Some people think having a university degree is the best way to secure a good job. However, others believe skills and experience are more important. Discuss bot sides and give your opinion.

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ou have arranged to visit a friend in England but an important event at home now means that you must change the dates of the visit. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter • explain the important event • apologise for the situation • suggest a new arrangement

The number of international conferences in three cities. 1965-2010, advertising is becoming more and more common in everyday life. it is a positive or negative development, many people now undertake extreme activities, from hand gliding to mountain climbing. why do people risk their lives in this way do you think it is a good trend, in many countries children are engaged in sorne kind of paid work. sorne people regard this as complete/y wrong, while others consider it as valuable work experience, important for learning and taking responsibility. discuss both these views and give your own opinion. give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. write at least 250 words..

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Band 7+: Some people think university degree is the best way secure good job. However, other believe skills and experience are more important.

The debate over whether a university degree or skills and experience are more essential for securing a good job has sparked discussions among various groups.** While some advocate for the importance of having a degree, others argue that practical skills and experience hold greater value. In my view, both are important, but skills and experience are more crucial in the workplace. This essay will discuss the merits of both perspectives.

A primary advantage of having a university degree is that it paves the way for securing a good job. Students are taught various subjects at universities, allowing them to acquire a broad range of knowledge that can be beneficial in their future careers. For example, students gain insights into every aspect of their work, such as how to use equipment, understand its functions, and even the principles behind it. This comprehensive understanding not only helps them perform tasks effectively but also equips them to address challenges in the workplace. By studying at university, individuals can build a strong foundation of knowledge that will be valuable throughout their professional lives.

However, while the benefits of having a degree are significant, the importance of skills and experience cannot be overstated. There are numerous ways to acquire the skills and experience that are in high demand in the workplace. For instance, learning from experienced workers or engaging in hands-on training can provide practical knowledge that is directly applicable to one’s job. In many professions, practical experience is valued more highly than theoretical knowledge. While some jobs may require a university degree, others place a higher emphasis on skills and experience, which can be gained through work and vocational training.

In summary, a university degree is essential in certain fields where extensive theoretical knowledge is required. However, in other areas, practical skills and experience are more valued, and a diploma may not be necessary. It’s important to recognize the distinct roles that both education and practical experience play in different industries.

Check Your Own Essay On This Topic?

Generate a band-9 sample with your idea, overall band score, task response, coherence & cohesion, lexical resource, grammatical range & accuracy, essays on the same topic:, some people think university degree is the best way secure good job. however, other believe skills and experience are more important..

In recent time, the level of unemployment has escalated drastically, however the literates of the society are still the Elites and forerunners of advanced companies in our world today , they tend to have a balanced employment opportunity.Nonetheless Some individuals opined that the key to better employment is academic achievement whilst others have a contrary […]

Have you ever wondered whether a degree or experience is more relevant in securing a profession? Undeniably, while a university degree may provide authenticity, skills and experience are equally necessary to meet a job’s demand. This essay will discuss the benefits of both, ultimately concluding whether a degree or expertise is more essential in securing […]

Some people believe if having a university degree they will work at place they want.However others think experience and skills are important.This essay I will discuss both guestion. In country have students had university degree or theses.if you finished university and going to work you need to have more experience.you must to have skills and […]

Nowadays people believe that good University gives a good education also better job offers and view of them say that for students must have skills and experience are crucial for them. I will discuss this essay in the upcoming paragraph. Only one hand today most of the children’s and parents are preferred to join in […]

The debate of whether a university degree can ensure a decent career path over learning required skills and directly assuming a job carries two perspectives. Learning the key skills and expertise that are significant in the industry after high school implies notable abilities in performing well in hands-on tasks as well as equipping individuals with […]

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There is no denying feel that the phenomena of government paying university fees is ubiquitous across the globe due to its importance. Majority of folks are in the favour of authority should reward college fees due to its number of merits. However, some of the People highlight its demerits first. In my Further Paragraphs, prons […]

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In many countries, women no longer feel the need to get married. Some people believe that this is because women are able to earn their own income and therefore do not require the financial security that marriage can bring. To what extent do you agree?

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In the past when students did a uni degree they tended to study in the own country

In current voracious world every other fellow is in fond of high paying jobs and financially rewarding business ideas in order to achieve success in respective fields, education and educational qualifications plays crucial role for everybody. Few decades ago, almost all students were inclined towards persuing a university degree in their own home country. But, […]

Some people think that enjoying the present is more important than planning for the future for both countries and individuals. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

many people claim that every person and countries should enjoy their time in the present moment however the future and planning for it is not important as much as the first one. I completely disagree with this opinion and the following paragraphs shall outline my reasons for this point of view. on one hand, it […]

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University Essays

university degree essay ielts

Taking a Gap Year

In some countries young people are encouraged to work and 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. In various nations younger population is being motivated to take a gap year in order to gain some work experience or travel around before they start with their further college education. In this essay we will be focusing on advantages of this situation as well as the disadvantages that come along. To start with the advantages, younger education today is more motivated to gain a global experience. They do not want themselves to be restricted to the local area experience they are being provided with, rather they want to explore the world and try learning about the work culture and other aspects. Now as we know it is quite important to have knowledge about the field one is going to work in, work experience will definitely help them grow and flourish in that area as real life scenario can be much different than what is being taught in books. Moving on to the disadvantages, though it is important to gain some knowledge of the real world and travel around, it is also important to get done with your university education in order to land the perfect job depending on the course one opts for in university. Secondly, some people are not mentally strong to live apart from their family and might end up getting homesick. Which can ruin their whole idea of the gap year. To summarize, taking a drop year has certain advantages it also has some possible drawbacks which should be taken into account before making the decision as these years most certainly makes up for our future.

Accepting Male and Female Students

by bhowmick (USA)

Universities should accept equal number of male and female students in every subject. To what extent do you agree or disagree. Education is considered backbone of a nation. It is also an important element of human life. No nation can develop and prosper unless properly educated. However, both men and women are equally considered to contribute national achievement. Hence, to ensure empowerment and gender discrimination I believe that the universities should offer equal numbers of male and female students in every subject. The main reason I support the notion that the tertiary institutes should accept equal number of boys and girls is to eliminate gender discrimination. In many countries in the world especially in western countries both men and women enjoy equal degree of freedom in all aspect of life. Unfortunately, this is not the same in third world countries. In fact there is an opposite picture exists especially in poor nations where male dominate in most of the aspects. For instance, in some nations male doctors are not allowed to inspect and treat female patients and thus the authorities give preference in female candidates in those subjects. Whereas in developed world there is virtually no sex differentiation and pupils can get admitted any subjects they are interested in. What I want to highlight here is that if educational institutions pick equal number of students from both gender it will not only eliminate impartiality that might exist once graduates enter employment but also equalize the balance between male and female employees. The other reason I strongly believe that all educational institutes should take the same number of male and female candidates is due to gender empowerment. As we are aware that female candidates may have more attraction to nursing programs whereas male candidates may be interested in sport. This way it might bring inequality of gender ration once they are graduated. Therefore, to avoid additional candidates to a particular discipline universities can offer admissions same number of boys and girls. In fact, such practice would help to stop the disruption between both sexes and will make sure empowerment of both sexes uniquely. In conclusion, needless to say that for every stages of national and international achievement both sexes are vitally essential. So I believe that both male and female should receive equal level of education and, hence, all institutes should accept the same number of genders in every subject.

Going into University or Work Essay

by Henry Le (VietNam)

I'm going to have an IELTS test this September and here is my most typical way of writing a writing task 2 answer. Could you please suggest me the band that i am at so i could improve it as soon as possible please. Some people think young people should go to university to further their education while others think they should be encouraged to work as car mechanics or builders etc. to serve society. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. There is a wide range of choices for students to choose after high school these days. It is argued that people should continue their academic process by going to the university, whereas some opine they should be motivated to contribute to the world as soon as graduating. The upcoming paragraphs will discuss both opinions and draw a possible conclusion. To commence with, the most plausible reason to study further in university is obviously to improve technical experiences in the specialized area. For example, learning major such as law, medical or architecture requires a huge syllabus and years of theoretical and practical training before mastering their field. Although it is challenging and often causes discouragement to the students, the future career that requires advanced knowledge usually offers them high salaries and diverse perks. Therefore, further education is not only a better choice, but also is essential. By contrast, working without a university degree has two main advantages in terms of time and money. To exemplify, it is surveyed that nearly 60% of students in poorly-conditioned countries are unable to afford the university‘s tuition while others have to be responsible for their old-aged parents. Therefore, working as manual labor could not only decrease the financial burden on their family but also is less time-consuming as the students are not required to study 4-7 more years. To recapitulate, people have different views on whether students should further their academic study or start looking for a job after high school. Personally, it is partially agreed that young people should go to university if financially allowed because it seems that they are more likely to succeed in the future.

IELTS Essay: Choosing a Major

by Venkatesh (Hyderabad. Telangana )

Students should choose a university major that prepares them for high-paying careers. To what extent do you agree with this statement? Nowadays, it is crucial that every student has to take wise decisions in their career. Most societies consider that they need to select a university where they can pursue the desired course. It will result in excellent salaries in their life. I strongly agree with the point and will outline why potential learners benefitted from this. There are several key benefits which stem from a college major. Firstly, it will enhance knowledge. Indeed people who select the subject which has been explained in depth about courses will include field trips, internships, and live projects. These are perfect examples of how students ace their brains. With this, they can know what is subject-based and what everything will include. Although by this method, they can learn ubiquity and understand and grow their skills. Secondly, students can participate in co-circular activities. Numerous universities conduct Debate competitions, Quizzes, and Sports Tournaments. Now students have a chance to boost their Resumes in particular fields. Indeed, enrolling on this will play a vital role in their life, resulting in impressive placements. Despite this, there are significant outcomes for good pay. The first one is that they can develop the technology. After successful completion, students pursuing information technology will join in a dream job in this field, and now they are imperative for an organisation to develop the technology. With this company, sales will surge with innovative developments which impact salaries which they good amount of money. Another essential part is finically independence. Individuals who take wise decisions to pursue the career they have Secure jobs at the age of 25 will aid various aspects of their family. Such as money in countries like India, for instance, they are critical for expenses in the family. In conclusion, making good moves will help for various reasons. Students need to understand before choosing which will help them to take the Zenith position.

