Avoid Common IELTS Mistakes

The IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Essay is a common Task 2 question type where you are asked to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of a particular topic. You are not being asked for your opinion, and you must maintain a neutral tone throughout the essay.

You will often see phrasing like:

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of…
• Discuss the benefits and drawbacks…

Important:
“What problems and benefits does this cause?” is not an advantage disadvantage essay. It is a cause/effect or problem/benefit task, which requires a different structure.

These are not opinion essays. Do not include phrases such as “I believe…” or “In my opinion…”. Your goal is to present both sides clearly and objectively.

IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Essay Structure

Introduction
Paraphrase the statement. Outline the advantages, but mention that there are also drawbacks to consider.

Body Paragraph 1 – Advantages
So, what are the main advantages?
→ Firstly, Point. Extend.
→ Secondly, Point. Extend.
→ Thirdly, Point. Extend.

Body Paragraph 2 – Disadvantages
On the other hand, Point. Extend.
→ A further issue, Point. Extend.
→ Finally, Point. Extend.

Conclusion
In conclusion, while <subject> can bring some benefits to <subject>, it can also present certain disadvantages.

Why This IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Essay Structure Works

This fixed structure supports strong performance in all four IELTS advantage disadvantage essay writing criteria:

Task Response
Ensures all parts of the question are answered fully and clearly.

Coherence and Cohesion
Provides logical paragraphing and clear progression of ideas, with appropriate use of linkers.

Lexical Resource
Offers opportunities to demonstrate a range of vocabulary, including topic-specific and academic words.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Encourages varied sentence structures while maintaining clarity and precision.

Many Band 7 candidates lose marks because they do not follow a consistent IELTS advantage disadvantage essay structure. This results in drift, missed parts of the task, or unclear progression.

Common Student Errors

• Confusing advantage disadvantage essays with other types, especially Problem/Solution or Discussion.
• Giving personal opinions when none are required.
• Mixing too many ideas in a single paragraph.
• Using memorised phrases that do not fit naturally into the essay.
• Failing to provide clear examples or extending points fully.
• Repeating basic vocabulary or using overly complex words incorrectly.
• Making grammatical mistakes that reduce clarity.

Band 9 Sample Essay

Task Question
Thanks to budget airlines, many people can travel abroad.
What advantages and disadvantages do tourists bring to the countries they visit?

Essay (Band 9)
Large numbers of people are able to fly overseas due to the impact of budget airlines. Tourism can bring about economic and infrastructural improvements to overseas communities, but there are also drawbacks to be taken into account.

So, what are the main advantages? Firstly, with increasing levels of tourism comes an increasing amount of employment opportunities for local people. Many communities, for instance, suffer from a lack of vacancies which local people can fill, but if an area opens to tourism, there are more opportunities for work. Secondly, as tourists spend money in local areas, so the authorities can gain more revenue to spend on education, which means that extra schools can be constructed, improving educational outcomes for local children. Thirdly, an investment to encourage tourism will also bring about new infrastructure such as hospitals and roads. While these may be built for tourists, they can be used by local people and can breathe new life into communities.

On the other hand, due to the nature of tourism, especially in countries with changeable climates, jobs can be seasonal and also poorly paid. Although people may find work, the jobs offered often do not provide long-term stability and may trap people in poverty. A further issue is that in many communities, local homes are used to cater for tourists. Whereas previously families would have a choice of homes to move to, tourism means they may have to move to areas away from home. Finally, the ease of international travel means that diseases can be spread with great ease across the globe. Whenever large groups of people travel, they carry diseases which may impact local communities and, additionally, travellers may take home ailments that their home countries are not used to dealing with.

Conclusion
In conclusion, while tourism can bring some benefits to local areas, it can also bring about low-paying, insecure jobs, and harm the health and housing opportunities of residents.

(Word count: 273 words)

Important Note About Examples

This IELTS advantage disadvantage essay does not use a specific example because the task question does not explicitly ask for one. However, an example could have been added to support one of the main points. If the question had required an example, the best practice would be to select one central idea and use the QPEE or PEE structure (Point, Explanation, Example, Extension) to develop that paragraph.

Band 9 Commentary

Task Response
The essay addresses all parts of the question clearly.
Ideas are relevant, balanced, and fully extended.

Coherence and Cohesion
Paragraphing is logical.
There is clear progression from one idea to the next.
Linking words are used naturally without being forced.

Lexical Resource
Topic-specific vocabulary (e.g., employment opportunities, infrastructural improvements, seasonal jobs) is used accurately.
Word choice is precise and appropriate for an academic essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A variety of sentence structures is used correctly.
There are no major errors, and complex sentences maintain clarity.

Band 6 Essay Example

Task Question
Thanks to budget airlines, many people can travel abroad.
What advantages and disadvantages do tourists bring to the countries they visit?

Essay (Band 6)
Nowadays, because of low-cost airlines, many people can travel to other countries. This has both positive and negative effects for the places they visit.

Firstly, tourists help the local economy by spending money. Local businesses like restaurants, hotels, and shops earn more when visitors come. This creates jobs for people in the community. In addition, some places use the extra money from tourism to improve schools and roads.

However, there are also disadvantages. Tourists sometimes damage the environment or disturb local people. For example, some tourists do not respect local customs or leave a lot of litter. Housing prices often go up when tourists come, making it hard for local people to afford homes. Another problem is that many jobs in tourism are seasonal and do not pay well, so workers might not have a stable income. This causes financial difficulties for families.

Conclusion
In conclusion, tourism has both advantages and disadvantages. It helps local businesses and infrastructure but can also create problems for the environment, housing, and job security.

(Word count: 259 words)

Student Task:
What’s wrong with this sentence?
“Another problem is that many jobs in tourism are seasonal and do not pay well, so workers might not have a stable income.”
How could this be improved?

Student Task

What makes this essay Band 6 and not Band 9?
How could the sentence structures be improved?
What vocabulary problems can you identify?
Does this essay fully extend the ideas?

Self-Checklist

Before finishing your IELTS advantage disadvantage essay, ask yourself:

• Did I paraphrase the question clearly without changing its meaning?
• Did I present balanced advantages and disadvantages?
• Did I avoid giving my opinion?
• Did I extend each point clearly and use appropriate examples?
• Did I proofread for grammar, vocabulary variety, and sentence range?

Want to Practise?

Try this question:

In many cities, more people are choosing to cycle instead of drive.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?

Stick to the structure above. Use the fixed sentence starters. Do not offer your opinion. Keep your tone neutral and your points realistic.