common for military recruiters to target less affluent individuals. If they serve in a war abroad, then there is a strong likelihood they will later suffer from a mental or physical handicap. More generally, most people employ patriotism as a proxy for their own personal achievements. This can be evidenced during the furor surrounding the Olympics every four years. This quintessentially patriotic event costs taxpayers tremendously, inflames tensions between rival countries, and distracts from investing time in personal development. At best, patriotism is a marginal net negative and at worst it can foster an unhealthy dependency. In conclusion, though patriotism is beneficial economically and in terms of one’s self-esteem at times, the drawbacks related to disassociation are more significant. Mental health should not be dependent on the fortunes of one’s compatriots.

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• Schools should not force children to learn a foreign language To what extent do you agree or disagree 67
• Everyone should become vegetarian because they do not need to eat meat to have a healthy diet Do you agree or disagree 56
• Nowadays university education is very expensive Some people say that universities should reduce their fees especially for the less fortunate students or those coming from rural areas To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement 86

Essay evaluations by e-grader

Grammar and spelling errors: Line 1, column 1, Rule ID: MANY_NN[1] Message: Possible agreement error. The noun feel seems to be countable; consider using: 'Many feels'. Suggestion: Many feels Many feel that patriotism has a beneficial impact... ^^^^^^^^^

Transition Words or Phrases used: but, first, firstly, however, if, may, second, secondly, so, then, for instance, in conclusion, in my opinion

Attributes: Values AverageValues Percentages(Values/AverageValues)% => Comments

Performance on Part of Speech: To be verbs : 13.0 13.1623246493 99% => OK Auxiliary verbs: 7.0 7.85571142285 89% => OK Conjunction : 7.0 10.4138276553 67% => OK Relative clauses : 2.0 7.30460921844 27% => More relative clauses wanted. Pronoun: 18.0 24.0651302605 75% => OK Preposition: 38.0 41.998997996 90% => OK Nominalization: 4.0 8.3376753507 48% => More nominalizations (nouns with a suffix like: tion ment ence ance) wanted.

Performance on vocabulary words: No of characters: 1658.0 1615.20841683 103% => OK No of words: 294.0 315.596192385 93% => More content wanted. Chars per words: 5.63945578231 5.12529762239 110% => OK Fourth root words length: 4.14082457966 4.20363070211 99% => OK Word Length SD: 3.16132630207 2.80592935109 113% => OK Unique words: 188.0 176.041082164 107% => OK Unique words percentage: 0.639455782313 0.561755894193 114% => OK syllable_count: 512.1 506.74238477 101% => OK avg_syllables_per_word: 1.7 1.60771543086 106% => OK

A sentence (or a clause, phrase) starts by: Pronoun: 5.0 5.43587174349 92% => OK Article: 2.0 2.52805611222 79% => OK Subordination: 3.0 2.10420841683 143% => OK Conjunction: 2.0 0.809619238477 247% => Less conjunction wanted as sentence beginning. Preposition: 3.0 4.76152304609 63% => OK

Performance on sentences: How many sentences: 19.0 16.0721442886 118% => OK Sentence length: 15.0 20.2975951904 74% => The Avg. Sentence Length is relatively short. Sentence length SD: 46.0281137743 49.4020404114 93% => OK Chars per sentence: 87.2631578947 106.682146367 82% => OK Words per sentence: 15.4736842105 20.7667163134 75% => OK Discourse Markers: 5.73684210526 7.06120827912 81% => OK Paragraphs: 4.0 4.38176352705 91% => OK Language errors: 1.0 5.01903807615 20% => OK Sentences with positive sentiment : 9.0 8.67935871743 104% => OK Sentences with negative sentiment : 4.0 3.9879759519 100% => OK Sentences with neutral sentiment: 6.0 3.4128256513 176% => OK What are sentences with positive/Negative/neutral sentiment?