IELTS Essay: Importance of University Education

by Gurkiran kaur (Gurdaspur, Punjab)

Some people think that the best way to succeed in life is to get a university education, while others disagree and say that it is no longer true nowadays. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. While a certain section of society believes that acquiring a university degree is paramount to become successful in life, yet there is some disagreement regarding its importance in this modern era. This essay will discuss both the viewpoints before deducing to the conclusion in my further paragraphs. To commence with, attaining education from the university or college enables the students to grasp in-depth knowledge about specific subjects. To elaborate it, these students will have the opportunity to understand the background information by engaging in detailed studies and concepts of certain fields, resulting in an increased familiarity and practicability of the ideas. For example, a graduate in business would potentially have stronger hold over the different business terminology and fundamental principles which would assist him/her with enough knowledge to handle any of its applicability in the real world. Ultimately, the graduates tend to qualify for much bigger designations in any organization owing to their information domain. Hence, a university degree, by being added on the resume considerably account for the success of a person. Another key point is that, not only pursuing the education from colleges aids in academic growth, but is also advantageous from the social perspective. As the university going scholars will have more links established and built long-lasting friendships by the time they leave their institutions. In addition, these social circles could undeniably count worthy for their satisfaction at deeper personal and emotional level. Thus, the link between the higher education and success seems significantly fair. On the other hand, tertiary education is becoming less popular due to the widespread availability of information on the internet, accessible to everyone at their comforts. To explicate, people can now easily learn new skills by signing up to plethora of courses available online. For instance, many youngsters are learning the photo editing courses by paying minimal charges, unlike the universities, and getting paid for their skills. As a result, the considerable shift towards e-education has revolutionized the way people access information and build their careers. This makes them successful irrespective of their academic qualifications. Along with it, web services have various perks for the entrepreneurs as well. To put it another way, individuals with or without degrees can use various tools and platforms such as instagram, facebook or online selling portals for the marketing of products. To exemplify, a famous cloth selling brand named Biba, is being run by its founder on instagram without having in prior knowledge in the business. Thereby, the obligation of having higher studies is no longer a prerequisite condition to excel in life. In conclusion, although it appears that the popularity of e-learning has paved new ways of becoming successful, I believe that the idea of having a university study is of far greater significance for succeeding both professionally and personally.

by Paywand Hassan (Iraq)

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 of taking a gap year before entering university. Give your own opinion and support it with examples. Education systems are different from country to country, but the most developed countries are doing researches by collecting data and information to provide their students the most relevant knowledge and opportunity to enhance and encourage them to have this kind of abilities to manage their life properly. Moreover, adults are considered as a fuel for running the countries economy and accelerate the development process. So, enriching and enhancing adults, especially in the stage between high school and university, is the more crucial task of the government’s responsibility to build most successful individual for their countries. In this essay I am going discuss the advantages and disadvantages of taking a gap year before entering university and in conclusion I will show some points in regard to my opinion. Furthermore, the advantages of giving this gap between high school and university for working or traveling abroad are more than the disadvantages. According to conducted research and studies, students will be more successful in their university’s life academically and socially, because they will learn and gain more information about the life outside education field, and they will notice the importance of having experience for their future. On the other hand, they will be more familiar with the job market and financial situation. While, the disadvantages of this gap can be concluded in three points. Firstly, some students will not going to university after having a good payable job opportunity. Secondly, some students will lose the courage to start university life after taking this gap. Thirdly, traveling aboard and be familiar with different cultures enhance some students to change their first goal, for example maybe some of them planned to study medicine and after having this gap maybe they will find studying in the IT departments are more acceptable in the job market and you can reach it faster. In conclusion, in my opinion the advantage of the gap is more than the disadvantage, in the end with this gap the students are going to learn from their experiences and real life. Meanwhile, the social activities like having a part time job and taking responsibilities are more likelihood than going directly to the university. Finally, the student will not be fresh graduated if they have this one year of work experience and they have some information about working life after university.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer: Completing university education is thought by some to be the best way to get a good job.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 essay with model answer

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic

Completing university education is thought by some to be the best way to get a good job. On the other hand, other people think that getting experience and developing soft skills is more important. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Model Answer:

There is much debate about the best way to land a desirable job. Some argue that getting a tertiary qualification is the surest path to get hired while others contend that acquiring experience and non-academic skills is better. Overall, I believe that both academic qualifications and job experience are needed to secure a great job because both aspects are equally valuable.

Firstly, a tertiary education provides you with the opportunity to acquire specific skills and knowledge that are pre-requisite to performing well in your future job. For example, to become a doctor one needs to have technical knowledge about treating illness and disease. Without learning about anatomy, causes of sickness and understanding the human body in-depth at university;,  a doctor would not be able to perform his or her duties at all. Clearly, a university qualification equips students with technical skills and theory necessary for their prospective career.

university degree essay ielts

On the other hand, some occupations value experience and other skills that a tertiary education does not explicitly provide. Jobs such as sales, marketing and advertising may favour an individual’s soft skills such as his persuasive ability, communication skills and prior experience over theoretical knowledge. In this instance, a university degree might not help a job-seeker as much as an impressive resumé filled with various job experiences and extra-curricular achievements.

In my opinion, I view both tertiary education and job experience with development of soft skills as equally important factors to get hired for a coveted job. Combining both university qualifications and soft skills acquired through real-world experience seems to be the best way to improve prospects of a great career.

Total Words: 264

Task Achievement: 9

Coherence & cohesion: 9, lexical resources: 8, overall score: band 8.5.

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In intro para there is repeated word ” believe”

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Thanks for pointing it out. I have fixed it now.

Hope your IELTS preparation is going well. Let me know if you need any help.

Cheers, Atul

Tertiary education word repeated three to four times in bp1 and bo2

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Getting a Degree from University is the Best Way to Guarantee a Job, or Getting Experience Instead?

Updated: Mar 21

Write about the following topic:

Some people think that getting a degree from university is the best way to guarantee a good job, others believe that it would be better to go straight into work and get experience instead.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experiences.

You should write at least 250 words.

IELTS Task 2 Band 9 Sample Essay based on the question prompt "Some people think that getting a degree from university is the best way to guarantee a good job, others believe that it would be better to go straight into work and get experience instead.  Discuss both views and give your opinion."

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Sample Essay 1

In the contemporary job market, a dichotomy exists between the valuation of academic degrees and hands-on experience. Some argue that a university degree is paramount for securing prestigious employment, while others advocate for immediate immersion in the workplace to gain practical experience. This essay contends that both pathways have merit, depending on individual career objectives, with a slight inclination towards the value of experience.

University education provides a comprehensive foundation, equipping students with theoretical knowledge and critical thinking skills. For instance, careers in medicine and engineering unequivocally require a degree for foundational knowledge and safety reasons. However, the academic path is not solely about acquiring knowledge; it also fosters a sense of discipline, time management, and the ability to research and analyze complex issues. These transferrable skills are highly valued in any professional setting, illustrating that university education is not merely a means to an end but a significant contributor to personal and professional development.

Conversely, diving directly into the workforce offers immediate practical experience and the opportunity to develop soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving in real-world contexts. Many successful entrepreneurs and tech innovators, for example, have eschewed formal education in favor of practical experience, which propelled them to the forefront of their industries. This route can also lead to earlier financial independence and the possibility of climbing the career ladder through merit and experience rather than academic qualifications. Therefore, while the path might be unconventional, it can lead to substantial professional success and fulfillment.

In summary, the value of university education and direct work experience varies based on personal goals and industry demands. A degree can unlock specific career paths and expand intellectual horizons, whereas practical experience offers swift skill application and problem-solving. A tailored combination of both may serve as the ideal strategy for achieving professional excellence.

Sample Essay 2

The debate between the benefits of academic qualifications and the advantages of entering the workforce directly is perennial. This essay posits that while formal education furnishes individuals with critical foundational knowledge, hands-on experience offers invaluable practical insights, suggesting a harmonious blend of both approaches may be most beneficial.

Educational institutions are not merely factories of information; they are crucibles where critical thinking and analytical skills are honed. For example, the rigors of a law degree are indispensable for anyone aiming to practice in legal fields, demonstrating how certain professions necessitate academic credentials. Beyond vocational training, university life instills resilience and adaptability, skills imperative in navigating the complexities of modern workplaces. Furthermore, the collaborative projects and internships offer real-world insights within a controlled environment. However, this traditional pathway is not without its drawbacks, including the significant financial burden and the time invested, which could delay entry into the workforce, potentially making it less appealing to those wary of accruing debt.

On the other hand, diving into work immediately after secondary education can offer a head start in career progression and financial independence. This route enables individuals to cultivate soft skills such as leadership, teamwork, and time management in real-time, skills that are often underdeveloped in academic settings. Engaging in the workforce early also allows for the exploration of various career paths without the commitment of a degree. The story of tech moguls who forewent formal education in favor of entrepreneurial pursuits illustrates that success is not solely the province of the degree-holders, championing the value of innovation and practical experience. Nonetheless, this approach may limit opportunities in fields where professional qualifications are mandatory, potentially hindering long-term career advancement in certain sectors.

In summary, both academic qualifications and direct work experience offer unique advantages towards career development. Ideally, a tailored blend of the two aligns best with achieving professional success, enhancing employability, and ensuring comprehensive personal growth for today's dynamic job landscape.

Sample Essay 3

The question of whether getting a degree from university is the best way to guarantee a good job or whether it is more advantageous to go straight into work and get experience instead has been a subject of considerable debate. The crux of the discussion lies in the merits of theoretical knowledge acquired through a university education versus the practical skills and insights obtained from direct work experience. This essay will critically explore these contrasting perspectives, while also acknowledging the benefits of early workforce entry, such as hands-on learning and early professional networking.

Proponents of higher education purport that a university degree is a gatekeeper to a prosperous career. They argue that academic qualifications equip students with a comprehensive understanding of their chosen field, building a solid foundation of theoretical knowledge. For example, professionals in fields such as medicine, law, or engineering are requisite to have a thorough academic grounding to ensure competence in their practice. Moreover, a university degree often serves as a prerequisite for numerous high-paying jobs. Consequently, it's contended that attaining a degree can propel one’s career trajectory and increase their earning potential.

Conversely, advocates for immediate entry into the workforce posit that real-world experience is indispensable. They believe that hands-on experience garnered from an early start in the workforce can bestow practical skills and knowledge that academia often falls short of delivering. For instance, a budding entrepreneur may gain more valuable insights from directly diving into the business world than spending years studying business theories. Additionally, this route enables individuals to establish professional networks, gain early financial independence, and avoid substantial student debt. However, it is essential to understand that different career paths necessitate different types of preparation. Therefore, while some professions indeed demand formal education, others are more suited to learning 'on the job'.

In summary, the argument between the value of university degrees and the importance of hands-on experience is complex and multifaceted. Each pathway offers its unique benefits and setbacks. Thus, it is critical to assess individual needs and career goals before making such a consequential decision. Therefore, there isn't a 'one-size-fits-all' answer, but rather a broad spectrum of paths leading to fulfilling careers.

Sample Essay 4

It is a widely held view that a formal university degree is the key to securing a promising career. Conversely, some argue that gaining immediate work experience outweighs the benefits of tertiary education. I am of the conviction that the relevance of a degree or practical experience largely depends on the specific profession in question.

Primarily, numerous professional roles necessitate specialized knowledge that can only be acquired through academic study. Occupations such as physicians, engineers, legal practitioners, or educators require a comprehensive understanding of theoretical principles in their respective fields. For example, aspiring surgeons must grasp intricate concepts of anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry before they can confidently and safely perform operations. Likewise, engineers must delve deep into abstract principles of physics and mathematics to design structures or systems. Thus, in such research-intensive fields, the role of formal education is indisputable.

Contrastingly, vocational professions tend to value hands-on experience and training over academic credentials. Professions like electricians, carpenters, or plumbers demand a significant amount of practical skill, honed over time in real-world environments. Similarly, in the dynamic landscape of digital marketing or entrepreneurship, direct industry exposure and acquired skills often trump a formal degree. To illustrate, many hospitality establishments, not only in Australia but also globally, prioritize candidates with substantial experience over those with hospitality degrees. Here, skills acquired in the trenches of work are deemed more valuable than academic qualifications.

However, a growing number of professions today, such as architecture or industrial design, necessitate a balance of both formal education and hands-on experience. Additionally, in the era of remote and digital work, it is conceivable that the lines between academic and practical knowledge will continue to blur, making an integrated approach even more pertinent.

In conclusion, while certain careers demand the rigorous academic training provided by universities, others place a higher premium on practical skills and industry experience. Ultimately, the debate between formal education and practical experience is not a matter of superiority, but one of suitability to a given professional context.

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Ielts essay # 1463 - university education is the best way to get a good job, ielts writing task 2/ ielts essay:, completing a university education is thought by some to be the best way to get a good job. on the other hand, other people think that getting experience and developing soft skills is more important., discuss both views and give your own opinion..

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IELTS Discussion Essay Model Answer with Techniques & Tips

This IELTS Discussion Essay Model Essay Answer Band 9 with some techniques and tips.  The Discussion Essay is a common essay type and requires you to discuss two sides of a given issue. This essay type is for both Academic and GT IELTS Writing Task 2.

TECHNIQUES & TIPS FOR IELTS DISCUSSION ESSAY

Discussion Essays are probably the easiest to write of all IELTS essays so be glad if you get one in your test.

