WRITING TASK 2

Advantage And Disadvantage

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➢There are 3 different types of advantages and
disadvantages essays, each requiring a different
approach.

➢If you answer them differently, you risk losing many

easy marks.

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In some countries, young people are encouraged to
work or travel for a year between finishing high school
and starting university studies.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for young

people who decide to do this.

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➢Question 1 simply asks us to discuss the advantages
and disadvantages.
➢It does not ask for our opinion or says which side is
better or worse, so we should not include this
information in our answer.
➢This requires a simple structure in which the student
will look at the advantages in one paragraph and the
disadvantages in the other.

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Introduction
Sentence 1- Paraphrase question
Sentence 2- Thesis statement
Body Paragraph 1 (Advantages)
Sentence 3- Topic sentence (2 Advantages)
Sentence 4- Explain first advantage
Sentence 5- Explain second advantage
Sentence 6- Example of second advantage
Body Paragraph 2 (Disadvantages)
Sentence 7- Topic sentence (2 Disadvantages)
Sentence 8- Explain first disadvantage
Sentence 9- Explain second disadvantage
Sentence 10- Example of second disadvantage
Conclusion
Sentence 11 and 12- Summary of main points
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Before college, many young people are advised that a year of working or travelling may be a good
option. This essay will suggest that experience gained and money saved are the biggest advantages of
this, but delaying careers and reducing motivation to study are the primary disadvantages.
Firstly, the main advantages of a gap year are learning more about the world and earning money. For
students who have just finished secondary school, working or travelling for a year will allow them to
learn what life is like outside of the education system. Also, tertiary education is very expensive, and
many students decide to work for 12 months and save money before they begin their studies. The
average student at a Malaysian university requires over RM20,000 per annum to survive, and many
drop out because they cannot afford to stay.
Despite these advantages, students lose a year that could have been used to advance their future
careers, and they often get used to working or travelling and do not want to return to a life of study. As
job markets are very competitive, an extra year of experience can make a massive difference when
applying for jobs, and those who took a gap year are at a disadvantage. Moreover, some decide to
bypass university altogether and go straight into a job that is beneath their capabilities or may not
offer the same prospects their future career might have. For instance, jobs in the service industry are
easy to get without a tertiary education, and many gap students fill these roles only to be stuck in them
for the rest of their lives.
In conclusion, taking a break from studies can be advantageous if it allows people to accumulate
savings or learn more about the world. However, they should also be careful that it does not delay the
start of their careers and lead to disillusionment with education.
(316 words)
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Some experts believe that it is better for children to
begin learning a foreign language at primary schools
rather than secondary schools.

Do the advantages of this outweigh the

disadvantages?

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Question 2 is different because we have to say if the advantages are
stronger than the disadvantages. Don’t say ‘if there are more
advantages than disadvantages’. The question is not asking you to
talk about numbers but comment on the overall weight of the
advantages or disadvantages. For example, there are many
advantages to travelling by private jet, but there is one huge
disadvantage (the cost) that stops most people from flying that way,
and therefore the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.
In this example, we will have to decide which side (advantages or
disadvantages) is stronger, affecting our structure. If you choose
advantages, you will have to say why these are much stronger than
the disadvantages and why the disadvantages don’t hold much
weight. You would also have to make this clear in your thesis
statement.
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Introduction
Sentence 1- Paraphrase question
Sentence 2- State which one outweighs the other
Sentence 3- Thesis statement
Body Paragraph 1 (Stronger Side)
Sentence 4- Topic Sentence
Sentence 5- Explain why it is strong
Sentence 6- Example
Sentence 7- Topic Sentence
Sentence 8- Explain why it is strong
Sentence 9- Example
Body Paragraph 2 (Weaker Side)
Sentence 10- Topic Sentence
Sentence 11- Explain why it is not strong
Sentence 12- Example
Conclusion
Sentence 13- Summary of main points and restate position.
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Some authorities think that it is more favourable for pupils to begin studying languages at primary
school instead of secondary school. This essay will argue that the advantages of this outweigh the
drawbacks. The essay will first demonstrate that the earlier someone learns an additional language, the
more likely they are to master it and that it brings added cognitive benefits, followed by an analysis of
how the primary disadvantage, namely confusion with their native tongue, is not valid.
First and foremost, the main reason to start kids off with foreign languages early is that this increases
the likelihood they will achieve fluency in adulthood. That is to say that they will have far more years to
perfect their skills, and speaking bilingually will seem perfectly normal. For example, in countries such
as Holland and Norway, where English is taught from a very young age, most adults speak it at an
advanced level. Furthermore, learning a second language also helps to improve overall cognitive
abilities. In other words, it benefits the overall development of a child’s brain. Research has shown that
bilingual children may be more adaptable in solving math problems.
Nevertheless, there are those opposed to this say that it causes the child to become confused between
their mother tongue and the other language. However, there is actually no evidence to support this
view and children from bilingual families do just as well in both languages. I was brought up speaking
both Malay and English and outperform most of my classmates in both.
In conclusion, the fact that early foreign language learning leads to higher fluency and improved brain
function clearly outweighs the flawed argument that it impairs the uptake of native languages.
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Small businesses are disappearing and being
replaced by large multinational companies.

Do the advantages of this outweigh the

disadvantages? Give your opinion.

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Question 3 is similar to Question 2, but it asks you to
give your opinion as well.

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Introduction
Sentence 1 - Paraphrase question
Sentence 2 - State which one outweighs the other
Sentence 3 - Thesis statement
Body Paragraph 1 (Stronger Side)
Sentence 4 - Topic Sentence
Sentence 5 - Explain why it is strong
Sentence 6 - Example
Sentence 7 - Topic Sentence
Sentence 8 - Explain why it is strong
Sentence 9 - Example
Body Paragraph 2 (Weaker Side)
Sentence 10 - Topic Sentence
Sentence 11 - Explain why it is not strong
Sentence 12 - Example
Body Paragraph 3 (Your Opinion)
Sentence 13 – State your opinion
Sentence 14 – Explain why
Conclusion
Sentence 15 - Summary of main points and restate position.
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1. 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.

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

3. Some schools have uniforms and are very strict about the appearance of their students.
Do the advantages of this belief outweigh the disadvantages? Give your opinion.

4. The development of tourism contributed to English to become the most prominent language in
the world. Some people think this will lead to English becoming the only language in the world.

What are the advantages and the disadvantages of having language in the world.

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