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 of whetherThe 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 eachevery option has its advantages and disadvantages. I base my opinion on the following points. On the one handFrom the one side working for a large company brings many benefits. First of all, one has better medical insurance, a higher salaryhigher salary. Often, employeesOften employees of a large company have less responsibility. Moreover, they feel more secure because their company has more clients and this gives them a better chancethis means better chance to survive inon the modern market. However, one working for a large company has a lower chance of being promotedhas 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 employees' ideas and suggestionsone's solutions and suggestions. On the other handFrom the other side working for a small company also has many advantageshas many advantages too. Firstly, one has a better chance of being promotedone has better chance to be promoted. Secondly, one can talk to the owner of the company about any improvements that can be madedone in order to increase profitsget more profit. Another important aspect of working for a small company is the opportunityopportunities to learn more about how a company operatesfind out more about how a company works. As a result, oneAs a result of this one can gain more experience and receive stronger professional referencesget better recommendations. However, this also has some disadvantages. For instance, one may earn a lower salaryone can get less salary, poorerworse 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.
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
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.
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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.