IELTS Writing Task 2/ Essay Topics with sample answer.

IELTS Essay # 49 - Young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year

IELTS Writing Task 2/ IELTS Essay:

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

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.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.



Model Answer 1:
It is quite common these days for young people in many countries to have a break from studying after graduating from high school. This trend is not restricted to rich students who have the money to travel but is also evident among poorer students who choose to work and become economically independent for a period of time.

The reasons for this trend may involve the recognition that a young adult who passes directly from school to university is rather restricted in terms of general knowledge and experience of the world. By contrast, those who have spent some time earning a living or travelling to other places have a broader view of life and better personal resources to draw on. They tend to be more independent, which is a very important factor in academic study and research, as well as giving them an advantage in terms of coping with the challenges of student life.

However, there are certainly dangers in taking time off at that important age. Young adults may end up never returning to their studies or finding it difficult to re-adapt to an academic environment. They may think that it is better to continue in a particular job or to do something completely different from a university course. But overall, I think this is less likely today when academic qualifications are essential for getting a reasonable career.

My view is that young people should be encouraged to broaden their horizons. That is the best way for them to get a clear perspective of what they are hoping to do with their lives and why. Students with such a perspective are usually the most effective and motivated ones and taking a year off may be the best way to gain this.

(Approximately 291 words)

(This model answer has been prepared by the site developer. However, please note that this is just one example out of many possible answers.You should be able to pick up the main points from this essay and organise in your own style)


Model Answer 2:
Peoples are divided on the issue that countries should encourage the young peoples to do jobs or to travel before attending university. Some people think that it is better for students to attend university, while others believe that travelling and working before joining the university for formal education is better for the students to understand the world. In my opinion, it is very important for students to develop communication, attain maturity and develop professional attitudes and the later approach is the better way of achieving it.

First of all, this will prepare the students for higher education.  In the school student are no fully matured. Even some remain childish in thinking and behaviour. In the university, a student will meet with different types of peoples so there require a good understanding and mental maturity stage for that. The university campus provides special and deep knowledge of particular field which require hard working and learning capability. Because university education and teachers prepare the students to survive in the real world on his own basis any place, some prior travel and work experience would even accelerate it more.

Moreover, it will make one to understand the professional life. This will provide important experience to a student to mange theirs studies with work, because in higher studies students have to finance their studies or to work in research laboratories. Working at shop or small office will teach the students to understand the working pressure, cooperation with coworkers and complete the task in schedule. In my school days I worked in a drug selling shop from where I learned how to convince and cool down the angry customer during selling. This, later on, proved to be valuable experience in my university level.

Finally, it gives the chance to improve communication skill. Communication skill is an important part not only at working area but also in learning centre. With excellent speaking and respecting attitudes, one can win the favour of opposing persons. Travelling makes the person to share views and learn various cultures, languages from other peoples. Exchanging opinion enriches one’s speaking ability.

In summation, it is clear that pre-university jobs and travelling are vital experiences. These not only prepare one for civil life and toward maturity but also make one to improve communication skill.

(Approximately 350 words)

[by - Tersem]


Model Answer 3:
Men have been experimenting all the probable ways to lead a better life. In such a way, teenagers are allowed to explore the world before starting their tertiary education either through job or travelling. Both the advantages and disadvantages will be discussed before a reasonable conclusion is found.

A break period after secondary school has been proven to be beneficiary for the youngsters. Initially, by visiting places, individuals will be exposed to diverse cultures, traditions and a wide variety of people and these visits are helpful to attain social knowledge. It aids in their higher studies; for instance, in conducting thesis related to community. Next, prior working experience will be added as a good point, as it prepares them for work. Moreover, many companies prefer experienced staff members.

However, there are few drawbacks in sending them for work or tour. Education process will be disrupted. As a result, the students may not show interest towards higher studies while a few of them continue to work in the same sector. As youngsters start to earn money through work, they may incline towards bad habits such as smoking, alcohol consumption, drug addiction and so on. Lastly, making a trip will for a long period may affect their financial status if they run out of money which may indulge in debts.

