Plan this opinion essay about globalisation 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:
Because of globalisation, businesses now work around the clock, and people have to be available at any time. This is bad for individuals.
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.
Because companies now operate across time zones, many employees are expected to respond to messages and calls at any hour. I agree that this trend is harmful for individuals, although it has some benefits.
The most important problem is constant pressure. Workers who must check their email late at night or join video meetings at dawn find it hard to switch off, which leads to stress and eventually burnout. Sleep is also disturbed; staff working with colleagues in another continent may have to attend meetings in the middle of the night, and lack of sleep damages health and concentration. In addition, work increasingly spills into family time. A parent who answers messages during dinner or at weekends is physically present but mentally elsewhere, and relationships can suffer as a result.
It is fair to say that around-the-clock business has some advantages. Flexible shifts can suit certain people, such as students, parents with young children or those who are naturally more alert in the evening, and companies may offer higher pay for unsocial hours. Global operations also create jobs, for example in call centres and logistics, in countries where employment is scarce. Some people enjoy the variety and sense of being part of an international team.
However, these advantages apply mainly to those who choose their schedule freely, whereas many workers are simply expected to be available. Clear limits are therefore necessary. Employers should set fixed hours for contact, rotate night shifts fairly and give time off in return, and some countries, like France, have even introduced a legal right to disconnect.
In conclusion, round-the-clock availability can create opportunities, but for most individuals it brings stress, poor sleep and less time with family, so I largely agree that it is bad for them.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| around the clock | all day and night |
| shift work | working at different times of day |
| time zone | region with the same time |
| on call | available when needed |
| disrupt | disturb |
| work-life boundary | line between job and personal time |
Answer random Part 1, 2 and 3 questions on an exam timer.
Average your four skill bands, rounded the way IELTS rounds them.
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.