Writing

Advantages/Disadvantages Essay
Description
1. The instructions may vary and be re-worded by IELTS for the advantages/disadvantages essays.
Below are some ways in which IELTS can phrase the advantage and disadvantage essay
instructions:
 What are the advantages and disadvantages?
 Explain the advantages and disadvantages of this issue.
 Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.
 What are the positive and negative aspects of this issue?
2. Here are some ways in which IELTS can phrase the advantage outweigh disadvantage essay
instructions:
 Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
 Do you think the advantages are more serious than the disadvantages?
 To what extend do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
3. All the instructions above are the same for each type of essay. IELTS like to paraphrase their
instructions from time to time so be aware of this.

Tactics

4. Identify the issue or issues in the essay question. Spend time analysing the exact meaning of the
vocabulary given.
5. Brainstorm advantages and disadvantages. Choose the best ones to use. Aim for two advantages
and two disadvantages on average.
6. Plan your supporting points. Each idea should have one supporting sentence on the whole.
7. Make a note to use your advantages/disadvantafes paraphrases in your essay.
8. Structure: four paragraph (intro, advantages, disadvantages, conclusion)
9. The introduction paraphrases the essay question and states the advantages with reference to
disadvantges.
10. Think about your linking methods and topics sentences for each body paragraph before writing
the body of the essay.
11. The topic sentence must have a linking device to start, it must state if this paragraph refers to
the advantages or disadvantages and it must state the issue involved which is from the essay
question. Make sure the topic sentence is written in fully and written carefully.
12. Your body paragraphs should be more or less balanced in length.
13. Start your conclusion with the appropriate linking devices: In conclusion, To conclude, To sum
up, To reiterate. Your conclusion should refer to the disadvantages and advantages.
14. Your conclusion can be one sentence or two. Don't make it longer than the introduction and
don't add unnecessary information.
15. Write your opinion in the conclusion.
1. Read the essay task and answer the questions below.

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

New technologies have changed the way children spend their free time.

Do advantages of this outweigh disadvantages?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own
knowledge and experience.
Write at least 250 words.

1. What is the topic of the essay?

2. What should be included in Body 1 and Body 2?
3. Do you need to include your personal opinion? Why? Why not?
4. What makes this essay different from the previous essay type?

2. Make notes about the following categories. Then compare to those of your
partner.

Advantages that technologies bring Disadvantages that technologies bring

3. Read the model answer and answer compare your ideas from task 2 to the
advantages and disadvantages mentioned in the model essay.

Model Answer

The advent of new technologies has led to a multitude of changes in

young children’s recreational activities. This essay will analyze the
advantages and disadvantages that arise when youngsters use modern
technologies for their enjoyment. Following this look, a reasoned
conclusion will be drawn.

On the one hand, the appearance of new devices has brought certain
values to children. The first benefit is that more choices are now available
on computers or any other electrical devices that are connected to the
Internet. This would satisfy children of different preferences for
entertainment, such as watching movies, listening to music or playing
games on the online platform. Another upside is that some useful skills and
necessary qualities can be either initially obtained or honed by playing
electronic games. For instance, racing games help develop motor skills in
later life. Also, creativity and fast reflexes which are of great use in the
future can be enhanced through puzzle or shooting games.

Despite the mentioned advantages, there are certain downsides to the

emergence of modern technological devices in children’s leisure time. The
first drawback is that children might develop a passive lifestyle and possibly
isolate themselves from society. This is because this way of entertainment
is extremely addictive, and children, therefore, are likely to spend hours in
their room without any communication with the outside world if exposed
frequently. Furthermore, exposure to technology could lead to
deterioration in health as hours spent on using computers can cause
tremendous harm to eyesight. In fact, children at school age are suffering
from short-sight due to playing video games or browsing Facebook for a
long time.

In conclusion, there are a number of benefits of newly introduced

technological devices. However, personally, I believe that they are eclipsed
by the disadvantages, namely impaired eyesight and social detachment.

4. Read the essay one more time and find what ideas are mentioned in each
paragraph.
5. Highlight useful phrases that introduce the points mentioned in the
introduction, body 1, body 2 and conclusion which can be used when writing an
Advantages/Disadvantages Essay.

6. Find in the essay two synonyms to the words ‘advantage’ and ‘disadvantage’.

7. Match the highlighted words and phrases to their definitions A-F.

A. worsening
B. a time when something first begins to be widely used
C. a very large number of people or things
D. a situation where someone is not protected from something
dangerous or unpleasant
E. a condition when a person does not communicate with other
people
F. the ability to perform complex muscle-and-nerve acts that produce
movement

8. Fill in the gaps with the highlighted words from the essay.

1. The__________ of social media has resulted in people becoming less

confident and emotional.
2. ____________ ___________ is a very big problem today since in order to
be happy, people have to communicate.
3. There are a _______________ of benefits that science and technology bring
which outweigh all the negatives.

9. Discuss with your partner whether you agree or disagree with sentences in task
7.

10. Read the task and take notes about the advantages and disadvantages.

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Nowadays technology has changed the way many people interact with each
other.
Do advantages of this outweigh disadvantages?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own
knowledge and experience.
Write at least 250 words.
11. Fill in the gaps with one of your ideas from the notes to task 10.

Advantages

The first benefit is _________________________________________

Another upside is ___________________________________________

Disadvantages

The first drawback is_________________________________________

Furthermore, _______________________________________________
facebook.com/IELTSVN - Improve your IELTS score

17 Timed Listening 1
tailieutienganh.net | up-to-date IELTS materials
18
tailieutienganh.net | up-to-date IELTS materials
 Timed Listening 2
19
20
Timed Listening 1 Timed Listening 2
Key A. deterioration
4) B. advent
C. multitude
Introduction
D. exposure
 Opening E. social detachment
 Outline
F. motor skills
Body 1
8)
 Advantage 1
 Advantage 2 1. advent
2. social detachment
Body 2
3. multitude
 Disadvantage 1
 Disadvantage 2

Conclusion TIMED LISTENING 1

 Summary Section 1, Questions 1-10

 Personal opinion
1. Bhatt
5) 2. 31 March
3. nursing
Introduction
4. 2
 This essay will analyze the advantages 5. meat
and disadvantages that arise when… 6. bedsit
 Following this look, a reasoned 7. theatre/theater
conclusion will be drawn. 8. mature/older
Advantages paragraph 9. town
10. shared
 On the one hand,
 The first benefit is Section 2, Questions 11-20
 Another upside is
11. trees
Disadvantages paragraph 12. Friday/Sunday
13. farm
 Despite the mentioned advantages,
14. C
there are certain downsides to
15. B
 The first drawback is
 Furthermore, 16. A
17. A
Conclusion 18. I
19. F
 In conclusion,
 there are a number of benefits of
20. E
 However, personally, I believe that

7)
TIMED LISTENING 2 Section 2, Questions 11-20

Section 1, Questions 1-10 11. A

12. B
1. waiter(s)
13. B
2. day off
14. C
3. break
15. D
4. (free) meal
16. G
5. dark (coloured/colored)
17. B
6. jacket
18. F
7. 28 June
19. A
8. Urwin
20. E
9. 12.00 (pm)/noon/mid-day
10. reference