QUESTION 2

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

STRUCTURE 1
if the pros outweigh:

• Introduction

• Main Body Paragraph 1 (2 advantages)

• Main Body Paragraph 2 (1 disadvantage)

• Conclusion

if the cons outweigh

• Introduction

• Main Body Paragraph 1 (2 disadvantages)

• Main Body Paragraph 2 (1 advantage)

• Conclusion
 STRUCTURE 2

if the pros outweigh:

- introduction
- one disadvantage of X + brief explanation + example
- one advantage of this + brief explanation + example
- another advantage + brief explanation + example
- conclusion

if the cons outweigh

- introduction
- one advantage of X + brief explanation + example
- one disadvantage of this + brief explanation + example
- another disadvantage+ brief explanation + example
- conclusion

TIPS FOR THE OUTWEIGH ESSAY QUESTIONS

To answer this type of IELTS essay question you must:

• brainstorm ideas supporting both sides first

• this question is asking for your opinion

• answer the question “do you think the advantages or the disadvantages are most important?

• put your answer to the question in the thesis statement in your introduction

• you can use the word outweigh in your introduction if you want

• or you can simply explain if there are more advantages or disadvantages in your opinion

• 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 using different language

• It is common academic practice to start with the opposing opinion to yours, so you can start with the point that
you have one idea for.
• As explained above, it is very important, especially if you are looking for a band 7 or higher, that your opinion
reflects what is in your essay. SO IF YOU HAVE SAID THERE ARE MORE BENEFITS, THEN YOU WOULD HAVE TWO
BENEFITS AND ONE DRAWBACK.

