Ielts Task 2. Gap year

It is becoming increasingly popular to have a year off between finishing school and going to university. Do the advantages of having a year off outweigh the disadvantages?

Recently, those who finish high school are likely to have a year off before continuing their studies at tertiary educations. In my opinion, I believe that the merits dominate the drawbacks.

On the one hand, there is no denying that there are many benefits of taking a gap year after the completion of high school. To commence with, for those who still do not know their major, they can delay the process of their academic work to have a better understanding of themselves. During this period, they can take up part-time jobs to get more practical experiences or skills such as negotiating and time managing, which are immensely useful for several specific professions. Furthermore, some students also make use of that gap year to unwind after working hard. They can invest their time in caring for their parents or their peers. For many views, this can improve their mental health to work more effectively later.

On the other hand, many hold that this tendency can affect teenagers negatively. The main demerit is that after a year off, adolescents may lack the enthusiasm and motivation to start their studies again. As a result, they become lazy and bored with assignments, which can lead to inefficiency in studying. Besides, another negative aspect of this phenomenon is that a considerable number of students may forget some fundamental knowledge if they do not take their studies into account.

In conclusion, regardless of some demerits of taking a gap year after finishing high school, I firmly concur that students should have a year off to get some essential benefits.