Sample essay — PTE format (discuss both views)
Remote education has become common in modern society. Discuss the advantages
and disadvantages of studying online.
In recent years, remote education has expanded quickly and changed the way
many people learn. While some argue that online study makes education
more convenient and affordable, others believe it creates
serious problems related to social contact, motivation and
fairness. This essay will discuss both the main advantages and
disadvantages of remote education.
On the one hand, remote education offers several clear benefits.
First, it gives students much greater flexibility, because
they can attend classes from home and choose study times that fit their
personal schedules. For example, a working parent can watch recorded lectures
after putting children to bed, while a nurse on night shifts can complete
assignments during the day.
Second, online learning is often less expensive, since
students do not need to pay for daily commuting, campus accommodation or
relocation to another city. A student living in a rural town, for instance,
can enrol in a university course abroad without leaving home.
Third, remote education improves access for groups who may
find traditional classrooms difficult. People with mobility problems can study
comfortably at home, and during health crises such as COVID-19, schools and
universities were able to continue teaching online when face-to-face classes
were impossible.
On the other hand, remote education also has important disadvantages.
One concern is the lack of social interaction, because
students spend most of their time alone in front of a screen rather than
talking with classmates and teachers in person. For example, first-year
university students often report feeling isolated, which can affect their
confidence and teamwork skills.
Another problem is motivation. At home, learners face many
distractions such as social media, television and family noise, so they
need strong self-discipline to keep up with deadlines. Many students delay
assignments when there is no teacher physically present to remind them.
In addition, remote education depends heavily on technology,
and not all students have equal access to fast internet or a private laptop.
A student from a low-income family may share one device with siblings or lose
connection during an important online exam.
Finally, academic honesty can be harder to maintain, as it
is easier to copy work, receive help from others or use AI tools when
assessments are completed remotely.
In conclusion, remote education has valuable advantages such as
flexibility, lower cost and wider access, especially for
workers, rural learners and students with disabilities. However, it also
brings disadvantages including isolation, weaker motivation, unequal
access to technology and concerns about cheating. Therefore, online
learning is a useful option, but it works best when combined with
face-to-face teaching rather than used on its own.
Word count: ~340 · Intro + 2 body paragraphs + conclusion ·
examples in each body