Browse IELTS Task 2 advantage-disadvantage questions from Academic and General Training task banks, including outweigh prompts.
Switch between opinion, discussion, problem-solution, advantages-disadvantages, two-part, and positive-or-negative development essays.
Jump to every prompt classified as advantages and disadvantages essay topics across Cambridge IELTS and Official Guide task banks.
These prompts help learners weigh benefits against drawbacks and make a clear judgement when the question asks for one.
1 prompt in this book.
Academic Writing
All university undergraduate courses should include a period of time spent studying abroad or doing a work placement.
Do you think the advantages of this would outweigh the disadvantages?
1 prompt in this book.
Academic Writing
Some people have decided to reduce the number of times they fly every year or to stop flying altogether. Do you think the environmental benefits of this development outweigh the disadvantages for individuals and businesses?
1 prompt in this book.
Academic Writing
In many countries, people are now living longer than ever before. Some people say an ageing population creates problems for governments. Other people think there are benefits if society has more elderly people.
To what extent do the advantages of having an ageing population outweigh the disadvantages?
1 prompt in this book.
Academic Writing
It is important for people to take risks, both in their professional lives and their personal lives.
Do you think the advantages of taking risks outweigh the disadvantages?
1 prompt in this book.
Academic Writing
In the future all cars, buses and trucks will be driverless. The only people travelling inside these vehicles will be passengers.
Do you think the advantages of driverless vehicles outweigh the disadvantages?
1 prompt in this book.
Academic Writing
In some cultures, children are often told that they can achieve anything if they try hard enough. What are the advantages and disadvantages of giving children this message.
1 prompt in this book.
Academic Writing
At the present time, the population of some countries includes a relatively large number of young adults, compared with the number of older people.
Do the advantages of this situation outweigh the disadvantages?
1 prompt in this book.
Academic Writing
Many museums charge for admission while others are free.
Do you think the advantages of charging people for admission to museums outweigh the disadvantages?
1 prompt in this book.
Academic Writing
Some experts believe that it is better for children to begin learning a foreign language at primary school rather than secondary school.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
1 prompt in this book.
Academic Writing
In some countries young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year between finishing high school and starting university studies.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for young people who decide to do this.
1 prompt in this book.
Academic Writing
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of three of the following as media for communicating information. State which you consider to be the most effective.
• comics
• books
• radio
• television
• film
• theatre
Academic Writing
One of the consequences of improved medical care is that people are living longer and life expectancy is increasing.
Do you think the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
Academic Writing
Nowadays technology is increasingly being used to monitor what people are saying and doing, for example through cellphone tracking and security cameras. In many cases, the people being monitored are unaware that this is happening.
Do you think the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
Academic Writing
In the past, when students did a university degree, they tended to study in their own country. Nowadays, they have more opportunity to study abroad.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this development?
1 prompt in this book.
General Training Writing
In many countries, family members work together in their family business.
Do you think family businesses have more advantages than disadvantages?
1 prompt in this book.
General Training Writing
In the past, most working people had only one job. However, nowadays, more and more people have more than one job at the same time.
What are the reasons for this development?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of having more than one job?
1 prompt in this book.
General Training Writing
Some people spend most of their lives living close to where they were born.
What might be the reasons for this?
What are the advantages and disadvantages?
1 prompt in this book.
General Training Writing
Some parents buy their children a large number of toys to play with.
What are the advantages and disadvantages for the child of having a large number of toys?
1 prompt in this book.
General Training Writing
Some people prefer to live in a house, while others feel that there are more advantages to living in an apartment.
Are there more advantages than disadvantages of living in a house compared with living in an apartment?