This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of hard work from the real IELTS general training exam.
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Dave
IELTS Essay: Hard Work
Some people work harder than other.
Why is this?
Is this a positive or negative habit?
Some people work harder than others. In my opinion, this is due to natural differences in temperament and it is largely a positive characteristic, though there are exceptions.
The main motivating factor behind disparities in work ethic is character. The extent to which this is genetic or imbued by parents and other influences during childhood is in debate. There can be little doubt, however, that some are born with a natural proclivity to focus and the willpower to push themselves to accomplish their work. Well known examples of this abound in the biographies of great men. Naturally, in each of these cases, there tends to be situational factors underpinning such ambitious drives and these include a supportive family, access to quality education, and lack of neglect or abuse.
On the whole, working hard is a positive trait. This does not hold true in exceptional instances where individuals are surrounded by psychological problems and work to the detriment of their own well-being. Most employees and entrepreneurs can balance home and work life and therefore minimise the tradeoffs. The advantages, on the other hand, are substantial. A diligent worker can expect to earn more money, which can then be used to support their family or invested back into a passion project. Elon Musk is a quintessential example of a hard-working businessman who has profited individually and now contributes greatly to the advancement of mankind through a variety of forward-looking initiatives.
In conclusion, hard work has its source in the make-up of an individual and results in mostly positive benefits. Nonetheless, those who are driven must be wary of losing sight of their true goals as they achieve higher levels of success.
Analysis
1. Some people work harder than others. 2. In my opinion, this is due to natural differences in temperament and it is largely a positive characteristic, though there are exceptions.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. The main motivating factor behind disparities in work ethic is character. 2. The extent to which this is genetic or imbued by parents and other influences during childhood is in debate. 3. There can be little doubt, however, that some are born with a natural proclivity to focus and the willpower to push themselves to accomplish their work. 4. Well known examples of this abound in the biographies of great men. 5. Naturally, in each of these cases, there tends to be situational factors underpinning such ambitious drives and these include a supportive family, access to quality education, and lack of neglect or abuse.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific detail.
- Continue to develop it.
- Develop it as fully as possible.
1. On the whole, working hard is a positive trait. 2. This does not hold true in exceptional instances where individuals are surrounded by psychological problems and work to the detriment of their own well-being. 3. Most employees and entrepreneurs can balance home and work life and therefore minimise the tradeoffs. 4. The advantages, on the other hand, are substantial. 5. A diligent worker can expect to earn more money, which can then be used to support their family or invested back into a passion project. 6. Elon Musk is a quintessential example of a hard-working businessman who has profited individually and now contributes greatly to the advancement of mankind through a variety of forward-looking initiatives.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- The more specific, the better.
- Add on any extra detail that you can that is related for a better task achievement score.
- This paragraph can be slightly longer but not too much!
1. In conclusion, hard work has its source in the make-up of an individual and results in mostly positive benefits. 2. Nonetheless, those who are driven must be wary of losing sight of their true goals as they achieve higher levels of success.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Take notes on a piece of paper so that you remember them better:
Some people work harder than others. In my opinion, this is due to natural differences in temperament and it is largely a positive characteristic, though there are exceptions.
The main motivating factor behind disparities in work ethic is character. The extent to which this is genetic or imbued by parents and other influences during childhood is in debate. There can be little doubt, however, that some are born with a natural proclivity to focus and the willpower to push themselves to accomplish their work. Well known examples of this abound in the biographies of great men. Naturally, in each of these cases, there tends to be situational factors underpinning such ambitious drives and these include a supportive family, access to quality education, and lack of neglect or abuse.
On the whole, working hard is a positive trait. This does not hold true in exceptional instances where individuals are surrounded by psychological problems and work to the detriment of their own well-being. Most employees and entrepreneurs can balance home and work life and therefore minimise the tradeoffs. The advantages, on the other hand, are substantial. A diligent worker can expect to earn more money, which can then be used to support their family or invested back into a passion project. Elon Musk is a quintessential example of a hard-working businessman who has profited individually and now contributes greatly to the advancement of mankind through a variety of forward-looking initiatives.
In conclusion, hard work has its source in the make-up of an individual and results in mostly positive benefits. Nonetheless, those who are driven must be wary of losing sight of their true goals as they achieve higher levels of success.