Coherence and Cohesion: Essay topic to essay body coherence: 0.219882910901 0.244688304435 90% => OK Sentence topic coherence: 0.0675958417762 0.084324248473 80% => OK Sentence topic coherence SD: 0.0635574688263 0.0667982634062 95% => OK Paragraph topic coherence: 0.139391911671 0.151304729494 92% => OK Paragraph topic coherence SD: 0.0561027218728 0.056905535591 99% => OK

Essay readability: automated_readability_index: 12.9 13.0946893788 99% => OK flesch_reading_ease: 47.79 50.2224549098 95% => OK smog_index: 8.8 7.44779559118 118% => OK flesch_kincaid_grade: 10.3 11.3001002004 91% => OK coleman_liau_index: 15.14 12.4159519038 122% => OK dale_chall_readability_score: 10.34 8.58950901804 120% => OK difficult_words: 111.0 78.4519038076 141% => OK linsear_write_formula: 9.0 9.78957915832 92% => OK gunning_fog: 8.0 10.1190380762 79% => OK text_standard: 9.0 10.7795591182 83% => OK What are above readability scores?

--------------------- Rates: 84.2696629213 out of 100 Scores by essay e-grader: 7.5 Out of 9 --------------------- Note: the e-grader does NOT examine the meaning of words and ideas. VIP users will receive further evaluations by advanced module of e-grader and human graders.

IELTS Charlie

Your Guide to IELTS Band 7

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

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

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

What Is Your Task?

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

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

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

Does this development have more advantages or more disadvantages? 

Cambridge IELTS 15 General Training Test 4

How To Plan An IELTS Advantages Disadvantages Essay

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

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

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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Discover the 7 STEPS to BAND 7 in IELTS Writing Task 2

IELTS Writing Samples by topic

It is now possible for scientists and tourists to travel to remote natural environment, such as the south pole. what are advantages and disadvantages of this development, in many countries it is common for parents to give their children pocket money. what are the advantages and disadvantages of this practice, the use of social media ,such as face book and twitter ,is replacing face_to_face contact with people. do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, technology is being used more and more in education, discuss the advantages and disadvantages, it is important for people to take risks, both in their professional lives and their personal lives. do you think the advantages of taking risks outweigh the disadvantages, one of the consequence of improved medical care is that people are living longer and life expectancy is increasing do you think the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages, one of the consequences of improved medical care is that people are living longer and life expectancy is increasing. do you think the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages, one of the consquences of improved medical care is that people are living longer and life expectancy is increasing. do you think the advantacges of this outweigh the disadvantages, it is important for people to take risks, in both their professional lives and personal lives. do the advantages of taking these risks outweigh the disadvantages, it is becoming increasingly popular to have a year off between finishing school and going to university. what are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend, in the past when students did a university degree they tended to study in their own counrty. nowadays, they have more opportunity to study abroad. what are the advantages and disadvantages of this development, in many countries around the world, life expectancy is increasing. discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this situation and give your own opinion., there is an increasing trend around the world of married couples deciding not to have children. discuss the advantages and disadvantages for couples who decide to do this., it is important for people to take risks, both in their professional lives and their personal lives. do you think the advantages of taking risks outweigh the disadvantages give reasons for your answer and include, it is important for people to take risks, both in their professional lives and their personal lives. do you think the advantages of taking risks outweigh the disadvantages., in some countries, the difference inage between parents and children is generally greater than it was in the past. do you think advantages outweigh the disadvantages, it is important for people to take risks, both in their professional lives and their personal personal lives. do you think the advantages of taking risks outweigh the disadvantages.

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IELTS advantage disadvantage essays

Three types of advantage disadvantage essays.

Updated: June 2022

Not only are there 5 types of essay questions in academic IELTS but there are 3 types of Advantage Disadvantage essays, here are some examples below and ideas on how to approach them.

Before we go further let me make something clear. IELTS tasks will ask in an advantage disadvantage essay something like:

• Do the advantage s outweigh the disadvantage s ?
• What are the advantage s and disadvantage s of this?

Notice the plural form here, advantage s and disadvantage s. Many students (and IELTS teachers) think they have to write more than one advantage and disadvantage. Yes, you can certainly do this but you can also make it much simpler by writing about one advantage and one disadvantage. I have heard from examiners that this is ok as long as you are able to support and fully exaplin your ideas. With this approach you can still write over 250 words.

