IELTS Writing Task 2 Advantage and Disadvantage Essay Topic: Many university students live with their families

Janet

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Updated On Sep 13, 2023

Outline
Sample Essay
Band 9 Sample Essay

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Many university students live with their families, while others live away from home because their universities are in different places. What are the advantages and disadvantages of both situations?

Outline

Essay Type

Advantages and Disadvantages Essay

Introduction

Refer to the statement. State that there are advantages and disadvantages.

Body

Paragraph 1 –living with families (1) advantage – economize on accommodation (2) advantage – enjoy family support: meals, heating costs, room-sharing (3) disadvantage – too many distractions may harm studies

Paragraph 2 – (1) disadvantage – high cost of accommodation (2) advantage – easier to make study routines and to interact with fellow students.

Conclusion

Personal circumstances differ, but we can identify advantages and disadvantages of both situations.

Sample Essay

It is true that, although some university students are able to live with their families while studying in their home town, others are forced to live away from home to pursue their studies. There are advantages and disadvantages to both these situations.

If university students can live with their families, there are both benefits and drawbacks. Firstly, one major advantage is that they are able to economize, since they do not have to pay for accommodation. Secondly, they enjoy family support in terms of sharing meals, heating costs, possibly even sharing a room with a brother or sister. However, the home situation may also have its disadvantages. Family routines are often disruptive for students who have to concentrate on their studies in a quiet atmosphere. Without a dedicated space in which to study, for example in the evenings or weekends, it is hard to keep up with a study schedule.

On the other hand, when students live away from home, they also face challenges. One disadvantage is having to find accommodation. Universities are often located in major urban centres, where rents are high if students have to find a room with even the basic facilities. However, there are benefits of learning to study independently in another city. Students are able to escape the distractions of family life, and thereby establish study routines and form friendships with other students who find themselves in the same situation. These factors may help them in their studies.

In conclusion, while there will clearly be differences in the personal circumstances of individual university students, some potential advantages and disadvantages of living at home or away from home can be identified.

Vocabulary

to pursue their studies [expression]

Meaning: to continue studying
Example: Peter and Mary have got jobs at McDonald’s, but they plan to continue their studies part-time.

to economize [verb]

Meaning: to use less money than you normally use
Example: Japan has introduced hydrogen cars to reduce air pollution and to economize on fuel costs.

disruptive [adjective]

Meaning: causing problems, such as noise, so that something cannot continue normally
Example: The librarian had to warn some disruptive students who were talking too loudly in the library.

dedicated [adjective]

Meaning: used for one particular purpose only
Example: In the USA, some TV channels are dedicated to 24-hour news.

to keep up with [expression]

Meaning: to make progress at the same rate as something
Example: The teacher spoke so quickly that it was hard for me to keep up with all the information she gave us.

to face challenges [expression]

Meaning: to have to deal with situations which may be difficult
Example: Children from poor families face many challenges if they want to go to university.

facilities [noun]

Meaning: equipment provided for a particular purpose
Example: The library has excellent facilities for users to access the internet.

distractions [noun]

Meaning: things that take your attention away from what you are doing
Example: I find it hard to work at home because there are too many distractions.

to form friendships [expressions]

Meaning: to start to create and develop friendships
Example: She formed many close friendships at university, particularly in the subjects that she was studying

circumstances [noun]

Meaning: the facts and conditions which affect a situation
Example: Police said that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of the President.

Band 9 Sample Essay

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The journey of higher education involves making tough decisions at every turn. One of the most consequential choices a student needs to make when planning for a university course is whether to travel to a different location or operate from home. There are indeed merits and demerits to both these approaches and the choice depends entirely upon the student. In the following paragraphs, I will discuss the primary advantages and disadvantages of both studying abroad and from home.

First and foremost, it is important to understand that the judgement of whether to travel for education or not can be impacted by several factors. The nature of the environment where a study will potentially study is a key attribute to consider among many others. Furthermore, features like employment opportunities, accommodation and social culture also influence these decisions significantly. Consequently, if a person seeks admission to a university in a foreign country, they are bound to procure better corporate jobs, gain international exposure and improve their interpersonal skills. However, joining a local college and studying from home can also be beneficial as the monetary expenditure is significantly less and hindrances like language and social barriers are also absent.

On the flip side, there are certain drawbacks to both foreign and local education that make it hard to settle for either one. First of all, it is a known fact that the total cost of education in foreign nations are tremendous. Therefore, people from modest economic backgrounds either have to borrow hefty amounts of credit in the form of student loans or give up on their ambitions of studying abroad. That being said, a student’s potential opportunities are substantially reduced and their personality also remains comparatively underdeveloped when they refrain from choosing colleges outside their city or country of residence.

In conclusion, an individual will be presented with benefits and complications if they plan on applying to a foreign university as will people who pick colleges situated in their locality.