Some school leavers travel or work for a period of time instead of going directly to university.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 2 question on IELTSX. Some school leavers travel or work for a period of time instead of going directly to university.

School leavers travel work period time instead going directly university - IELTS Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

What are the advantages or disadvantages for their study?

Write at least 250 words.

A student's answer to this task, and the feedback on it

Written by an IELTSX user under exam conditions and published unedited and anonymously. Band 7.5 ยท 253 words.

Some school leavers choose to travel or work for a period of time before entering university. While this decision can provide valuable life experience and personal growth, it may also create certain academic challenges. This essay will discuss both the advantages and disadvantages of taking time off before higher education.

One major advantage is that students can develop important life skills and become more mature. By working, young people learn responsibility, time management, and financial independence. Similarly, travelling allows them to experience different cultures, meet new people, and improve their communication skills. As a result, they often gain a clearer understanding of their interests and future career goals. This can help them choose a suitable university course and study with greater motivation.

However, there are also some disadvantages. The most significant drawback is that students may lose their academic habits after spending a long time away from education. Studying requires concentration and discipline, and it can be difficult to return to a structured learning environment after a break. In addition, delaying university means postponing graduation and entering the job market later than their peers. Some individuals may even decide not to continue their education because they become comfortable with earning money through work.

In conclusion, taking time to travel or work before university can offer valuable experience and help students become more independent. Nevertheless, it may negatively affect their studies by reducing academic motivation and delaying their educational progress. Overall, I believe the benefits outweigh the drawbacks if the time is used wisely.

Examiner feedback

This is a very well-organized and accurately written essay that clearly addresses the prompt. The primary factor keeping it from a higher band is the depth of development and the length, as it falls just short of the 250-word target. Enhancing the vocabulary with more sophisticated, less common items would also elevate the score.

Task Response - 7

- The candidate addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both pros and cons. - A clear position is maintained, particularly in the conclusion. - Main ideas are relevant, though the development is slightly brief (the essay is under the typical 250-word recommendation), which limits the depth of the argument.

Coherence & Cohesion - 8

- Information is sequenced very logically with a clear progression from the introduction to the conclusion. - Cohesive devices like 'Similarly', 'As a result', and 'In addition' are used effectively to link ideas. - Each paragraph has a clearly defined central topic and transitions are smooth.

Lexical Resource - 7

- Uses a sufficient range of vocabulary that allows for precision, such as 'financial independence' and 'structured learning environment'. - Collocations are generally natural ('valuable life experience', 'meet new people'). - While the vocabulary is accurate, it lacks the sophisticated 'uncommon' lexical items required for a higher band.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 8

- Demonstrates a high level of accuracy with a majority of sentences being error-free. - Uses a variety of complex structures including conditional clauses and participial phrases ('By working...', 'delaying university means...'). - Punctuation is used correctly throughout the essay.

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