Discuss Both Views
Top Tips & Advice
The biggest trap students fall into is treating it like a standard agree/disagree essay.
If you only focus on the side you agree with, you will severely penalize your Task Achievement score because you didn't fulfill the instructions to discuss both sides.
Our recommended 4-paragraph structure is paramount in this question type.
Clear Position
Be Fair
Do not hide your opinion until the conclusion. The examiner looks for a "clear position throughout the response."
State your view in the introduction, support it in the body, and restate it in the conclusion.
Even if you strongly disagree with Side A, you must explain why some people hold that belief.
Use objective language rather than dismissive tones.
Logical Ordering
Consider Pronouns
Always discuss the side you disagree with first (Body #1), and the side you agree with second (Body #2).
This creates a natural transition into your conclusion.
When you write Body # 2, you can directly show why this side outweighs the previous one:
"On the other hand, while [Side A] has merit, I believe [Side B] is far more impactful because..."
When discussing the side you disagree with, use distance markers: "Some people argue," "Proponents believe," or "It is often asserted."
Save personal markers like "In my view," "I believe," or "From my perspective" exclusively for your introduction, your favored body paragraph, and your conclusion.
This is true in every type of question, but especially pertinent here.
Some people believe that studying at university is the best route to a successful career. Others think that it is better to get a job straight after school to gain practical experience.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
While many argue that a university education is the optimal path to career success, others contend that entering the workforce immediately after secondary school to gain practical skills is more advantageous. In my opinion, although immediate employment offers financial independence, a tertiary degree remains the superior route due to the long-term professional mobility it provides.
Proponents of early employment focus on the immediate, tangible benefits of entering the workforce. Engaging in a profession straight out of school allows young adults to master practical skills and accumulate years of real-world experience while their peers are still in classrooms. For instance, an aspiring web developer who skips higher education to freelance can build a robust portfolio and a steady client base by age twenty-two. As a result, these individuals secure early financial autonomy and completely avoid the burden of student loan debt.
Conversely, a stronger case can be made for higher education, which unlocks specialized career paths and greater long-term earning potential. Universities provide deep theoretical knowledge, critical thinking frameworks, and professional networks that are impossible to replicate in entry-level positions. To illustrate, regulated professions such as medicine, law, and engineering strictly require formal credentials before practice is legally permitted. A degree therefore acts as an essential catalyst for advancement, ultimately leading to higher lifetime earnings and superior job security.
In conclusion, the apparent stability of entering the workforce is ultimately eclipsed by the profound, lifelong advantages of a university degree. Societies that prioritize broad access to tertiary education will cultivate a highly skilled, adaptable workforce capable of driving innovation. As automation alters industry landscapes, individuals with deep conceptual training will find themselves best equipped to pivot and thrive.
Word Count: 266
Band Score: 9
While many argue that social media platforms have successfully bridged geographical divides and brought individuals closer together, others assert that this digital shift has actually exacerbated societal isolation. In my view, despite the undeniable utility of virtual networks for long-distance communication, the reliance on digital interaction fundamentally erodes authentic human connection and fosters deep social alienation.
Advocates for the unifying power of social platforms highlight their unprecedented ability to maintain global connections. These networks allow individuals to bypass geographical constraints, keeping families linked across continents and helping marginalized groups find supportive communities online. For instance, diaspora communities frequently use dedicated forums and messaging applications to preserve cultural ties and share resources across borders. Consequently, digital networks can mitigate the pain of distance, fostering a sense of belonging among geographically dispersed individuals.
Despite this, a more compelling argument reveals that excessive screen time degrades the quality of real-world relationships. Virtual interactions lack the vital nuance of face-to-face contact, such as body language and shared physical presence, which are essential for true psychological intimacy. To illustrate, recent public health data indicates a sharp rise in loneliness and depression among teenagers who replace local, in-person friendships with curated online personas. Relying on digital validation ultimately fractures local community cohesion and leaves users feeling intensely disconnected from their immediate surroundings.
To conclude, the superficial connectivity offered by online platforms is ultimately eclipsed by the profound social fragmentation it causes. Communities that fail to balance digital consumption with tangible, face-to-face interactions risk breeding a generation of citizens who are technologically hyper-connected yet emotionally estranged.
Word Count: 250
Band Score: 9
Task Achievement
Fully addresses the prompt: Both perspectives (early employment vs. university) are explored objectively and with equal depth.
Clear position throughout: The preference for tertiary education is clearly established in sentence two of the introduction, reinforced in body paragraph two, and confirmed in the final paragraph.
Fully developed ideas:
The arguments are focused and supported by concrete examples (web development vs. regulated professions like law and medicine).
Coherence and Cohesion
Natural cohesion:
Instead of relying on overused templates ("On the one hand"), transition markers are integrated seamlessly into the prose ("Proponents of...", "However, a stronger case...", "Therefore").
Clear referencing:
Pronouns and referencing words ("these individuals", "which unlocks", "this perspective") are used accurately to maintain flow without repetition.
Lexical Resource
Sophisticated vocabulary:
The choice of words is precise and fit-for-purpose ("tertiary degree", "financial autonomy", "essential catalyst", "conceptual training").
No cliches:
Idiomatic language sounds completely natural rather than memorized or forced.
Grammar
Sentence variety:
The essay balances complex structural forms (conditionals, relative clauses, subordinate clauses) with direct statements for added effect.
Punctuation as a tool: Commas, semicolons, and dashes are used to control pacing and emphasis.
Task Achievement
Fully balanced response:
Both sides of the debate (global connectivity vs. social alienation) are given thorough, equal consideration before a final judgment is delivered.
High-quality development: The arguments are fully extended with sophisticated examples, moving from diaspora communities to public health trends regarding teenage loneliness.
Coherence and Cohesion
Quality paragraphing:
The text utilizes a TEEL structure within the body paragraphs, making the internal organization transparent and effortless to follow.
Precise referencing:
Cohesive devices and pronouns are used with total accuracy ("this digital shift", "these networks", "it causes") to bind sentences together without sounding repetitive.
Lexical Resource
Advanced vocabulary:
The language is academic yet completely authentic, utilizing precise terms like "bridged geographical divides", "exacerbated societal isolation", "diaspora communities", and "emotionally estranged".
Accurate collocations:
Words are paired naturally and academically ("mitigate the pain", "fosters deep social alienation", "safeguarding collective mental health").
Grammar
Subordinate Clauses:
The sentence starts with a concession ("despite the undeniable utility..."), which allows the writer to acknowledge the counterargument before delivering the main point. It balances two opposing ideas in a single sentence.
Sentence Variety:
This essay constantly shifts the grammatical subject and structural opening to keep the writing dynamic and not formulaic.
Important to note!
The examiner does not care what you really think.
It is a test of your English ability only.
Hence, although you need good ideas, the task is assessing your writing only.
Some people think that the rise of social media has brought people closer together. Others argue that it has made people more isolated from society.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