Overall, it is apparent that although there are few benefits of encouraging youth to work or travel, the disadvantages are outweighed. Hence, I opine that young people should have continuation in their studies to prosper in life.

(Approximately 253 words)

[by - Mohana]


Model Answer 4:
Taking a study break after high school and before starting university is very common in certain countries. Many people take a year break to either travel and explore different countries or they may take up some job in gain experience. This practice has both pros and cons.

First of all, taking a break could really help in rejuvenating people. When you travel, you gain a lot of experience. Usually, when people are in high school they live under protected home environment; in the case of any problem, you can seek parents and friends help and advice. But when you travel, you are on your own and if you face any problem, you learn to deal with it. This not only gives you the experience to deal with tough situations later in the life but also gives confidence.

Many a times, young people are confused regarding their career options and are often in dilemma regarding the subjects to choose in universities. Taking up a job before university can help in identifying the field of interest and provide relevant experience. At the same time it also makes them financially independent, some students often save money to fund their university study with this. For instance, before starting university, I was confused whether I should go for computer engineering or electronics engineering; but after working in small start up computer company, I realised that I liked coding and would spend hours in front of computers to automate several process. This work experience helped me in clearing up my mind and I was 100 percent confident that this is something I would study and having a career in.

Sometimes taking a break can also have negative impacts on people. When ones start working, people often take up jobs that require low skills yet provide easy money. For example, jobs like salesman, BPO jobs etc. Since people become financially independent, they might continue doing the same job and never join university back. It is quite evident in developed countries where many students take up menial jobs and drop out of universities.

In conclusion, as every coin has two sides; on one side taking a break can really help some people to gain exposure to the world, understand the diversity and make better career choices. On the other side, it may ruin their whole life, easy access to money can restrict their desire to further studies. It is therefore very crucial that one evaluates all the options and take an informed decision

[by - Preeti ]


Model Answer 5:
Nowadays it is a trend in some countries that the young people travel before they start the university studies. Travelling to other countries is not a barrier for the rich students as they have enough money to spend. There are many merits and demerits for young people who decide to do this.

Firstly, students can fill the time gap between finishing high school and starting university studies. They do not have to simply sit at home. Secondly, even poor people can work after their high school and earn money for their higher studies so that there will not be any burden for their parents. Thirdly, working and travelling in foreign countries allows gaining knowledge about the culture, norms, and values of that country. Furthermore it increases our communication skill. More over students can find out the different courses and studies available in the country and they can choose the further studies according to their taste. Again working or travelling help people to face the realities of life and they will be prepared to manage the obstacles in their future life. In addition to this, work and travel make young people independent for their future university studies. As a result, they will become self-confident and it increases their self-esteem.

On the contrary, there are some disadvantages too. Sometimes people will never return to their academic studies so that country will lose its scholars. Again young people may continue their work and they may lack their interest in studies. I think very few people only discontinue the studies as higher qualifications are needed for a good job.

When we weigh both sides, the advantages are more.  From the above reasons, in my opinion, countries should encourage their young people to work or travel for a year between finishing high school and starting university studies.

[by - Synu Jacob]


Model Answer 6:
It is understandable to think that taking a year between finishing high school and starting university studies might be a good think to do. For starters, both working and travelling are two activities that provide experiences of some sort to anyone, and doing so, should give the student a new perspective on his or her life.

A high school student is 18 at the time he has to enter university. At that age, one could think that he is too young to work. But far from being truth, starting a job will prove to be something good in the future, as long as it isn't a stressful and slavering job. By the time the young boy is ready to begin his university studies, he will be more responsible, more experienced and aware of what he wants to do with his life.

If instead of working, he wants to travel, although not making as much money as if he worked, the experience wouldn't be any disappointing. Travelling the world is a rewarding adventure, where a person can learn more about others and about itself. Besides, travelling alone, gives you the time to think about yourself, if your life is going the right way and if you are ready to take the next step. Learning about other cultures can help you grow a critical view about your own, and be ready to face changes and obstacle during your life.

