Plan this opinion essay about work with the ideas and outline below, write it on a 40-minute timer, then compare it with a band-8 model answer.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Employers should choose new staff mainly on the basis of attitude and personality rather than qualifications.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
GoPrep wrote this practice question in the style of the exam. It is not an official IELTS question.
Pick two or three points from one or both columns. You do not need all of them, and your own examples score better than memorised ones.
Spend the first few minutes planning, then write.
0 words of 250 minimum
Your answer stays on this page only. Copy it before you leave.
Write your own answer first, then compare: how it answers the exact question, what each paragraph does, and which phrases you could borrow.
Some people believe employers should choose new staff mainly according to attitude and personality, not qualifications. I partly agree with this view, but I think the two factors must be considered together.
There are strong reasons to value attitude. Skills can often be taught, whereas qualities such as enthusiasm, honesty, reliability and the ability to work with others are much harder to change. An employee with a positive attitude is more likely to learn quickly, accept feedback and help colleagues, which improves the atmosphere of the whole team. Customer-facing roles in particular, such as hotel reception or retail, depend on friendliness and communication; a polite, motivated person may serve customers better than a highly qualified but unhelpful one. Some successful companies, including airlines, openly say they hire for personality and train for skills.
However, qualifications still count. For many jobs, a minimum level of knowledge is essential and cannot be learned quickly or safely on the job. Nobody would want to be treated by a doctor, advised by an engineer or have electrical wiring installed by someone who was merely friendly and cheerful. Qualifications also demonstrate persistence and the ability to complete difficult tasks, and they provide employers with an objective, fair way of comparing candidates, whereas judging personality in a short interview is subjective and can lead to bias in favour of people similar to the interviewer.
The best approach is balanced. Employers should set clear qualification requirements for technical and professional roles, and then use interviews, trial periods and group exercises to assess attitude among suitable candidates. For entry-level jobs, they can be more flexible and prioritise potential.
In conclusion, attitude and personality are very important, but they cannot replace essential qualifications, so employers should consider both.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| recruitment process | way of hiring staff |
| interpersonal skills | ability to deal with people |
| track record | past achievements |
| team player | person who works well with others |
| formal qualifications | certificates and degrees |
| aptitude | natural ability |
Answer random Part 1, 2 and 3 questions on an exam timer.
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Compare an IELTS band with TOEFL, Duolingo and PTE scores and CEFR levels.
Look up the IELTS score a university asks for, with the source.