GT Writing Task 2 (Essay Writing) Sample # 28
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following 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.
Write at least 250 words.
Use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your writing with examples and relevant evidence.
Model Answer 1:
Young people are the future leaders of a country, and therefore, it only makes sense that we take the necessary steps to groom them up as responsible adults from a young age. Of course, we can do several things to this effect, but encouraging them to work or travel for a year after finishing high school is certainly an option, even though it has both its advantages and disadvantages.
To begin with the advantages, students spend a very significant amount of their time finishing high school and learning some important “theories” that are related to general life lessons and works. However, when students go to work, they learn to deal with many different kinds of “real-world” situations and thus are able to learn some very important life lessons. Similarly, when students go to travel, it allows them an opportunity to recuperate from the tiring hard work and “disciplined” life of students by sharing and exchanging different views and opinions on an array of issues with people from different cultures, lifestyles and backgrounds. Sometimes, they even go through some life-changing experiences when travelling to places.
However, this practice has some disadvantages as well. After taking some time off from their education, in order to either work or travel, students may not find it easy again to get their concentration back as they used to do before taking their time off after finishing high school. Besides, it is also possible that they start to like their life, outside of the school environment, and they just may never go back to attend a college or university in order to further their education, which certainly is not an ideal situation for any society or country.
In conclusion, we should carefully weigh our options before allowing our students some time off in order to work or travel, and teachers and parents can guide the young students in choosing the right direction.
Model Answer 2:
In recent years, it has become increasingly popular for young people to take a gap year between finishing high school and starting their university studies. While some see this as a valuable opportunity to gain work experience and see the world, others argue that it is a waste of time and could even hinder academic progress. This essay will examine the advantages and disadvantages of taking a gap year before starting university.
One advantage of taking a gap year is that it allows young people to gain valuable life experience. By travelling, working or volunteering during this time, young people can develop important skills such as independence, adaptability, and problem-solving. Furthermore, gaining work experience during this time can help young people to understand what they want to study in the university and what career path they want to pursue. For example, a young person who works in a hospital during their gap year may decide that they want to study medicine.
However, there are also disadvantages to taking a gap year. One potential disadvantage is that young people may lose their academic focus during this time, making it harder to return to study later. Additionally, some young people may struggle to finance their gap year or find a suitable job, which could limit their options and opportunities.
In conclusion, taking a gap year can provide young people with valuable life experiences and help them to make informed decisions about their future. However, it is important for young people to carefully consider the potential disadvantages and ensure that they have a plan in place for their gap year.