IELTS writing task 2: Some students take a year off between school and university, to work or to travel. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

IELTS writing task 2: Some students take a year off between school and university, to work or to travel. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages? 

It is true these days that many high school leavers choose to start their work or take a trip before going to university. While a gap year can bring some immediate drawbacks, I am convinced that it is more likely to have long-term benefits for their lives.

On the one hand,  young students are very likely to encounter several difficulties when delaying their university study. One of these problem is the delay in academic progress caused by spending one year off school. It is understandably almost impossible for young people to enjoy their experiences in doing a job or travelling to new place but still arrange a certain amount of time for revision. As a result, gap-year takers may have to face the challenge of becoming familiar with the knowledge at school again, receiving more pressure of catching up with their peers. Besides, the life out of university campus may prove to be mentally and physically overwhelming for inexperienced school leavers. They, for instance, may be at risk of being exploited in an exhausting job or face potential dangers on their trips to a new country. If not well prepared for such possible obstacles, young high school graduates can suffer from unintended consequences.

On the other hand, I would argue that these disadvantages are outweighed by the positive effects. A gap year is an ideal opportunity for students to learn about what is not taught at university. Working with other people who are experts in a particular field can give these newcomers not only understanding of the job but also valuable practical lessons to help them become more mature. When it comes to applying for a position in a company, employer tend to favourably consider applicants who possess extensive experience in life and the occupation. Furthermore, in terms of recreation, having a year to relax can be advantageous as students can have a chance to relieve stress in study. With a comfortable and willing attitude, undergraduates can acquire knowledge more effectively in comparison with those who go to university straightaway.

In conclusion, despite some negative aspects, it seems to me that the benefits of a gap year are more significant for the reasons mentioned.

(365 words, written by Bao Nguyen)

IELTS Writing Task 2: Some people think that young people should be required to do unpaid work helping people in the community. Are disadvantages of this requirement greater than the benefits for the community and individuals?

Some people think that young people should be required to do unpaid work helping people in the community. Are disadvantages of this requirement greater than the benefits for the community and individuals?

It is true that volunteer work provides great benefits for both participants and the community. However, forcing the youth to engage in those activities maybe counterproductive, as now will be explained.

On the one hand, if young people were required to do social jobs for free, there would be certain advantages for all sides related. A vast majority of the younger population are energetic, dynamic and passionate about improving themselves, and it is the unpaid work that can satisfy that demand. Charitable campaigns such as teaching primary school children or helping the elderly with their daily activities provide the participants with not only knowledge and skills, but also a sense of community and a belief that they are a pivotal part of societies. Vice versa, the government, with the assistant from young people, has a productive workforce available for charity work without wasting money on the recruitment process.

On the other hand, I believe that the disadvantages of this are more important. Working on a volunteer basis may distract young people from their priorities. For example, students of state universities and colleges are expected to attend lessons, complete homework and even consult external academic materials. With such a heavy workload, those students should spend their little remaining time relaxing or playing sport rather than joining free social activities. Regarding those who do not go to school, vocational or internship courses are what they would seek for. Professional skills from such classes are tools for these individuals to achieve a stable later life; therefore, the community should allow them to pursue their career.

In conclusion, the youth can choose to support others, and the volunteer work should never be made obligatory.

(282 words, written by Thanh Nguyen IELTS)

IELTS Writing task 2: Advertising discourages people from being different individuals by making us want to be and to look the same. To what extent do you agree or disagree??

Advertising discourages people from being different individuals by making us want to be and to look the same. To what extent do you agree or disagree??

An often debated topic is whether advertising has a major influence on the growing similarity of people's lifestyle in the modern world. Personally, I partly agree with this opinion for a number of reasons.

On the other hand, the power of advertising is undeniable. The growth of the advertising industry has resulted in many people buying products of the same manufacture, which can be seen in the case of consumer goods. Today, the advertising campaigns of multinational companies such as Unilever have been so successful that their products almost dominate the market. Smaller enterprises tend not to be able to compete with these giant market leaders due to their disadvantages of capital poured into advertising programs. Thus, customers are often swayed to buy products of famous brands rather than those made by less well-know companies.

On the other hand, it is also true that people have the tendency to copy other's lifestyle without being affected by advertising. For example, it is valid to argue that many young people are trying to emulate the fashion styles of their idols. Many Vietnamese youths manage to purchase the same clothes, dye their hair and wear the same perfume as their stars do. People can also turn to their social relations for advice when they need to buy something. For instance, junior citizens always ask their friends before they come to a final decision on buy a smart phone.