Answers
natural differences inherent disparities
temperament personality
largely mostly
characteristic quality
exceptions outside the norm
main motivating factor primary reason
behind underpinning
disparities differences
work ethic working hard
character how a person is
extent to which this is level this relates to
genetic biological
imbued fostered, imparted
influences people who shape someone
in debate open to question
there can be little doubt not much chance
born with inborn
natural proclivity born with it
focus pay attention to
willpower self-control
push themselves force themselves
accomplish achieve
well known examples of this abound famous instances of this are very common
biographies books about a person’s life
naturally obviously
in each of these cases in both instances
tends to be situational factors contextual matters
underpinning serving as a foundation for
ambitious drives desire to achieve a lot
include make part of
supportive family caring parents
access be able to get to
quality education good schools
lack not have
neglect not taking care of
abuse being hurt
on the whole in general
trait quality
not hold true not still the case
exceptional instances outliers, exceptions
surrounded all around
psychological problems mental issues
detriment disadvantage
well-being health
entrepreneurs people who start their own business
balance keep both equal
therefore minimise as a result keep under control
tradeoffs disadvantages
on the other hand however
substantial meaningful
diligent caring
can expect to earn will likely make
support their family take care of a wife and kids
invested back put money back into
passion project something you care greatly about
quintessential example good instance
hard-working businessman good worker
profited gained
contributes greatly adds a lot to
advancement of mankind making the world better
variety lots of different kinds
forward-looking initiatives ideas for the future
source foundation
make-up constitution, character
results in leads to
nonetheless regardless of
driven motivated
wary worried about
losing sight not paying attention to, forgetting about
true goals real aims
achieve higher levels of success become more successful
Pronunciation
ˈnæʧrəl ˈdɪfrənsɪz
ˈtɛmpərəmənt
ˈlɑːʤli
ˌkærɪktəˈrɪstɪk
ɪkˈsɛpʃənz
meɪn ˈməʊtɪveɪtɪŋ ˈfæktə
bɪˈhaɪnd
dɪsˈpærɪtiz
wɜːk ˈɛθɪk
ˈkærɪktə
ɪksˈtɛnt tuː wɪʧ ðɪs ɪz
ʤɪˈnɛtɪk
ɪmˈbjuːd
ˈɪnflʊənsɪz
ɪn dɪˈbeɪt
ðeə kæn biː ˈlɪtl daʊt
bɔːn wɪð
ˈnæʧrəl prəˈklɪvɪti
ˈfəʊkəs
ˈwɪlˌpaʊə
pʊʃ ðəmˈsɛlvz
əˈkɒmplɪʃ
wɛl nəʊn ɪgˈzɑːmplz ɒv ðɪs əˈbaʊnd
baɪˈɒgrəfiz
ˈnæʧrəli
ɪn iːʧ ɒv ðiːz ˈkeɪsɪz
tɛndz tuː biː ˌsɪtjʊˈeɪʃən(ə)l ˈfæktəz
ˌʌndəˈpɪnɪŋ
æmˈbɪʃəs draɪvz
ɪnˈkluːd
səˈpɔːtɪv ˈfæmɪli
ˈæksɛs
ˈkwɒlɪti ˌɛdju(ː)ˈkeɪʃən
læk
nɪˈglɛkt
əˈbjuːs
ɒn ðə həʊl
treɪt
nɒt həʊld truː
ɪkˈsɛpʃənl ˈɪnstənsɪz
səˈraʊndɪd
ˌsaɪkəˈlɒʤɪkəl ˈprɒbləmz
ˈdɛtrɪmənt
wɛl-ˈbiːɪŋ
ˌɒntrəprəˈnɜːz
ˈbæləns
ˈðeəfɔː ˈmɪnɪmaɪz
treɪd ɒfs
ɒn ði ˈʌðə hænd
səbˈstænʃəl
ˈdɪlɪʤənt
kæn ɪksˈpɛkt tuː ɜːn
səˈpɔːt ðeə ˈfæmɪli
ɪnˈvɛstɪd bæk
ˈpæʃən ˈprɒʤɛkt
ˌkwɪntɪˈsɛnʃəl ɪgˈzɑːmpl
ˈhɑːdˌwɜːkɪŋ ˈbɪznɪsmən
ˈprɒfɪtɪd
kənˈtrɪbju(ː)ts ˈgreɪtli
ədˈvɑːnsmənt ɒv mænˈkaɪnd
vəˈraɪəti
ˈfɔːwədˈlʊkɪŋ ɪˈnɪʃɪətɪvz
sɔːs
ˈmeɪkʌp
rɪˈzʌlts ɪn
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
ˈdrɪvn
ˈweəri
ˈluːzɪŋ saɪt
truː gəʊlz
əˈʧiːv ˈhaɪə ˈlɛvlz ɒv səkˈsɛs
Vocabulary Practice
I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:
Some people work harder than others. In my opinion, this is due to n_________________________s in t______________t and it is l_________y a positive c__________________c, though there are e____________s.
The m__________________________r b_______d d______________s in w_______________c is c____________r. The e________________________s g__________c or i_________d by parents and other i___________s during childhood is i___________e. T___________________t, however, that some are b___________h a n_____________________y to f_______s and the w___________r to p___________________s to a_____________h their work. W_______________________________d in the b______________s of great men. N___________y, i_______________________s, there t___________e s__________________s u____________g such a______________s and these i_________e a s___________________y, a_________s to q__________________n, and l_____k of n_______t or a_______e.
O____________e, working hard is a positive t______t. This does n______________e in e___________________s where individuals are s______________d by p___________________s and work to the d__________t of their own w____________g. Most employees and e_____________s can b_________e home and work life and t_______________________e the t___________s. The advantages, o__________________d, are s_____________l. A d__________t worker c_________________n more money, which can then be used to s_________________y or i_______________k into a p_________________t. Elon Musk is a q______________________e of a h__________________________n who has p__________d individually and now c_______________________y to the a______________________d through a v__________y of f______________________________s.
In conclusion, hard work has its s________e in the m_________p of an individual and r___________n mostly positive benefits. N______________s, those who are d_______n must be w_____y of l______________t of their t___________s as they a_________________________s.
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/you-really-dont-need-to-work-so-much
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Work (Model answer available on my Patreon)
- Do you work or are you a student?
- Do you like your current job?
- In the future, do you want to change jobs?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related topic below and then check with my sample answer:
In many countries, people are spending more time in their workplace.
Why is this?
Is this a negative or positive development?
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