Some schools have replaced printed textbooks entirely with tablets and laptops.
A full IELTS Writing Task 2 answer to this question, with a paragraph plan, ideas you can use, and the vocabulary that fits this topic.
The question
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Some schools have replaced printed textbooks entirely with tablets and laptops.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
How to read this question
This asks you to outline both sides — unlike a positive/negative question, no verdict is strictly required. But read the question line carefully every time: if it had asked whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, an even-handed answer with no judgement could not score above Band 6. The word doing quiet work here is "entirely": the essay is about full replacement, not about using technology at all, and the best answers treat that as the thing being evaluated.
Paragraph plan
Introduction — Paraphrase, then signpost: real gains in cost, currency and access; real costs in attention, retention and equity.
Body 1 — Advantages — a device is cheaper and more current than a shelf of textbooks, and it adapts to the individual learner.
Body 2 — Disadvantages — the same device carries every distraction ever designed, reading on screen is measurably shallower, and total replacement makes access conditional on hardware.
Conclusion — The advantages belong to the content and the disadvantages to the device, which is an argument against 'entirely' rather than against technology.
Model essay
Band 8.5–9.0 model essay
323 words
A number of schools have entirely replaced printed textbooks with digital devices such as tablets and laptops. Although this shift can produce several benefits, it can also give rise to certain drawbacks.
On the one hand, this transition offers considerable practical advantages. To begin, digital devices allow schools to update learning materials instantly and at minimal cost, since new content or corrections can be distributed electronically without reprinting entire textbooks, unlike traditional books that quickly become outdated as syllabuses change. This also substantially reduces the physical weight students must carry to school each day, as an entire curriculum's worth of material can be stored on a single lightweight device rather than multiple heavy volumes. In addition, tablets and laptops often incorporate interactive features, such as videos and quizzes, which can make lessons more engaging and cater to different learning styles compared with static printed pages. Teachers, too, can benefit from digital platforms that allow them to track individual students' progress and tailor instruction accordingly.
On the other hand, this reliance on technology also presents notable drawbacks. Firstly, digital devices are considerably more expensive to purchase and maintain than printed books, and technical malfunctions, such as broken screens or software failures, can disrupt lessons and require costly repairs that many schools, particularly in less affluent areas, cannot easily afford. Secondly, constant screen use can strain students' eyesight and increase the temptation to access unrelated applications or websites during lessons, thereby diminishing concentration and academic performance over time. Unlike a printed textbook, which offers no distractions beyond its pages, an internet-connected device inherently invites divided attention. Younger children, in particular, may also find it more difficult to retain information absorbed from a screen compared with a printed page, according to some researchers.
In conclusion, while replacing textbooks with digital devices offers cost-effective updates, lighter school bags and more interactive learning, it also introduces financial burdens, technical vulnerabilities and potential distractions that schools must carefully manage.
Created by a Band 8.5–9.0 IELTS Writing achiever — Premium. Sign up free to read the rest of this essay and unlock every model on the site.
This is an advantages and disadvantages question. The essay above shows you what a strong answer looks like when it is finished. What it cannot show you is how to get there from a blank page in forty minutes.
That is what our Writing Study Library is for: the structure we teach for this exact question type, the paragraph pattern that goes with it, and the sentence openers for each stage — so the essay is planned before you start writing rather than assembled as you go.
Introduction: Introduction — paraphrase neutrally that some schools have replaced printed textbooks entirely with tablets and laptops, noting both benefits and drawbacks exist without giving a personal opinion.
Body 1: Body 1 — give two advantages: digital devices let schools update material instantly and cheaply, and they reduce the physical weight students carry while interactive features can make lessons more engaging.
Body 2: Body 2 — give two disadvantages: digital devices are expensive to buy and maintain with costly technical failures, and constant screen use can strain eyesight and invite distraction from unrelated apps or websites.
Conclusion: Conclusion — give a neutral summary of both the benefits (cost-effective updates, lighter bags, engagement) and drawbacks (cost, technical risk, distraction) without stating a personal opinion.
Word or phrase
Meaning
Used in a sentence
digital devices
electronic equipment such as tablets and laptops used for tasks
digital devices allow schools to update learning materials instantly and at minimal cost, since new content or corrections can be distributed electronically without reprinting entire textbooks.
curriculum
the subjects and content taught in a course of study
an entire curriculum's worth of material can be stored on a single lightweight device.
interactive features
elements like videos or quizzes that let users actively engage with content
tablets and laptops often incorporate interactive features, such as videos and quizzes.
learning styles
the different ways individuals prefer to absorb and process information
cater to different learning styles compared with static printed pages.
technical malfunctions
failures or faults in equipment or software
technical malfunctions, such as broken screens or software failures, can disrupt lessons.
screen use
time spent looking at and interacting with an electronic screen
constant screen use can strain students' eyesight.
divided attention
focus that is split between multiple things at once
an internet-connected device inherently invites divided attention.
cost-effective
achieving good value without unnecessary expense
replacing textbooks with digital devices offers cost-effective updates, lighter school bags and more interactive learning.
Created by a Band 8.5–9.0 IELTS Writing achiever — Premium. Sign up free to see the ideas and vocabulary for this topic and unlock every model on the site.
Answers checked here may be published on this page, without your name, to help other learners. Nothing else about you is stored.
Common questions
Do I need to give an opinion in an advantages and disadvantages essay?
Not unless the question asks for one — and you must check the question line, not the statement. "What are the advantages and disadvantages?" asks you to outline both. "Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?" demands a verdict, and an even-handed answer to that version cannot score above Band 6 for Task Response.
Should I write two advantages and two disadvantages?
One well-developed point on each side, or two at most, is far better than three thin ones. Examiners reward extension — a point explained through to its consequence — not coverage. Four listed advantages with no development is a classic Band 6 pattern.
Can I put advantages and disadvantages in the same paragraph?
You can, but it is harder to control and usually reads as less organised. The safe structure is one paragraph per side, each with a clear topic sentence. Keep the mixed structure for when you are deliberately comparing a single aspect from both angles.
Is it acceptable to mention research or studies?
Yes, in general terms — "research suggests", "studies have found" — and IELTS does not check the citation. What you should avoid is inventing precise figures or naming institutions, which adds risk without adding marks.