  • There will be two sides of the same thing, such as homework is good for children / homework is bad for children.
  • There will be two different options, such as the government should focus on building housing or on parks. These are two different things and you must address both.
  • Discuss both sides and give your opinion.
  • Note: the discussion is not more important than the opinion. All parts of the instructions are important to fulfil.
  • each side is about why other people support that side
  • you don’t get a higher band score because you have more ideas.
  • you get a higher band score because your ideas are relevant and well-developed.
  • so, decide which ideas to use. You will usually have about two reasons to explain for each side of the discussion.
  • Do you agree with one of the sides?
  • Do you have your own balanced view which is a specific view that doesn’t fully agree and doesn’t fully disagree?
  • You can’t change your opinion half way through your essay so make sure you have decided it before you start writing.
  • Background statement = a paraphrase of the essay question. The biggest mistake is incorrect paraphrasing that changes the meaning of the essay question given.
  • Thesis statement = presents your position clearly.
  • Always have a topic sentence. This shows the examiner which side of the discussion you are about to tackle.
  • Making the content and aim of your body paragraphs clear is essential to a high score.
  • Topic sentences should help the essay flow clearly and help the examiner locate information easily.
  • Not all body paragraphs require examples. If you can’t think of an example don’t worry. Just explain the main point as well as you can.
  • Supporting points are basically points that explain the main idea. Imagine someone asking you again and again “What do you mean?” – “Explain yourself”. Good supporting points make the main idea clear.
  • Don’t overcomplicate your ideas. Ideas should be clear and relevant, but language should have more complexity for a high score.
  • Your opinion should also be restate in the body paragraphs. 
  • Summarise all the main ideas you’ve given.
  • This should be the shortest paragraph, usually one or two sentences.
  • Never introduce a new main point in the conclusion.
  • Always start the conclusion with the right linking word. Click here: Video: Linking Words for Conclusions . It’s an old video but still relevant today.
  • Use language of discussions, see this video: Discussion Essay Language

IELTS DISCUSSION ESSAY MODEL ANSWER

Discussion Essay Question

Completing university education is thought by some to be the best way to get a good job. On the other hand, other people think that getting experience and developing soft skills is more important. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

Discussion Essay Model Answer

Please note that this essay is over 300 words. Longer doesn’t mean better. It is rare for an essay to go over 300 words or 310 words at most. Most IELTS essays are between 270 and 290 words, even for a band 9. However, 300 words, more or less, is possible as long as each sentence is highly focused and relevant. This Discussion Essay is an example of one such essay. 

It is considered by some that being a university graduate is the key to securing a good job, while there are others who think that it is better to have experience and soft skills. In my opinion, I believe that having university education is essential for academic jobs, while soft skills and experience are more useful in business.

On the one hand, many people think finding a good job is easier if they have a graduate degree because having tertiary education puts people one step ahead of others. For many employers, this can be the deciding factor between job applicants. Furthermore, a certain level of university education is required for particular jobs, such as being a doctor or teacher. For this reason, I believe that in the case of jobs that require academic knowledge, having a tertiary education is the key to success.

On the other hand, having work experience and soft skills, such as leadership skills and other interpersonal skills, can also throw the balance in favour of the job applicant. For someone who is applying for management positions having experience of how to manage a team as well as strong interpersonal skills to support and direct staff, experience and soft skills are critical. Business is also an area of work where experience puts a person ahead of the competition in a way that university education could not. For this reason I also believe that such skills do have a relevant place in the workplace.

In conclusion, getting a good job requires a relevant background either in experience or education depending on the type of work and field. Some positions require an academic background, whilst others benefit more from experience and skills.

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Hello Liz I attempted a question and I’ll appreciate if you evaluate me please

Question: Artists need a certain amount of freedom to develop their creativity. Some people think that artists should have total freedom to express any thoughts and ideas. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Answer Artists require a particular level of freedom in order to create. Some people are of the opinion that artists deserve the freedom to display any of their concepts. I do agree with this but with limitations to some of their audiences.

Artists deserve to be free with their thoughts while creating. I believe artists are in a better position when they can make art based on their own random idea without being judged or criticized. For instance, freelance artists that make paintings for the purpose of interior decoration have the opportunity to be innovative and free with their thinking while painting. At the end of the day they find buyers interested in getting the artwork.

However, these free opinions should only be applicable to a certain segment of their audience. In other words, children should not be exposed to some of these artworks that entail free thinking as it might have a negative influence on them.

In conclusion, I believe artists should be given room to express their ideas through art, while also keeping in mind the limitations when creating content for children.

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This page contains all information and tips about writing task 2 essays: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/ . Make sure to pay attention to word count.

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it is commonly believed that the government should regulate the design of new buildings in major cities while other support the opinions that those funding and this projects should have the freedom to choose the design according to their preferences in my view establishment of project should be without limitation for who invest to it

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hi liz, hope you go through this question

Some people think that zoos are cruel and should be closed down. Others, however, believe that zoos can be useful in protecting wild animals.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Although it is sometimes thought that zoos are inhumane and ought to be shut down, other people believe that wildlife parks can be helpful in preserving wildlife. In my opinion, I consider that locking up wild animals in zoos is cruel.

On the one hand, some people think that zoos are cruel and should be closed down because they keep animals away from their natural habitats, and I agree. The animals are captured and placed in small cages for people’s entertainment, which is inhumane. The captured animals become mere tools for wildlife parks to make money, and these parks often do not prioritize the well-being of the animals. Due to being confined in small spaces, the animals can feel depressed, which may eventually lead to death. One famous incident illustrates this: a chimpanzee in a local zoo in Brazil took its own life after being captured and put on display. In simple terms, zoos are the equivalent of prisons for the animals living in them.

On the other hand, it is often believed that zoos can be helpful to conserve wildlife. As poaching is increasing on a yearly basis, it is becoming a necessity to prevent animals from becoming extinct, and zoos can play an important role in the conservation effort. As wild creatures are in a controlled environment, it is possible to breed them artificially in an effort to conserve their population and reintroduce them back in their natural habitat. Another reason why wildlife parks are important is for the purpose of scientific research. A biologist or a wildlife specialist can easily study an animal in a zoo, which otherwise would be extremely difficult. Moreover, zoos also act as a beacon of knowledge for the general population about animals while also piquing their interest in animal conservation.

In conclusion, while people may vary in their opinion, I believe that zoos should be closed as they are inhumane and unnecessary for most animals. Endangered species can be better protected in wildlife reserves without the need for confinement.

A great essay. Good ideas, a clear opinion, logical structure and relevant ideas which are well explained. Well done!

Finally, I got the compliment I was aiming for. After practicing a ton of essays, I am finally seeing an improvement (evident from your comments), and your advance courses played a major role, as they gave a blueprint for different styles of essays. Thank you very much, Liz.

Yes, I see your development as well. But don’t forget you also have to nail writing task 1 for a high score. Never underestimate how important it is to get a high score in task 1. Without it, it can really sink your overall score. When my health improves, I’ll make some advanced lessons for task 1 as well.

That’s true. I have been practicing both task1 and 2, and both are equally hard if not worked upon. I pray that you recover at the earliest. I think my performance during the exam will depend on how complicated the topic is and how well I manage my time.

Good luck!!

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Hello Liz, Is it okay to put your opinion after you have discussed the two sides of the discussion, that is; a paragraph before the conclusion paragraph ? Or to put it in the introduction paragraph like you did?

You should always introduce your opinion in the introduction if the essay asks for it. Whether you have a separate body paragraph for your opinion in a discussion essay will depend if you agree with one of the sides. If you agree with one of the sides, you will already have explained the reasons for this side so having another body paragraph repeating those same points will lower your score. If your opinion doesn’t fully agree with one side and is a specific, slightly different view point, you could dedicate a whole body paragraph to it.

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Hello Liz. Could you give me advice on whether I should add too many idioms in an IELTS essay? How many idioms should I use, and is it okay not to use any?

On this page, you’ll find a link to information about idioms, quotes and proverbs in your IELTS essays: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/ .

Hi liz, I have a doubt how will I frame the structure if I agree with the second statement. should I write the 2nd statement as body para 1 and agree with it ( I assume that is the wrong approach) or should I just discuss the first opinion in body para 1 and on the 2nd one I should discuss and agree with that opinion. thank you

In the introduction, you will introduce both sides. Your body paragraphs will follow that order. You mention your opinion in the side that you agree with. Logical and simple. The more you over think, the more confused your essay will become. Organisation in IELTS is about simple logic.

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Hi Liz, I understand that you do not mark but I would really love to hear any comments on how I can improve on my writing. Thank you in advance.

Question: Some people argue that it is more important to have an enjoyable job than to earn a lot of money. Others disagree and think that a good salary leads to a better life.

The debate about having a job that one enjoys or having a high paying job has been ongoing for many years. When a person does a job they enjoy, they usually have a higher satisfaction in life and they are less stressed. However, having a high paying job allows one to live a comfortable life as they are able to afford more things. In my opinion, I believe that it is more important to have a job that one enjoys rather than having more salary.

Some people choose to work in a job that pays them well rather than one that they enjoy because they believe that when they are wealthier, they can lead a more comfortable life. It is true that having more money allows one to spend more or even pay off their bills and mortgage easily. They do not have to worry about standard of living rising as they can continue to afford things. For example, a person who earns a high income will be able to afford housing in a safe neighbourhood where they do not need to worry about high crime rates.

On the other hand, there are people who believe that working in a job that they enjoy bring them higher satisfaction in life and allows them to have better well-being. A person spends about one third of their life working so life will be more satisfying if they are doing what they enjoy. Furthermore, if a person enjoys what they are doing, they will be less stressed and overall, they will have a good mental and emotional health. For instance, a recent study in Singapore showed that 70% of working adults would rather choose to work in a job they love as it gives them a sense of purpose in life and they believe that it also helps to improve their mental well-being and happiness.

In conclusion, it is important for some people to have a job that pays well as they prefer to live without worrying that they lack money. In contrast, others choose to do a job they love as it brings them greater satisfaction and keeps them happy in life. I believe that it is more important to have a job that you love as it makes life more fulfilling and it is better for one’s well-being.

Although I don’t offer a feedback or marking service, I’ll give you a couple of comments. 1) You failed to put any instructions with this essay but I presume it is a Discussion Essay including an opinion. 2) Your essay is much too long. There is no upper word limit for IELTS essay but most essays will be just below 300 words, even for band 9. Your introduction is too length (too wordy) and this is a waste of time because it doesn’t increase your score. Likewise, your conclusion is also too wordy which doesn’t help your score. So, you’ve expanded two paragraphs for no reason. 3) Try to make sure the body paragraphs are of equal length. The difference you have in your answer above is acceptable, but certainly don’t have a greater difference. 4) The first body paragraph about why people think the salary is the key is not well supported. You only mention paying bills, paying off a mortgage and being comfortable – I’m sure people who value money, value more than just those limited things.

Review all tips, advice and model essays on this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/ . You’ll see the average length and balance of a high band score essay. For detailed training, get my advanced lessons in my store: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/

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thank you for your great lessons. I have a question , in discussion essays in the paragraph for the idea with which we don’t agree, is it wrong if we just say that we disagree with this view and give reasons for it? or should we present supporting ideas for both views and then say which one we agree withy ?

A discussion essay is writing about why people have opinion X and why people have opinion Y. It also has your opinion in it so that the examiner can see which side you agree with or whether you have a more specific view point. If you agree with one side, say this in the introduction, the relevant body paragraph and conclusion. If you have a specific view point that doesn’t agree with either side, you will need a whole body paragraph to explain it. See my advanced lessons for detailed training: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/

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Could you please answer my question? I thought that in a discussion essay, the candidate should choose one side, but in this case, you support each side. Is this considered a partially agree approach?

There are no such rules that state you must choose one side as your opinion. You are being asked for your opinion – it’s yours and yours alone. IELTS doesn’t dictate that your opinion must be one of the sides given. Your opinion can be whatever you like as long as it addresses the issues fully. If one side states – after school lessons are good for children, but the other side states – after school classes are bad for children, your view is whatever you want it to be. You are not forced to agree with one side. For example, in the UK children who get after school classes benefit a lot from them because they last only one hour or two at most, but in South Korea after school classes can run from 5pm to almost 11pm which can be damaging to a child’s mental and physical health. So, you see, my view definitely wouldn’t agree fully with one side only.

