IELTS Writing Task 2 Topic:

Some people say part-time jobs are useful for full-time students because they not only earn money but also gain career experience. Do you agree or disagree ?

Outline

Identifying the essay type: Agree or disagree
Structuring the essay:

INTRODUCTION

Taking a part-time job has both advantages and disadvantages (Remember to paraphrase the essay question and state your stand)

BODY

Paragraph 1: The first obvious advantage is that work can bring money.

Agreeing : Earning money. Pointing out the first advantages of part-time jobs with practical examples.

e.g. independent

poor families

financial position

Paragraph 2: Moreover, a part-time job can help prepare a person for the real world of work, a step out of the ivory tower.

Agreeing: gaining career experience. Pointing out the second advantage of part-time jobs with practical examples

e.g. employer’s complaint

my own example

Paragraph 3: However, it should be borne in mind that the primary purpose of university study is to concentrate academic work, and a student who also works may be unable to devote himself or herself sufficiently to him or her study.

Disagree: causing negative effects on study. Providing counter-argument with justifications

e.g. insufficient time for study

failing to meet the requirement of universities

terrible consequences for their futures

CONCLUSION:

Therefore, in my opinion, the decision of whether or not to take up a part-time job while studying depends on individual students’ circumstances.

(Restating the introduction and giving recommendations)

SAMPLE ANSWER:

It is common nowadays for students at university or college to undertake part-time work either for money or gain some work experience. In my opinion, this has both advantages and disadvantages.

The first obvious advantage is that work can bring in money. In many countries, students are independent from their families, or their parents are not wealthy enough to afford their education. Therefore, a part-time job can greatly contribute to the financial position of a student. It may be an essential factor in permitting study in the first place. For example, in Britain, the tuition fees have increased a lot in recent years, which has kept some of the intelligent but poor students from concentrating on their study as they are often in debt and in severe shortage of financial support. So, if they want to continue their academic pursuit, many students have no choice but to work in addition to their academic duties.

Moreover, a part-time job can help prepare a person for the real world of work, a step out of the ivory tower. Many employers nowadays complain that new workers do not appreciate the needs of business, nor can they apply their theoretical study to practice. But some work experience gained during study can facilitate one to develop one’s career. My own experience is a good case in point. Thanks to my experience of working as a part-time computer programmer, I was easily able to adjust to full-time work responsibilities in an IT company after graduation.

However, it should be borne in mind that the primary purpose of university study is to concentrate on academic work, and a student who also works may be unable to devote themselves sufficiently to their study. Many universities have seen an alarming rate of students failing to meet the requirements of the universities in attendance, performance or assignments or exams. It seems likely that those students who work will have greater difficulty in passing their courses, with terrible consequences for their futures.

Therefore, in my opinion, the decision of whether or not to take up a part-time job while studying depends on individual students’ circumstances – it may be beneficial or financially necessary, but it should never be at the cost of underachieving in academic work.

Useful vocabulary

• Afford their education
• The financial position
• An alarming rate
• At the cost of underachieving

Hope you can find this post intriguing. Try to practice writing every day to improve your writing skills. You can find more tips and lessons about the IELTS test on ieltsmaterial.com. Don’t forget “Practice makes perfect”.

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