This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of whether people should travel or work during a gap year from a real IELTS recent exam.
IELTS Essay: Work or Travel during a Gap Year?
Some people believe that students should acquire working experience during their gap year instead of traveling.
Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Some feel that if a student decides to take a gap-year it is better to work than to travel. I am generally in agreement with this proposition as it will better prepare individuals to choose a university major.
Those who argue in favor of travel contend that after school, individuals may be too busy to travel for an extended period. Graduates must typically either begin applying for graduate school or for positions in the workforce. Once a person has a job, they will then only have limited time for holidays, most of which they are likely to spend with family. This is why many high school graduates take advantage of the freedom before university to explore exotic destinations that require long flights like countries in Southeast Asia and South America.
However, there is immense value in work experience that can inform one’s future career choices. Most students are ill-equipped to make a career choice at the age of 18 and this is reflected in the number of graduates who switch jobs and never establish a career in their field of study. By working for a year, not only will students have a firmer understanding of the challenges of the typical workweek, but they might also gain perspective as to what kind of work they enjoy. For instance, a prospective film student who interns at a film studio may decide that they would prefer to work in a less stressful environment and subsequently change majors.
In conclusion, despite the singular opportunity to travel that a gap-year provides, it is more important to work and learn one’s career inclinations. There could naturally also be some balance between work and travel.
Analysis
1. Some feel that if a student decides to take a gap-year it is better to work than to travel. 2. I am generally in agreement with this proposition as it will better prepare individuals to choose a university major.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Those who argue in favor of travel contend that after school, individuals may be too busy to travel for an extended period. 2. Graduates must typically either begin applying for graduate school or for positions in the workforce. 3. Once a person has a job, they will then only have limited time for holidays, most of which they are likely to spend with family. 4. This is why many high school graduates take advantage of the freedom before university to explore exotic destinations that require long flights like countries in Southeast Asia and South America.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
- Keep developing it fully.
1. However, there is immense value in work experience that can inform one’s future career choices. 2. Most students are ill-equipped to make a career choice at the age of 18 and this is reflected in the number of graduates who switch jobs and never establish a career in their field of study. 3. By working for a year, not only will students have a firmer understanding of the challenges of the typical workweek, but they might also gain perspective as to what kind of work they enjoy. 4. For instance, a prospective film student who interns at a film studio may decide that they would prefer to work in a less stressful environment and subsequently change majors.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
1. In conclusion, despite the singular opportunity to travel that a gap-year provides, it is more important to work and learn one’s career inclinations. 2. There could naturally also be some balance between work and travel.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
Some feel that if a student decides to take a gap-year it is better to work than to travel. I am generally in agreement with this proposition as it will better prepare individuals to choose a university major.
Those who argue in favor of travel contend that after school, individuals may be too busy to travel for an extended period. Graduates must typically either begin applying for graduate school or for positions in the workforce. Once a person has a job, they will then only have limited time for holidays, most of which they are likely to spend with family. This is why many high school graduates take advantage of the freedom before university to explore exotic destinations that require long flights like countries in Southeast Asia and South America.
However, there is immense value in work experience that can inform one’s future career choices. Most students are ill-equipped to make a career choice at the age of 18 and this is reflected in the number of graduates who switch jobs and never establish a career in their field of study. By working for a year, not only will students have a firmer understanding of the challenges of the typical workweek, but they might also gain perspective as to what kind of work they enjoy. For instance, a prospective film student who interns at a film studio may decide that they would prefer to work in a less stressful environment and subsequently change majors.
In conclusion, despite the singular opportunity to travel that a gap-year provides, it is more important to work and learn one’s career inclinations. There could naturally also be some balance between work and travel.