For a balanced view, you don’t agree with both sides or support both sides entirely. Your opinion must be specific. You can’t sit on the fence and be impartial (neutral). For your own specific view which neither agrees fully nor disagrees fully, you must have a separate body paragraph to explain it. This isn’t required if you agree with one of the sides because that would be repetitive. Please see my advanced lessons if you are stuck with this. All my advanced lessons and e-books are found in my store: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/

There are a lot of teachers online and in schools who like to give people black and white rules for IELTS. Such rules don’t exist. Teachers give these rules to help people avoid errors and are easy rules to follow. This is fine for low level candidates. But my website is aimed at people who want a high score and for that, you must be flexible in your approach and understand the test more clearly.

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It is often believed that the completion of tertiary education is the most effective way to secure a good job, others also think that the focus should be on gaining experience and developing soft skills. In my opinion, getting experience will be more beneficial for an individual as it will greatly add value and help develop one skill.

On the one hand, some people think that the requirements for most employers and job institutions in getting a good job is having a university qualification and therefore completing a tertiary institution will help graduates meet this kind of requirements. This will make the probability of being employed very high compared to someone who have such no qualification. Furthermore, having a university certificate means the individual has some level of knowledge which is needed and relevant in the job market which most employers are looking for and ready to employ into their organization.

On the other hand, others also argue that it will be better if the emphasis is on getting experience and developing soft skills which I agree. Through experience one adds value to his or herself which is an essential skill in developing oneself in the job market. Moreover, gaining experience can help people to be independent by becoming self employed. Through experience the necessary skills and knowledge will be acquired for the establishment of oneself which will also help tackle issues of unemployment in a nation. Another point is that having experience in a particular field increases one chances of getting selected in the job market as most employers prefer people with some sought of experience compared to those who have none.

In conclusion, while people may vary in their opinions, I think that having an experience will be of great value or benefit for an individual in the job market.

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I hope you don’t mind me asking, but is it advisable to include a question in the introduction of an essay? I’ve read that having a question can potentially lead to a higher score. For example, starting with a question like, “What is the best way to get a good job? While some think…” as the opening sentence of the introduction. I’d appreciate your thoughts on this approach.

Another thing: I remember you advising to take a clear position and not sit on the fence. Does this advice apply only to opinion essays? Thanks!

Two good questions. You should never write a question in your IELTS essay, no matter which paragraph. Each and every sentence is a valid point to present an answer, an idea, support an idea or summarise ideas. At no time, do you write a question. All sentences have a function in an IELTS essay. They are designed to be short, highly focused with each sentence critical to the essay. Writing a question will definitely not help your score and would lower it instead.

The Opinion Essay is not the only essay that requires your opinion. If the task is “Is this a positive or negative trend?”, it requires your opinion / your choice. All essays that require your opinion must show your clear position that is not in the middle without any relevant opinion – you can’t turn them into discussion essays. This problem of people not giving a clear position because they want to sit on the fence is mostly seen in Opinion Essays and it does lower your score for Task Response.

If you go back to this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/ , you’ll find a link in the Tips Section 3 about When & How to give your opinion.

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It is often argued that being graduate from the university is the key security to get a job while the development in the soft skills and the experience in the life is the best way to get a convenient job. In my opinion, focusing on university education is the suitable way to obtain a job after finishing the studies but enhancing soft skills play a vital role to promote in a job in the business field. Many people think that the academic education is the easier way to find a job because it put the graduates in the first step in the job hierarchy. After graduation, the first question in job application is about the academic study. For example, if someone has a high grade in his university studies, he will obtain an easier job compared to other. Furthermore, the graduation from the university with high grade will help the student to find an academic job in the universities especially in the scientific research field. On the other hand, the development in the soft skills and experience is the most important aspect to enhance the first job after graduation. After some years in the work, the soft skills like leadership and management is the way in which job owners prefer between the applicants for the high job in the hierarchy. For example, to be manager in the field business, the soft skulls come the first to choose the manager in any business foundation even if he doesn’t have a high grade in his academic study. In conclusion, graduation from the university help people to get a job but obtaining a high class job depends on the performance in the years of experience and the development in the soft skills.

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Hello Liz , is this background paraphrasing correct? Some people believe that the best way to find employment is by finishing university education, while others consider experience and soft skills development are much important. I know sometimes I overrate, exaggerate when writing but I’m trying to learn as much and as fast as I can because my exam is in less than two weeks and I haven’t practiced much as all happened suddenly and my english level is around b2 so I’m a bit scared. This is also a reason why I’m commenting constantly hoping to get some help from you. A big love 🤍🕊️

I understand your position. Yes, you’ve got the right technique for a background statement. You’ve paraphrased the topic perfectly without changing the meaning which is essential to tie together the whole essay.

Thank you, I really appreciate it 🤍

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Nowadays, education plays crucial role in everyone’s life . It is considered by someone that higher eduction plays part and parcel role for getting excellent job . While , certain section of societies have contransting views claiming that experience and skills are more important than university . . I think that although by having university education good job is likely to be gotten , it cannot give nelson’s eyes to skills and experience. Thus , in upcoming paragraphs i will discuss both views.

Firstly , education is considered to be lucrative for everyone because without having higher eduction people can’t get their desire jobs ,one particularly good example of this is for become a doctor or teacher university play vital role because without having knowledge about these field noone can become a tutor or health inspector . Futher and even more importantly that although due to higher competitions in job sector for getting excellent job , still educated and wealthy people can open their hospitals and schools for good earning .In other words , they could make more money by using their educational skills . Thus , for getting higher jobs positions education is important .

In other side , by having experience and interpersonal skills or leadership skills people can achieve excellent job . For instance , there are many jobs where skills are more prominent than education as for running restaurant management and leadership skills are necessary ratherthan education because if people have good manag skills thus they will able to coordinate with team members as well as good restaurants growth. Moreover , there are numerous jobs which are depend on experience such as for car repairing , painting , contraction etc . experience is required . Thus , experience is also same crucial as eduction .

By way of conclusion, although chances of getting desire job is likely to increase by having education , role of experience can not be negligible.

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Hi Liz need your guidance.. today was my IELTS exam and in writing portion I wrote 4 paragraph and forget to leave line spacing.. but I wrote arrow sign before starting my next paragraph.. will it affect my score??

I’ve never actually heard of someone using an arrow sign to indicate a paragraph in an IELTS essay. When I advise people to leave an empty line between paragraphs, it because this is how we write these days and it also makes the paragraphs 100% clear and easy to see. The examiner needs to see paragraphs to give you a score for paragraphing. So, leaving an empty line ensures there is no confusion. However, it isn’t a rule to leave an empty line. It is possible to indent the first word instead. The reason I don’t recommend this is because it is often not obvious or clear to the reader that the word in indented. So, to avoid unclear paragraphing leaving an empty line is much better. Regarding your choice of using arrows, if the examiner realises that you are indicating paragraphs, it will be ok. But I don’t know whether this will be the case because I’ve never heard of someone doing it in an IELTS essay. My recommendation is to talk it over with your test centre and see what they say. Having clear well organised paragraphs is part of the marking criterion of Coherence & Cohesion, which counts for 25% of your marks. Not having paragraphs at all would lower your score in that marking criterion, but would not impact any other part of the marking for writing task 1. Hopefully, the examiner will understand your arrows and you will be fine.

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Hi liz, your lessons helped me a lot when I was applying to study abroad. Now, Im in my dream country and after 2 yrs here I am again to learn from you. Thank you so much for all the lessons you provide, I pray for your better health and happiness.

It was lovely to read your message and hear how well you are doing. I wish you all the best with your future life in your dream country 🙂

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Hello Ms Liz, I hope this finds you well. Thank you so much for the plethora of knowledge that you have provided for everyone. I have a question concerning discussion essays and IELTS essays in general. Can I write, “This essay will discuss both points of view and argue in favour of the first one.” as a thesis statement. I’ve seen a lot of people say that using this kind if thesis statement is okay, but others say it’s weak when we say, “This essay will …”. I’d really appreciate your help. Thank you in advance.

When you are asked to give an opinion, it is your opinion that is required. This isn’t about what the essay will do. It is about what you think and that means using language such as “I believe” or “In my opinion” or “I agree that”

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Dear Madam with reference back to the advanced lesson on the opinion essay, I’m just wondering how to write a good one when IELTS opinion essay is followed by a direct question. (Test 3, Book # 8, IELTS Cambridge Series) Increasing the price of petrol is the best way to solve growing traffic and pollution problems. To what extent do you agree or disagree? What other measures do you think might be effective?

Each question will be answered in one body paragraph. So, one body paragraph will be your opinion and one will be solutions (but stick to no more than 2 solutions because otherwise it might read like a list).

Many thanks for your guidance.

Thanks for your reply.

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Ma’am we don’t see you anymore on YouTube channel. Is everything alright? Your videos are very beneficial for all IELTS students and we want more from you. Thank You!

Thanks for your message. I’ve been battling a serious illness for many years. You can read my story here: https://ieltsliz.com/determination-my-story/ . This year is the first year where my health feels more stable. If my health continues to improve, I might make a couple of videos this year. But it will depend on my health. I’m glad there are people out in the world who still want my lessons 🙂

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I only now found your website and just saw this very recent comment from you. I’m so sorry to hear this, but I’m glad that this year brought some health improvement and I wish you that this will continue to go on like that. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Sending you positive vibes and some healing energy.

Thanks. I really appreciate your support

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Hello Liz! Greetings from India, I hope you are doing well. Will you once come live on your youtube channel? So that your followers and well-wishers can see you. Thanks in advance mam.

Thanks for your message. It made me smile. I am currently planning a video but it is taking a lot of time because I can only do very small amounts of work each week due to illness. However, if you can be patient a bit longer, I hope to have a video ready in a few weeks or a couple of months.

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Hi Liz, so sorry about your health, I hope you are fast recovering. Your lectures have been very helpful

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Increasing the price of petrol is often suggested as an effective way to reduce traffic congestion and pollution. While this approach may have some impact, I believe it is not the best solution and may have undesirable consequences. In my opinion, a more comprehensive approach, including improved public transport and alternative energy solutions, is a far more effective way to tackle these problems.

Raising petrol prices would likely discourage some people from using their cars, reducing traffic to a certain extent. With higher fuel costs, individuals may switch to public transportation, carpooling, or even walking and cycling for shorter trips. This reduction in car use could lead to lower emissions and fewer traffic jams, which might improve air quality and ease congestion.

However, increasing petrol prices could also have negative consequences. It would disproportionately affect low-income individuals who rely on their cars for daily commuting and do not have access to reliable public transport. Additionally, higher fuel prices could lead to increased costs for goods and services, as transportation costs for businesses would rise. This could result in inflation, putting further financial pressure on consumers.

In my opinion, a more sustainable and equitable solution would involve investing in and promoting public transport. Expanding bus and rail networks, making them more affordable and efficient, would provide an attractive alternative to car use. Additionally, encouraging the use of electric vehicles and renewable energy sources could address pollution without burdening low-income families. These measures, along with stricter emissions regulations, would have a more lasting impact on traffic and pollution than simply raising fuel prices.

In conclusion, while increasing petrol prices could offer some benefits, I believe it is not the most effective or fair solution. A combination of improved public transportation, alternative energy, and stricter environmental policies would be more successful in addressing both traffic and pollution issues.

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please add more samples of each and type of essays . One sample isn’t enough okay . I will wait for your response

There are plenty of sample essays on the main writing task 2 page – just use the red menu bar at the top of the website to access the different sections of this website.

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Hi Liz, I hope you’re doing well. I have a question regarding your e-book, does it provide model answers or only ideas and vocabulary?

