In some countries, a few people earn extremely high salaries. Some people think that this is good for a country, while others believe the government should control salaries and limit the amount people can earn. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Same questionCompare 3 different answers (Band 6.5–8)

Sample Response

1

Unequal incomeeconomic distribution among the different sections of the population provokes a range of responses from peopleincites various sorts of repartee from people. While some people considerWhile few consider that the gap between high and low earnersgap between high salary and low earning is detrimental to the country, others arguespeculate that the higher the income, the more progressive the nation will be. Therefore, in this discussion essay, both viewpoints will be taken into consideration to reach a final conclusion.

2

It is widely accepted that a high salarya bounteous emolument is always motivatinginvigorating for any hard-working individual, especially an ambitious one. It is a rewardIt is quid pro quo for the hard work and assiduous effort that the person puts into their workputs in his/her work. As a result, high salaries are an incentive for everyonea stimulus for every human to keep on working. FurthermoreSecondly, high-salaried people can contribute to the economicburgeoning development of the country as the government works on the basic infrastructure like healthcare, housing, communication and commerce. For example, affluent people like Mukesh Ambani, Ratan Tata, Gautam Adani and others not only provide economic support for the Indian economybestow economic support to the Indian economy but also create employment that aids a large section of the population of the country. Additionally, if a high earnerthe well-off earner lives in a foreign countryis settled in a foreign country and invests in their native land, it is conducive to both nations. It is because it is increasing the national income of the country they live in through the taxes and offering more foreign revenue to their motherland.

3

Nevertheless, if the government imposes a limit on income, the economy may face certain consequences. Many people who are motivated to work for the money will lose interest in labouring with so little in return. The limitation on their income will also discourage them from putting incurb them to put in their full effortthe cent percent effort, which might reduce the gross profit of the company. It will not only minimize the national income but also encourage people to migrate to foreign countries, welcoming them, aggravating the ‘brain drain’ situation. Moreover, honest people will tend to deviate from earning through honest means and also evade paying taxes for their own benefit.

4

Therefore, instead of controlling the modes of income and restraining high salaries, the government can counter this imbalance by levying a reasonable amount according to the income of an individual and validating that they pay it. It can also provide opportunities to the impoverished so that they can earn their livelihood and help in bridging the gap between rich and poor.

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 6.5

The response is well organised and sustains a clear opinion that very high salaries should remain possible, with substantial explanation and relevant economic examples. However, it does not genuinely develop the opposing view that governments should cap earnings, so a required part of the discussion remains largely absent; frequent over-elaborate or inaccurate word choices also reduce precision. The priority is to explain the case for salary limits before evaluating it and stating the preferred policy.

Band score breakdown

IELTS Writing Criteria Scores

TR

Task Response

5.5
Scoring rule

The benefits of high salaries and the writer's opposition to income caps are developed, but the required case in favour of government limits is not explained.

Next step

Add a distinct paragraph presenting credible reasons for salary controls, then weigh those reasons against the benefits of unrestricted earnings before concluding.

CC

Coherence and Cohesion

7.0
Scoring rule

The response is clearly paragraphled and moves logically from benefits to objections and a policy conclusion, though the sequence does not fulfil the promised two-view discussion.

Next step

Use the body-paragraph structure to signal and develop each required viewpoint separately before reserving the final paragraph for evaluation and opinion.

LR

Lexical Resource

6.5
Scoring rule

The vocabulary range is broad and ambitious, but frequent miscollocations and unnecessarily ornate choices reduce naturalness and precision.

Next step

Replace showy or inaccurate expressions such as bounteous emolument and curb them to put with clear, conventional academic phrasing.

GRA

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

6.5
Scoring rule

A range of complex sentences is attempted successfully, but recurring problems with complementation, pronoun consistency, and clause attachment weaken accuracy.

Next step

Review verb patterns and modifier placement, especially after verbs such as curb and in sentences containing participial result clauses.

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IELTS Writing Task 2

In some countries, a few people earn extremely high salaries. Some people think that this is good for a country, while others believe the government should control salaries and limit the amount people can earn. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

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