Although I agree with the premise, I don't think it should be encouraged to take more than a year. If this happens, there is a chance that the student loses focus and forgets about the university. While making a career in the workplace would be great, we should encourage young and capable students to achieve a higher level of education even if they already have a job.

With all that, and with the expressed opinion about the duration, I agree that it should be encouraged for young people to work or travel for a year between finishing high school and starting university studies, so we can build a better life for the citizens of the future.

[by - Núria Quero]


Model Answer 7:
Young people who have just finished high school studies could decide to continue studying at university or to work or travel abroad. This essay is about the advantages and disadvantages that young people could face deciding not to continue studying immediately after the high school graduation.

One of the possible advantages of encouraging young people to take a sabbatical year before university studies is that students could discover what they really like to do in the future: in fact, while studying, most of the subjects are superficially treated and students often feel forced to study, not understanding that they are deciding their future and not wasting time on books. So a one-year stop could clear ideas and teenagers could decide the best for their future.

On the contrary, encouraging young students to work or travel for a year before going to university could bring also disadvantages. Whereas some time could clarify ideas, too much time time could discourage former students to restart studying: for example young people who decide to work after high school usually don't return to study because they feel it could be too hard to do it. This fact could take to a fall in the number of students going to university.

To sum up, there are lots of reasons in favour of encouraging young people to work or travel for one year after graduating from the high school, but there are also some disadvantages that have to be taken into account.

[by - Luca Brotto]


Model Answer 8:
The job of a supervisor requires a lot of preparation and the strong attitude at caring about the quality of work. The most relevant qualities of a supervisor will be analised in the following paragraphs, supported by specific details and examples.

Firstly, one of the most important characteristics of a supervisor is the perfect comprehension of the nature and dynamics of the work he has to manage with. Furthermore, the supervisor is a manager who leads the work of a group of people, so he has to be comprehensive on errors and at the same time he has not to lose the control over his subordinates, letting them do unrepairable mistakes. That's a really challenging task that I'm experiencing this current year like responsible of a group of research which represents the University of Padova in a European competition called Solar Decathlon.

Another fundamental quality that makes a good supervisor is the capacity of judging equally all the subordinates' works, instead of being preferential towards the ones which respect more his ideas. The quality also includes his/her focus to the deadline and attaining excellence in the team. Supervising a group of people with a strict rule is not always possible and more leadership quality, in this case, is essential. Being able to keep balance in the team and observing the progress while learning from the past mistakes three other qualities each good supervisor should have.

In conclusion, a supervisor has to be perfectly acknowledged on the tasks he's working with and he has to be a leader strict but right at the eyes of his subordinates.

[by - Sirojiddin]


Model Answer 9:
Education has never been about learning information and basic skills only. It also concerns about the students social interactions and their involvement in other activities apart from studies. In my opinion, taking a break before embarking the university studies has more pros and fewer cons.

It is undeniable that students from the wealthy family background prefer to go on a trip to abroad. This type of travelling helps them to improve their inter-personality skills. Also they can learn a lot of things about the country like culture, fashion, language and so on. This is the absolute way to explore their mind and gain social knowledge.

Those who lack the money will surly choose to work for a year time. Working is one of the best options to learn business strategies over a small span of time. It is the place where you get to work with people from different age groups. So, qualities like adjustability and adoptability will automatically grow within you. And before initiating their college life, they get some sort of experience about industrial demand in the global job market and save some money for the future.

There are some serious problems with this idea is that, students take up a break from their studies might not continue with their studies after a year. As they are juvenile, they could have lack in decision making. It might be a hindrance to their future carrier. There will be a chance of inequality among students in the university, between the rich and poor students.

At the age of adolescence, especially while deciding to take a break right after their high school, a student should have a proper guidance and carrier goal. So that he/ she will get motivation to accomplish it in the future.