The Ideas for Essay Topics is for ideas. It’s about gaining ideas for cover 150 common essay topics so that you don’t waste time trying to think of ideas in the test. The ideas can also be used in speaking part 3. The ideas are presented as vocabulary exercises to help you remember the ideas and learn vocabulary. For model essays, you can find some free ones in the main writing task 2 section of this website.

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Hi Liz, Hope you are doing well. Kindly check my response (introduction paragraph) to a discussion essay on the topic:

Some people say that advertising is extremely successful at persuading us to buy things. Other people think that advertising is so common that we no longer pay attention to it. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Response: It is considered by some people that advertisements for various goods persuade the public to purchase them while others believe that advertising does not grab any attention now as it has become a common practice. In my opinion, advertising is a useful tool to make people buy goods but making this a usual activity is not attracting the public much.

Your reply will be appreciated, Thank you.

You have the right techniques and content. The task now is to produce an essay which explains precisely what you mean with each point.

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*I tried to improve my previous lengthy version* word count: 284 Whilst it is often believed by many that completing a tertiary education is essential in securing a well-paid job, I strongly believe that a robust job experience and interpersonal skills offer superior potential for success.

On the one hand, academic credentials are necessary for applying high paying jobs. Many employers often mandate university diplomas and degrees as a prerequisite for applying jobs. Therefore, individuals without them are forced to opt for more labour oriented jobs, with lower income and no potential for future advancement. Additionally, the likelihood of poverty rises significantly from the the lack of a steady stream of income. Almost 90% of the blue collar labourers in the US, for example, are either secondary or primary school dropouts. Their monthly average earnings of $2000 is unfortunately insufficient for many to lead a comfortable life.

On the other hand, some contend that work experience and acquired skills are far more beneficial. Instead of going to a university, people who enter into a workforce from a young age have better social skills and problem solving abilities. These workers learn how to handle arguments and criticism from colleagues and customers, which are invaluable skills in running businesses. Furthermore, workplaces allow the employees to learn decision making lessons from seniors to promote self-independence. These contribute to the overall success of an individual in handling various businesses ventures. For instance, many university dropouts like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerbergs have built the wealthiest technological companies of the twenty-first century after working at other companies for decades.

In conclusion, although some might argue that university graduates can apply for more comfortable jobs, in my view, people learn invaluable lessons on managing businesses by solely working for a longer time.

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Some people believe that teenagers should be required to do unpaid community work in their free time. This can benefit teenagers and the community as well. To what extent do you agree or disagree? It is an undeniable fact the students are the building blocks of the nation and they should be motivated to do some voluntary tasks which will be fruitful not only for them but also for the society. However, I strongly agree with the given notion and views will be discussed along with the relevant examples in the subsequent paragraphs. To initiate with, there are multifarious reasons that clarify the fcat of how trend can have positive outcomes. First and foremost, youth can teach the value of eductaion to the parents of those children who do not let them study and force them to work. Further, they can teach them free and encourage them to study. For example, people who belong to slum areas mostly drag their offsprings in the labour work like them. Hence, it is apparent how this can bring positive changes. In addition to this, Youngters can easily vanish some problems from the society as they are physically and mentally strong enough. They can be the part of some NGOs which help the needy. They can provide them knowledge of right and wrong so that they can stop doing such things on loop. To cite an example, crimes namely child labour, Female feticide are mostly commited by the uneducated one. So , youth can curb such issues to make their society crime free. On the other hand, there are number of individuals who refute the above mentioned notion and believe that this has many deterimental effects on both scoiety and youth. Firstly, they opine that this can not tell them the value of money and also break their confidence of working in the multinational companies. More so, they can be influenced by the comapny they will be the part of. To exemplify, many NGOs faced major consequences for the sake of changing or helping the society. To conclude, there is no denying fact that every decison of life has both positive or negative outcome. However, I strongly assert that this above mentioned notion has more positive points than its negatives. So, youth must be the part of some social works in their free time.

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It is believed by some that university education is essential to acquire a good job whereas other thinks that soft skills and relevant experience in that field adds more value. In my opinion, University degree is necessary for academic jobs such as Teacher or Doctor and soft skill and experience is important for business. On the one hand, tertiary education is required to apply for a job in the field of science, research, education, medicine, administrative services. Without a college degree, one can’t do justice to his role as his work will be highly dependent on the education he has received. If we see the large no of students applying for college degree worldwide, is significant which highlight the role of university degree for success in academic jobs. On the other hand, soft skills and experience is highly in demand for business. For instance, if someone has skills and experience for craft, carpenter, mechanic, electrician etc. he can easily apply for these jobs without having a college degree. Also, people working as salesman or cashier in shops like Walmart, Costco may not need higher degree and experience will be sufficient to get the job. This is justified as college education has not practical implementation in these types of job. In conclusion, Students should aim to complete the college degree and acquire experience which will enable them to get high skilled jobs job very easily, however everyone can’t complete the college for any reason, they can train themselves in soft skills of their choice and gain some experience to apply for less skilled jobs.

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Please as a beginning linker for my paragraphs… In place of “on the one hand” can I start the first body paragraph with “to begin with” then the second with “however”. Or can I maintain “on the one hand” for the first paragraph then “however” for the second

Your method of linking will always depend on your main points. One linking device is not a higher band score than another. As long as they are used appropriately, they are all good.

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Some people thought that the best way for finding a good job is to have a higher education whereas others thought that the best way is to have experience and soft skills. I believe that completing university education is essential for academic positions while experience and soft skills are good for non academic ones.

Academic jobs need qualified people in terms of higher education. People who complete university education dig deeply in their field, thus, they become know the roots of their field and they can deliver the information in a good way. For instance, when teachers in schools and lecturers in universities apply for a job, they are selected depending on their education. Lecturers are chosen if they have a doctorate degree in addition to some research and teachers who have master’s degrees are more qualified to teaching in schools than those with the bachelor’s degrees. Thus, the competition between applicants in the academic jobs depends on their higher education.

On the other hand, non academic jobs like business, don’t require higher education in their fields. Non academic people tend to have more experience and soft skills related to their field rather than taking a master’s or a doctorate degree. This is due to the nature of their job since it just needs knowledge in the basics and then adding the skills to it. For example, people who study the bachelor’s degree in business can improve themselves by attending conferences and have a training in their field. Such experience is going to help them in finding a good job. As time goes on, they will become experts in their field although they don’t have a higher degree. Thus, non academic positions look for the experience and the soft skills of applicants regardless of their university education.

To conclude, the best way to get a good job depends on the nature of the job. If the job is academic, then higher education is a must to find a suitable job because having higher degrees are reflected when people do their job in an interesting way. While if the job is non academic, then experience and soft skills are more important than higher education because people can learn their jobs while they doing them. In general, having both higher education and experience in your field makes you very qualified person and you can find the best job.

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Hello, Liz! Thank you for everythng you ae doing! I have a question regarding the essay! Is it ok to say “in my opinion, I believe…”. Is it not redundancy here? You don’t believe “in your opinion”, do you?

You can use it the way I’ve stated or just use simply “In my opinion” or “I believe that”. You can choose just one definitely.

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Hi Liz It is a discussion essay, is it okay to write “in my opinion” in thesis statement of such type of essay where opinion is not required in question? Also is it okay to us “I” and “my” in introduction paragraph? I m confused.

This is a discussion essay which asks for your opinion: Discuss both sides and give your opinion. You should introduce all in the introduction and that means using I or my.

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It is considered by some that best way to get a job can be done by completing tertiary education , while there are others who think that it is better to have job experience and improving soft skills plays more important. I consider that having university education and having soft skills both plays very important role in getting job.

On the one hand , having a bachelor degree is the crucial in order to get a job. In other words, most employers only choose the candidates who have a higher education because most jobs are required academic studies which only can be learnt in university and it is impossible to do that job without studying in undergraduate such as : medicine , law , engineering . Furthermore, students learn how to compete with their peers in university which makes them more competitive and deal with harsh conditions. For example, many project has to be done in specific date and students has to complete their homework before the deadline.

On the other hand , working in business require candidates to have some specific skills and experience in order to work rather than just a degree because there are so many candidates who has a university degree apply to position and having necessary experience and soft skills put one steps ahead than others. Another reason is that , nowadays, business model always change and requires employees to have experience or soft skills such as leadership , teamwork which can not be learnt in university. So , having these skills are crucial to get a job. Finally, I believe that having university degree and having experience are both crucial for getting a job . Take for example medicine, law. Employees can not handle the job requirement without having either necessary degree and softs skills . In conclusion, having degree or experience and soft skills are very important to get a job nowadays. I believe employee has to fulfill these requirements before applying to job.

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Nowadays landing a dream job is like some achievement in life. For getting a good job it is necessary to have a good experience related to the studies and also soft skills plays a vital role in landing in a good job. Let us discuss this in detail in this essay. Firstly, in today’s competitive world education is the key to success to proceed way forward in our life for getting a good job with decent pay. To achieve an education from the university is not only the key factor but also other factors such as getting a good practical experience while studying and also it is important to develop individual soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, Leadership, and adaptability. Companies are highly in need of people with good technical skills as well as mentioned soft skills so that they can get the job done with good quality. So it is very indeed to develop the soft skills along with university education so the students can tune themselves to land into their dream job. Along with the education, students should have practical knowledge such as applying the theory in labs, and in real life so that creativity and innovation will come up which makes them epic among other students so that chances of getting a job is high when compared to other people. In an organization, it is vital to have good communication and leadership skills to execute the project in a successful manner, and also this will make them successful in their career and to achieve good heights in their job. In a conclusion, I would like to add that both education and practical experience along with soft skills make an individual as successful in their life by getting a good job with a good salary.

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Many believe that the key to getting a great job is completing your tertiary education. However, others assume that it is more advantageous to get your hands dirty by doing real jobs that will make them learn real-world challenges, and will also upgrade their skill sets over time. I believe that finishing academics first, will lead grab the desired job.

Most insist that colleges play a paramount role in shaping students’ futures. Every student has dreamt of a job and certainly, some require specialized or specific certifications, it is mandatory to attend universities. For example, Dream jobs like Doctors, Engineers, or Scientists. Moreover, in colleges students will get hands-on experience under the supervision of their tutors.

Conversely, some assume that it is more advantageous to get hands dirty while working and gaining knowledge. Some jobs like marketing do not require any professional degree because in colleges you gain theoretical knowledge rather practical. A recent study shows that majority of successful people in the field of marketing and sales never attended universities. For instance, Apple’s late CEO Steve Jobs never went to college but, still, he brought a whole new dimension in the field of mobiles and laptops.

Consequently, I do agree that certificates or degrees are not the only paths to success, but it is not like everyone is Steve Jobs or Bill Gates, it is just like they were lucky enough to get opportunities which they were able to capitalize. Therefore I believe it is necessary to complete your education rather than directly go to the real world.

In conclusion, it is not like, to be successful a person has to be graduate, Nither not. But I believe that seeing the real-world scenarios, One should first complete their education and then explore jobs.

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It is widely believed that having an academic degree is dramatically valuable in setting up a good career path, while some consider experience and soft skills are more significant. In my perspective, I suppose that either knowledge or experience and skills are essential factors which determine whether a potential applicant can be hired for a great job.

On the one hand, taking tertiary education has been the most classical method to prepare for entering the labor market. It can be seen that since the first university was established, there have been numerous students taking part in this academic institution in order to access a huge range of knowledge. Moreover, college life is considered one of the most crucial times in developing one’s characteristics and mindset. The only downside of university, however, is the opportunity costs that force students to waste several chances to get involved in other activities such as making money or traveling.

On the other hand, being well-qualified for the experiences and skills collected is not only remarkable but also puts the applicant one step ahead of others. Furthermore, if these acts, such as volunteering for a charity or learning leadership skills, are certified by a legit organization, it will be a huge step towards the success of getting a job. For example, nowadays, HR professionals from top-ranking companies have preferred the number of working experiences and related skills rather than just focus on the academic performance when filtering the resumes.

