Advantages and disadvantages essays
Learn the difference between 'Discuss the advantages and disadvantages' and 'Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?', weigh the two sides using clear criteria, and write a band 8 essay that reaches a convincing verdict.
By the end of this lesson you will be able to:
- Recognise the four common wordings of advantages/disadvantages questions and know exactly when a personal verdict is required
- Weigh benefits against drawbacks using five criteria (scale, severity, duration, manageability and who bears the cost) instead of counting points
- Use weighing language accurately (outweigh, on balance, far more significant, a small price to pay) and avoid the common grammar errors with 'outweigh'
- Plan a four-paragraph 'outweigh' essay with a clear thesis, a fair concession and an explicit pivot sentence
- Write a full 250+ word essay in 40 minutes and compare it with a band 8–9 model
The four wordings you will meet
Advantages/disadvantages prompts come in a small number of patterns. Learn to recognise them in the first 30 seconds.
1. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of… / What are the advantages and disadvantages of…?
An explanation task. Cover both sides with roughly equal development. You are not required to give your opinion. A brief comment in the conclusion is not penalised, but it must not replace the balanced discussion.
2. Do the advantages of… outweigh the disadvantages? / Do the benefits of this outweigh the drawbacks?
A judgement task, which is really an opinion essay in disguise. Your answer is yes or no (or a carefully qualified version of one), stated in the introduction, supported in the body and repeated in the conclusion.
3. What are the advantages of…? Do they outweigh the disadvantages?
A hybrid. The first question asks you to explain the advantages; the second asks for a verdict. You still have to deal with the disadvantages, because you cannot weigh one side against nothing, but the advantages deserve fuller treatment.
4. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your own opinion.
Both sides plus a clear opinion. Explain each side fairly, and make sure your view is visible in the introduction and conclusion.
A close relative, Is this a positive or negative development?, also asks for a judgement. You will practise it in the two-part questions lesson, and the weighing skills from this lesson apply directly.
The golden rule
If the prompt contains outweigh, more significant, your own opinion or positive or negative, you must deliver a verdict. If it only says discuss or what are, you must deliver a balanced explanation.
The first sentence of the prompt (In many countries, people now…) is only background. The instruction is in the final question, so underline it before you plan anything.
Discuss vs Outweigh at a glance
| Discuss the advantages and disadvantages | Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? | |
|---|---|---|
What the examiner wants | A clear, balanced explanation of both sides | A clear judgement on which side is greater, with reasons |
Opinion required? | No (a brief comment at the end is acceptable but optional) | Yes, from the introduction to the conclusion |
Introduction ends with… | An outline: This essay will examine the main benefits and drawbacks of… | A thesis: I believe the benefits clearly outweigh the drawbacks because… |
Body paragraph 1 | Advantages (one or two well-developed ideas) | The weaker side, conceded fairly |
Body paragraph 2 | Disadvantages (one or two well-developed ideas) | The stronger side plus an explicit weighing (pivot) sentence |
Balance of length | Roughly equal | Stronger side usually longer, but the weaker side must still be real |
Conclusion | Summarise both sides | Restate the verdict and the main reason it wins |
Most common band-limiting error | Arguing one side only, so half the task is missing | Discussing both sides but never deciding (sitting on the fence) |
How to weigh: five criteria examiners find convincing
| Criterion | Question to ask | Weighing sentence |
|---|---|---|
Scale | How many people are affected? | The inconvenience affects a small minority, whereas the benefit reaches millions. |
Severity | How serious is the effect? | A slower journey is an irritation; a lost livelihood is a crisis. |
Duration | Is it short-term or long-term? | The disruption is temporary, while the gains will last for decades. |
Manageability | Can the problem be reduced or fixed? | These risks can be largely mitigated through sensible regulation. |
Who bears the cost | Is the burden fair? Does it fall on the vulnerable? | The costs fall hardest on those least able to bear them. |
Weighing is not counting
Weak essays 'weigh' like this: There are three advantages and only two disadvantages, so the advantages win. That is arithmetic, not argument. An examiner reading it sees a list followed by an unsupported claim.
Strong essays compare the importance of the two sides, using one or two of the criteria above.