In conclusion, it is true that advertising has bridged the gap between each individual's lifestyle in modern society.  However, I believe that it is not the sole factor that contributes to the trend.

(268 words, written by Thay Vinh IELTS)

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample: In some countries, secondary schools aim to provide a general education across a range of subjects. In others, children focus on a narrow range of subjects related to a particular career. Which of these two systems is more appropriate in today's world?

In some countries, secondary schools aim to provide a general education across a range of subjects. In others, children focus on a narrow range of subjects related to a particular career. Which of these two systems is more appropriate in today's world?
Designing the school curriculum is of paramount importance in any education system. The dilemma is whether to teach secondary pupils a wide range of subjects or to focus on a small number of practical courses that lend themselves to the future career of students. In this essay, I will first analyze the benefits of each education system and then argue for the first one.

There is no doubt that providing secondary students with a limited number of hands-on subjects is beneficial to their career paths in the future. Children will definitely have more time to focus on study, putting aside the exam pressure of subjects that are irrelevant to their jobs. This helps them gain an in-depth knowledge of their chosen career before entering the workforce. For example, children who have specialised in IT skills and physics at secondary school will have a head start on other children when applying for jobs in engineering.

On the other hand, an education system in which children are taught a range of subjects gains my support due to several reasons. At its simplest, secondary students are merely too young to define correctly their jobs for life, meaning that teaching them a small number of practical subjects should be delayed until later on. Another reason is that children can learn knowledge of different courses, which may help to grow their passion for a particular field. If we educated children only in narrow specialisms in secondary schools, there would be no artists, philosophers or historians of the next generation.

In conclusion, posterity will judge which system is superior to the other. However, it seems to me that giving secondary schoolchildren a chance to learn a wide range of subjects is a more desirable solution in contemporary society.

(292 words – written by Thay Vinh IELTS)

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample: Many people argue that in order to improve educational quality, high school students are encouraged to make comments or even criticism on their teachers. Others think it will lead to loss of respect and discipline in the classroom. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Many people argue that in order to improve educational quality, high school students are encouraged to make comments or even criticism on their teachers. Others think it will lead to loss of respect and discipline in the classroom. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.


Finding ways to improve educational quality is often one of the top priorities in every education system. In some cultures, high school students are encouraged to give their opinions about teachers, but I believe that this can also give rise to lack of respect and discipline in the classroom.

On the one hand, it is true that feedback from learners may contribute to an improvement in educational quality. In many cases, the level of comprehension of students relies very much not on the content of the lesson but on the way teachers conduct it. If, for example, the class is slow, it will be ineffective for teachers to teach too fast so that most students fail to retain the information. Without the comments of students, it would be difficult to know whether the speed of the lesson is appropriate for the class, which may eventually impair the quality of the lesson.

However, there are several drawbacks of allowing students to make comments and criticism on their teachers. Firstly, teachers can be vulnerable to the negative words of students. Many will feel that their efforts in delivering the lesson deserve praise rather than criticism or any form of feedback. This idea is commonly shared by teachers in the education systems of many Asian countries. Secondly, the classroom may be in chaos due to massive numbers of comments. Opinions vary from students to students, and it would be impractical for teachers to work out a way of teaching that can satisfy all students.

In conclusion, it seems to me that encouraging high school students to comment about their teachers does not necessarily mean an improvement in education quality.

(277 words - written by ielts.vinh@gmail.com)

IELTS Writing Task 2: Nowadays, many families have both parents working. Some working parents believe other family members like grandparents can take care of their children, while others think childcare centres provide the best care. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Nowadays, many families have both parents working. Some working parents believe other family members like grandparents can take care of their children, while others think childcare centres provide the best care. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Pressure of modern life means that a family often requires two incomes rather than one like before. In many cases, parents rely on the help of other family members to care for their children, but this is sometimes not the best option, as will now be discussed.

There are those who argue that babysitting can be done by relatives. For example, grandparents just need to keep an eye on their grandchildren while children in a childcare centre are often grouped together. In an average class, there might be up to 15 students or more under the supervision of two to three caretakers. Children are often playful, and just a second of neglect can lead to fatal consequences. Keeping children at home may therefore provide a safer environment for children to grow up.