Answers
decides chooses
take a gap-year a year off before university
I am generally in agreement with this proposition overall i think the same
better prepare have better preparations, be ready
university major what you study in university
those who argue in favor of supporters
contend argue
extended period long time
graduates people done with school
typically usually
applying for trying to get a job at
graduate school after the first 4 years at uni
positions jobs
workforce people who work
limited time not much time
most of which the majority of these
high school graduates those 18 years old
take advantage of exploit
freedom ability to do what you want
explore exotic destinations go to far away places
require long flights have to fly a long time to get there
immense value lots of importance
work experience having a job
inform help one to decide
future career choices what you do for work later
ill-equipped not prepared
reflected in evidenced by
switch jobs go to a new position
establish a career have a long-term job
field of study what you major in
firmer understanding better knowledge of
challenges difficulties
typical workweek normal working hours
gain perspective see the whole picture
prospective film student someone who will study about movies
interns works for free
studio film company
less stressful environment not so anxious place
subsequently after that
majors what you study in uni
singular opportunity unique chance
provides allows for
inclinations what you like
naturally of course
balance keep equal
Pronunciation
dɪˈsaɪdz
teɪk ə gæp-jɪə
aɪ æm ˈʤɛnərəli əˈgriːmənt wɪð ðɪs ˌprɒpəˈzɪʃən
ˈbɛtə prɪˈpeə
ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsɪti ˈmeɪʤə
ðəʊz huː ˈɑːgjuː ɪn ˈfeɪvər ɒv
kənˈtɛnd
ɪksˈtɛndɪd ˈpɪərɪəd
ˈgrædjʊəts
ˈtɪpɪk(ə)li
əˈplaɪɪŋ fɔː
ˈgrædjʊət skuːl
pəˈzɪʃənz
ˈwɜːkˌfɔːs
ˈlɪmɪtɪd taɪm
məʊst ɒv wɪʧ
haɪ skuːl ˈgrædjʊəts
teɪk ədˈvɑːntɪʤ ɒv
ˈfriːdəm
ɪksˈplɔːr ɪgˈzɒtɪk ˌdɛstɪˈneɪʃənz
rɪˈkwaɪə lɒŋ flaɪts
ɪˈmɛns ˈvæljuː
wɜːk ɪksˈpɪərɪəns
ɪnˈfɔːm
ˈfjuːʧə kəˈrɪə ˈʧɔɪsɪz
ɪl-ɪˈkwɪpt
rɪˈflɛktɪd ɪn
swɪʧ ʤɒbz
ɪsˈtæblɪʃ ə kəˈrɪə
fiːld ɒv ˈstʌdi
ˈfɜːmər ˌʌndəˈstændɪŋ
ˈʧælɪnʤɪz
ˈtɪpɪk(ə)l ˈwɜːkwiːk
geɪn pəˈspɛktɪv
prəsˈpɛktɪv fɪlm ˈstjuːdənt
ˈɪntɜːnz
ˈstjuːdɪəʊ
lɛs ˈstrɛsf(ə)l ɪnˈvaɪərənmənt
ˈsʌbsɪkwəntli
ˈmeɪʤəz
ˈsɪŋgjʊlər ˌɒpəˈtjuːnɪti
prəˈvaɪdz
ˌɪnklɪˈneɪʃənz
ˈnæʧrəli
ˈbæləns
Vocabulary Practice
Some feel that if a student d_______s to t__________________r it is better to work than to travel. I____________________________________n as it will b________________e individuals to choose a u______________r.
T__________________________f travel c_________d that after school, individuals may be too busy to travel for an e________________d. G__________s must t__________y either begin a_______________r g________________l or for p____________s in the w_______________e. Once a person has a job, they will then only have l______________e for holidays, m________________h they are likely to spend with family. This is why many h______________________s t___________________e of the f________m before university to e_____________________________s that r_____________________s like countries in Southeast Asia and South America.
However, there is i______________________e in w____________________e that can i___________m one’s f__________________s. Most students are i___________________d to make a career choice at the age of 18 and this is r_____________n the number of graduates who s_______________s and never e____________________r in their f_______________y. By working for a year, not only will students have a f_______________________g of the c_____________s of the t__________________k, but they might also g____________________e as to what kind of work they enjoy. For instance, a p________________________t who i__________s at a film s_______o may decide that they would prefer to work in a l________________________t and s________________y change m_______s.
In conclusion, despite the s________________________y to travel that a gap-year p____________s, it is more important to work and learn one’s career i_____________s. There could n_____________y also be some b__________e between work and travel.
Listening Practice
Reading Practice
https://www.goabroad.com/articles/gap-year/gap-year-options
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following related questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Your Home Nation/Country
- Where are you from?
- What do you like the most about your country?
- Where would you like to live in your country?
- Are people in your country patriotic?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related chart below and then check with my sample answer:
After graduation many students take a year to travel. Some think that it would be more useful to work for a year.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Obtaining working experience and utilizing the time to travel becoming the two main options that students consider the most in their gap year of study. Despite the enjoyment in exotic countries, I am generally in agreement with gaining work experience will allow students to have better preparation for choosing a university major.
A stereotype impression for most is that people spent a big part of their life dedicated to their career, in other words, argue in the most leisure period of a human being is likely to take place in the study stages. Subsequently, some will favor having a break for travel during the gap year. Exploring the world with own eyes provides benefits to students, not only widen their perspective point of view, vision and attitude in a global level, the travel experiences can also allow opportunities for students to improve their abilities on independently working, problem-solving and interpersonal relationships handling, that might not be able to acquire from schools in their hometowns. However, the general experiences from the traveling time in the gap year do not outweigh the advantages of an on-the-job training period that indicates a clear vision for students’ future.
Fully utilizing the gap year of study in a way of being trainees in a company or two can give students thorough ideas of their future career. It can also help to deal with the issue of unemployment amongst youth overall. Some research found that some of the graduates depressed on the first few years after they started their career, as they are not likely to feel motivated due to the types of work, that they are working on are not what they desired, and eventually lead to resignation. This could be a result of superficial choices for major in college and university. In contrast, on-the-job training experiences during a gap year can provide in-depth ideas for the students, clearly knowing what they are interested in can assist them to have careful consideration for future study. Furthermore, it can result in a decrease in unemployment rate amongst graduates.
In conclusion, both traveling, and on-job training experiences are valuable to students and deliver positive impacts and inspirations, I personally claim that focusing on specific working experiences can provide better concepts for their career and turn out to be a reduction in the unemployment rate of the nations.
I’ve tried to write an essay for this one, please correct it teacher 🙂
Nice work, Curtis!
It is a little on the long side – try to write a more realistic length and keep working hard!