USEFUL PHRASES

Introduction
1. Although …………… has both positive and negative aspects, I believe that its merits outweigh its demerits.
2. Some ……… while some ………. In my opinion, the drawbacks of …….. are eclipsed by its benefits in the sense
that ……………..
3. Around the world, ……… is proving beneficial for ……... However, there are some possible drawbacks of ……..
Nonetheless, I firmly believe that if both pros and cons are considered the merits of ……. surpass the demerits.
4. It is often argued that ………., I strongly believe that the benefits of ….. far outweigh the problems and over
the course of this essay I will provide reasons for this viewpoint.
5. In recent years, many …….. However, some people have claimed that it is more effective …….. Despite these
drawbacks, I argue that this development has more merits. In this essay, I will examine the pros and cons of
……...
6. I think that the advantages of this outweigh the downsides because ……….
7. In this essay, I will shed some light on the merits and demerits of this phenomenon and then provide my own
opinion.
Body
1. On the one hand, there are compelling benefits of….. The primary advantage is that these items save a
person’s time….. For instance, ……. Indeed, time is money. In addition, …….. For example, ……. Therefore, …..
On the other hand, there are some disadvantages of …….. First of all, …….. Moreover, ……... Consequently, ……
2. There are various reasons why people believe that …… is a curse. The primary reason is ….. Due to ……. For
example, ……... Consequently, ……..
On the other hand, every coin has two sides. First of all, ……. For example, ……. Consequently, ……. Another
reason is, …….. For instance, ……
3. Admittedly, there are disadvantages to …….. One of these is that ………. In addition, ……. To illustrate this, ……
Despite these downsides, there are some benefits of …….. One of these is that…….. For instance, ……... Another
obvious virtue is that …….
4. On one side of the argument, some people opine that the main disadvantage of ……. One good illustration of
this is that …….. This results in …….. Thus ……
Despite these repercussions, ………. The main reason of …….. Indeed, ……... A particularly good example of this
………. Unsurprisingly, ……... Seen in this light, ……..
5. To begin with, one of the main advantages of …… is that …….. It ……. As a result, …….. Furthermore, …….
On the other hand, there are many drawbacks to this trend. …... If ……... One of the main reasons that …….. If
……... So this …….
6. On the one side of the argument, there are a number of benefits ……. Besides, ……
Despite the multiple merits of ……., there are still numerous demerits. Firstly, ……... In addition, ……. The other
more profound consequence that ……….
7. To begin with, it can be easily seen that ……., thus ……... It is also possible to say that ………. For instance, …..
However, every coin has two sides and despite all the advantages of …….., there are some disadvantages too.
Firstly, despite ……….; consequently, ………. Secondly, ……………..; however, …………….. To exemplify,
………………….; thus ………
8. On the one hand, …………. is advantageous in many ways. Firstly, ……….. In addition, ……. For instance……..
However, ……... Secondly, ………. Hence, ……….
On the other hand, despite many advantages of …….. there are some disadvantages too. Firstly, ……….
Moreover, ………. For example,…….
Conclusion
1. In conclusion, even though there may be drawbacks to ………, I think that …….. carries more pluses because
of ………..
2. To conclude, although there are some negative sides to ……, it ……... In my opinion, the advantages of having
one global language far outweigh its disadvantages.
3. Having considered a range of arguments, I have concluded that the benefits of ……. outweigh the problems
4. Having considered a range of arguments, I have drawn the conclusion that although there are some demerits
of ……., I believe that they are outweighed by the positive impacts on ……... It is hoped that these disadvantages
will be
minimized ……..
5. To sum up, in my opinion, both arguments have their merits. On balance, however, I tend to believe that ……
6. In conclusion, I firmly agree that the merits of ….outweigh the drawbacks……… 7. All things considered,
………… One need to weigh up the pros of…….., and the cons of…… Personally, I believe the benefits in terms
of……. eventually
outweigh any negatives.
8. In conclusion, there are clearly both positives and negatives to…… While…… can be ……., for many
people…….. In my opinion, ……
9. To conclude, given the undisputable fact that ………., even if there are some drawbacks, I think the benefits
outweigh the problems.
10. In conclusion, the disadvantages of ….. are overshadowed by the benefits …….. Therefore, having weighed
up the pros and cons, I am convinced that ……….
11. In conclusion, ……. has its positive and negative impact but the merits like …….. overshadow the demerits.
 STRUCTURE 1
Being a celebrity - such as famous film star or sports personality - brings problems as
well as benefits. Do you think that being a celebrity brings more benefits or more
problems.
It is often argued that celebrity status, notwithstanding fame and wealth, is often
plagued with problems like lack of personal space and constant media glare. I strongly
believe that the benefits of celebrity status far outweigh the problems and over the
course of this essay will provide reasons for this viewpoint.
There are various reasons why people believe that celebrity status is a curse. The primary
reason is the lack of personal space. Due to constant media attention and fan following,
celebrities find it difficult to enjoy the simple things in life. For example, Indian national
team cricketers are treated like demigods in India. Consequently, the cricketers find it
rather difficult to venture in public spaces like shopping malls or hang out with friends
and family in restaurants. This constant media attention could be overwhelming at times.
On the other hand, every coin has two sides. First of all, celebrities through their fan
following can influence the society in a positive way. For example, Rajnikanth a famous
movie star from India has a larger than life image. Recently his support and
encouragement to local bullfighting sport influenced millions of students to hit the road
and protest against government decision to stop bullfighting. Consequently, government
was forced to reconsider the controversial decision. Another reason is, celebrities
through their work, motivate and inspire millions of fans and general public alike. For
instance, legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has acted as a role model for generations
of youth and has inspired them to reach out for the sky; no dream too big, no challenge
too great.
Having considered a range of arguments, I have concluded that benefits of being a
celebrity greatly outweigh the problems. From influencing the public in a positive way to
acting as a role model, the benefits are far and wide.
 Band 8 IELTS essay sample
Do The Advantages Of Running A Business Outweigh The Disadvantages?
It is commonly seen that people aspire to start and run their own business, instead of
pursuing a job. In my opinion, the benefits of running a business far outweigh the
problems associated with it.
1 Admittedly, there are some minor disadvantages to owning a business. Firstly,
starting your own business generally requires an initial investment. For example, the
owner of the business might need to invest in machineries and buildings to start a
business. However, the problem is that everyone is not affluent enough to invest a
2 large amount of money. Secondly, running a business always involves a certain
amount of risk. There is no fixed monthly income from a business; it could even incur
losses if it is not managed appropriately. In short, a business can be a burden if it is
not managed and monitored properly.

Nevertheless, despite the disadvantages mentioned above, I believe there are a lot
1 of significant advantages to owning a business. One of the obvious benefits is that
the business owner has complete authority over any decision related to the business.
For instance, a restaurant owner can take the decision to open a new branch to
expand the business whenever required. In comparison, most of the employees
working in a company do not have much say in the functioning of the
2 company. Another advantage of owning is a business is that business owners can
increase their revenues and profits manifold when the business grows. In other
3 words, people can earn more by running a successful business. Finally, a successful
business acts as a launch pad for the children from business families to start their
career. Clearly, owning a business can be immensely beneficial for people.

