IELTS Writing Task 2: The reasons and advantages dilemma 🐊

Essays that combine these two questions can be a bit problematic:

- Why is this / What are the reasons for this?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of this / Is this a positive or negative development?

Well, they are only problematic if you want to write about the positives—because the positives, in essence, repeat the reasons (even if they are wrapped up in a bunch of synonyms).

For example, let's take this topic: "Some people choose to have their first child at an older age. What are the reasons? Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?"

Many people find themselves writing something like this:

- Reason: First, people aim to gain financial security before they have children.
- Advantage: People have financial security when they have children.

One solution to this dilemma is, of course, to always write about the negatives. But if you don't want to, what you need to do is build on and extend the reason.

For example:

- Reason: First, people aim to gain financial security before they have children.
- Advantage: When parents have a stable income, they can afford to pay for the hobbies and activities that their child enjoys or that will be useful in the future. For example, if the child wants to play music, it is financial security that will enable parents to pay for music school or to buy good quality instruments.

In this case, the reason is the springboard for the advantage. ↗️

Over to you. How would you extend this reason to make it sound as an advantage?

Reason: People want to enjoy their 20s and 30s to the fullest, without the burden of the responsibilities and limitations entailed by parenthood. Thus, instead of starting a family, they prefer to lead a carefree life, going out and traveling on a regular basis.

Share your advantage that would build on this reason in the comments. 📝