Plan this advantages and disadvantages 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:
More and more employees are working from home instead of in an office.
Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
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.
Remote working has become common, with many employees now doing their jobs from home rather than in an office. I believe that the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages, provided that it is well organised.
The benefits are considerable. Employees save the time and money they would have spent commuting, and many report better concentration without the interruptions of a busy office. Flexible hours let parents and carers balance their responsibilities, which can improve both wellbeing and loyalty. Employers gain too: they may need less office space, and they can recruit talent from anywhere in the country or even abroad. A software company that allows staff to work remotely, for instance, can hire the best engineers regardless of where they live while reducing its rent bill.
On the other hand, home working has genuine drawbacks. Some people feel isolated without daily contact with colleagues, and the casual conversations that spark new ideas or help newcomers learn are harder to replace online. The boundary between work and private life can also blur, leading some employees to work longer hours and struggle to switch off. Not everyone has a quiet room or a reliable connection, and certain jobs, such as nursing or manufacturing, cannot be done remotely at all, which may create resentment between different groups of staff.
Nevertheless, most of these problems can be managed. Companies can arrange regular team meetings in person, set clear expectations about working hours and provide equipment or allowances for home offices. A hybrid model, combining office days with remote days, captures most of the benefits while keeping the social contact.
In conclusion, working from home saves time, widens opportunities and supports flexibility, and with sensible management its advantages are greater than its drawbacks.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| remote work | working away from the office |
| work-life balance | fair division of work and personal time |
| commuting time | time spent travelling to work |
| team cohesion | staff working well together |
| distractions | things that stop concentration |
| flexible schedule | working times that can change |
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