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IELTS Writing Samples

IELTS essay samples (writing task 2), report and letter samples (writing task 1) with Band Scores, marked by IELTS teachers, including comments and suggestions on how to increase your score

IELTS Letter, topic: writing to a friend about an article that captured your attention

The topic of this letter appeared in a recent IELTS exam in Canada. Below is a sample response that is likely to score Band 8 or above in IELTS.

You read a newspaper article that captured your attention. Write letter to your friend and recommended reading the article. Include the following in your letter:

– Where and when the article was published
– What the article was about
– Why it is important that your friend reads it.

Answer

Dear Jack,

I hope that you are well and enjoying your new apartment. I am writing to tell you about an article I have just read in our local newspaper. It was published in “The Croydon News” on September 21 (page 16).

The article is about a new coding course, which will be introduced by the London branch of a well-known international IT company. This program covers a vast number of different topics related to the Information Technology industry, and it was prepared for individuals with different backgrounds, ranging from a complete beginner to an experienced team leader. Moreover, during the initial period of 3 months the course is free of charge and has a flexible schedule, which makes it attractive for people in full-time employment.

As I remember, you always wanted to become a software developer and said that finding suitable courses in our area was nearly impossible. I hope this article will be useful to you and may even help you start your dream career. I am attaching a clipping of the article with all the details to this letter.

Looking forward to catching up with you again soon.

All the best,

Tony

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IELTS essay, topic: What is the best motivation for workers – salary, job satisfaction or helping others?

This is a model response to a Writing Task 2 topic from High Scorer’s Choice IELTS Practice Tests book series (reprinted with permission). This answer is likely to score IELTS Band 9.

Set 3 Academic book, Practice Test 15

Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

There are many things that can motivate people to perform well in their work. These can include the salary, job satisfaction or the chance to help others. What do you feel is the best motivation to do well at work?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.

You should write at least 250 words.

Sample Band 9 Essay

To perform well in a job, people have to be motivated. There are multiple strategies for employers to incentivise their employees. The most obvious one is the salary; however, job satisfaction and the ability to help people are other methods of improving performance at work.

For the majority of the people, receiving their salary at the end of the month is their motivation. This is because money is necessary to fulfill the most basic needs and other materialistic desires. Employees see these opportunities when receiving their salary and therefore work to achieve money. Furthermore, performing well in a job can often lead to promotions with higher pay packages. To receive this, staff have to stand out positively in their jobs. Salary is therefore a key motivational tool for many workforce participants.

However, money is far from being the only incentive. Another aspect affecting performance is job satisfaction. If a person is comfortable in their work, they are more likely to perform well. Therefore this motivational tool interlinks with salary, as when people are content and perform well, the chances of promotion increase. For some individuals though, only their passion can drive them. Prime examples for this are humanitarian jobs. The salaries are often not very high, but those choosing to work in this field are often very driven; their passion to help others is prioritised over their own salary.

In conclusion, while income might be the most common motivational factor, it is unusual to be the sole incentive for working hard, and some people are motivated wholly due to other reasons.

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