Read the text and think of the word which best fits each space. Use only one word in each space.
Possible alternatives

Many students in Britain (1)_____ to leave school at 18 and go straight to (2)____ to do their degrees (3)_______ considering possible alternatives. Nowadays, things are different: 20% of students take a year (4)______ (the so-called ‘gap year’ between their ‘A’ level exams and their university studies). Some stay in Britain and (5)_____ during that year, but about half want to go and work overseas. Other (6)_____ choose a completely different route: they turn (7)_____ university places in favour of finding permanent jobs. The advantage of this (8)_____ that they can often study for professional qualifications on the company’s time.

Key: 1. used; 2. university; 3. without; 4. off; 5. work; 6. students; 7. down; 8. is