Both Views With One-Sided Opinion

An IELTS Writing Task 2 sample essay discussing both views and presenting a clear one-sided opinion

IELTS
Writing Task 2
Essay
Both Views With One-Sided Opinion

Sample Question

The following question is taken from Cambridge 17 Test 3 Writing Task 2.

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic: Some people believe that professionals, such as doctors and engineers, should be required to work in the country where they did their training. Others believe they should be free to work in another country if they wish. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.

Related Essay: Both Views with Specific Opinion

Sample Answer

Both Views With One-Sided Opinion

Many people argue that trained professionals, including doctors and engineers, have a responsibility to serve the country that educated them, while others believe that individuals should have the freedom to choose where they work. In my view, professionals should be free to work abroad because international employment can provide valuable opportunities for career development. On the one hand, it is commonly believed that requiring professionals to serve the country where they completed their training can benefit the national workforce. Governments and educational institutions often invest public money in professional training. If qualified workers leave after completing their education, the country may face a shortage of skilled professionals, especially in developing countries where services may already lack sufficient staff. Requiring graduates to contribute to the domestic workforce could therefore ensure that investment in their education benefits the wider population. On the other hand, other people believe that allowing professionals to work abroad can benefit both individuals and the wider community. I share this view because working abroad may offer better career opportunities, higher salaries and access to more advanced professional environments. Working in another country can also enable professionals to develop new skills and gain experience of different professional practices and working cultures. For example, an engineer employed overseas may have the opportunity to work on large-scale international projects, which could broaden their expertise and improve their career prospects. Similarly, doctors may gain valuable experience from working with different healthcare systems. Restricting where professionals can work could therefore limit their professional development. In conclusion, people have different perspectives on whether professionals should work in the country where they received their training or work overseas. However, I would argue that professionals should be free to work overseas since working internationally can provide greater career opportunities and valuable experience.

Word count: —

Related Essay: Both Views without Opinion

Band Descriptor Analysis

1. Task Response

The response addresses both views and presents a clear personal position in favour of allowing professionals to work abroad. The first view is developed through public investment in professional training, the potential shortage of skilled professionals and the need to strengthen the domestic workforce. The preferred view is developed through better career opportunities, higher salaries, access to advanced professional environments, new skills and international experience. Examples involving engineers and doctors provide further support. The position is stated in the introduction, developed in the second body paragraph and maintained in the conclusion. This aims to meet the Band 9 requirement for fully addressing all parts of the task with fully developed and well-supported ideas.

2. Coherence and Cohesion

The essay follows a clear progression from the introduction, which presents both views and the writer's position, moving from the opposing view to the preferred view and finally to a restatement of the position in the conclusion. Each body paragraph has a clear function, and the preferred position receives greater development. Cohesive devices are used to clarify relationships between ideas rather than simply to connect sentences.

while — introduces the contrast between the two views
In my view — introduces the writer's position
On the one hand — introduces the first view
If — introduces a condition
therefore — signals a consequence
On the other hand — introduces the contrasting view
because — gives the reason for the writer's position
also — adds a further supporting point
For example — introduces a specific supporting example
which — links the example to its resulting benefit
Similarly — introduces a parallel example involving doctors
could therefore — signals a further consequence
However — introduces the final contrast before restating the position

These devices support the logical progression of the argument without unnecessarily drawing attention to the cohesion. This aims to meet the Band 9 emphasis on cohesion that attracts no attention and skilful paragraphing.

3. Lexical Resource

The response uses a wide range of topic-specific vocabulary and natural collocations to discuss professional employment and career development. Examples include:

trained professionals
national workforce
public money
professional training
shortage of skilled professionals
domestic workforce
wider population
career development
career opportunities
professional environments
professional practices
working cultures
large-scale international projects
career prospects
professional development
different healthcare systems

The essay also varies expressions for working in another country, including work abroad, working abroad, working in another country, employed overseas, work overseas and working internationally, while retaining key topic terms where repetition is natural and precise. This avoids forced synonym substitution. The vocabulary is used to express the arguments clearly and accurately. This aims to meet the Band 9 requirement for a wide range of vocabulary with very natural and sophisticated control.

4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy

The essay demonstrates a range of grammatical structures that support the development of the argument. Examples include:

Contrast clause: while others believe that individuals should have the freedom to choose where they work
Opinion structure: In my view, professionals should be free to work abroad
Relative clause: the country that educated them
Conditional structure: If qualified workers leave after completing their education, the country may face a shortage of skilled professionals
Gerund-participial clause: Requiring graduates to contribute to the domestic workforce could therefore ensure...
Cause clause: I share this view because working abroad may offer better career opportunities
Modal structures: may offer, can also enable and could therefore limit
Relative clause: which could broaden their expertise and improve their career prospects
Gerund-participial clause with an embedded clause: Restricting where professionals can work could therefore limit their professional development

These structures are used to express contrast, opinion, condition, cause, consequence and qualification accurately and naturally. The range is functional rather than inserted simply to demonstrate grammatical complexity. This aims to meet the Band 9 requirement for a wide range of structures with full flexibility and accuracy.

Video Explanation

Note: This video was recorded using an earlier version of the essay. The written version on this page has since been updated, so minor differences in wording and word count are to be expected. The video remains useful for understanding the essay analysis and the key IELTS Writing assessment criteria.