A worked example from Dhaka
Imagine a prompt about building elevated expressways in congested cities. Construction blocks roads, dust levels rise, and some street vendors lose their pitches. These are real disadvantages.
Now apply the criteria:
- Duration: the construction disruption lasts a few years; the road will be used for decades.
- Scale: the disruption hits particular neighbourhoods; faster journeys benefit hundreds of thousands of commuters every day.
- Manageability: vendors can be offered alternative sites and dust can be controlled with water sprays and covered trucks.
That reasoning produces a genuine verdict:
Although construction causes serious disruption for nearby residents and traders, this disruption is temporary and can be reduced, whereas the time saved by commuters will benefit the city for decades.
You did not deny the disadvantages. You put them in proportion. That is what weighing means, and it is exactly what moves an essay from 'a relevant position' (band 6) to 'a clear and developed position' (band 7 and above).
Of course, the same criteria can push you the other way. If an expressway would demolish thousands of homes (severity) and benefit mainly car owners, a minority in most Bangladeshi cities (scale, who bears the cost), you could argue that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. There is no 'correct' verdict, only a well-supported or a poorly supported one.
Weighing language that sounds natural (and is accurate)
| Function | Language | Example |
|---|---|---|
State the verdict | the advantages (far / clearly) outweigh the disadvantages; the benefits are far more significant than the drawbacks | I would argue that the benefits of remote learning far outweigh its drawbacks. |
Weigh with the passive | X is (clearly) outweighed by Y | These drawbacks are, in my view, clearly outweighed by the gains in efficiency. |
Sum up the balance | On balance, …; All things considered, …; Taking everything into account, … | On balance, the move towards digital payment is a positive one. |
Concede the other side | Admittedly, …; It is true that…; While there are legitimate concerns about…, … | While there are legitimate concerns about data privacy, these can be addressed through stronger regulation. |
Minimise the weaker side | relatively minor, temporary, manageable, can be mitigated / offset, a small price to pay | The initial cost is a small price to pay for decades of cleaner air. |
Strengthen the stronger side | far-reaching, fundamental, lasting, transformative, of far greater consequence | The impact on financial inclusion is far more fundamental. |
Make the comparison explicit | X matters more than Y because…; Whereas X…, Y…; X rather than Y | Whereas the risks affect a minority and are manageable, the benefits are shared by almost everyone. |
Give a conditional verdict | provided that…; as long as…; on condition that… | The benefits outweigh the costs, provided that cash remains available for those who need it. |
Planning an 'outweigh' essay in five minutes
- 1
Decide your verdict first (30 seconds)
Before brainstorming, ask: which side can I support more convincingly? Choose the side you can explain better, not the side you think the examiner prefers. Examiners mark how well you argue, not what you believe.
- 2
Find the strongest point on each side (2 minutes)
Jot down two advantages and two disadvantages, then circle the best one on each side. You will develop one or two ideas per paragraph in depth rather than listing four or five shallow ones. Depth earns Task Response marks; lists do not.
- 3
Choose your weighing criterion (30 seconds)
Ask: why does my side win? Is it scale, severity, duration, manageability or who bears the cost? Write the criterion in the margin. It becomes your pivot sentence, the sentence that turns a discussion into a judgement.
- 4
Write the thesis (1 minute)
Paraphrase the topic, then state the verdict and the main reason: Although this shift raises concerns about X, I believe its benefits, particularly Y, clearly outweigh its drawbacks. The Although clause previews your concession; the main clause gives your verdict.
- 5
Order the body: weaker side first (30 seconds)
Body 1 concedes the weaker side honestly. Body 2 opens with the pivot sentence, develops the stronger side with a specific example, and ends by comparing the two directly. Finishing on your stronger side lets the argument flow straight into the conclusion.
- 6
Plan a short conclusion (30 seconds)
One or two sentences: restate the verdict with the main reason, and optionally add a condition (provided that…). No new arguments, no new examples.
Introductions for Prompt B (outweigh)
Band 5–6 introduction
Nowadays, technology is developing day by day and it has both advantages and disadvantages. Many people are using mobile phones to pay for things instead of cash. In this essay I will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this trend.
