Task 2 · · 18 samples

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.

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Plan your answer

Try your own response before reading the samples.

Ideas to explore

  • Paid work can build responsibility and practical skills while helping young people save for university costs.
  • Travel can broaden perspectives and strengthen confidence through exposure to unfamiliar places and ways of life.
  • A gap year may disrupt study habits or become costly, especially when the young person has no clear plan or budget.

Suggested structure

  1. Introduce the gap-year choice and state clearly whether its advantages outweigh its disadvantages.
  2. Explain the main benefits, supporting each with a result for the young person.
  3. Present drawbacks such as interrupted study and expense, explaining when these risks are most likely.
  4. Conclude with a balanced judgement and a practical condition, such as planning goals and costs.
Useful vocabulary & examples
practical skills
Abilities that can be applied in real situations, such as communication or time management.

A part-time job can help school-leavers develop practical skills before university.

academic momentum
The habit and motivation to continue studying regularly.

Returning to university may be harder if a student loses academic momentum during a gap year.

broaden their perspective
Help someone understand a wider range of experiences, ideas or ways of life.

Travel can broaden young people’s perspective by introducing them to different cultures.

a realistic budget
A spending plan based on the money a person is likely to have and their expected costs.

A realistic budget can prevent travel costs from becoming a major problem.

Sample answers

AI-completed learning example

352 words · Illustrative target band

In several countries, civilians encourage youngsters to explore the world and enhance their work experience for a year after finishing high school before continuing their higher degree studies. Even though this case has several benefits, such as having new experiences and meeting new people, the drawbacks could occur in this one gap year. Look into both sides, the value depends on what young people actually do and wh…

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AI-completed learning example

348 words · Illustrative target band

Several country’s civilians tend to encouraged youngsters to explore the world and enhance their work experience for a year after finishing their high school before continue their study for higher degree. Even though there are several benefits of this case, such as having new experience and meeting up new people, the drawbacks could be occured during the year. I will consider useful experience alongside cost and diff…

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AI-completed learning example

350 words · Illustrative target band

It has become a common tendency among students to work or travel for about a year right before starting studies at university after finishing high school in big countries.In this essay I will be trying to describe the advantages and disadvantages of this mentioned habit of students. Firstly, taking a year off in the middle of the transition from school to university can create experience, although it also interrupts …

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