Some people say that it is better to work for a large company than a small one. Others prefer to work for a small company. Which one would you prefer.
Sample Response
The issue whether working for a large company is better than working for a small company is a controversial one. From my everyday experience and observation, I think that every option has its advantages and disadvantages. I base my opinion on the following points. From the one side working for a large company brings many benefits. First of all, one has better medical insurance, higher salary. Often employees of a large company have less responsibility. Moreover, they feel more secure because their company has more clients and this means better chance to survive on the modern market. However, one working for a large company has less chance to be promoted because one's manager does not want to lose his or her job unless she or he is promoted too. Also, from my observation, managers of a large company do not pay much attention to one's solutions and suggestions. From the other side working for a small company has many advantages too. Firstly, one has better chance to be promoted. Secondly, one can talk to the owner of the company about any improvements that can be done in order to get more profit. Another important aspect of working for a small company is the opportunities to find out more about how a company works. As a result of this one can gain more experience and get better recommendations. However, this also has some disadvantages. For instance, one can get less salary, worse medical benefits, etc. To sum up, I think that every person chooses for himself what he or she wants. If one wants a better career and more responsibilities then a small company is a better choice. Otherwise, working for a large company may be a good option too.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Add required preposition Original: The issue whether Suggested revision: The issue of whether Why it matters: The noun “issue” requires “of” before a whether-clause.
- 2. Refer to two choices Original: every Suggested revision: each Why it matters: “Each” refers more naturally to the two employment choices being compared.
- 3. Use standard linker Original: From the one side Suggested revision: On the one hand Why it matters: This is the standard cohesive phrase for introducing the first side of a comparison.
- 4. Add article Original: higher salary Suggested revision: a higher salary Why it matters: The singular count noun “salary” requires an article here.
- 5. Add introductory comma Original: Often employees Suggested revision: Often, employees Why it matters: A comma should separate the introductory adverb from the main clause.
- 6. Add object and article Original: this means better chance Suggested revision: this gives them a better chance Why it matters: The revision supplies the affected people and the article required before “chance.”
- 7. Correct market collocation Original: on Suggested revision: in Why it matters: Companies survive “in” a market rather than “on” it.
- 8. Correct comparison pattern Original: has less chance to be promoted Suggested revision: has a lower chance of being promoted Why it matters: A singular “chance” needs an article and is followed naturally by “of” plus a gerund.
- 9. Clarify whose ideas Original: one's solutions and suggestions Suggested revision: employees' ideas and suggestions Why it matters: The revision makes the reference to staff members clearer and uses a natural workplace collocation.
- 10. Use contrast linker Original: From the other side Suggested revision: On the other hand Why it matters: This is the conventional cohesive phrase for introducing the contrasting side.
- 11. Place additive adverb Original: has many advantages too Suggested revision: also has many advantages Why it matters: Placing “also” before the main verb creates a smoother formal comparison.
- 12. Correct chance pattern Original: one has better chance to be promoted Suggested revision: one has a better chance of being promoted Why it matters: The count noun needs an article and takes “of” followed by a gerund.
Suggested Rewrites
- The issue whether The issue of whether
- every each
- From the one side On the one hand
- higher salary a higher salary
- Often employees Often, employees
- this means better chance this gives them a better chance
Why this response received Band 5.5
The response presents a useful range of contrasting advantages and disadvantages, and its comparisons are generally easy to follow. The main limitation is that it never gives the clear personal preference explicitly requested, instead ending with a conditional choice for different people. State one definite preference early, sustain it through the comparison, and organise the supporting ideas into purposeful paragraphs.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Response
Relevant advantages and disadvantages are presented, but the required personal preference remains unclear and several points are only briefly explained.
Choose one company size explicitly and justify that preference with two developed reasons while using the alternative mainly for comparison.
Coherence and Cohesion
The sequence from large-company benefits to drawbacks and then small-company features is discernible, but the entire essay is presented as one paragraph with mechanical linking.
Divide the response into an introduction, focused comparison paragraphs, and a conclusion, using cohesive devices less formulaically.
Lexical Resource
The vocabulary is adequate for discussing employment and career prospects, though repetition and awkward collocations limit flexibility and precision.
Use more precise employment terms and natural collocations for pay, promotion prospects, job security, and employee influence.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The response uses both simple and complex sentences with generally clear meaning, despite recurring article, preposition, punctuation, and sentence-boundary errors.
Improve control of articles and comma use, especially around introductory phrases and linked clauses, while varying references beyond repeated use of one.
Write this task while it is fresh
Try the same task now. It helps you remember the feedback and write better next time.
IELTS Writing Task 2
Some people say that it is better to work for a large company than a small one. Others prefer to work for a small company. Which one would you prefer.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.