Band 8 introduction
In many countries, coins and banknotes are steadily giving way to payments made by card or mobile phone. Although this shift raises genuine concerns about privacy and the exclusion of certain groups, I believe its benefits, particularly in convenience and financial access, clearly outweigh its drawbacks.
The band 5–6 version opens with a memorised filler sentence (*technology is developing day by day*), copies the prompt almost word for word and promises to 'discuss', which is the wrong task for an 'outweigh' question. After 45 words the reader still has no idea what the writer thinks. The band 8 version paraphrases the topic precisely (*coins and banknotes… giving way to… payments made by card or mobile phone*), previews the concession in a single *Although* clause and states an unmistakable verdict with a reason. Two sentences, about 50 words, and the examiner already knows the shape of the whole essay.
Check your understanding
7 questions- 1
Which prompt does NOT require you to give your own opinion?
- 2
A student answers 'Do the advantages of online shopping outweigh the disadvantages?' like this: Body 1 lists three advantages, Body 2 lists three disadvantages, and the conclusion says 'Online shopping has both good and bad sides.' What is the main problem?
- 3
Find and correct the mistake:
The benefits of working from home are outweigh the drawbacks.
- 4
Match each weighing criterion to the sentence that uses it.
ScaleDurationManageabilitySeverity - 5
On , I believe the benefits of the scheme are greater than its costs.
- 6
Choose TWO sentences that would work as a thesis for: 'Do the advantages of tourism outweigh the disadvantages for local communities?'
Select 2.
- 7
For the hybrid prompt 'What are the advantages of living in a large city? Do they outweigh the disadvantages?', which plan is best?
Answer every question to check.
Prompt: In many countries, people now pay for almost everything with mobile phones or cards instead of cash. Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?
In many countries, coins and banknotes are steadily giving way to payments made by card or mobile phone. Although this shift raises genuine concerns about privacy and the exclusion of certain groups, I believe its benefits, particularly in convenience and financial access, clearly outweigh its drawbacks.
Admittedly, a cashless economy is not without risks. Every digital transaction leaves a record, which means that banks, technology companies and governments can build a detailed picture of how individuals live, and such data can be misused or stolen. There is also a danger that people without smartphones or reliable internet access, many of them elderly or living in rural areas, will find it harder to buy basic goods if shops stop accepting cash.
However, these problems are largely manageable, whereas the advantages are fundamental. The most obvious gain is convenience: paying a bill, sending money to a relative or buying a train ticket now takes seconds rather than a trip to a bank. More importantly, mobile money has brought millions of people into the formal financial system for the first time. In Bangladesh, for example, services such as bKash allow garment workers to send part of their wages to their families in distant villages instantly and safely, something that once meant carrying cash on long and risky journeys. Digital records also make tax evasion and bribery harder to conceal. Privacy can be protected by strict data laws, and exclusion can be avoided by requiring essential services to keep accepting cash, but it is difficult to imagine any other policy that could deliver such widespread benefits.
In conclusion, while the move away from cash creates real risks for privacy and for vulnerable groups, these can be reduced through sensible regulation. The gains in convenience, safety and financial inclusion are far more significant, so on balance this trend is a positive one.
- Introduction: paraphrase + verdictThe topic is paraphrased (cash → coins and banknotes; pay with mobile phones → payments made by card or mobile phone) and the thesis gives a clear verdict with its main reasons. The 'Although…' clause previews the concession, so the examiner knows the essay will be fair but decisive.
- Body 1: the weaker side, conceded honestly'Admittedly' signals the concession. Two disadvantages (privacy and exclusion) are explained through their consequences rather than simply named. The writer does not weaken them artificially; fairness makes the final verdict more credible.
- Pivot sentence'However, these problems are largely manageable, whereas the advantages are fundamental.' This single sentence turns a discussion into a judgement, using the manageability criterion. It is the most important sentence in an 'outweigh' essay.
- Specific, developed exampleThe bKash example says who (garment workers), what (send wages home instantly), and why it matters (it replaces risky journeys with cash). This kind of concrete support is what separates band 7+ 'extended and supported' ideas from band 6 generalisations.
- Explicit comparisonThe last sentence of Body 2 shows how each disadvantage could be solved (data laws, keeping cash for essential services) while the benefits could not be achieved any other way. This is weighing, not listing.
