Scorify.uzThe question
More and more people are choosing to work in a country other than their own for several years. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?
Write at least 250 words.
What the question asks
This question asks you to describe both sides, not to choose one, though a brief overall comment is fine. Plan two advantages, such as income and personal development, and two disadvantages, such as loneliness and separation from family, and give a short example of each.
Essay plan
- Introduction: Paraphrase the trend and say that you will look at its benefits and drawbacks.
- Body 1: advantages: Higher salary or better career opportunities; learning a language and adapting to a new culture.
- Body 2: disadvantages: Homesickness and distance from relatives; bureaucracy, language barriers and the risk of discrimination.
- Conclusion: Summarise both sides and give a brief overall comment.
Band 7+ sample essay
Thanks to cheaper flights and global companies, working abroad has become a realistic choice for many professionals. This trend offers clear rewards, but it also involves difficulties that people should consider before they leave.
The first benefit is financial and professional. Workers from countries with limited opportunities may earn much more abroad, and the money they send home can support their families and even help the local economy. Employment overseas can also strengthen a career, because employers value international experience. On a personal level, living in another country is an excellent way to master a foreign language and to understand different customs, which makes a person more open-minded and independent.
On the other hand, the drawbacks should not be underestimated. Perhaps the hardest one is emotional, since expatriates often miss their relatives and may feel isolated, particularly during holidays or illness. Missing years of a child's growing up or the care of ageing parents can be painful. There are practical obstacles as well. Visa rules, paperwork and language barriers can make daily life stressful at the beginning, and some migrants face unfair treatment or are given jobs below their qualifications.
Another possible disadvantage is for the home country, which may lose skilled workers such as doctors and engineers whose training was paid for by the state. This so-called brain drain can leave hospitals and schools short of staff at home.
In conclusion, working abroad can bring higher income, valuable experience and personal growth, but it can also cause loneliness and practical problems. People who prepare carefully and keep in touch with home are most likely to benefit.
267 words.
Why this essay scores well
- Task Response: every part of the question is answered and the position stays consistent from the introduction to the conclusion.
- Coherence and Cohesion: each paragraph has one clear idea, linked with natural connectors rather than a list of memorised phrases.
- Lexical Resource: topic vocabulary is precise and varied, without forcing rare words.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: a mix of simple and complex sentences, with conditionals and relative clauses used accurately.
Useful vocabulary
- career opportunities — chances to progress in a job
- international experience — work or study done in other countries
- open-minded — willing to accept new ideas
- expatriate — a person living outside their own country
- feel isolated — feel alone and cut off
- language barrier — difficulty communicating because of a different language
- paperwork — official forms and documents
- skilled workers — employees with special training
Common mistakes on this question
- Writing a discussion of whether people should work abroad instead of listing advantages and disadvantages.
- Giving ideas without development, such as it is good for money, with no explanation.
- Making the disadvantages paragraph far shorter than the advantages paragraph.
Study guides
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Frequently asked questions
What type of essay is this IELTS Task 2 question?
It is a advantages and disadvantages question. This question asks you to describe both sides, not to choose one, though a brief overall comment is fine. Plan two advantages, such as income and personal development, and two disadvantages, such as loneliness and separation from family, and give a short example of each.
How many words should the essay be?
Write at least 250 words. Most strong answers are 260–290 words, planned in about five minutes and completed in 40 minutes.
How many paragraphs should I write?
Four paragraphs work well: an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. Each body paragraph needs one main idea, an explanation and an example.