Large companies should pay higher salaries to CEOs and executives compared to other workers. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sample Response
Nowadays, the growing disparity between the salaries of high-level executives and the average employees has become a major concern among policy-makers. While some argue that giving high compensation to directors and managers can bring about many perks, I am still of the opinion that it is only beneficial to a certain extent.
On one side of the argument, it is undeniable that enormous executive salaries play a crucial part in the corporate world. The first reason is that such incomes are on par with the talents of directors. The amount of time, effort and intellect involved in operating a large corporation is simply astronomical, which makes management a physically and mentally taxing occupation. Thus, this position needs a good pay rate to keep it occupied. Secondly, due to the immense importance of competent executives, companies must secure the best people to help them develop. Regardless, only a handful of people have the abilities and qualifications to handle this job, so corporations need to create the best offers with the highest benefits to compete for them.
On the other hand, companies still have to pay other employees a worthwhile salary. Firstly, besides the sole purpose of making profits, corporations must care about social equality and responsibility. The fact that giant conglomerates like Amazon or Apple can spend millions of dollars on their directors, while many of their employees only have a bare minimum salary, is an injustice that needs to be addressed right away. Furthermore, this helps create a comfortable and fulfilling workplace that encourages employees to devote themselves to their work. A good income frees workers from their daily struggles to make ends meet, which means they will have more time to improve their performance and be more satisfied with the working environment.
All in all, it can be seen that providing a high executive salary does have its benefits. Still, there are also many arguments stacked against it. Thus, corporations must strike a balance between salary levels to create a better workplace for all.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Make the comparison parallel Original: the salaries of high-level executives and the average employees Suggested revision: the salaries of high-level executives and those of average employees Why it matters: The comparison must place executive salaries against employee salaries, not against the employees themselves.
- 2. Use a natural collocation Original: giving high compensation to directors and managers Suggested revision: paying directors and managers high salaries Why it matters: The revision uses the conventional verb and noun combination for remuneration.
- 3. Choose a formal expression Original: bring about many perks Suggested revision: provide many benefits Why it matters: “Perks” usually refers to employee privileges and is imprecise for the wider advantages claimed here.
- 4. Use the paired transition Original: On one side of the argument Suggested revision: On the one hand Why it matters: This transition pairs naturally with “On the other hand” in the following body paragraph.
- 5. Clarify the claimed function Original: play a crucial part Suggested revision: serve an important purpose Why it matters: The revision more clearly expresses the claimed value of high executive salaries.
- 6. Use a precise comparison Original: on par with the talents of directors Suggested revision: commensurate with directors’ abilities Why it matters: Compensation can be commensurate with ability, whereas “on par with” creates an illogical comparison between money and talent.
- 7. Avoid exaggerated wording Original: astronomical Suggested revision: immense Why it matters: “Immense” conveys the scale of the demands without the distracting exaggeration.
- 8. Use the plural reference Original: this position Suggested revision: these positions Why it matters: The surrounding discussion concerns executive roles generally rather than one position.
- 9. Use a natural salary phrase Original: a good pay rate Suggested revision: an attractive salary Why it matters: “Attractive salary” is the standard collocation for pay intended to recruit candidates.
- 10. Clarify recruitment meaning Original: to keep it occupied Suggested revision: to attract and retain suitable candidates Why it matters: Positions are filled rather than occupied, and the revision states the intended staffing purpose clearly.
- 11. Use an additive connector Original: Regardless Suggested revision: Moreover Why it matters: The sentence adds another reason and does not contrast with the preceding claim.
- 12. Match the general reference Original: this job Suggested revision: these roles Why it matters: The plural reference matches the range of executive positions under discussion.
Suggested Rewrites
- the salaries of high-level executives and the average employees the salaries of high-level executives and those of average employees
- giving high compensation to directors and managers paying directors and managers high salaries
- bring about many perks provide many benefits
- On one side of the argument On the one hand
- play a crucial part serve an important purpose
- on par with the talents of directors commensurate with directors’ abilities
Why this response received Band 7.5
The response is clearly structured and uses a broad range of vocabulary and complex sentences to present arguments on both sides. Its main limitation is that the degree of agreement remains somewhat general, and the case for ordinary employees does not always directly establish how much greater executive pay should be. State a more precise position and connect each argument explicitly to the acceptable salary gap.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
A clear qualified position is presented and both perspectives are developed, although the acceptable extent of the salary difference remains imprecise.
Define the degree of pay disparity you support and make every body argument justify that exact position.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response progresses logically through a conventional four-paragraph structure, though some linking is mechanical or imprecise.
Use more meaning-driven transitions and clarify references such as this so each connection is immediately apparent.
Lexical Resource
There is a good range of less common vocabulary, but several collocations are awkward or not fully precise.
Replace phrases such as keep it occupied and arguments stacked against it with more natural professional wording.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide variety of complex structures is handled accurately, and most sentences are error-free.
Polish occasional article, reference, and noun-phrase choices while retaining the strong structural range.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Large companies should pay higher salaries to CEOs and executives compared to other workers. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.