- Conclusion: same verdict, no new ideas'Far more significant' and 'on balance' restate the verdict from the introduction, so the position is consistent from start to finish. The concession is acknowledged in one clause and no new argument appears.
- Lexical ResourcePrecise collocations rather than rare 'big words': giving way to, leaves a record, build a detailed picture, the formal financial system, tax evasion, harder to conceal, widespread benefits.
Examiner commentary on the model
Task Response (8–9): The prompt is answered directly. The position is identical in the thesis, the pivot sentence and the conclusion, and each main idea is extended with consequences and a specific example.
Coherence and Cohesion (8–9): One central idea per paragraph, with a clear progression: weaker side → pivot → stronger side → verdict. Linkers are few and purposeful (Admittedly, However, More importantly, In conclusion). Much of the cohesion comes from reference instead: this shift, such data, these problems, something that once meant…
Lexical Resource (8–9): Natural, precise collocations and accurate topic vocabulary (financial inclusion, tax evasion, the formal financial system), with no memorised flourishes.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy (8–9): Concession clauses, relative clauses (which means that…), a reduced relative phrase (many of them elderly…), modal passives (can be protected, can be avoided) and an it is difficult to imagine… structure, all used without distracting errors.
What changes if the prompt says 'Discuss'?
If the prompt were Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this trend, the same ideas would be reorganised and the verdict removed:
- Introduction: …This essay will examine the main benefits of this shift, such as convenience and wider access to financial services, as well as its drawbacks, including risks to privacy and the exclusion of some groups.
- Body 1: advantages (convenience; financial inclusion with the bKash example).
- Body 2: disadvantages (privacy; exclusion), developed just as fully.
- Conclusion: In conclusion, a cashless society offers speed and wider access to financial services, but it also creates risks to privacy and may disadvantage those without digital access.
Notice what disappears: no I believe, no outweigh, no pivot sentence. Balanced explanation is the whole task. Notice, too, that the body paragraphs are now roughly equal in length, whereas in the 'outweigh' version the stronger side was clearly longer.
Developing the stronger side: listing vs weighing
Band 6 body paragraph
Firstly, living in a big city has many advantages. There are more job opportunities. Moreover, there are better hospitals and universities. Furthermore, there are many shopping malls and restaurants. Additionally, transport is better. Therefore, the advantages are more than the disadvantages.
Band 8 body paragraph
Nevertheless, for most people the drawbacks of city life are outweighed by the opportunities it offers. The most significant of these is employment: a young graduate from a district town is far more likely to find a job that matches her qualifications in Dhaka or Chattogram than at home, simply because that is where most employers are concentrated. This advantage is not temporary, since a well-paid first job shapes a person's career and income for decades. Congestion and high rents, by contrast, are daily irritations rather than life-changing obstacles, and many residents reduce them by living near their workplace or sharing accommodation.
The band 6 paragraph lists four advantages joined by a mechanical chain of linkers (Firstly, Moreover, Furthermore, Additionally) and then 'weighs' by counting. None of the ideas is explained, and 'the advantages are more than the disadvantages' is both unidiomatic and unproven. The band 8 paragraph develops one idea in depth (employment → why it happens → how long it lasts) and then compares it directly with the other side using two criteria: duration ('not temporary… for decades') and severity ('daily irritations rather than life-changing obstacles'). Fewer ideas, far more argument.
Writing Task 2 practice
250+ words · 40 minIn many countries, young children now spend several hours a day using tablets and smartphones, both for entertainment and for learning.
Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Self-check before submitting
- ☐ My introduction paraphrases the topic and states a clear verdict (the advantages outweigh, or the disadvantages outweigh) in the thesis
- ☐ Body 1 explains the weaker side fairly, with at least one developed point
- ☐ Body 2 develops the stronger side with a specific example (who, what, and why it matters)
- ☐ I wrote at least one explicit pivot or weighing sentence using a criterion: scale, severity, duration, manageability or who bears the cost
- ☐ My conclusion repeats the same verdict, with no contradiction and no new ideas
- ☐ I used 'outweigh' correctly (no 'than', no 'are outweigh') and varied my weighing language (on balance, far more significant, a small price to pay)
- ☐ I developed ideas instead of listing them, and avoided chains of Moreover / Furthermore / Additionally
- ☐ The essay is at least 250 words, and I spent about 5 minutes planning and 3 minutes checking
Final quiz: advantages and disadvantages essays
11 questions- 1
What does this prompt require? 'Some people believe that online education will benefit students. What are the advantages and disadvantages of online education?'
