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

349 words · Illustrative target band

Nowadays, in many countries, teenagers are suggested to have a gap-year between graduating high school and starting university. Some people argue whether it is time-consuming or helps the young to gain more experiences before maintaining an advanced education. This essay will discuss why there are significant benefits which far outweigh the drawbacks. This is first because planned work or travel can give students exp…

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AI-completed learning example

348 words · Illustrative target band

Nowadays, a gap year is more popular among young people. In many countries students who graduate from high school are encouraged to make their business or have a journey during their gap year before starting university studies. This essay will discuss both advantages and disadvantages for young people, and I will give my concluding opinion. The effects depend on whether the year has a purpose and a realistic return p…

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AI-completed learning example

355 words · Illustrative target band

In a share of countries the youth are encouraged to work and travel for a year between finishing high school and starting university studies. The advantages of this situation outweigh the disadvantages. To start with, one benefit could be mentioned above as a number of scientists have shown that in recent years there have been claims about the value of experience. No specific scientific study is supplied in the sourc…

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