Health in IELTS Writing Task 2: Advantage and Disadvantage Essay Samples

IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Sample Essay Health

In the Academic IELTS Writing section, health-related essay topics often focus on public health issues and lifestyle choices. Common subtopics may include: the impact of diet and exercise on health, the role of government in healthcare, mental health awareness, the effects of smoking and alcohol consumption, the challenges of an aging population, and the benefits of preventive healthcare measures.

Find useful IELTS vocabulary on health here.

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Essay Topics

Topic 1: Should doctors, nurses, and teachers earn more than celebrities?
Topic 2: Should everyone adopt a vegetarian diet for better health?

TaskDoctors, nurses and teachers make a great contribution to society and should be paid more than entertainment and sports celebrities. Do you agree or disagree?

How to approach the essay:

How to approach this IELTS essay:
• Understand the question – You’re being asked whether essential workers (doctors, nurses, teachers) should be paid more than entertainers and athletes. Decide if you agree, disagree, or partly agree.
• Form your opinion – Clearly state your position in the introduction (agree/disagree). In this sample essay, we will agree.

Reasons Professionals Should Earn More	Criticism of High Earnings for Celebrities/Athletes
• Professionals like doctors, nurses, and teachers perform vital, life-changing roles • Higher salaries would incentivize more people to enter important professions • Professionals work under strict codes of conduct and legal accountability • Examples: Surgeons must be precise to save lives; actors can simply redo scenes	• Athletes and actors primarily offer entertainment rather than essential services • Entertainers’ contributions are less critical to societal functioning • Entertainers face minimal consequences for mistakes compared to professionals

Model Answer

In contemporary society, many celebrities and athletes earn exceptionally high incomes. However, many believe that professionals such as doctors, nurses, and teachers should be paid more than these entertainers, given their significant contributions to society. I firmly agree that these essential workers deserve higher salaries than sports stars and celebrities.

Individuals should be paid according to the importance of their work. For instance, doctors and nurses are instrumental in saving lives, while teachers play a pivotal role in shaping the minds of our youth, who are often vulnerable and impressionable. These roles are vital to the functioning of society; therefore, offering higher salaries would serve as an incentive for more people to enter these fields and contribute meaningfully. Consequently, society would function more effectively and continue to progress. In contrast, athletes primarily compete for personal glory, and movie stars entertain the public through their performances. While these activities may provide enjoyment, they do not hold the same level of significance for the general populace, and thus, they should not command such large financial rewards.

Moreover, professionals deserve better pay because of the high demands of their jobs. Unlike entertainers, who often work without strict oversight, professionals adhere to a strict code of conduct and are legally accountable for any negligence or misconduct. In contrast, artists face minimal repercussions for errors made during performances or film productions. For example, a surgeon must remain focused and precise during life-saving operations, where even a minor mistake can have fatal consequences. In contrast, an actor can simply redo a scene without any serious impact. This stark difference in responsibility highlights why professionals should be more fairly compensated.

In conclusion, professionals deserve higher pay due to the essential and demanding nature of their work. Their unwavering commitment to public welfare far outweighs the contributions of entertainers, justifying the need for a reevaluation of salary structures in favor of those who truly serve the community.

Essay Questions

Commentary
Essay Question: Doctors, nurses and teachers make a great contribution to society and should be paid more than entertainment and sports celebrities. Do you agree or disagree?

Introduction
Clarity: Yes, the topic is introduced clearly with context around current salary trends.
Thesis: The writer clearly expresses agreement with the idea that professionals should be paid more than entertainers.

Body Paragraphs
Main Ideas:

Paragraph 1 (Support for Professionals):
• Pay should reflect societal importance.
• Doctors save lives; teachers shape future generations.
• High pay encourages more people to enter these critical fields.
• Celebrities provide entertainment but lack long-term social impact.

Paragraph 2 (Job Demands):
• Professionals face higher pressure and strict accountability.
• Example: Surgeons vs. actors — mistakes carry vastly different consequences.
• Entertainers face fewer risks and standards.

Coherence:

• Clear structure with distinct arguments in each paragraph.
• Effective comparison between professions and entertainers.
• Logical flow and smooth transitions between ideas.

Conclusion
Summary:

• Strongly reinforces writer’s position.
• Clearly summarizes the core reasons professionals should be better paid.

