Free IELTS Writing · Task 2 · common prompt pattern
Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
One complete Task 2 practice with two worked examples, a full model and self-review.
How to use this sample
Study the two worked examples. Use the writing plan and useful language to prepare your response, then submit it to review the model and explanation. Scores exclude the examples; Writing and Speaking use self-review rather than automatic band marking.
Original SUFAS teaching material. This is a focused sample exercise, not a full IELTS examination.
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Two worked examples
Example 1 · Answer the task in a clear introduction
Model answer: The growth of home-based employment has changed how many organisations operate. Working remotely can reduce commuting and offer greater flexibility, but it may also weaken collaboration and blur the boundary between employment and personal life. Overall, I believe its advantages outweigh its disadvantages when employers establish clear expectations and provide opportunities for regular interaction.
Why: The introduction responds to the particular instructions and establishes the direction of the essay.
Example 2 · Develop one relevant argument
Model answer: One major benefit is the time saved by avoiding daily travel. Employees who previously spent two hours commuting can use that time for family responsibilities, exercise or rest. Organisations may also recruit talented people who live far from their offices, expanding the range of available skills. In addition, fewer journeys can reduce congestion and transport-related emissions, although the environmental impact depends partly on energy use at home.
Why: The paragraph develops a reason with explanation and relevant support, rather than listing points.
Your independent practice
Writing task
More employees are working from home rather than travelling to an office every day. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
Write at least 250 words. Support your answer with reasons and relevant examples.
Writing plan and useful language
One possible plan
Explain flexibility and commuting gains; examine collaboration and boundaries; weigh benefits under sensible management.
Useful language
Verbs in context
reduce commuting time · coordinate work across teams · set boundaries around working hours
Phrases to adapt
“For employees who previously spent … commuting, working from home frees up time for …”
“The gains in flexibility outweigh the loss of informal contact when employers …”
Model response and explanation
The growth of home-based employment has changed how many organisations operate. Working remotely can reduce commuting and offer greater flexibility, but it may also weaken collaboration and blur the boundary between employment and personal life. Overall, I believe its advantages outweigh its disadvantages when employers establish clear expectations and provide opportunities for regular interaction.
One major benefit is the time saved by avoiding daily travel. Employees who previously spent two hours commuting can use that time for family responsibilities, exercise or rest. Organisations may also recruit talented people who live far from their offices, expanding the range of available skills. In addition, fewer journeys can reduce congestion and transport-related emissions, although the environmental impact depends partly on energy use at home.
The disadvantages should not be ignored. New employees may find it difficult to learn informal workplace practices without observing experienced colleagues. Creative projects can suffer when spontaneous discussion is replaced entirely by scheduled online meetings. Some workers also struggle to stop working at the end of the day, particularly if managers expect immediate replies to messages. These problems can contribute to isolation and exhaustion rather than the independence that remote work promises.
Nevertheless, most of these difficulties can be managed. Employers can arrange regular team meetings, mentoring sessions and occasional office days for activities that benefit from face-to-face contact. They can also evaluate performance through completed work rather than constant online availability. Such policies preserve flexibility while addressing the most serious social and organisational costs.
In conclusion, remote work is not suitable for every occupation or individual. For jobs that can be performed effectively at a distance, however, its benefits in time, access and flexibility are likely to exceed its drawbacks under sensible management.
Why this works: Task response: The essay makes an explicit outweigh judgement, conditional on suitable jobs and sensible management. Coherence and cohesion: Benefits are followed by collaboration and boundary problems; the next paragraph explains how management can reduce those costs. Lexical resource: “Commuting”, “mentoring sessions” and “online availability” identify concrete workplace issues. Grammatical range and accuracy: Concessive clauses and cautious verbs preserve a balanced position; the two-hour commute is an illustration, not a research statistic. Your practice: Underline the thesis and each body paragraph’s topic sentence. Identify an explanation and an example, then rewrite one paragraph with clearer reasoning.
Self-review score
Compare your work with the model and tick only points you achieved. This is a self-review checklist, not automatic marking or an IELTS band score.