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.

(Sample IELTS Essay)

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Discuss with a partner:

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.

Discuss with a partner:

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.

Discuss with a partner:

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.

Discuss with a partner:

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.

Discuss with a partner:

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.

Discuss with a partner:

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.

Discuss with a partner:

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.
Cut up strips and shuffle and have students re-arrange them in order in groups

Many Australian high-school graduates take a one-year break prior to entering university. This ‘gap year’ allows them to travel or gain some work experience before recommencing their study routine.

A well-spent gap year could benefit students in a number of ways, but there could also be some drawbacks.

One of the main advantages of taking a year’s break is that it gives young people the time to assess their future.

They can use the time to think about the type of career they would like to pursue. With the benefit of this time, students will be able to choose courses which match their interests and abilities. Being satisfied with their choice of courses will increase motivation and the likelihood of academic success. Students who go straight from school to university are more likely to make poor course choices.

Another benefit of the gap year is that it provides students with an opportunity to work.

Holding down a job is invaluable experience for school-leavers. It teaches them to be responsible and also shows them the value of hard work - two attributes that will serve them well in the future. Additionally, working in their gap year can encourage students to study hard the following year. If they struggle in a poorly paid job, for example, they will be motivated to study hard so that they will not have to do such a job again.

However, not every student would benefit from a gap year.

Some young people may become accustomed to the financial rewards of working life and find it too difficult to give up their salary in order to return to life as a student. This might encourage them to settle for a job far less challenging than they are capable of doing. Others may have trouble getting back into the habit of regular studying. So, these people may not be successful on their return to study.

In conclusion, taking a year off before commencing university can give young people the time to make good choices about their future and also gain some valuable work experience. However, some students may find it difficult to resume their studies after this break.

Practice Test    Writing Task 2                        

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.

P.1: Background Topic sentence: Introduce both sides P.2: One advantage: Time to assess future P.3: Another advantage: Work experience P.4: Disadvantages: Hard to give up work Lose study habit P5: Conclusion: Advantages & Disadvantages

Many Australian high-school graduates take a one-year break prior to entering university. This ‘gap year’ allows them to travel or gain some work experience before recommencing their study routine. A well-spent gap year could benefit students in a number of ways, but there could also be some drawbacks. One of the main advantages of taking a year’s break is that it gives young people the time to assess their future. They can use the time to think about the type of career they would like to pursue. With the benefit of this time, students will be able to choose courses which match their interests and abilities. Being satisfied with their choice of courses will increase motivation and the likelihood of academic success. Students who go straight from school to university are more likely to make poor course choices. Another benefit of the gap year is that it provides students with an opportunity to work. Holding down a job is invaluable experience for school-leavers. It teaches them to be responsible and also shows them the value of hard work - two attributes that will serve them well in the future. Additionally, working in their gap year can encourage students to study hard the following year. If they struggle in a poorly paid job, for example, they will be motivated to study hard so that they will not have to do such a job again. However, not every student would benefit from a gap year. Some young people may become accustomed to the financial rewards of working life and find it too difficult to give up their salary in order to return to life as a student. This might encourage them to settle for a job far less challenging than they are capable of doing. Others may have trouble getting back into the habit of regular studying. So, these people may not be successful on their return to study. In conclusion, taking a year off before commencing university can give young people the time to make good choices about their future and also gain some valuable work experience. However, some students may find it difficult to resume their studies after this break.

Word Count: 360 

Scrambled order

Many Australian high-school graduates take a one-year break prior to entering university. This ‘gap year’ allows them to travel or gain some work experience before recommencing their study routine.

However, not every student would benefit from a gap year.

One of the main advantages of taking a year’s break is that it gives young people the time to assess their future.

They can use the time to think about the type of career they would like to pursue. With the benefit of this time, students will be able to choose courses which match their interests and abilities. Being satisfied with their choice of courses will increase motivation and the likelihood of academic success. Students who go straight from school to university are more likely to make poor course choices.

In conclusion, taking a year off before commencing university can give young people the time to make good choices about their future and also gain some valuable work experience. However, some students may find it difficult to resume their studies after this break.

Holding down a job is invaluable experience for school-leavers. It teaches them to be responsible and also shows them the value of hard work - two attributes that will serve them well in the future. Additionally, working in their gap year can encourage students to study hard the following year. If they struggle in a poorly paid job, for example, they will be motivated to study hard so that they will not have to do such a job again.

Another benefit of the gap year is that it provides students with an opportunity to work.

Some young people may become accustomed to the financial rewards of working life and find it too difficult to give up their salary in order to return to life as a student. This might encourage them to settle for a job far less challenging than they are capable of doing. Others may have trouble getting back into the habit of regular studying. So, these people may not be successful on their return to study.

A well-spent gap year could benefit students in a number of ways, but there could also be some drawbacks.