Finally, I strongly believe that the requirements of any job not only ask for these qualifications but also depend on the working conditions and the position that we aim for. For instance, a doctor or lawyer must have appropriate levels of knowledge in specific fields while a businessman needs more practical challenges.

In conclusion, preparing for a career is definitely an inevitable mission for everyone. To climb that career ladder, job-seekers should attempt both qualifications including the GPA and certifications for participating in other activities or acquiring any soft skill. Although it may vary in different companies and fields, illustrating an outstanding and comprehensive background can be significantly advantageous in impressing the recruiters.

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Some of the people believe that University educations plays an essential role for attaining a good job, whereas others anticipate that soft skills and experience are they key factors for find a Job. In my opinion, education and experience together makes a person successful for earning perspective. It is considered by many people to University degree helps them to find work easily. In other words, the competition for enrolling students in institution each year illustrates that university degree helps one to get an easy Job such as doctors, engineers and lawyers. Therefore, many people first part to consider their higher studies after their High school according their desire and Job market. On the other hand, many people had a mind set to make their child in soft skills or get them engage in low Jobs in order to achieve experience. They believe that experience will make them familiar with Market strategy and soft skills will raise their demand in the Job opportunity. In addition, various industries the experiences are listed as mandate requirement for recruitment such as business & sales job offers. However, few cases are due to their financial conditions which opt the education and select job for their family survival. In my opinion, the leading indicators to be successful in earnings one shall possess higher education studies as well experiences. Although, the initial days will be on less wages but with passage of time they will be considered as pioneer of relevant field. For example, the doctor as expert surgeon when he posses hands of experience. To sum up all, it is mandatory one shall achieve higher education and get some experience in order to develop the required skills for performing. For a successful future, it is combination of both necessities University degree and relevant experiences.

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It is considred by some that the best approach to obtain a decent job is through completion of university education, while there are others who thick that achieving the required experience and building up soft skills is more essential. This essay will briefly discuss both views and will draw my personal opinion.

On the one hand, many think that completing graduate and post-graduate studies will help them to obtain the most needed jobs. In their opinion, getting bachelor degree and even master degree will enable them to work in a more professional and academic jobs. In other words, without these degrees, it will be impossible for to be hired professional positions since nowadays there is a high competition to acquire these positions. For example, many jobs require completion of graduate studies including law, medicine, engineering and sciences.

On the other hand, many believe that it is more crucial to develop and enhance the person’s soft skills in addition to build up a good work experience. These people after graduation from high school will start immediately looking for jobs in order to accelerate their work experience and to acquire soft skills such as cummunications, interpersonal and leaderships skills. Moreover, they can work in different fields and expand their knowledge in many areas to meet certain jobs requirements such as multi field consultations, employment supervisions and management.

In conclusion, after a carefull analysis of both sides, the choice whether to continue college studies or to achieve experiences and soft skills is dependent on the person’s targeted job. In my opinion, continuation of graduate studies is necessary and it will open more opportunities in the future.

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Some people believe that a university degree is the most effective way to attain a decent job. In contrast, other people argue that work fields need more experience and soft skills than educational background. In my perspective, university graduates fit the academic career whereas soft skills are more needed in technical jobs. University is the best place for people to develop their way of thinking. In college, students are taught to think scientifically. In order to attain this skill, students need to complete their studies by completing various tasks, such as daily assignments, group work, and final papers. Most of the subjects that are taught in university are theoretical. As a final result, university graduates are expected to not only mastering a particular knowledge but also a critical way of thinking. That is why university education is suitable for those who seek careers that require strong academic backgrounds, such as doctor, lawyer, judge, and teacher. On the other hand, some professions require experience and soft skills more rather than merely an educational background. Experience is needed especially in the work fields that produce utilized products such as business, manufacture, and software industry. In these industries, the works need people who technically master how to produce the product. Therefore, experienced ones with soft skills are more needed in this field. I believe that both educational background and experience with soft skills matter in terms of building our careers. Educational background can build our mindset to be critical and creative. On the other hand, experience and soft skills can support our hard skills to make ourselves more qualified. The thing that we should consider is which one we should emphasize more, which depends on the career path we wish to pursue. In summary, we should decide first what career we would like to seek, therefore we can decide what kind of educational background and other qualifications requirement we should attain.

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Your website is very helpful in preparing for the IELTS writing section, and I really appreciate it. also, there is confusion, that it was told to me by my IELTS trainer and in few youtube videos that whenever we give an example to support the essay we shouldn’t be writing “for example” but here you’ve used that form so is it okay to do so because that’s how I prefer to write.

Of course it’s fine to use “For example”. It is 100% appropriate and suitable for essay writing. However, a good score for Coherence and Cohesion requires that you show flexibility and range – this means don’t repeat the same linking words unless there is no choice. There are many such linking words you can use as a paraphrase: such as, for instance, namely and so on. One linking word is not a higher score that the other. They are all suitable. Here is a link of linking words: https://ieltsliz.com/linking-words-for-writing/ and a link to my main writing task 2 page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

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Some people consider having university degrees as the key to employment whereas others think building and developing soft skills and experience is an effective way to get a job. In my opinion, having both degree certificates and relevant skills is essential for getting the targeted position due to the growing competition. On the one hand, Most people strive for earning university credentials to get hired to the workplace of their choice. They consider so because some jobs typically require candidates to have qualifications related to the job position as employers may consider this as an essential tool to gauge applicant’s knowledge about their areas of work. Job postings, for example, doctors, teachers, professors, engineers, etc. require a certain level of knowledge about the concerned field which can only be reflected from the qualification of the job applicant. On the other hand, some people start working for building soft skills and experience rather than joining colleges and universities to crack their target job. Employers of some areas such as business, technical, IT basically look for candidates having relevant experience and soft skills rather than degree certificates for the post they want to hire ensuring low cost of hiring and quick adaptation of the new employees to their workplace. Thus, in response to such hiring trends, candidates get to indulge in training for soft skills development to reserve their position in a job market from their early stage of learning. However, both graduate degree certificates and essential skills are important factors in the competitive job market. Due to the growing number of university graduates and limited job positions, employers nowadays look for the best candidate who can competitively give a good return to the company after getting hired. For this reason, people work for earning both qualifications and skills to assure their future career. To give an example, the employer is more interested to hire a university graduate scholar with the computer, analytical, and organizing skills than the one having either of them. To recapitulate, both qualification and experience are equally crucial in getting a job depending upon the nature of the job people are looking for. Thus candidates should make sure about the emphasizing factor of getting hired before applying for employment. However, Earning both university degrees and relevant soft skills and experience is the best method to secure the demanded job position.

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Your website is very helpful and I love all the lessons you provide. I have a question. In a discussion essay where do we need to keep the sequence in which the opinion is presented in the question. E.g. If I agree with the second opinion should my first body paragraph have the second opinion (and I restate that I agree with it) or should I follow the sequence as the question.

Also, can I use “you” in my essay e.g. “On the one hand, some people think that if a friend differs from some of your actions, he acts as a deterrent to the deeds that might turn out bad and I agree with that”

Is it correct?

The body paragraphs present the two sides in the order that you have written them in your introduction. Keep a logical order at all times so that the reader knows what is coming next. The pronoun “you” is rarely used because we mainly refer to the third person in formal essays. Your example is not written in a way that I can understand. Unfortunately, the meaning is not clear and I can’t help you with it. If you post a clear example, I’ll be able to help.

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Please expert in the house help me vet this

Nowadays, people who move from one country to another for work. Some people think children of these families suffer because of this, while others think it is helpful to them.

It is recently believed by certain individuals that children whose families travel across the globe due to their nature of job suffer a lot while others think these children enjoy the benefits. In my opinion, such happening has both negative and positive impacts on them, however, it depends on whether the parents travel with their kids or not.

On the one hand, children whose parents move around nation to nation leaving them behind due to their job may be led into waywardness. In other words, the absence of proper guidance would result them into committing crimes and behaviors that are nonchalant. Consequently, they may get into troubles that would affect their entire lives such as being jailed or rusticated from school. Another point is that such kids would lack companionship because the primary people to display love to them are absent. For instance, a female child who is raped would want to discuss the matter with her mother but if she is unavailable, the kid would return to her shell and fight it alone. Thus, resulting to depression and suicidal because of absence of love and care.

On the other hand, exploring other traditions and cultures can also be beneficial to kids that travel with their families. This means that, they would have wide knowledge of what the cultural beliefs are in the other countries which will help them to network globally when they become adults. For example, kids expose to other traditions and beliefs does not usually experience cultural shock and therefore would be able to represent their nation at any point. Another plus side is that it will keep the family bond solid which means that children will not be far from their parents and other siblings.

Finally, in my opinion, whether children are affected negatively or positively when their families travel around the world depends on if they embark on the journey together. Take for example, kids that are around their families every time will not engage in actions that can affect their lives because they would be cautioned. In contrast, those that are far from their relatives can be easily controlled by peer pressure.

In conclusion, the plus side and downsides depend solely on families embarking on these journeys with their children.

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Liz, I simply love your site. Thank you so much!

You’re welcome 🙂

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Hello thank so much now I am using your books and they really help me😊✌️

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Hello Liz, you mentioned before that one shouldn’t be impartial in an opinion essay and that you should agree or disagree but not something in between. i am sensing that this isn’t the case here in the model essay. it simply didn’t take one side.

if you feel it did, would it be possible that you give an example to a “wrong impartial” opinion to this essay topic? Thank you

I think you are confusing the term “impartial”. Being impartial means you are sitting on the fence. This means you are turning an opinion essay into a discussion essay with no clear opinion of what you really think – it’s just 50/50. An opinion essay requires a clear opinion or you will get a low score. This might be a one-sided opinion or it might be a partial agreement/disagreement or a specific opinion. Please see my advanced lessons to learn about this. It is available to purchase in my online store: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/ . It takes me 1 hour to explain this essay in full in that advanced lesson.

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Hi Mam! i hope you are doing good. I want to appreciate your effort for playing a positive role in helping to educate people free of cost in today’s era of materialism. thank you for all the tips and tricks to score high in ielts. Stay blessed. Reagrds

You’re very welcome. Happy 2021 !!

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Dear Liz, Thank you for all your free classes and materials. Your grammar book helped me a lot.

I just had my LRW exam today and these were my questions for Task 1 and 2 Your post is not delivered yet ( forgot the exact wordings. Write a letter to the post office manager. State your details Describe the documents Say what you want them to do

Task 2 People argue that spending a lot of money on marriage parties, birthday parties, and other celebrations is a waste of money. Others, however, believe that these celebrations are important for individuals and society. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

Thanks again Take care

Glad the Grammar E-book is useful. Good luck with your results !!

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Dear Liz, I found your site by chance and it is amazing. Coud you look at my discussion essay and give ypur opinion please? Many thanks in advance!!!!!!!!

It is considered by some people that traditional shopping is the only way for making purchasing properly while there are others who prefer online shopping. In my opinion, it depends on many factors and premises. On the one hand, online shopping is more effortless. With just a click of a mouse or a tap on a screen, people can buy within seconds. Online shopping has become popular due to its convenience, accessibility and speed. With the continued success of e-commerce, many now question the existence of traditional stores. It is so great that you can shop anytime and anywhere. For example, you can easily visit the website, find the product you want to buy and wait for the product being delivered to you. If you need time to reconsider about the products, all you have to do is put the product in the virtual shopping bag or on the virtual wish list. On the other hand, only traditional shopping allows to touch, try and “smell” your purchase and understand whether you need this one or may be it is just an impulse. Besides, only real shopping gives the possibility to assess the quality and features of goods, while online shopping can be misleading in respect of authenticity of products to reality. One more problem of online shopping is the safety of online payments, which also might be an advantage in favor if traditional shopping since the payments are being controlled. In conclusion, both kinds of shopping have merits and shortages. The benefits of both shopping online and shopping in real stores are countless. However, it is true that sometimes merits could become shortages and vice versa, depending on the different perspectives that people hold.

