ielts writing

This essay topic was seen in a recent IELTS test in Algeria.

Last updated: 21 July 2024

Many people try to achieve a work-life balance but fail. Why is this happening? What can be done to help people overcome this problem?

Sample Band 8 Essay

Many people strive to achieve a work-life balance, but often find themselves failing despite their best efforts. This is not surprising, as balancing work and life commitments can be extremely difficult due to both having their unique stressors.

One of the major reasons why so many people struggle to achieve harmony between their personal and professional lives is that now it is easier than ever for people to stay connected outside of regular work hours. This has led to an expectation that employees should always be available, and they risk being seen as unreliable or uncommitted if they are not. A knock-on effect of longer working hours is that little time is left for leisure activities such as socialising or engaging in hobbies or sports, which help reduce stress levels and improve overall well-being. This type of pressure and lack of free time can lead to feelings of burnout, with no respite from life’s pressures, resulting in chronic fatigue and diminished motivation over time.

Helping those struggling to find a suitable work-life balance will require joint efforts of managers and employees. Workers, for instance, need to recognise the importance of taking regular breaks throughout the day and getting enough sleep each night, while employers should consider being more flexible when it comes to allowing staff to work remotely and offering paid vacation days. This will give employees space, both mentally and physically, enabling them to better manage their commitments without overextending themselves.

In conclusion, achieving a successful work-life balance is something that many cannot quite reach due to external pressures from employers and a lack of downtime. However, these issues can be overcome, if we create realistic boundaries between our professional lives and personal goals, and make conscious decisions about how we want to spend our time.

Teacher’s feedback:

Overall, your essay is a good example of IELTS Band 8 level writing.

Task Response: Band 8
The essay effectively addresses the two parts of the prompt, providing a thoughtful analysis of why achieving a work-life balance is challenging and offering practical solutions. The ideas are relevant and developed with clear examples.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8
The essay is well-organised with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Ideas are logically sequenced, and each paragraph focuses on a single central idea, contributing to overall coherence. Cohesive devices such as “One of the major reasons,” “This has led to,” and “In conclusion” are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs.

Lexical Resource: Band 8
The essay demonstrates a wide range of vocabulary with accurate and appropriate word choices. Terms such as “harmony,” “unique stressors,” “knock-on effect,” “burnout,” and “chronic fatigue” show a good command of language and are used effectively to convey the ideas. Additionally, phrases like “taking regular breaks,” “flexible when it comes to,” and “realistic boundaries” demonstrate a good grasp of collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8
The essay displays a good range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences and appropriate use of conjunctions. The grammar is generally accurate, with only a few minor errors that do not make this essay any less clear.

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This essay topic was seen in a recent IELTS test in India.

In many workplaces online communication has overtaken face to face meetings. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

Sample Band 8 Essay

In today’s ever-increasingly digital world, online communication has become the norm for many workplaces. While this development offers numerous advantages for companies such as greater flexibility and efficiency, it also brings with it certain disadvantages like miscommunication, which must be weighed against its benefits.

One of the primary advantages of online communication is that it makes it easier for teams to stay in touch without having to physically convene. This is especially beneficial when individuals or groups are dispersed across vast distances. Reduced travel costs, as well as time saved from not having to travel to and from meetings, also represent meaningful savings for businesses. Additionally, online communication platforms often have a range of features designed to make collaboration more efficient, such as providing an easy way to share documents and other materials with remote team members. To illustrate, digital resources can be sent quickly and securely via email or other software services like Dropbox or Google Drive.

There is a potential drawback associated with relying too heavily on online communication at work, as the lack of physical proximity between members of a team can often lead to misunderstandings due to a loss of context or nonverbal cues that would otherwise be present during face-to-face meetings. However, in my opinion, issues of this nature can be solved by using written language more carefully to avoid any confusion or miscommunication among colleagues.

In conclusion, when online communication tools are used properly, they undoubtedly provide companies with greater flexibility in how their teams collaborate without sacrificing clarity of communication, quality or efficiency.

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