Is taking a year to work or travel before university a good idea?

A score 160 model answer to a real Duolingo English Test writing question in the official format, with notes on why it scores. Write your own version below it and get an instant rater-style score.

The question

Some students take a year to work or travel before starting university. Do you think this is a good idea? Explain your opinion with reasons and examples.

Write my answer and get scored

Score 160 model answer

I think a year out is a good idea for most students, but only if it has a shape. Arriving at eighteen straight from examinations, many students choose a subject because they were good at it at school rather than because they want it, and a year of ordinary work is a fast education in what you can stand doing all day. My cousin spent his year in a hospital kitchen and switched from law to nursing before it cost him anything. The risk is real, though: a year of nothing at all makes returning to study harder, and some never return. Work, save, or travel with a purpose. An empty year is the version that goes wrong.

Why this answer earns score 160

Qualifies the opinion in the first sentence, then defends both the benefit and the risk.
The cousin example gives a concrete outcome, which is stronger than a general claim.
Short final sentences give the response a confident, spoken rhythm.

Do not memorise model answers; raters recognise recycled essays instantly. Study the moves, then make them with your own ideas, and check where you stand with a scored practice.

Questions about this answer

What score is this model answer?

It is written to score 160, and the notes under it quote the answer's own words to show why.

How long should my answer be?

This model answer is 118 words, and the task asks for at least 50.

What is the most common mistake with a model answer?

Memorising it. Raters recognise recycled answers instantly, so study the moves, then make them with your own ideas.