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Some people think doing the university education is the best way to get a good jobs. However, some other people believes that experience and improving the soft skill is more important than education for getting a better job. in today’s labor market both are important, in my opinion education is playing more important role at first to get the better job and carrier development. Education is an ability how to find jobs, learn to earn, as much you learn that much you earn, what a democracy, human can learn as much he or she wish to, this new technology make is very easy to access to the books, journal and all the social media, education is a great advantage teach you how to work, clarifies your favorite carrier path, it guide you how to grow and further develop your future and enjoy your favorite field of interest and so no….. Education and the experience is an interchangeable, whiles experience is to develop future what you have learn in the university, wider your understanding of knowledge, and deep dive on your carrier field, researches, inventions an innovations and so no, to grow to the highest level of the economy and knowledge in the world, in addition soft skill is import as others, but education is the first priority, gives you an opportunity make to you understand well the skills and knowledge. In conclusion, both educations and the experience is an opportunity to find the best job. without proper education cannot find the best jobs and without experience cannot grow and wider the knowledge. however, if we look to the history we have some scholars the touched the ceiling without school educations, now we study their principles in the schools, thy were hard worker and talents.

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Thanks for the good work Liz, we are praying for you to get get back to your feet asap.

Ahead of the game sounds like an idiom, isn’t it?

Yes, “ahead of the game” in an idiom. Some idioms are suitable for writing task 2, but only a few. The idiomatic language that is safe to aim for are phrasal verbs that are clearly not informal.

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Question: In some countries owning a home rather than renting one is very important for people. Why might that be the case? DO you think this is a positive or negative situation?

Answer: Buying your own apartment now becomes more familiar in certain countries than renting an apartment. However, I assume that this trend has positive aspects and it also has several benefits.

One of the lucrative benefits is that people would become owners of permanent accommodation by buying a home. Besides, it can be possible to get huge facilities for instance saving money. People have to pay relatively less money when they will have their own apartment. In addition, it is easy to furnish them according to their own ways as well as their own apartment is secure rather than renting. Because you will have no worries about moving to another renting house when you have your own apartment.

Another issue is there are several countries such as in Finland renting a house is much more costly. Every month people have to pay 800-900 euros per month if they want to rent a private family apartment. I think this is too much to afford. On the other hand, if I have my own apartment, at the same time I can save the rest of the money. In this case owning a home is much better and flexible than renting.

Finally, I would say owning an apartment has other benefits. For example, people can get a spacious living room with a beautiful veranda which provides huge daylight. Moreover, most of the private apartments have 2 bedrooms where rooms are larger than rented houses. It is possible to set up any furniture in the way that people want. Living in an apartment is much more relaxing, comfortable and cosy.

In conclusion, although people have different views about this issue, my opinion supports the positive side of owning an apartment rather than renting.

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Governments give a lot of support to artists, even though some people think it is a waste of money that could have been used elsewhere.Discuss both views and give your opinion? An artist receives too much assistance from local government while some argued that money should be utilized on other neccessary matters rather than wasting on artists . I agree with this statement that government should take notice of important tasks on priority basis for a developed nation . On the one side , artists performs national representation at international level for earning name and fame in field through competition .As we know that not a single task is easy to master whether it is a game or dance, all this demands enthusiasm and dedication towards goal which is impossible for everyone to achieve . Therefore, this is not a big deal if a government is sending funds or prizes to artist because without money capability is nothing in today’s world . On the other side, for a developing nation such as India , discoveries in each and every field has been essential for the growth of a nation .Government should assist scientists for inventing treatment for death causing diseases such as cancer and free of cost treatment for every citizen so that nobody can die because of lack of money.In addition , free education to poor children must be provided so that they could stand on their feet one day . In conclusion, although artists represents a nation but fulfilling basic amenities of citizens in relation of food , education and health has been prioritized by the governments. Please review my essay mam

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If the essay requirement says we need to discuss both sides and give our opinions (like this model essay), can I say that I prefer one option over another? Because in this model essay, the author suggests that both opinions are good and there is no preference. I’m just wondering if we would be marked on this.

Thank you so much

When you give your own opinion, you can choose any opinion you want – either one sided or balanced (partial/specific agreement) approach.

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Hi Liz, I have been posting many essays to get your feedback …Can you please give me your feedback. thanks a lot. 🙂

To being with, many people think that the university education is important to get a decent job. Firstly, at universities, students learn and graduate in a desired specialization which is important to land up in a good job in that area. For example, if someone graduates as Chartered Accountant from a University, then they can get a good job in the Financial sector. Secondly, proponents of this theory believe that academics are important to carry out certain types of jobs which on the other hand cannot be done alone with gaining experience. For instance, doctors cannot perform surgeries without learning basic anatomy of the body which they learn though academics at Universities. Also, many universities offer internships programs in various companies which help the students to gain extra practical knowledge. This improves their chances to get a good job once they get graduated.

On the other hand, others believe that jobs can be a carried out by acquiring experience and soft skills. However, this holds applicable and true in certain types of jobs only. For example, jobs like housekeeping and driving, only relevant experience and some soft skills are required. Also, they believe that more experience they gain, more efficiently they can carry out their jobs and in-turn they can be more productive.

Hence, in conclusion, I believe that University education provides theoretical knowledge as well as hands-on practice through internships which tents to get a better job. I also agree that gaining experience and soft skills are equally important for getting a job in certain professions.

Sorry I do not offer this service. Please read the HOME page to learn more about how to use my site 🙂

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Hi liz, My question is, can we write information that is completely made up to support our ideas? For example, “A recent study done by University of Melbourne shows that men who eat at least 10 grams chocolate a day can run faster than those who do not eat it.”

Why would you choose to do that? It won’t help your score. You never need to state the source of information and you don’t need to present numbers in your task 2 essay. Just explain your idea in your own language.

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Dear mam, In opinion essay , when we give separate opinion on one side . Can we go both side in conclusion or should we have the same position in conclusion and opinion ? I am totally confuse in it. Please guide me. Thank you.

Please get my Advanced Lessons which will give you all your answers and lots of details: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/

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Also, I tend to have occasional long sentences, is it ok to use a semi-colon? Or do we just stick to comma and full stop for this test?

Thanks a bunch in advance!

Just stick to commas and full stops. To add information using clauses which are considered complex grammar features.

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Thank you for the amazing model answers you provide, your website is really helpful! I finished watching your advanced video on the discussion essays and I have a question regarding writing them, since I want to follow your structure.

If I agree with one side of the argument, I understand from your video that I should state my opinion in the introduction, right? Because a teacher told me that I shouldn’t write my opinion in the introduction (even if the question says give your opinion) but should instead explain it throughout the BP of the essays and the conclusion. So I want to make sure, it is okay if I paraphrase the question (people’s arguments) in a statement then express my opinion in the next statement “In my opinion, I believe that….” and agree with either side?

Also coming to the BPs, I was told by that teacher that if I explain reasons for people’s arguments in BP1 and BP2 (even though I added “I agree” in the BP that I agree with) it will affect my CC and TR. They said that I should explain that I do not agree with one BP and giving reasons for the opinion of people that I don’t agree with would mess up my TR & CC. Is this true? In your video, you explained that it’s okay to explain reasons for both sides then simply add I agree in the BP you agree with. So I’m a little lost here, I wish you can tell me what is right in this point.

Thanks in advance. I really appreciate all your efforts.

Has your teacher completed the IELTS examiner training course? Possibly not. It is 100% fine to put your opinion in the introduction – you are introducing your opinion. It is also 100% ok to state you agree with whichever body paragraph you agree with – in that paragraph you will state that you and other people agree (or disagree) and then give reasons. You only need a separate body paragraph when your opinion does not agree fully with either side (a specific opinion/partial agreement). Is your teacher telling you IELTS rules? No. Your teacher is giving you advice based on their own opinion of IELTS. Always differentiate between rules and advice when it comes to IELTS. Always ask your teacher if they are giving you fixed rules for IELTS or just their own personal advice. There is a lot of conflicting information about IELTS because of exactly that problem.

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Hi Liz thank you for your imformative website. I ‘ve got a question. Is the hook and general statement the same? Thank you

In the following link you will find a video lesson about writing an introduction. That lesson will explain about the hook and background statement: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

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Hi Liz, I had Ielts computer based based exam today, in the writing 2 task I had written nearly about 270 words, but in conclusion part when I was writing my last sentences, time is up and the computer shuted down. I could not finish my last senteces and there was some unsense words. Is it a huge problem or not? Also, thank you sharing your information with us.

The most important thing is that you wrote a conclusion, even if you didn’t finish it. Having a conclusion is crucial. An incomplete conclusion will not affect things as much as an absent conclusion. Don’t worry too much about it.

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I am planning to start this essay with “Few people believe that…..” can we paraphrase “some” with “few”

The meaning of “few” is “not many”. It means a small number. “Few people” = a small number of people. This is not the same as “some”.

thank you liz

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Hi Liz, Many thanks to you for the service!

My question is, if I start with one tense form, should I follow the same tense throughout the essay? Or can I use different tenses in the essay?

Thanks in advance!

It isn’t possible to use one tense all the way through. You might need to use a perfect tense or a passive or a conditional statement. The tense will depend on what you want to say. It isn’t something you can decide beforehand. See my model essays and review how many different tenses are used: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

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For Discussion Essays: Some books like IELTS Preparation & Practice, Reading & Writing Academic published by Oxfird suggest writing a 4 paragraph essay: intro+ first group+second group+conclusion(which restates the writes opinion). However you suggest a separate paragraph for the writer’s opinion(4th body paragraph). Does that mean that their style is wrong or could lead to a lower score?

It means that there are other options. There is no rule stating you must have 4 paragraphs in total. It is fine to have 5. You can get band 9 with either 4 or 5.

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Hello liz, i have read in many books that the opinion discussive essay, the opinion is only given in the conclusion unlike the opinion personal view point( the agree or disagree type). The books write, this essay will discuss both sides and give a concluding view and rather give the opinion in the conclusion. Can you please clarify that for me, thank you

Unfortunately, I am not able to control what is written in other books. The instructions from IELTS do NOT state to “discuss both sides and conclude your opinion”.

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Hullo Liz, Firstly I would like to thank you to help all of us selflessly…thanx to u. Today I gave my ielts in essay it was a discussion essay wherein I wrote my opinion in introduction as u say then main body paras Discussing both the sides but then I gave the conclusion n did not elaborate on my opinion… Will I lose marks? Plz tell…really worried. Thanx

I don’t understand. You said you gave your opinion in the introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion. At what point do you feel that you didn’t explain it?

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Everybody told me that examples are not cardinal for essay but in some great ielts experts point of view like you mam and jay sir shows examples are vital. Through this students get more brand. Mam help me to solve my query.

Please mam help me my ielts exam on 17 August .

Please mam🙁🙁

I have never said examples are vital or 100% essential to an IELTS essay. I’m not sure what you are referring to. Examples are one way to support and illustrate a main point – you choose whether to illustrate that way or not. I suggest you review my model essays.

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Hi Liz, From my observation of the given example, I understood that , in the conclusion especially for discussion essays, we have to give a brief of our view on the topic and we should not include anything from the other paragraphs. Is my understanding correct?

Your reply here would be much appreciated.

There is no such rule in IELTS. Your conclusion is a summary of the main points.

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in the salad days of millenium, the society polarised into two groups. first, some people have a say that passing from University provide best to way to grab a good profession while other opinion that it is a bad to acquire proficiency and soft skills the following paragraphs would shed the light on both the approaches before making notes To commence with the first notion, there are Myriad things to be shared in its favour, first and foremost, it is undeniable education is essential part of one’s life. the majority of individuals believe that getting a degree from University Open the doors of word class opportunities and student can obtain a fine occupation for their future. In the other words, tertiary education help the students to understand the various concept which is related to their career which they have chosen by them. with the help of education they enhence their creativity on particular subject which is significant for future work opportunities

shifting towards the second school of thought, having experience of work and soft skills such as communication skills leadership skills and other interpersonal skills act as a boon for people to access a great livelihood. if individuals have a great proficiency in their skill which helps in getting a job as we all know more than half of companies prefer those employees who have a great experience in their work instead of University credentials. for instance if someone want to get a job in insurance company then they must be have a good communication skills for this job

Sorry, I don’t offer marking or comments on writing. However, I will say avoid learning phrases that you think will impress the examiner such as “in the salad days of millenium, the society polarised into two groups”. Such phrases damage your score. This is not creative writing. In a test, each sentence must be created by you in the test room. Also don’t use hook, it isn’t needed for IELTS essays and is a complete waste of time. Go to the main section for writing task 2 on this site and learn how to write an introduction for IELTS = click on the RED BAR at the top of the site. Or get my paid Advanced Lessons to learn more.

