Some people think that in order to be successful in business one has to study at university, while others disagree. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Sample Response

1

In the modern era, the value of a university education has become a subject of considerable debate. While some maintain that a degree remains indispensable for success in businessa successful career, others contend that practical experience can replacesubstitute for formal training. This essay will argue that, for most established professions, a university degree remains essential, while also examining the opposing perspective.before addressing the counter-argument.

2

A university degree provides essential groundingindispensable preparation for professions requiring specialised expertise. Higher education fosters critical thinking and analytical skills that are difficult to acquire through experience alone. For example, an engineering student who tackles design problems through case studies learns to apply theoretical principles systematically, a skill directly transferable to solving unpredictable workplace challenges.learns to apply theoretical principles systematically — a skill directly transferable to solving unpredictable workplace challenges. Similarly, professions such as corporate management and financemedicine and law demand a rigorous theoretical foundation that can only be gained through structured academic training; without such a foundation, professionals would lackwithout it, employees would lack the depth of knowledge required to perform safely and effectively.

3

It is true that certain entrepreneurial or trade-based careers do not requirenecessitate a degree. Some successful entrepreneurs have built thriving businesses in technology or skilled trades through apprenticeships or self-directed learning rather than formal education. Nevertheless, these instances tend to beHowever, such cases tend to be the exception rather than the rule; for every self-made entrepreneur, there are a vast majority of professionalscountless professionals in healthcare, engineering, or law for whom a degree remains essential, both for legal certification and specialised knowledge.

4

In conclusion, although alternative paths to success are increasingly commonundeniably exist, they do not diminish the fundamental importance of university education for most skilled professions. Given the complexity that modern industries increasingly demandGiven the complexity modern industries increasingly demand, a strong academic foundation offers a more reliable route to long-term career success than practical experience alone.

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 8.0

The strongest aspect of this response is its sophisticated vocabulary and flawless grammatical control, paired with a logical essay structure. However, the main limitation is a slight drift in Task Response, as the essay focuses broadly on professions like medicine and law rather than strictly addressing success in business. To improve, ensure that all supporting arguments and examples remain precisely aligned with the specific domain defined in the prompt.

Band score breakdown

IELTS Writing Criteria Scores

TR

Task Response

7.0
Scoring rule

The essay addresses both views and presents a clear opinion, though it broadens the topic from business success to general professional careers.

Next step

Focus examples and explanations specifically on business and commercial success rather than general professions like law or medicine.

CC

Coherence and Cohesion

8.0
Scoring rule

Ideas are logically organized with clear paragraphing and cohesive devices that ensure a smooth flow throughout.

Next step

Continue using topic sentences that explicitly link each body paragraph back to the central business theme.

LR

Lexical Resource

8.0
Scoring rule

A wide range of sophisticated, topic-appropriate vocabulary is used with natural and precise control.

Next step

Incorporate more business-specific terminology to align the advanced vocabulary directly with the topic.

GRA

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

8.0
Scoring rule

The writing demonstrates a wide variety of complex sentence structures with complete accuracy and strong grammatical control.

Next step

Sustain this high standard of grammatical precision and flexibility across different essay prompts.

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IELTS Writing Task 2

Some people think that in order to be successful in business one has to study at university, while others disagree. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Your response

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40:00

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