IELTS Discussion Essays

📘 What You’ll Learn on This Page

This page explains how to approach IELTS Advantage / Disadvantage essays using a fixed, reliable structure. You’ll learn how to keep your tone neutral, avoid giving your opinion, and present clear advantages and disadvantages with proper development. A Band 8 sample essay is included.

🧠 IELTS Advantage / Disadvantage Essays

❓ What is an Advantage / Disadvantage Essay?

This is a common Task 2 question where you’re asked to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of a particular topic. You are not being asked for your opinion, and you must keep a neutral tone throughout the essay. (Avoid phrases like “I believe” or “I think” — this isn’t an opinion essay.)

📝 What Do These Questions Look Like?

You’ll often see phrasing like:

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of…
• Discuss the benefits and drawbacks…
• What problems and benefits does this cause?

These questions are asking for both sides, not your view. (Stick to facts and realistic consequences — keep your tone calm and balanced.)

🛠️ Use This Fixed Structure Every Time

This structure is designed to help you stay in control and write clearly. Stick to the order, and you won’t waste time wondering what to write next.

🧱 Introduction
Paraphrase the statement. Outline the advantages, but mention that there are also drawbacks to consider. (Keep this simple — you’re just previewing the sides.)

✍️ Body Paragraph 1 – Advantages
So, what are the main advantages?
Firstly, Point. Extend. (Make sure the point is clear and realistic — think jobs, education, infrastructure.)
Secondly, Point. Extend.
Thirdly, Point. Extend.

✍️ Body Paragraph 2 – Disadvantages
On the other hand, Point. Extend. (Use a neutral tone — don’t exaggerate or attack.)
A further issue, Point. Extend.
Finally, Point. Extend.

🧩 Conclusion
In conclusion, while <subject> can bring some benefits to <subject>, it can also present disadvantages. (This sentence should echo the intro — don’t add any new ideas.)

🧾 Band 8 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
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.

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.

🧠 Ready to Practise?

Try this question:

💬 Prompt
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.