This is a practice question for IELTS Writing Task 2.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task and write at least 250 words.
Remember to plan your essay before you start writing and leave time to review your work at the end.
Writing Task 2
Some people believe that working from home is beneficial for both employees and employers, while others argue that it has more drawbacks than advantages.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Sample Answer Outline
Introduction:
- You can briefly introduce the topic of remote work and state that there are differing opinions on its impact
- While remote work offers significant benefits, it also presents challenges that need to be addressed
Body Paragraph 1:
Benefits of working from home mind map ideas:
- Improved work-life balance
- Reduced commute time and costs
- Increased productivity for some workers
- Greater flexibility in work hours
- Access to a global talent pool for employers
Body Paragraph 2:
Drawbacks of working from home mind map ideas:
- Potential for isolation and reduced social interaction
- Blurred boundaries between work and personal life
- Challenges in team collaboration and communication
- Possible decrease in creativity and spontaneous idea-sharing
- Difficulty in maintaining company culture
Body Paragraph 3:
Personal opinion and balanced view mind map ideas:
- Acknowledge both pros and cons
- Suggest that the effectiveness depends on individual circumstances and job nature
- Propose a hybrid model as a potential solution
- Emphasize the need for proper infrastructure and policies to support remote work
Conclusion:
- You can summarize the main point and restate your opinion
- Suggest the future of work may involve a blend of remote and in-office arrangements
Model answer (Band 8 style)
Write your own answer first, then compare structure and vocabulary. Task 2 · 275 words.
Show the model answerShowHide
Since the pandemic, working from home has become common in many professions. Some believe it benefits both employees and employers, while others argue that its drawbacks outweigh its advantages. In my opinion, remote work offers more benefits than problems, especially when combined with some time in the office.
For employees, the advantages are considerable. Working from home eliminates long commutes, saving time and money and reducing stress. It also offers flexibility to organise work around family responsibilities, which can improve work-life balance and make it easier for parents or people with disabilities to remain in employment. Employers can benefit too: they may need less office space, and they can recruit talented staff from a much wider geographical area. Many companies have reported that productivity remained stable or even improved.
However, remote work has genuine disadvantages. Employees may feel isolated and find it difficult to separate work from personal life, leading to longer hours and burnout. Collaboration and creativity can suffer when colleagues rarely meet in person, and new or young employees may miss out on informal learning from experienced colleagues. For managers, monitoring performance and maintaining a shared company culture can be challenging.
In my view, many of these problems can be solved through a hybrid model, in which employees work from home for part of the week and meet in the office for collaboration, training and team-building. Clear boundaries, such as set working hours, can also protect wellbeing.
In conclusion, although working from home brings challenges such as isolation and weaker teamwork, its advantages for both employees and employers are greater, particularly when it is combined with regular time in the office.
Task Response
Both sides are discussed for employees and employers, and the opinion is supported with a practical solution (hybrid work).
Coherence & Cohesion
Clear paragraph structure and linking; the solution directly addresses the problems raised earlier.
Lexical Resource
Workplace vocabulary: commutes, burnout, informal learning, hybrid model, team-building.
Grammatical Range
Accurate use of gerund subjects, relative clauses (“in which employees…”) and modal verbs.
Want your own writing scored? Paste it into the Worddemy App and get a band score with feedback on all four criteria.
Check my writing freeEvaluation Criteria
- Task Achievement
- Coherence and Cohesion
- Lexical Resource
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy
For more IELTS writing task 2 practice tests, you can visit Biodiversity and Ecosystem and Traditional Cuisine vs. Fast Food.