More universities are replacing face-to-face lectures in favour of online classes. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

There is a nuanced and debated topic about the importance of replacing online
courses
instead
of physical
classes
. Allowing
universities
and academia to reduce maintenance
costs
and spend more on research and development(R&D), I believe that the benefits of online
classes
outweigh the disadvantages. On the one hand, there are some benefits to online
courses
and I will elaborate on my opinion.
Firstly
, online
courses
could decrease the
costs
of
universities
significantly like bills, rent, and fixed
costs
.
Universities
can control their expenses by holding most of their theoretical
classes
online and remotely.
As a result
, many
students
are able to stay at home and pursue their studies without paying extra money on house rent, food, or services.
For instance
in 2022, after the pandemic, Boston University implemented 65 of 120
classes
online and could save 25 million dollars in a year.
Secondly
, by online
courses
,
universities
are able to relocate their spending composition,
allocating
Wrong verb form
allocate
show examples
more resources to research-based projects, and hire more scientists to do more applicable and functional work with the industries.
Instead
of spending a large amount of budget on wages and bills, academia can benefit from doing some profitable projects for some big companies or corporations.
However
, it is undeniable that some
classes
must be face-to-face
due to
the importance of physical communication.
Nevertheless
, online
classes
have some negative aspects and can influence both academic society and ordinary people as some reports from related organizations have revealed that a large population of
students
got lower scores than before the online
classes
and
this
is a dangerous sign. The average score of calculus in The UK fell from 2.67 out of 4 in 2017 to 1.5 out of 4 in 2023. Statistics show that weak communication between
universities
and
students
on the one side, and less collaborative efforts among
students
on the other side have led to low scores in recent years. Some people contend that
students
should always be under the control of teachers and they persistently supervise their educational conditions. In conclusion, the benefits of remote
classes
are undeniable. Decreased
costs
for diverse expenses and the ability to invest more in research and projects that are economically beneficial for
universities
could be a perfect choice for them.
However
, some argue that online
courses
might reduce the quality of studies and lead to lower scores in the end.
Submitted by hesam.kord.f on

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task response
Your essay does a good job addressing the prompt by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of online classes. However, make sure that your introduction clearly states your viewpoint, and that the body paragraphs explicitly support it with clear topic sentences.
task response
Pay close attention to word choice and grammar. Minor errors such as 'replacing online courses instead of physical classes' should be 'replacing physical classes with online courses' for better clarity.
coherence and cohesion
Make sure to use connecting words and phrases (e.g., 'furthermore', 'in addition', 'thus') to improve cohesion and make the essay flow more smoothly. This will improve the overall readability of your essay.
coherence and cohesion
Each paragraph should start with a clear topic sentence that indicates the main idea of the paragraph. This helps in organizing the thoughts and connecting them to the main argument.
task response
Your essay is very comprehensive and covers both sides of the argument effectively. You use relevant examples to support your points, which makes your argument stronger.
coherence and cohesion
The introduction and conclusion are both present and provide a solid framework for your essay. They help set the stage for your arguments and summarize your viewpoints well.

Answer the 'Advantages and Disadvantages' topic

IELTS advantages and disadvantages questions normally give you a statement and ask you to comment on the advantages and disadvantages of that statement.

Answer structure for the type of essay

  • Introduction
  • Body paragraph 1 – advantages
  • Body paragraph 2 – disadvantages
  • Conclusion

Examples to start your body paragraph:

  • The main advantage is...
  • The disadvantage of this...
  • The main benefit...
  • Despite these advantages...
  • One possible drawback...

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