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Hi Liz, Thank you so very much for your helpful blogs. I am following only you for my IELTS GT preparation. I have one doubt, I am aiming to score 7.5 or 8 band in writing. Is it fine if I write approx 300 words of essay? Definitely related to demand of question. I always try to write around 270-280 words but I feel that there is still something missing which I should add on to make it more accurate. Kindly suggest.

If you are adding words to your introduction or conclusion, it won’t help your score. If you are adding more to your body paragraphs, think carefully if it is actually 100% vital. More words open you to the possibility of more errors or a less focused essay.

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It is considered by some people that finishing university education is the most effective way to get a decent job, however, have experience and developing soft skills are the keys for finding good jobs still thought by many people. In my opinion, although experience and developing soft skills are important for finding good jobs, I believe the completing university courses can improve the person’s knowledge and other skills in a very effective way as well as the best way for people to prepare their careers.

Attending the university courses can let people gain knowledge effectively, most universities offer high-quality courses both online and offline, students can achieve professional theory knowledge from different aspects through interaction with their professors, once they have questions they can get feedback and answers quickly. On the other hand, universities offer many practical classes which allow students gain experience, students also have plenty opportunities to discuss in their groups and cooperate with other students from other majors which also cultivate their social skills. Both knowledge and practical skills, as well as social skills, are very essential for finding a good job.

There is no doubt that work experience and developing soft skills or social skills are vital for finding jobs, the companies are more likely to employ the person who has job experience which people usually can find on job recruitments’ qualifications. When people find a job, he/she should be a good work player who is not only professional about her/his area but also should know how to communicate with others as well as cooperate with others. A report says that persons who have strong communication skills are much more welcomed in a work environment.

In conclusion, although both experience and developing soft skills are vital factors for finding jobs, I still believe that attending the universities is the best way for people who prepare their careers because people can gain experience and social skills in the campus as well.

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hello ! thanks for your tips . And i have a question , is it okay to write ” in this following essay i will shed light on both views and state my own position” in last sentence ?

Never memorise a sentence to put in your essay. Each sentence should be entirely created by yourself in the test. If the instructions say “discuss both sides and give your opinion”, you do not need to repeat those instructions. The examiner knows what you are going to do – what the examiner doesn’t know is what ideas you will use. Use my model essays to guide you or get my Advanced lessons to learn in depth.

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I just watched your advanced task 2 lesson and have couple questions on it. For the discussion essay, the balanced opinion seems more profound than one-sided opinion. Will I get lower band score if I choose to write one-sided opinion? Or will I get higher band if I choose to write balanced opinion. And can I choose one-sided opinion in any topics?

Thank you! 🙂

The balanced opinion essay means the discussion essay with specific opinion. Sorry for that. 🙂

I taught both options so that you would have a choice. The choice will depend on the question and the ideas you have for it. Sometimes a one-sided approach isn’t always the easiest option. No, you don’t get a higher or lower score for one or the other. Your score is not based on your choice of one-sided or specific view point. It is based on how relevant your ideas are and if you addressed the task with a clear opinion.

Thank you very much Liz!!!!:)

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I am writing to seek your help with double views and opinion statement essay type.

Here is the question prompt I am practicing: Some people say that advertising encourages us to buy things that we rarely do not need. Others say that advertisements tell us about new products that may improve our lives. Which viewpoint do you agree with?

Here is the introductory paragraph I have written with my opinion: Aggressive product promotions are considered to be one of the efficient ways of attracting new customers. While some people believe that advertisements allures the buyers and instigates them to purchase the unnecessary items, the others consider it to be an effective method of promoting awareness about the latest trends – I second this thought.

Please guide, is it write way of supporting an argument in a formal way? If not, please suggest how can I improve.

Thanks Jasmeet Kaur

Paraphrase the statement given and then present your opinion. Two separate statements. Try writing that and post it. See this page if you don’t understand: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2-how-to-write-an-introduction/

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I’m struggling to reach a higher bandscore than 6.0 in writing. Therefore I bought your advanced writing lessons to spot some of my possible mistakes. Beside the fact that I have problems to structure my thoughts quickly, I’m sometimes confused by the question itself. After watching your lessons, I have tried to answer some essay questions and I came across with some I don’t know how I should organise them.

Firstly, for example, the discussion essay about the death penalty on your website. This question only mentions that I have to discuss both side. So, I’m not sure if I have to write a balanced view or can I also write a one-sided view? Moreover, I think I should not give my opinion, however, a one-sided view seems to reflect my personal point of view. How would you organise your essay?

Secondly, I’m really confused with the question “Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?” You said, it doesen’t matter whether there is a “do you think” include or not, because I have to make a choice which side outweigh the other…admittedly there are many official Model answer from IELTS books, which don’t give an opinion in terms of this question. Are there any differents I didn’t recognise?

I would be really grateful if you could help me.

Kind regards, Wiebke

In my Advanced lesson for the Discussion Essay there is a model essay for a Discussion without an opinion. Please take a look at it. Any question that is asking you to choose options will require an opinion – there are many ways to voice an opinion.

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Dear Liz. Your advanced lessons are so helpful and clear.

Unfortunately I can’t say the same regarding the Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS which contains 8 full practice tests with sample answers for writing. I have to say that the sample answers for task 1 are very good but the ones for task 2 are so confusing. For instance, a discussion essay was turned into advantage disadvantage one.. the opinion is not mentioned in the introduction or in the BP, it is given in the conclusion… I wish I can send you a picture of it so you can mark it.

Another issue that confuses me; can we use questions in the essay? In one example of adv. Outweigh Disadv. they ended up the introduction with a question: is this a development we should welcome? The opinion is also put in the conclusion only… Thanks in advance

IT is not the task of IELTS to make their test easy. That is the task of teachers and ex-examiners. We provide the easy to follow models, not IELTS. About your second query, you should present supporting points which are statements, not questions. There isn’t enough length in the essay to start creating questions which will then need addressing further. Just stick with statements.

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Hi liz In the introduction can I write “in this essay I will deliberately discuss the both views and formulate my opinion at the end of the essay ” instead answering directly in the introduction

Do not memorise sentences or phrases. You can learn words and linking devices. All sentences and phrases should be created by yourself. See my model essays.

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then what do you recommend? and how do they examine grammar?

Grammar is marked by using a range of tenses that are suitable and appropriate to the essay and the subject. You can’t push a future prefect into your essay because you think it will give you a higher score. All tenses must be used correctly. The examiner will also pay attention to sentence structures, so you need to pay attention to not being too repetitive. Furthermore, the examiner will look at the density of grammar errors, for example band 5 = frequent errors, band 6 = some errors, band 7 = few errors. So, you can see your aim is to produce a range of suitable grammar and also reduce the errors you make. At all times, you only use the grammar you are familiar with to reduce errors. I am currently putting together a grammar e-book which will explain all this in great detail.

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How can I buy your grammar book?

It won’t be available to buy for a few months. It is 90% complete, but it will take me a few months to edit it and get it ready for people to buy.

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Hi Liz, thank you a lot for your useful advice and if it is possible, please give feedback, this is my first essay.

Instruction is simply to discuss not to give opinion.

In last decades, with the impact of growing globalization, it is noticed significant positive affects in the economy of the world, whereas this globe challenges brings some negative aspects with itself. Regarding the advantages of the globalization, a number of leading companies of the world gain more profits, while some affected countries are forced to lose their cultural values.

On the one hand, there is a competition between huge international companies over the world. They compete to produce products in better quality and lower prices. As a result, this overseas rivalry helps to boost world economy, at the same time, people all over the world take advantages in connection with buying more qualitative and less expenses products. For instance, it is obviously seems that the products which are manufactured by Samsung, Apple, Huawei and some other main companies have wide functions and simultaneously they are sold in lower prices.

On the other hand, there are some affected countries that people who live in these countries are obliged to get used to customs and traditions of the hegemon countries. In this manner, impacted society uses international languages, listens to singers who are famous all over the world and eats meals which are popular overseas and so on. To illustrate, McDonalds, KFC, Mado serve to people in more than half of the world countries, Justin Timberlake, Beyoncé, Rihanna are listened by at least one of three people and English, German, Russian languages have been more important than their native languages.

In conclusion, the monosemous acceptance of globalization is not proper approach. When this term is talked over, both sides should be taken into account.

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Mam, why your advanced writing task 2 lessons have only 1) opinion, 2) discussion and 3) adv/disadvantages type essays lessons? What about a) problems/solutions, b) two-part (direct question) and c) positive/negative development type essays? Kindly reply, because I want to learn structure of each type of IELTS (GT) essay. Thank you.

Because I became too sick to make more videos.

First of all, thank you for your prompt reply, Hope you are doing well now. I will pray for your health and speedy recovery. Can I expect video lessons on those missing type essays in near future? Or do you think it is sufficient enough to just go through your sample essays on those type of essays to get an idea of written structure?

The three Advanced lessons available teach you enough skills to be able to apply the same logical. However, you will need to review model essays and other tips. Did you see my free writing task 2 lessons? See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/ . Yesterday I put up a lesson about a mixed task essay with tips: https://ieltsliz.com/model-essay-for-tv-weight-problems/ . Just take a look around my site. It is unlikely I will make a new video soon. I’m still too sick for videos. But I post regular lessons on my site and am working on e-books “Ideas for IELTS Essays” and “Grammar for Writing Task 2”.

Yes, I already read the tips mentioned in the first link and just went through the second link now, both were so helpful. You are an indeed a blessing for students who are struggling with their IELTS score. Thank you for your help and tips. I am desperately waiting for your e-books. Best wishes and prayers for your health.

Thanks. I do plan to get back to making videos, but not until my health is completely recovered which might take a long time. As soon as I can, I’ll be making Advanced lessons for every single part of the IELTS test.

Hopefully you’ll be able to make more videos for your students very soon. Lot of respect and prayers for you mam. One of your students from other part of the world 🙂

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Pleaaaase shed some light on the following: in the introduction of Task 2, what is the best waybto phrase that the X will be discussed in the essay. Do you say ‘This essay will discuss/This essay disagrees” or do you make use of pronouns such as ‘I’ “I agree that/ I will discuss X” . So confused as someone (online tutors) would say one thing, someone something different again. So now I don’t know which would be acceptable by an IELTS examiner.

You don’t need to use it at all. It is not required for IELTS. As you see, none of my model essays use that kind of sentence.

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    Sample Band 9 Essay There are many ways to learn new knowledge and skills. Traditional educational routes, such as school followed by college or university is one route that is generally accepted and respected by today's society. It can be argued, however, that this is not always the best way. A more vocational route can be more appropriate for certain people and for particular jobs.

  9. IELTS Essay # 1463

    IELTS Writing Task 2/ Essay Topics with sample answer. IELTS Essay # 1463 - University education is the best way to get a good job ... many employers prioritize candidates with formal qualifications. A university degree often acts as a prerequisite for entry into certain professions, thereby opening doors to a wider array of job opportunities. ...

  10. IELTS Discussion Essay Model Answer with Techniques & Tips

    This IELTS Discussion Essay Model Essay Answer Band 9 with some techniques and tips. ... Some people consider having university degrees as the key to employment whereas others think building and developing soft skills and experience is an effective way to get a job. In my opinion, having both degree certificates and relevant skills is essential ...