The problem is that you will run out of time if you write 2 of each. You will have only 40 minutes for the essay. Planning time is around 10 minutes so that means 30 minutes of writing. Another danger of writing about 2 of each is that the word count will go well over 300 words and you could include irrelevant information.

One of the consequences of improved medical care is that people are living longer and life expectancy is increasing. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? 

Make sure you analyse the question well and then paraphrase it in the introduction. This kind of question asks about the advantages and disadvantages and an important word here is “ outweigh “. The question asks if the advantages are stronger than the disadvantages so you need to give your opinion here.

Some students just write about the advantages only but this is a wrong approach and you could lose marks. The essay needs to have balance. The first body paragraph could be about the advantages and the second body paragraph can be about the downsides with your opinion throughout the whole essay.

A lot of students fail to give their opinion in this type of essay, or maybe they just give their opinion briefly in the conclusion. Your position must be clear throughout the essay.

Let’s Review

1. analyse the question well then paraphrase it. write your opinion in the thesis statement. 2. make sure you state your opinion in the introduction, main body and also the conclusion. 3. give specific examples throughout the essay but be careful of giving too much information. keep it simple and do not overly complicate it. 4. make sure the essay is balanced and you are not just writing about advantages only., here are 2 possible structures for this type of task:.

Note: Structures are just guidelines to help you plan out your essay, there is no special magic structure that can get you a Band 7, there are many ways to structure an essay.

Some people think that consumption tax on food items is a good way to raise revenue for the government. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this policy

This type of essay does not ask for your opinion, it is more like a discussion essay so you need to write about pros and cons, you can see that the question does not ask : Do you think…? or Do you agree or disagree…? / What is your opinion ? So this is not asking a direct opinion.

First analyse the question and then paraphrase it. The essay needs to be well balanced just like in example 1 with explanations about how it’s an advantage or disadvantage. Don’t just write about advantages, give both sides in the essay. The conclusion is just a summary of the points that you made in the body paragraphs.

1. Analyse the question well then paraphrase it. 2. Give one example of the advantages in main body paragraph 1, after that give one example of the disadvantages in main body paragraph 2. 3. Do not give your personal opinion because the question does not ask for it. 4. Give good examples throughout the essay but be careful of giving too much information. Keep it simple, be careful about giving too many examples too. 5. Make sure the essay is balanced, not just writing about advantages only.

Here is a good structure for this type of task:

These days with advances in technology more and more people are working from home. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this and give your own opinion

This essay type is quite similar to example 1, here you must give your opinion and discuss the pros and cons, the main difference compared to example 1 is that it does not mention the word outweigh. The main thing to look out for is the words Discuss and Give your own opinion. Just like in example 1 you need to paraphrase the question, give a balanced approach in the main body paragraphs and give your opinion in the introduction and again in the conclusion.

The examiner needs to see your opinion throughout the whole essay.

1. Analyse the question well then paraphrase it. 2. Give an example of the advantages in main body paragraph 1, after that give an example of the disadvantages in main body paragraph 2. 3. Make sure you state your opinion in the introduction, main body and the conclusion. 4. Give specific examples in the essay but be careful of giving too much information. Keep it simple. 5. Make sure the essay is balanced, not just writing about advantages only.

What structure should i use.

Structures are just guidelines to help you plan out your essay, there is no special magic structure that can get you a high score. I recommend 2 body paragraphs for this kind of essay but you can use 3 main body paragraphs if you wish, no more than that.

• In main body paragraph 1, you can write about the advantages and explain further. Always remember to give an example. If possible write about the outcome of the advantages (prediction statement). Main body 2 is the same, write about the disadvantages with an example.
• You must give your opinion in the introduction if the question asks for your opinion. You can also use the main body paragraphs to back up your opinion. You should rephrase your view in the conclusion also.

Key point to remember . Do not give too many examples or you may go off track. You can also go with one advantage and one disadvantage as long as it is well supported, relevant and explained. You haven’t got time to go into too much detail or into tangents. Don’t try to impress the examiner with too much information.

Plan your essay well, set aside 10 minutes planning time , think of at least one supporting point for your topic sentence in each main body paragraph.

Any questions? leave a comment below

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