Online Learning Replacing Traditional Classrooms · Advantages and Disadvantages
A complete IELTS Academic Writing Task 2 question with a model answer of 284 words, plus a breakdown of the sentence structures, cohesive devices and vocabulary that answer uses. Write your own version first, then compare.
Written by Manish Sharma · CELTA and DELTA qualified · 8 years teaching IELTS
Score my answer to this questionThe question
You have 40 minutes. Write at least 250 words.
In some countries, an increasing number of university courses are delivered entirely online instead of in traditional classrooms. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this development? Write at least 250 words.
How to approach it
- 01Note that this version asks only 'What are the advantages and disadvantages?' — no weighted opinion is required
- 02Still close with a balanced conclusion, but do not be forced into picking a side if the prompt does not demand it
- 03Devote one body paragraph each to advantages and disadvantages and keep them roughly equal in length
- 04Develop two distinct points per side, each with explanation and an example
- 05Distinguish this format from 'discuss both views' — you are listing benefits and drawbacks of one trend, not two opposing opinions
- 06Use signposts such as 'a first advantage', 'a further drawback', 'however' to keep the structure transparent
Model answer
284 words in 4 paragraphs. Read it after you have written your own, not before: the point of a model answer is to show you what you missed, and you cannot miss anything you have not attempted.
In recent years, more and more universities have replaced traditional in-person lectures and seminars with fully online programmes, particularly at the undergraduate level. This essay will examine the main advantages and disadvantages of this shift.
There are two significant advantages to fully online higher education. The first is accessibility. Students who live in remote areas, have caring responsibilities, or hold full-time jobs can pursue a degree without relocating or attending fixed timetables, and disabled students often find virtual classrooms easier to navigate than physical campuses. Universities can also enrol learners from anywhere in the world, vastly broadening the talent pool. A second advantage is affordability. Removing the need for lecture theatres, dormitories, and daily commuting reduces costs for institutions and students alike, and recorded lectures allow learners to revisit difficult material at their own pace, which can support deeper understanding.
However, the disadvantages are equally important. The most pressing is the loss of social and developmental experience. University has traditionally been a place where young adults form friendships, join societies, and build the soft skills that come from negotiating shared space — none of which is easily replicated through video calls. Engagement is another concern; without the structure of a physical classroom, students who lack self-discipline are more likely to fall behind or drop out, and quiet learners may disappear behind muted microphones. Practical subjects such as medicine, dentistry, and engineering also suffer when laboratory and clinical experience cannot be delivered remotely.
In conclusion, online university courses offer welcome flexibility and lower costs, but they also weaken students' personal development and risk excluding hands-on subjects. Universities should therefore use online delivery where it genuinely adds value rather than as a wholesale replacement for the classroom.
What this answer actually does
Measured from the text above, and compared against the other 69 answers of the same type in this library. These are counts, not band scores: they describe what the writing does, which is the part you can copy.
7 fewer than the median answer for this task type
4 words at the shortest, 36 at the longest
2 fewer than the median answer for this task type
carry a subordinate or relative clause
Sentence rhythm
Sentences average 18.9 words and vary by 10.8 words either side of that, running from 4 words to 36. Variation is the point. Grammatical Range and Accuracy rewards a mix of simple and complex sentences, and an answer where every sentence is the same length reads as flat no matter how correct it is. 4 of the 15 sentences here carry a subordinate or relative clause.
The cohesive devices it uses
4 in total, spread across 4 different functions. Range matters more than count: an answer that opens every paragraph with a sequencer signals its structure but never signals a relationship between ideas, and Coherence and Cohesion is marked on both.
however
therefore
such as
in conclusion
Vocabulary and repetition
Ignoring grammar words, 87 per cent of the content words in this answer are distinct, and 77 per cent appear exactly once. Lexical Resource is where repetition costs the most marks, and the usual cause is not a small vocabulary but reaching for the same noun every time the topic is named.
The longest run of words copied straight from the question is 5 words. Examiners discount wording lifted from the question, so a short run here is the right outcome: the answer restates the topic in its own words rather than borrowing the question's.
What you are marked on
All four criteria carry equal weight, and your Writing band is their average rounded to the nearest half band.
Task Response
Fully cover both advantages and disadvantages with developed support and a coherent conclusion.
Coherence & Cohesion
Use a four-paragraph structure with clear topic sentences and signposting between advantages and disadvantages.
Lexical Resource
Use precise vocabulary for education, learning experience, and evaluation.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy
Use a range of complex structures including relative clauses, concessive clauses, and modal verbs with accuracy.
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