On the other hand, I side with those who believe that sending children to nursery school is a more desirable solution when both parents go out to work. The growth of a child depends primarily on how they are educated. The staff members of a childcare organisation are often trained professionally to do their jobs, and they should know how to raise children healthily at each stage of development. In addition, attending a class at an early age is also a chance for children to develop social skills. Children can learn to obey rules, cooperate with other peers and thus may progress faster than those raised at home.

In conclusion, although there are arguments in favour of keeping children at home, I believe that children should be sent to childcare centres for better care.

(266 words – by Thay Vinh IELTS)

IELTS Writing task 2: Some people say that too much attention and too many resources are given in the protection of wild animals and birds. Do you agree or disagree about this opinion?

Some people say that too much attention and too many resources are given in the protection of wild animals and birds. Do you agree or disagree about this opinion?


The protection of wildlife has become a frequent subject of debate with strong arguments for and against. Personally, I believe that humans are paying too much attention and allocating too many resources to this issue, as will now be explained.


Firstly, if we allow any species to disappear, this is actually not a disaster. Some people may argue that the biology will be seriously affected if birds and wild animals are on the verge of extinction, but this is an exaggeration. Fossil evidence suggests that the mass disappearance of the dinosaur did not cause any harm to other species on the Earth but merely triggered the emergence of others such as the mammal. Therefore, we should not devote too much attention to the protection of wildlife.

Secondly, public money is limited. This means that the national budget should be allocated to more urgent issues rather than expending too much in the conservation of wild animals and birds. For example, more resources should be diverted to medical research to find out remedies for fatal diseases such as HIV and cancer, which may help to save thousands of lives in society.

Finally, the government can simply protect wildlife by continuing campaigns to raise public awareness of the protection of wildlife habitats, or impose stricter punishments on activities that may harm wild animals. Any individual who hunts wildlife for food or for pleasure should be given a heavy fine, and this may discourage them from threatening the life of wild animals.

In conclusion, while I do not refute the argument for the conservation of wildlife, I believe that it should attract less attention and fewer resources from the public.

(276 words – written by Thay Vinh IELTS)

IELTS Writing Task 2: Today‘s children are living under more pressure from the society than children in the past. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Today‘s children are living under more pressure from the society than children in the past. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

            Despite  a  continuing  improvement  in  standard  of  living,  many  people  believe  that young people suffer more stress than older generations. I definitely agree with the statement  and  shall  put  forth  my  arguments  to  support  my  views  in  the  following paragraphs.

            Firstly, teenagers are exposed to more products than earlier generations as they are living in a modern consumerist society.  Through  films  and  the  media  they  see celebrities  with  expensive  jewelry,  clothes  and  cars.  Moreover, youth oriented advertising gives them an awareness of the latest technology such as digital music formats and mobile phones.  As a result, teenagers are under pressured to acquire these items. Such stresses were not so strong during earlier times.

            Secondly, pressures at school are stronger than before. Competition is very tough. Today‘s children have to compete with children from all over the globe. Teenagers must succeed in their studies so that they can compete for the best jobs. Parental pressure, examinations and homework are all reported as causing increased levels of strain. Such stress was not that severe in earlier times.

             Finally, today‘s children are faced with a new type of stress. They are faced with a choice of two cultures. One culture, the global culture, is the one they want to adopt and the other is the traditional culture which they are forced to adopt by their parents. They are in a dilemma and this causes stress that has never been experienced by the earlier generations.

             To sum up, consumerism and academic pressures are powerful causes of stress on today‘s teenagers.  To  add  to  it  there  is  the  pressure  of  sticking  to  the  traditional culture. So, definitely today‘s children are under greater pressure than that faced by earlier generations.

                                                                                                              (284 words)

IELTS Writing Task 2: Some people claim that public museums and art galleries will not be needed because people can see historical objects and works of art by using a computer. Do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Some people claim that public museums and art galleries will not be needed because people can see historical objects and works of art by using a computer. Do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

         It is irrefutable that nowadays, because of technology, arm -chair tourism through which we can see historical objects and works of art on a computer, has gained popularity. However, I disagree, that public museums and art galleries will no longer be needed. In fact, I believe that their popularity will grow even further.

        First of all, computers can never replace real public museums and art galleries. No matter how real and vivid computer images are, they are only images and can never be likened to the historical objects and works of art that we see in real or even might be allowed to touch with our fingertips. The difference can be compared to seeing the picture of a mango rather than actually eating it.

       Secondly, visiting real museums and art galleries is a rewarding experience in many respects. For one thing, it is a good exercise. While we are making the trip to a museum or art gallery and then strolling about on site, we ge t some exercise which does a lot of good to our health. We generally go with family and friends and enjoy a lot. We also learn about the culture and tradition of the place. All this broadens our horizons which can never be done by the passive activity of seeing something on the computer screen.

