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Task 2 · Discussion (both views) · Work

Working from home: good for people, bad for teams?

A discussion essay on remote work, where the band 9 answer notices that the two views are about different groups of employees.

The question

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.

Many companies now allow their staff to work from home for most of the week. Some people think this arrangement benefits employees, while others argue that it harms teamwork and the training of younger staff. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

A 250-word discursive essay — the half of the paper that carries two thirds of the marks. This prompt is original, written in the standard format for teaching purposes — it is not taken from any past paper.

What separates the three answers

The 6.5 treats 'employees' as one undifferentiated group, the 7.5 notices seniority matters, and the 9 builds its whole argument on the fact that the two views describe different people.

The three answers

Band 6.5

251 words (the task asks for at least 250)

The answer works. It addresses the task, the reader follows it, and the meaning survives — but ideas stay general, linking is mechanical, wording repeats, and small errors are visible throughout.

The answer

Since the pandemic, a lot of companies allow their staffs to work from the home. Some persons think that this is very good for the workers, however other persons think that it is bad for the team work and for the training of the young employees2. This essay will discuss the both sides of this issue.

Firstly, working from home has many advantages for the employees. They do not need to spend the time in the traffic every morning, so they can sleep more and they are less tired. In addition, they can save the money on the transport3 and on the expensive lunch near the office. Furthermore, the parents can spend more time with their children, and this is very good for the family life. Many workers also say that they can concentrate better at home because the office is very noisy.

Secondly, there is also the disadvantages.4 When the team is not in the same place, the communication become more difficult. The workers cannot ask the quick question to their colleague, so they must write the email and wait for the answer. Moreover, the new employees learn by watching the experienced people, but on the video call this is not possible. Therefore they need more time to learn the job.

In conclusion, working from home has the advantages and the disadvantages for the companies and for the workers. I think that the companies should let the employees to choose, because every person is different1 and every job is different.

What an examiner notices

  1. 1. Task response

    “I think that the companies should let the employees to choose, because every person is different”

    The position appears for the first time in the last sentence and rests on a generalisation the body never made. Opinions in a discussion essay must be earned by the argument that precedes them.

  2. 2. Task response

    “it is bad for the team work and for the training of the young employees”

    The prompt raises two harms. The essay develops only training; teamwork is named in the introduction and never returned to.

  3. 3. Coherence and cohesion

    “In addition, they can save the money on the transport”

    One of seven explicit connectors. Listing benefits with 'In addition' and 'Furthermore' adds signposts without adding development.

  4. 4. Grammatical range and accuracy

    “Secondly, there is also the disadvantages.”

    Singular verb with a plural complement, plus a definite article where none belongs. Three words, two errors — and the sentence is still perfectly comprehensible, which is the essence of the band.

One honest caveat

Band labels here describe what each piece of writing demonstrates against the four published assessment areas, paraphrased in plain language. They are teaching illustrations produced for this site, not official material, and no sample has been marked by a test provider. Real scripts are marked whole; two answers with the same label can still look quite different from each other, and nothing on this page can promise anyone a particular result.

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