IELTS Writing Task 2 Advantages And Disadvantages Essays

Advantages And Disadvantages Essays

Getting Ready To Write

Social media is becoming increasingly popular amongst all age groups. However, sharing personal information on social media websites does have risks.

Do you think that the advantages of social media outweigh the disadvantages?

1. Look at the Writing Task 2 and answer the questions a—e, giving reasons for your answers.
a. Is this a yes/no question?
b. Do you have to discuss both points of view?
c. Do you need to decide what the advantages and the disadvantages are?
d. Do have you to get the advantages and disadvantages correct?
e. Is this question asking you to develop your answer using reasons and examples?

2. In a question like this, you are being asked to discuss your own Ideas and opinions. However, it is very important that these ideas and opinions are totally relevant to the question. You will lose marks if you include ideas that are not relevant to the question. Look at the list of sentences below and mark them R if they are relevant and I if they are irrelevant to the question.
a. Social media is helping people all over the world to form new and different types of relationships.
b. Some people are not aware of the dangers of putting too much Information about themselves on social media.
c. Social media companies make more money as more and more people use their services.
d. Identity theft is becoming a major problem.
e. Social media is being used by all age groups but for very different reasons.
f. I really enjoy using social media.

Try It Out

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Social media is becoming increasingly popular amongst all age groups. However, sharing personal information on social media websites does have risks.
Do you think that the advantages of social media outweigh the disadvantages?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience. Write at least 250 words.

TEST TIP

At first 250 may seem like a lot of words, but if you break the answer down into the paragraphs then it will seem easier: Introduction and concluding paragraph about 50 words each. The two main body paragraphs 100 words each. Each of these paragraphs has to include at least 2 ideas (3 is better), as well as reasons for your ideas and an example to support one of them.

Improve Your Score

Read over your answer. Have you done the following? Mark each one

a. I’ve restated the main idea in my own words. ❑
b. I’ve answered the question clearly by writing something like: “I believe that the advantages of social media outweigh the disadvantages” or “While there are many advantages to social media, I think that the disadvantages are much more important.” ❑
c. I’ve written a paragraph giving details of what I think are the advantages, including reasons and examples. ❑
d. I’ve written a paragraph giving details of what I think are the disadvantages, including reasons and examples. ❑
e. I’ve finished the essay by summarising these advantages and disadvantages and linking them to the answer I gave in the first paragraph. ❑
f. I’ve written at least 250 words. ❑