        Finally, I believe that after seeing these objects and museums, our craving to actually see these increases even more and so we make efforts to go and see these places. This can be proved by the overwhelming number  of tourists to these places that has been increasing year after year. At certain times, especially when it is temporarily impossible for us to visit museums and art galleries in person, we can get a rough picture of what are on display on site. However, what we see from a computer screen is, after all, not exactly the same as what we see and feel with our own eyes on site.

         In conclusion, arm-chair tourism is there today but museums and art galleries will still be needed

                                                                                                                  (346 words)

IELTS Writing Task 2: Wild animals have no place in the 21st century, and the protection is a waste of resources. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Wild animals have no place in the 21st century, and the protection is a waste of resources. To what extent do you agree or disagree?  

        I disagree with the notion that wild animals are redundant in the current century and therefore we need not waste our precious resources in protecting them. I believe that the conservation of these species should be our top priority as they are our most precious resources. In the following paragraphs I shall put forth my arguments to support my views.

         The most important reason for saving wild animals is that they are part of our ecosystem. Every species of wildlife plays a role to maintain the balance of life on Earth. Thus, the loss of any species can affect us directly or indirectly. Let us consider species to be like a brick in the foundation of a building. We can probably lose one or two or a dozen bricks and still have a standing house. But by the time we have lost 20 per cent of species, we are going to destabilize the entire structure. That's the way ecosystems work.

          Secondly, wild animals provide many valuable substances such as medicine and fur. The horn of the rhinoceros has medicinal value and the fur of the mink is very valuable. The recreational viewing of animals at zoos is also a source of revenue. Thus, the financial value of wild species is important to the economies of many nations.

           Finally, wild animals have aesthetic appeal. They are beautiful creatures of nature and are a part of our bio-diversity. Their beautiful and mysterious life has enchanted mankind since the dawn of evolution. Scientists have been awed by observing their behavior. Such study has helped scientists understand how the human body functions and why people behave as they do. Scientists have also gained medical knowledge by studying the effect of many drugs on these animals.

           In conclusion, the protection of wild animals in the 21st century is by no means a waste of resources. In fact it should be the most important global priority today. I pen down by quotation . Scientists know we must protect species because they are working parts of our life-support system‖.

                                                                                                                   (342 words)

IELTS Writing Task 2: Some people say that parents have the most important role in a child‘s development. However, others argue that other things like television or friends have the most significant influence. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Some people say that parents have the most important role in a child‘s development. However, others argue that other things like television or friends have the most significant influence. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

           Human development is a complex interplay of many factors. Some individuals are of the opinion that parents have the most significant role in a child‘s development whereas others opine that friends and other environmental factors such as TV have a more important role. It is necessary to look at both arguments before forming an opinion.

           Parents have direct interactions with the children. They provide a sense of identification to the child. These have their greatest effect on intellectual development and character traits. They also play a very important role in the socializing process of the child. Right from the bed time stories to the behavioral habits parents play a very important role in making a child a responsible citizen. They know their child‘s temperament better than anyone else. They can provide critical input better than anyone else. That is why it is believed by some that parents have the strongest role in a child‘s development.

            Friends, on the other hand, are important in order to help children grow emotionally and socially. Children find out who they are by comparing themselves to others. They learn about attitude, character and personality. Building good relationships boosts a child‘s self-esteem and they find comfort in those friendships when things get tough such as losing a pet or facing family problems. Therefore, friendships are essential to assure children develop a healthy psyche. When kids are surrounded by friends or have one close friend, they have better self-esteem, feel a sense of well-being and experience fewer social problems.

             Television is also one of the most prevalent media influences in kids' lives. How much impact TV has on children depends on many factors: how much they watch, their age and personality, whether they watch alone or with adults, and whether their parents talk with them about what they see on TV.

              In my opinion, we cannot generalize as to what has more significance. In the early years family generally has more impact but in adolescence peers and TV may impact more. It appears that the power of the peer group becomes more important when the family relationships are not close or supportive. For example, if the parents work extra jobs and are largely unavailable, their children may turn to their peer group for emotional support.

             To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that behavior is affected by a complex interaction of many different factors such as parents, peers and environment. All these are inextricably linked in the development of children. There is individual variation and therefore it is difficult to generalize which factor plays the most significant role.   (437 words)