[by - Yazhini Venugopal]


Model Answer 10:
Taking one year gap between high school & university studies is become very popular in some countries. Those who think that it is an opportunity for their future plan to work in somewhere and travel extensively. Actually in the latest training where I participated, I met with several people from Denmark and Norway who were over 24 and are working in non-profit organizations. By assembling all of the facts I will try to examine what are the advantages and shortages of taking one year gap.

First of all, of course after high school, working and travelling experience can be valuable opportunity for personal development and career advancement. By travelling, prospective students are able to acknowledge different culture, values and tradition. Moreover, while travelling students can develop their independency and confidence and thus these two main qualities can help them to overcome crisis which can happen in their life. Working experience is very crucial factor, and my experience shows that companies in some cases look for experienced employees more than someone qualified or graduated from university and have no prior experiences. Addition to it, experience in work place is kind of practises and whatever gained from practises may match with syllabus of some subject which will they have, thus in this case students’ knowledge on those subjects will be advanced.

Taking a gap year has several disadvantages. Talking about it, after working and travelling students can be neglect to their university, in some cases, they may not take any university studies at all. Even in the case of getting a course at university, the atmosphere of class such as attendance and discipline can seem hard to students. So students feel hardships to adapt and overcome.

In conclusion, I can easily say that taking a gap year has some advantages and drawbacks, and it is hard to say one of two exceeds another one and one of famous scholar said: before I spent time and now time is spending me so I consider that it is a personal choice whether to take or not.

[by - Deborah Webb ]



Model Answer 11:
Taking a year gap between the high school and the university has become a popular option amongst many young students. This time off provides a break after many years of formal study, some use this time to travel; others volunteer and still some begin working. Although all of these have clear benefits for students on different levels, the drawbacks also cannot be overlooked.

The benefits of taking one year off are plenty. Firstly, students who travel away from home environment would probably develop independence and self-confidence on personal level. Secondly, living in a foreign country enables students to explore different cultures, traditions and view points and this would make their mind broader in the future. Thirdly, when these students work they get professional experience because they get a taste of diverse work places and this practical experience will help them to choose possible career interest. Also they might save some money that would support them in further education.

Nevertheless, there are also some disadvantages involved in taking such long break. The main drawback is that student might forget some essential knowledge such as physics and mathematics which is usually needed in the university and they could lose the good study habits and discipline. Consequently, they might face some difficulties when they come back to the university. Moreover, students could be deceived by the money that s/he might earn. As a result, some would think that completion the university education is not really necessarily as long as the money is available. Those usually discontinue the learning process and end up losing the right tract.

In conclusion, taking a gap year is an individual decision. Although there are some obvious advantages on personal as well as professional levels, the disadvantages of forgetting essential science and even discontinuation of studying cannot be ignored as drawbacks.

[by - Amel Sadig ]

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Tim Pheng
Essay Topic: 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.Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Essay Answer: Whether young people should take a gap between high school and university to work or travel is a widely debated issue. This essay will discuss that teenager will gain new skill-set and earn decent money for education as one of the main advantages, or they may end-up waste the gap year doing nothing as the main disadvantage.To begin with, taking a year gap to work would allow young students gain experience and enrich their resumes. Teenagers will be exposed to various cultures, people, and deal many challenging situations by themselves. Additionally, young people could earn some money for their college fee and other expenses. For example, some Australian high schools offer a program for graduated teenager to teach English in developing country, such as Cambodia, Thailand and South Africa. This arrangement was made because taking a year break after finishing high school and before entering a university is advantageous for students if they spend the year working or travelling. The main disadvantage associated with taking a gap year is that young people may whimsically waste the whole year and regret it later. For instance, there are a lot of complaints from parents that their children spend their gap year watching TV, staying at home and doing nothing. In addition, without a proper planning, young people may end up getting detached from school and education. In conclusion, young people could be greatly benefitted from taking a gap year if they properly plan what they want to archive during this time. High school should partner with various NGO organisations and offer students volunteer positions if they want to take a gap year.