In the past, most people used to travel to their place of work. With increased use of computers, the internet and smart phones, more and more people are starting to work from home. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this development?
Sample Response
The way in which we work has changed a great deal in recent years. Whilst some people still travel to their place of work each day, others have the option to work from home. This has all become possible since the birth of the internet and smartphones, which enable workers to be in constant contact with their colleagues and clients all over the world. There are both advantages and disadvantages to this new development. There are definite advantages to people being allowed to work from home. The main advantage is that it gives workers more flexibility in their working lives. This can be particularly useful for parents or people who live far from their workplace. Working from home is also more comfortable - you can take a break whenever you need. Another advantage is that you have the possibility to work for companies in other countries through the use of the internet. Therefore, people can apply for jobs globally as well as locally. On the other hand, working from home can also have its disadvantages. Travelling to work and working in an office with others can be a very sociable activity which many people enjoy, especially if they live on their own. Without this social interaction many people might feel very lonely. Furthermore, many people may lack sufficient discipline to complete the work they need to do without colleagues around. In conclusion, therefore, there are clearly advantages and disadvantages to working from home. Perhaps the ideal arrangement would be to spend part of the working week in an office with colleagues, and part of the working week at home, with a certain amount of flexibility and comfort.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. State the idea directly Original: people being allowed to work from home Suggested revision: working from home Why it matters: The shorter phrase avoids implying that permission is the main advantage.
- 2. Use formal phrasing Original: you have the possibility to work Suggested revision: workers have the opportunity to work Why it matters: This revision avoids informal second-person address and uses a more natural collocation.
- 3. Make the phrase concise Original: through the use of the internet Suggested revision: online Why it matters: “Online” conveys the same meaning more directly.
- 4. Remove unnecessary wording Original: working from home can also have its disadvantages Suggested revision: working from home can also have disadvantages Why it matters: The possessive pronoun is unnecessary because the subject is already explicit.
- 5. Add an introductory comma Original: Without this social interaction many Suggested revision: Without this social interaction, many Why it matters: A comma should separate the introductory prepositional phrase from the main clause.
- 6. Avoid wordiness Original: complete the work they need to do Suggested revision: complete their work Why it matters: The concise possessive form preserves the meaning without repetition.
- 7. Use a direct structure Original: in which we work Suggested revision: we work Why it matters: “The way we work” is more direct while preserving the meaning.
- 8. Use concise wording Original: a great deal Suggested revision: considerably Why it matters: The single adverb expresses the degree of change more concisely.
- 9. Use the precise verb Original: travel to their place of work each day Suggested revision: commute to work each day Why it matters: “Commute” precisely describes regular travel between home and work.
- 10. Make the phrase concise Original: have the option to work from home Suggested revision: can work from home Why it matters: The modal verb conveys the same possibility without unnecessary wording.
- 11. Remove the vague pronoun Original: This has all become possible Suggested revision: This has become possible Why it matters: “All” has no clear plural referent and is unnecessary in this sentence.
- 12. Use a natural phrase Original: since the birth of the internet and smartphones Suggested revision: through the development of the internet and smartphones Why it matters: The revision avoids the awkward idea of the “birth” of two different technologies.
Suggested Rewrites
- people being allowed to work from home working from home
- you have the possibility to work workers have the opportunity to work
- through the use of the internet online
- working from home can also have its disadvantages working from home can also have disadvantages
- Without this social interaction many Without this social interaction, many
- complete the work they need to do complete their work
Why this response received Band 7.5
The response covers both advantages and disadvantages clearly, using relevant examples and highly controlled sentence structures throughout. Its main weakness is presentation as one continuous paragraph, which obscures the otherwise logical shift from benefits to drawbacks and conclusion; some points are also explained only briefly. Divide the response into focused paragraphs and extend the consequences of the strongest advantage and disadvantage.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
Relevant advantages and disadvantages are clearly identified and supported, though several points remain briefly developed.
Extend one key benefit and one key drawback by explaining their practical consequences in greater depth.
Coherence and Cohesion
The sequence of ideas is logical and cohesive, but the entire response appears as one undivided paragraph.
Use separate introduction, advantages, disadvantages, and conclusion paragraphs to make the progression immediately visible.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied, appropriate, and generally natural across the discussion of flexibility, employment, and isolation.
Use more precise topic-specific language to deepen explanations rather than relying on repeated general terms such as advantage and people.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A broad range of sentence structures is used accurately and fluently, with very few errors.
Polish occasional punctuation details, especially commas after introductory phrases, while maintaining the existing structural range.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
In the past, most people used to travel to their place of work. With increased use of computers, the internet and smart phones, more and more people are starting to work from home. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this development?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.