IELTS ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE ESSAYS

I. HOW TO IDENTIFY THE QUESTION

A. ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE ESSAYS
B. OUTWEIGH QUESTIONS
People now have the freedom to work and live anywhere in the world due to the development of communication
technology and transportation.
Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
OR
Will this have more positive or negative impacts?

II. ESSAY STRUCTURE

A. IELTS ADVANTAGE-DISADVANTAGE ESSAYS

1. Introduction
- Giving background information and narrowing the topic.
- Mentioning the main areas covered in the essay.

2. Body (2-para)
A. Paragraph 1: Advantages
- Topic sentence (advantages)
- Introduction to the first advantage +Explain it + Give an example
- Connective + introduction the second advantage + Give example (if possible)
B. Paragraph 2: Disadvantages
- Connective + Topic sentence: (disadvantage)
- Introduction to the first disadvantage +Explain it + Give an example
- Connective + introduction the second disadvantage + Give example (if possible)

3. Conclusion (2-sentence)
-Connective + Restate in summary the main advantages and disadvantages
- Your opinion

MODEL ESSAY
In order to solve traffic problems, governments should tax private car owners heavily and use the money to
improve public transportation.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of such a solution?

Introduction
Traffic problems in many cities around the world are becoming more and more serious.  One possible solution
to this problem is to impose heavy taxes on car drivers and use this money to make public transport better.  Such
a measure has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Body paragraph
It is clear that imposing heavy taxes on car drivers has some noteworthy positive effects. One of the first
benefits of such a measure is that the heavy taxes would discourage car owners from using their cars because
it would become very expensive to drive. This would mean that they would begin to make use of public transport
instead, thus reducing traffic problems and pollution as well. Another benefit would be that much more use
would be made of public transport if it were improved. It is often the case that public transport in cities is very
poor. For example, we often see old buses and trains that people would rather not use. High taxes could
generate enough money to make the necessary changes.

Nevertheless, there are drawbacks to such a solution. First and foremost, this might be a heavy burden on the
car drivers. At present, taxes are already high for a lot of people, and so further taxes would only mean less
money at the end of the month for most people who may have no choice but to drive every day.  In addition, this
type of tax would likely to be set at a fixed amount. This would mean that it would hit those with less money
harder, while the rich could likely afford it. It is therefore not a fair tax.

Conclusion
In brief, this solution is worth considering to improve the current situation. However, there are advantages and
disadvantages of introducing such a policy.

B. OUTWEIGH ADV-DIS ESSAYS

1. Introduction
- Giving background information and narrowing the topic.
- Mentioning the main areas covered in the essay.

2. Body (2-para)
A. Paragraph 1: Advantages
- Topic sentence (advantages)
- Introduction to the first advantage +Explain it + Give an example
- Connective + introduction to the second advantage + Give example (if possible)

B. Paragraph 2: Advantages
- Topic sentence (advantages)
- Introduction to the first advantage +Explain it + Give an example
- Connective + introduction the second advantage + Give example (if possible)

C. Paragraph 3: Disadvantages
- Connective + Topic sentence: (disadvantage)
- Introduction to the first disadvantage +Explain it + Give an example
- Connective + introduction the second disadvantage + Give example (if possible)

3. Conclusion (2-sentence)
-Connective + Restate in summary your idea (more advantages than disadvantages) in different words.

TIPS FOR OUTWEIGH QUESTIONS

Give your opinion& discuss ADV &DIS
*Brainstorm ideas supporting both sides first. Then decide what your opinion is (according to whether you have
more advantages or disadvantages).
* Put your answer to the question in the thesis statement.
* Have one body paragraph which gives details about the opposite side to your opinion.
* Have either one or two body paragraphs which give details of the side you chose to support.
* Restate your opinion in the conclusion.
MODEL ESSAY
Introduction
Nowadays,………………(PARAPHRASE THE TOPIC)……………………………………………. I think the
advantages outweigh disadvantages.

Body Paragraph 1 (Advantages)

It is clear that……………………………has some striking advantages. One of the first benefits
is……………………………………………………………………….. This means ……………………............
…………………………………………………. . Another merit (benefit) is …………………………………..
…………………………………………….. For example,…………………………………….............................
……………………………………………………………………
Body paragraph 2 (Advantages)
One more thing worth mentioning is ………………………………………………………………………..
The reality shows that………………………………………………………………………………………. .
An instance is that………………………………………………………………………………………….
Thus, ……………………………….............

Body paragraph 3 (Disadvantages)

Although …………………… has many advantages, there still exist some noteworthy disadvantages. First and
foremost, ………………..
………………………………………………….. . This is because………………………………………….
……………………………… In addition, ………………………………………………………………….. .
This would mean that………………………………………………………………………………………. . Hence,
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Conclusion
In conclusion, despite some demerits, I believe……………………………………………………………………….

Some students take a year off between school and university, to work or to travel. Do the advantages of
this outweigh the disadvantages?

Many high school leavers nowadays have prone to start their work or take a trip prior to entering university.
While a gap year may bring them some drawbacks, I do believe that the time offers them many benefits for their
lives.

On the one hand, youngsters are likely to get into trouble when postponing their study. One of the problems is
that the delays may result in their slow academic progress. In fact, enjoying the experiences in work or
wonderful visits to a new country distracts them from reviewing what is gained from school. As a result, gap-
year takers find it difficult to keep up with classmates when resuming school. This makes people involved feel
inferiority complex in communication with their peers. One more thing worth nothing is that the off-campus life
many be mentally and physically challenging for inexperienced undergraduates who may be at risk of being
exploited in an exhausting job or may face dangers on the trips to a new nation. If not well-prepared for such
possible impediments, they may suffer from unexpected consequences.