Vocabulary & Grammar
High-Level Vocabulary:

• Instrumental – crucial or essential in achieving something
• Impressionable – easily influenced due to lack of experience
• Negligence – failure to take proper care in doing something
• Accountable – responsible for actions and outcomes
• Reevaluation – reassessment or rethinking of a current situation

Academic Phrases:

• “Individuals should be paid according to the importance of their work.”
• “This stark difference in responsibility highlights why…”
• “Their unwavering commitment to public welfare…”

Complex Sentences:

• “These roles are vital to the functioning of society; therefore, offering higher salaries would serve as an incentive for more people to enter these fields and contribute meaningfully.”
• “Unlike entertainers, who often work without strict oversight, professionals adhere to a strict code of conduct and are legally accountable for any negligence or misconduct.”

Task

Everyone Should adopt a vegetarian diet because eating meat can cause serious health problems.Do you agree or disagree?

How to approach the essay:

How to approach the essay:
Understand the question – You’re asked to agree or disagree with the idea that everyone should adopt a vegetarian diet for health reasons. Decide your stance clearly (agree, disagree, or partially agree).
Introduction – Briefly state your position and outline the main points you will discuss (benefits of a balanced diet, importance of both vegetables and meat).

Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet	Importance of Including Meat
• Vegetables provide essential vitamins for physical and mental development • Low in fat and high in fiber, reducing risks of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer • Studies show lower disease rates among plant-based eaters	• Meat supplies high-quality protein, iron, and vitamin B12 • Deficiency of nutrients from meat can cause anemia and fatigue • Sustainable livestock farming supports ecosystems and rural economies

Model Answer

Many advocate for a diet rich in vegetables and fruits while avoiding meat to maintain good health. While I agree that increasing vegetable intake is beneficial, I do not believe that meat is inherently harmful. This essay will examine both sides of the argument and explain why a balanced approach is more reasonable.

On one hand, adopting a vegetarian diet can be particularly advantageous for our health, especially during the formative years of our lives. Vegetables are packed with essential vitamins that support both physical and mental development. They are also low in fat and high in fiber, which helps reduce the risk of obesity and related illnesses. Numerous studies have established that individuals who consume a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and seeds tend to have lower rates of heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Therefore, prioritizing fruits and vegetables in our daily meals can lead to improved overall health.

On the other hand, completely removing meat from the diet is neither necessary nor advisable. Meat is a key source of high-quality protein, essential amino acids, iron, and vitamin B12— nutrients difficult to obtain in sufficient amounts from a vegetarian diet. A deficiency in these nutrients can lead to health issues like anemia and fatigue. Additionally, well-managed livestock farming helps maintain grasslands, supports biodiversity, and sustains rural economies. Removing meat entirely could disrupt these ecological systems and harm agricultural communities. Therefore, meat is not only important for a balanced diet but also contributes to sustainable food systems.

In conclusion, while a vegetarian diet offers health benefits, meat remains essential for a balanced diet, providing crucial nutrients that are hard to replace. Moreover, sustainable meat production supports ecosystems and rural communities, making it an important dietary choice.

Essay Question:

Everyone should adopt a vegetarian diet because eating meat can cause serious health problems. Do you agree or disagree?

Introduction

Clarity: The topic is introduced clearly. The writer sets up the debate by discussing both sides of the argument.
Thesis: The writer states their stance—acknowledging the benefits of vegetables but arguing that meat is not inherently harmful. They mention they will explore both sides.

Body Paragraphs
Main Ideas (Pros/Cons):

Paragraph 1 (Pros of a Vegetarian Diet): Vegetables provide vitamins, are low in fat, high in fiber, and reduce risks of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Paragraph 2 (Meat’s Importance): Meat provides protein, amino acids, iron, and B12—nutrients hard to obtain from a vegetarian diet. It also helps maintain ecological balance and supports rural economies.

Coherence: The essay is well-structured, covering both sides clearly. Transitions between paragraphs are smooth.

Conclusion

Summary: The conclusion restates the key points—vegetarian diets are beneficial but meat is important for a balanced diet and sustainability. The writer effectively summarizes their stance.

Vocabulary & Grammar

High-Level Vocabulary:

Advantageous: Helpful or beneficial.
Nutrients: Substances required for growth, metabolism, and health.
Deficiency: A lack or shortage of something (e.g., essential nutrients).
Sustainable: Capable of being maintained or continued over time.

Academic Phrases:

• “This essay will examine both sides of the argument.”
• “Therefore, prioritizing fruits and vegetables…”

Complex Sentences:

• “For instance, iron from meat (heme iron) is more easily absorbed than plant-based iron.”
• “Additionally, well-managed livestock farming helps maintain grasslands, supports biodiversity, and sustains rural economies.”