26.Some students take a gap year after graduating high school to work and/or travel. Discus the advantages and disadvantages.

Taking a
gap
year
after completing high school to work and travel has become a popular trend among young people.
This
approach has both advantages and disadvantages. In
this
essay, both sides will be explored, followed by my opinion.
To begin
with, a
gap
year
enables teenagers to have more time to explore their interests, strengths and passions.
This
will be a valuable time for self-discovery, helping them to make informed decisions about their academic studies and future careers. In fact, there is now a phenomenon that a great number of
students
decide to quit their educational institutions after studying for one or two years.
This
is because they are no longer interested in the majors they chose.
Additionally
, spending one
year
working or travelling can provide learners with the necessary working experience and knowledge that are useful for
students
when they come back to university or participate in the workplace in the future.
For example
, the knowledge about diverse cultures accumulated by travelling to different parts of the world can be an advantage for
students
of hospitality subjects.
Nevertheless
, it is important to acknowledge the downsides of
this
trend.
Firstly
,
students
may face several difficulties in re-entering the academic life which is full of tasks and assignments.
Therefore
, they may feel stressed and depressed at first as the current experience is not as relaxed and enjoyable as what they had in the previous
year
. Later on, they may fall behind their peers. Another drawback is related to costs. To be more specific, one
year
of travelling is quite cost-consuming, including transportation costs, accommodation and food and so on. It is true that when
students
go travelling or do some temporary jobs, they might not be able to have a stable income.
As a result
, they cannot support financial themselves which in turn can lead to incurred debts. In conclusion, the topic of whether to take a
gap
year
after finishing high school to work and travel is a matter of personal preference.
While
taking a
gap
year
provides
students
with opportunities for self-discovery and the necessary skills and knowledge which are useful for their
further
education and future careers,
this
approach can hinder them from coming back to school.
Consequently
, it is advisable that
students
should consider carefully before deciding if they delay their studies or not.
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task response
The essay addresses the topic and provides a balanced discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of taking a gap year after high school. However, the writer's opinion could be more clearly stated.
coherence and cohesion
The essay follows a logical structure with a clear introduction and conclusion. The main points are supported with relevant examples.
lexical resource
The essay demonstrates a good range of vocabulary and effectively uses academic language. However, there are a few instances where word choice could be improved.
grammatical range
Overall, the essay shows a good command of grammar, with only a few minor errors. Use more complex sentence structures to enhance the grammatical range.

Word Count

IELTS says that you should write a minimum of 250 words in writing task 2. If you go under word count you will lose marks in task response.

A very long essay will not give you a higher band score.

Aim for between 260 to 290 words in writing task 2. This will ensure a concise essay and will be realistic in terms of time management. You have only 40 minutes to write the essay and you need around 10 minutes of planning time, so you will not be able to write a long essay in 30 minutes.

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