In conclusion, while there are minor disadvantages to running a business, I believe

the benefits are greater than the problems associated with it. In fact, the potential
problems can be mitigated by taking appropriate measures and monitoring progress.
1

1
 STRUCTURE 2 BAND 8.5 ESSAY

The internet has brought about many changes into our day to day life. Nowadays we
are doing things such as mailing, contacting, banking and communication much faster.
Do these developments have more advantages than disadvantages?

The internet has transformed people’s lives. It has changed the way we communicate
with each other, transact business and access information. Although the internet has
both positive and negative aspects, I believe that its merits outweigh its demerits.
1 To begin with, thanks to the internet, people can now contact their friends, family and
colleagues faster and more efficiently than in the past. Most people have internet
connection on their mobile or computer and as a result, they can always stay connected
with their near and dear ones. For example, social networking applications like
WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter allow people to chat and share videos and other
important information. Similarly, through facilities like video conferencing and webinars
people from different parts of the world can now participate in online conferences which
eliminate the need to travel to other countries and cities for attending such programmes.
2 Additionally, online shopping and banking have saved people a great deal of time and
effort. People today can sit at home and buy their grocery, books or household
appliances from online sites such as Amazon or eBay and their stuff will be delivered at
home. Moreover, transferring and withdrawing money have become very easy today
with online facilities offered by most banks.
1 On the other hand, a great deal of offensive and obscene content is available on the web
and children have easy access to them. Many antisocial elements and terrorist groups like
ISIS recruit youngsters through the internet. Internet addiction is another problem. Many
people are now addicted to the internet and wasting their time. This can affect their
career and relationships.
In conclusion, the internet has greatly benefited people in different ways. Although it
has some negative aspects it can be handled efficiently by implementing proper laws and
regulations and through parental supervision.
 STRUCTURE 2 BAND 8.5 ESSAY

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?

These days many people choose to live or work in other countries, which has been made
possible because of the convenience of air travel and modern communications. I believe
that this has more benefits than drawbacks.
1 The disadvantage of this development is the distance that is put between family
members. If a person moves away it is true that air travel and devices such as skype
mean that communication and contact can be maintained. However, it is likely that a
person will only be able to return one or two times a year during holidays, and speaking
on skype or via email is not the same as face-to-face contact.
1 Despite this, there are significant advantages it can bring to people’s lives. Firstly, it
means that people have the opportunity to see other parts of the world and the way
people live. For example, people from the West often go to work in Asia or the Middle
East and visa-versa. This enriches many people’s lives as they get to learn about other
languages, traditions, cultures and different ways of working from their own country.
2 In addition to this, on a wider level it may also benefit other countries. If someone moves
abroad for work, it is usually because their skill is required there. To illustrate, nurses and
Doctors often move to work in hospitals in other countries when there is a shortage, so
this is very valuable to the place they move to.
I would therefore argue that although there are disadvantages of the current trend to live
and work abroad, they are outweighed by the advantages. It can enrich people’s lives
and lives of the people in the countries that they move to.

(283 Words)
 Model Advantage Disadvantage Essay
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?
These days many people choose to live or work in other countries, which has
been made possible because of the convenience of air travel and modern
communications. I believe that this has more benefits than drawbacks.
The disadvantage of this development is the distance that is put between family
members. If a person moves away it is true that air travel and devices such as
skype mean that communication and contact can be maintained. However, it is
likely that a person will only be able to return one or two times a year during
holidays, and speaking on skype or via email is not the same as face-to-face
contact.
Despite this, there are significant advantages it can bring to people’s lives.
Firstly, it means that people have the opportunity to see other parts of the
world and the way people live. For example, people from the West often go to
work in Asia or the Middle East and visa-versa. This enriches many people’s lives
as they get to learn about other languages, traditions, cultures and different
ways of working from their own country.
In addition to this, on a wider level it may also benefit other countries. If
someone moves abroad for work, it is usually because their skill is required
there. To illustrate, nurses and Doctors often move to work in hospitals in other
countries when there is a shortage, so this is very valuable to the place they
move to.
I would therefore argue that although there are disadvantages of the current
trend to live and work abroad, they are outweighed by the advantages. It can
enrich people’s lives and lives of the people in the countries that they move
to.
(283 Words)