Some people believe that studying at university or college is the best route to a successful career, while others believe that it is better to get a job straight after school. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Sample Response
Opinions are divided on whether pursuing higher education is the most effective route to career success or entering the workforce immediately after school offers greater advantages. In my view, entering the workforce without delay offers greater benefits.
Many believe that higher education provides a strong foundation for long-term career success in several wayscareer success for several reasons. Chief among these is that university degrees are often essential for entering professionsentering professional fields such as medicine, law, or engineering. These sectors require formal qualifications and in-depth theoretical knowledge that can only be acquired through structured academic study. As a result, graduates from such programmes often earn higher salariestend to enjoy higher salaries, better job security, and clearer career progression prospectsclear career progression. Furthermore, studying at university promotessupports broader personal development and professional networking. For example, students often develop critical-thinking skillsgain critical thinking skills, stronger communication skillsimproved communication, and exposure to diverse perspectives. Campus life alsoThis is because campus life offers opportunities to connect with professors, mentors, and future colleagues, which can significantly expand career opportunities and contribute to long-term personal and professional growth.
Nevertheless, starting work immediately after school offers more significant real-world advantages. A key benefit is the opportunity to earn money and gainbuild experience from a young age. By entering the workforce early, individuals can develop practical skills, gain financial independence, and avoid the burden of student debt. Over time, this hands-on learning often leads to faster career advancement and a betterdeeper understanding of workplace dynamics. Moreover, it is important to recognize that not all well-paying jobs require a university degree. For instance, trades such as plumbing, carpentry, or IT support place greater value onplace a higher value on technical ability and vocational training than on academic credentialsthan academic credentials. In such cases, practical experience and on-the-job learning provide a more direct and efficient route to employment and financial stability.
In conclusion, while higher education is essential for many professional careers and provides valuable life experiences, immediate employment after school offers more significant practical benefits, especially for those pursuing skill-based roles.
Why this response received Band 8.0
This is a well-developed response with a clear position, balanced treatment of both views, and consistently precise, controlled language. Its main limitation is that some claims about graduate outcomes and early career advancement are stated broadly rather than examined in depth; the highest-priority improvement is to qualify those comparisons and add sharper supporting detail that directly strengthens the stated preference.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The response fully discusses both routes, maintains a clear preference, and develops each view with relevant explanations and examples.
Qualify broad claims about salaries and advancement and compare the routes more directly to make the preference even more persuasive.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas progress logically through well-focused paragraphs, with cohesive devices used clearly and unobtrusively.
Refine the links between supporting points so each paragraph builds toward a sharper comparative judgment.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is wide, precise, and appropriately academic, with strong control of career and education terminology.
Reduce repetition of terms such as career and practical by using equally precise alternatives where natural.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is used accurately and flexibly, with only negligible lapses.
Maintain this control while varying sentence openings and balancing clause length for an even more polished rhythm.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Some people believe that studying at university or college is the best route to a successful career, while others believe that it is better to get a job straight after school. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.