- 2
Put the parts of an 'outweigh' essay in the most effective order.
Drag the cards (or use the arrows) into the correct order.
- 1Concession: the weaker side explained fairly
- 2Conclusion restating the verdict and the main reason
- 3Paraphrase of the topic and a thesis stating the verdict
- 4The stronger side developed with a specific example
- 5Pivot sentence: why the stronger side matters more
- 3
The long-term gains of the new metro line far the short-term disruption caused by its construction.
- 4
Find and correct the mistake:
The disadvantages of this policy outweighs its advantages.
- 5
Find and correct the mistake:
In my opinion, the advantages of tourism are more than the disadvantages.
- 6
Which TWO criteria does this sentence use to weigh? 'Although the new metro line caused two years of disruption for shopkeepers along the route, it now saves hundreds of thousands of commuters an hour every day.'
Select 2.
- 7
Which conclusion is best for an essay arguing that the benefits of studying abroad outweigh the drawbacks?
- 8
Which sentence is a fair concession rather than a weak 'straw man'?
- 9
Match each prompt wording to what you must do.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of…Do the advantages of… outweigh the disadvantages?What are the advantages of…? Do they outweigh the disadvantages?Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your own opinion. - 10
These privacy risks can be largely through stricter data protection laws.
- 11
Prompt: 'Do the advantages of social media outweigh the disadvantages?' Student's introduction: 'Social media has transformed the way people communicate. This essay will look at both the positive and negative sides of this change before reaching a conclusion.'
This introduction tells the examiner which side the writer believes is stronger.
Answer every question to check.
Key takeaways
Weighing vocabulary for Task 2
Saved as flashcards with a free accountoutweigh
verb/ˌaʊtˈweɪ/
to be greater or more important than something else
তুলনায় বেশি গুরুত্বপূর্ণ হওয়া
For most families, the benefits of mobile banking far outweigh the risks.
drawback
noun/ˈdrɔːbæk/
a feature of something that makes it less useful or attractive
অসুবিধা, ত্রুটি
The main drawback of remote learning is the lack of contact with classmates.
on balance
phrase/ɒn ˈbæləns/
after considering all the relevant facts and arguments
সব দিক বিবেচনা করে
On balance, the new expressway has done more good than harm.
mitigate
verb/ˈmɪtɪɡeɪt/
to make something harmful or unpleasant less serious
প্রশমিত করা, কমানো
The risks of online fraud can be mitigated through better public education.
offset
verb/ˈɒfset/
to balance one effect against an opposite effect so that it has less impact
পুষিয়ে দেওয়া
Higher fuel costs were partly offset by savings on maintenance.
far-reaching
adjective/ˌfɑː ˈriːtʃɪŋ/
having a great influence or effect on many people or things
সুদূরপ্রসারী
The spread of mobile money has had far-reaching consequences for rural households.
negligible
adjective/ˈneɡlɪdʒəbl/
so small or unimportant that it is not worth considering
নগণ্য
For most users, the extra cost of the service is negligible.
financial inclusion
noun phrase/faɪˌnænʃl ɪnˈkluːʒn/
access for individuals and businesses to useful and affordable financial services such as savings, payments and credit
আর্থিক অন্তর্ভুক্তি
Mobile banking has done more for financial inclusion in rural Bangladesh than traditional bank branches ever did.
a small price to pay
phrase/ə smɔːl praɪs tə peɪ/
a disadvantage that is worth accepting in order to gain something much more valuable
বড় লাভের জন্য সামান্য ত্যাগ
A few months of disruption is a small price to pay for a safer bridge.
concession
noun/kənˈseʃn/
in an argument, the act of admitting that an opposing point has some truth
বিপক্ষের যুক্তির আংশিক স্বীকৃতি
Begin the second paragraph with a concession, then explain why your view is stronger.
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