On the other hand, I am convinced that the demerits are overshadowed by many boons. Indeed, a year-off period
is considered as a favorable chance to acquire what is not taught at school. The reality proves that in the working
environment contacts with those who are experts in a certain field help them not only understand the job but also
gain valuable pragmatic lessons, which aids them in being more mature and more experienced in life and work.
Employers always prioritize these when it comes to recruiting new employees to join a company. Another plus
that needs addressing is that a year to relax assists them in relieving stress so that they get more work efficiency
when returning to school.
In conclusion, in spite of some shortcomings the gains of a gap year are more beneficial for the aforementioned.
However, I think undergraduates should think it over before deciding which way is best for their future.

III. LANGUAGE USE

PHRASES TO LIST ADVANTAGES OR DISADVANTAGES

Describing Advantages Describing Disadvantages
Nouns Nouns
-   The first/main/greatest/most important -a handicap
advantage of …. is …. -a problem
-   One/another/an additional advantage of -a frequent criticism
…. is …. -a long-term negative effect
-a benefit -a short-term negative effect
-an obvious benefit -a drawback
-long-term effect/benefit -an objection
-a short-term effect/benefit -a negative effect
-an opportunity -a bad negative point/aspect
-a positive effect -a potential consequence /danger
-good/positive point/aspect - The first/main/greatest/ most serious disadvantage of …. is ….
- One/another/an additional disadvantage of …. is ….
- Another negative aspect of …. is ….
Expressions Expressions
-   What makes … stand out/important/… -One of the major disadvantages of….. is….
is …………………. -One argument against... is...
-   One/Another point in favor of …. -One of the main arguments against. … is. ..
is…………. -An often heard criticism of ….is….
-Before reaching a conclusion…….. should be taken into
-One of the major advantages of…..is…. consideration
-One argument in favour…..is… -Obviously those that mainly object to this point out the fact
-One of the main arguments in favour of that…..
…..is…. Verbs
-Obviously those that mainly agree with interfere
the benefit point out the fact that….. be of concern
Verbs object
enable
help
benefit
PHRASES TO TRANSFER FROM ADVANTAGES TO DISADVANTAGES
- Despite these attractions, some drawbacks do exist…
- Although … has many advantages, there still exist some noteworthy disadvantages.
- However, … is not completely beneficial; there are some negative aspects that should be taken into
consideration.

PRACTICE TESTS

I. WRITE AN INTRODUCTION ON THE TOPIC

A. People now have the freedom to work and live anywhere in the world due to the development of
communication technology and transportation.

Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

B. In some countries, many more people are choosing to live alone nowadays than in the past. Do you
think this is a positive or negative development?
B.1 WRITE WELL-ORGANIZED PARAGRAPHS BASED ON THE FOLLOWING IDEAS.
Body paragraph 1: Advantages
+ Individual level: more independent and self-reliant than
Example: learn to cook, clean, pay bills and manage his or her budgetà get life skills
+ economic perspective: greater demand for housing àbenefit the construction industry, estate agents and other
companies
Body paragraph 2: Disadvantages
+ experience feelings of loneliness, isolation and worry
- miss out on the emotional support and daily conversation
- bear the weight of all household bills and responsibilities
+ financial point of view: a rise in demand for housing à push up property prices and rents& faced with rising
living costs
B.2. WRITE A CONCLUSION

II. WRITE WELL-ORGANIZED PARAGRAPHS BASED ON THE FOLLOWING TOPICS.

A. More and more students are choosing to study English abroad. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of
studying English abroad.

B. International tourism has been common nowadays. Do you think the advantages of the inclination outweigh
disadvantages?

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MODEL ESSAYS
MODEL 1
The two maps provide information about the development of Lakeside from 2000 to 2009.

It is clear from the given maps that the town experienced dramatic changes over the surveyed years. It is also
noticeable that the industrial complex was greatly expanded and some service areas were newly established.

The river was recorded to originate from the lake which dwindled to a small pond in 2009. The industrial
complex in the South East was extended, which resulted in the disappearance of a residential area in the South.

In the North of the river, in 2009 the considerable variation was seen in most of the places in Lakeside with the
exception of a residential area in the North West and a school in the center of the city. Noticeable
transformations were that the warehouse in the North was replaced by a car park and that the old town located
between the school and the warehouse was demolished to make room for offices and a university. Another
remarkable conversion was that a cinema was constructed right in the place where art center used to be. A
residential area opposite it to the South was also gone to make way for a newly-found shopping center in the
final year.

MODEL 2
The maps below show how the town of Harborne changes from 1936 to 2007
The maps illustrate the great transformations of a town called Harborne over a 71-year period starting from
1936.

As can be seen from the given maps, a lot of considerable alterations were seen in the town. Remarkably, it
became more developed with a newly-established residential area and far more places for shopping and
recreational centers during the period shown.

A noticeable change was that a great number of trees planted in the northwest were cut down in the years under
survey, which resulted in a less verdant area. The cycle path in the Southwest was also redesigned into an arc-
shaped road to facilitate the transportation and movement. The area around the river was converted into a
residential area in the Northeastern part of the town. The government offices in the Southeast and the adjacent
farmland were turned into a museum and a golf course respectively.

It is remarkably recorded that a post office, a bank and a library in the center of the town remained stable in
terms of location and size. However, a lot of transformations were witnessed in the very site. A sweet shop and
butchers which were opposite the bank and the library were demolished to make way for a supermarket; a travel
agent across the post office was constructed right in the place in which the flower shop used to be. Another
modification worth noting is a newly-built shopping centre was found in the formerly deserted place;