These Days, More People are Going to University than in the Past- IELTS Writing Task 2

These days, more people are going to university than in the past. They start work later in life and with higher qualifications. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this situation?

Outline

Essay Type

Advantages and disadvantages

Introduction

Sentences 1&2 – In the present times, the percentage of people pursuing further education has witnessed a considerable increase from the past. This has led people to commence working later in life with more advanced education.

Sentence 3 – In the following essay, I will delve into the benefits and drawbacks of this phenomenon.

Body Paragraphs

Paragraph 1 – Benefits of pursuing further education include being more knowledgeable about specific areas and being able to explore more areas of interest which is not always possible when one is working.

Paragraph 2 – Drawbacks to pursuing a higher education include student debt, finding out that the degree has hardly given any opportunities to develop marketable skills, and a risk of one’s passion for the subject fizzling out during the process of attaining higher education.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it can be said that there are both positive and negative sides to the recent phenomenon of pursuing higher education and starting one’s career later in life as compared to the past and it depends on what the individual wants out of their life to decide which the more preferable option is.

Sample Essay

In the present times, the percentage of people pursuing further education has witnessed a considerable increase from the past. This has led people to commence working later in life with more advanced education. In the following essay, I will delve into the benefits and drawbacks of this phenomenon.

Firstly, one of the key benefits is that higher education enables people to acquire specialised knowledge about a domain which can enhance their careers. Augmented theoretical understanding of concepts coupled with case studies drawn from real life and tackling arduous assignments would help people meet the demands of work even better. Research has suggested that those graduating with some level of higher education possess insight which is comparable to an employee who has gleaned around five years’ worth of working experience. Another advantage is that a university education allows people the time and energy to explore a variety of opportunities which are not available when working.

However, there are certain impediments to starting one’s career later. To begin with, there are monetary repercussions to consider. Students often take colossal loans to pay for their education which causes them to accrue debt. Regardless, if one starts working early, not only do they gain financial independence and start saving up for their future instead of paying off student loans. Moreover, academia is a rigorous competitive environment which may start to take a toll on people after a while. The passion for one’s subject may fizzle during the course of one’s degree, or one may face the realisation that their degree has not allowed them to gain any marketable skills which can be applied to the job sector.

In conclusion, it can be said that there are both positive and negative sides to the recent phenomenon of pursuing higher education and starting one’s career later in life as compared to the past and it depends on what the individual wants out of their life to decide which the preferable option is.

Vocabulary

• Augmented

Meaning – To make better or greater
Example – I augment my laptop with a better processor than it had before.

• Witnessed

Meaning – Observe or watch
Example – He witnessed the incident unfold right before his eyes.

• Arduous

Meaning – Challenging or difficult
Example – They decided to help each other to accomplish the arduous task.

• Glean

Meaning – Acquire
Example – The references for her research were gleaned from a number of scientific websites.

• Impediment

Meaning – Hindrance or obstacle
Example – His academic records had become a big impediment to his career.

• Colossal

Meaning – Massive or huge
Example – There stood a colossal statue of the happy prince, covered in gold, overlooking the town.

• Marketable

Meaning – Profitable
Example – It requires a lot of effort to harvest strawberries that are of marketable quality.

• Repercussion

Meaning – Consequence or ramification
Example – The repercussions of the Great Depression cast ripples across the world.

• Commence

Meaning – Start
Example – The new academic session will commence in July.

• Insight

Meaning – Understanding or perception
Example – His book on Indian prehistory offers new insight into the past of this country.