Both Views Without Opinion

An IELTS Writing Task 2 sample essay discussing both views without expressing a personal opinion

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Both Views Without Opinion - An IELTS Writing Task 2 sample essay discussing both views without expressing a personal opinion

Sample Question

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

Both Views Without Opinion
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. 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 One-Sided Opinion

Sample Answer

Both Views Without Opinion
People have different perspectives on whether professionals, including doctors and engineers, should be required to serve the country where they received their training or be allowed to work overseas. While some people argue that trained professionals have a responsibility to work for companies in the country that educated them, others believe that individuals should have the freedom to choose where they work. On the one hand, it is commonly believed that requiring professionals to work in the country where they received their training can benefit the national workforce. Governments and educational institutions often invest public money in professional training, particularly in medicine and engineering. 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 in another country can benefit individuals and the wider community. Working abroad may offer better career opportunities, higher salaries and access to more advanced professional environments. International employment 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. Restricting where professionals can work could therefore limit their professional development. In conclusion, many people argue that professionals should remain in the country where they received their training to retain skilled workers and benefit local communities. Others, however, believe that allowing professionals to work overseas can provide greater career opportunities and international experience.

Word count: —

Related Essay: Both Views with Specific Opinion

Band Descriptor Analysis

1. Task Response

The response addresses both views without expressing a personal opinion. Each view is developed with relevant reasons, explanations and supporting details: the first focuses on public investment, skilled-worker shortages and the domestic workforce, while the second covers career opportunities, professional development and international experience. The engineer example further supports the second view. 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 progresses clearly from an introduction presenting both views, through two focused body paragraphs, to a neutral conclusion. Each paragraph has a distinct purpose, while cohesive devices clarify relationships between ideas and guide the reader through the argument.

  • while — introduces a contrast between the two views
  • On the one hand — introduces the first view
  • If — introduces a condition
  • therefore — signals a consequence
  • On the other hand — introduces the contrasting view
  • also — adds a related point
  • For example — introduces a supporting example
  • which — links the example to its consequence
  • could therefore — signals a further consequence
  • however — signals contrast in the conclusion

The cohesive devices support the logical progression of the essay 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, workforce needs and international career opportunities. Examples include:

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

The essay also varies expressions for working in another country, including work overseas, work in another country, working abroad and employed overseas, while retaining key topic terms where repetition is natural and precise. The vocabulary is used to express both views clearly without relying on forced synonym substitution. 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 both views. Examples include:

  • Embedded clause: whether professionals, including doctors and engineers, should be required to serve the country where they received their training or be allowed to work overseas
  • Contrast clause: While some people argue that trained professionals have a responsibility to work for companies in the country that educated them, others believe that individuals should have the freedom to choose where they work
  • Relative clause: where services may already lack sufficient staff
  • Modal structure: requiring professionals to work in the country where they received their training can benefit the national workforce
  • 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...
  • Modal structure: Working abroad may offer better career opportunities
  • Relative clause expressing a result: 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
  • Contrastive structure: Others, however, believe that allowing professionals to work overseas can provide greater career opportunities and international experience

These structures are used to express contrast, condition, cause, consequence, explanation 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.