This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of offices and whether or not offices should have open-space designs or separate rooms.
IELTS Essay: Offices
Nowadays, a lot of offices employ open-space designs instead of separate rooms for work.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
Many offices these days are opting for open designs over more traditional, compartmentalized floor plans. In my opinion, despite the limited advantages for efficiency, this is a positive change due to its social and work-related benefits.
On the one hand, an open layout can reduce efficiency. When individuals work in private offices or cubicles, they are less likely to be disturbed and can therefore work more effectively. Each time a person is interrupted, this not only requires them to stop working but it may also take an indeterminate amount of time to focus again. Over the course of a day, various interruptions in the aggregate can massively reduce the amount of work completed. Recent research has in fact shown that communication around the office, though beneficial in other ways, does lead to declines in total work output. An office trying to achieve optimal output thus should emphasize private working spaces.
On the other hand, increased communication is a boon both socially and creatively. A standout example of this would be the offices designed by Apple founder Steve Jobs for both Pixar and Apple. He intentionally created offices that directed individuals to meet in common areas and that would facilitate interactions between different divisions in the company. The impact of this on morale is massive as individuals can make friends and enjoy each other’s company throughout the workday. Moreover, the true intention of this design was to facilitate creativity. By meeting others on a regular basis, employees are more likely to combine diverse perspectives and be more imaginative in their work.
In conclusion, although there may be minor tradeoffs in terms of productivity, this is a progressive change as it allows employees to converse and be more creative. Such offices should become the rule, rather than the exception.
Analysis
1. Many offices these days are opting for open designs over more traditional, compartmentalized floor plans. 2. In my opinion, despite the limited advantages for efficiency, this is a positive change due to its social and work-related benefits.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. On the one hand, an open layout can reduce efficiency. 2. When individuals work in private offices or cubicles, they are less likely to be disturbed and can therefore work more effectively. 3. Each time a person is interrupted, this not only requires them to stop working but it may also take an indeterminate amount of time to focus again. 4. Over the course of a day, various interruptions in the aggregate can massively reduce the amount of work completed. 5. Recent research has in fact shown that communication around the office, though beneficial in other ways, does lead to declines in total work output. 6. An office trying to achieve optimal output thus should emphasize private working spaces.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
- Keep developing it fully.
- Vary long and short sentences.
- Finish development.
1. On the other hand, increased communication is a boon both socially and creatively. 2. A standout example of this would be the offices designed by Apple founder Steve Jobs for both Pixar and Apple. 3. He intentionally created offices that directed individuals to meet in common areas and that would facilitate interactions between different divisions in the company. 4. The impact of this on morale is massive as individuals can make friends and enjoy each other’s company throughout the workday. 5. Moreover, the true intention of this design was to facilitate creativity. 6. By meeting others on a regular basis, employees are more likely to combine diverse perspectives and be more imaginative in their work.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
- Develop the example fully.
- State the results as well.
1. In conclusion, although there may be minor tradeoffs in terms of productivity, this is a progressive change as it allows employees to converse and be more creative. 2. Such offices should become the rule, rather than the exception.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
Many offices these days are opting for open designs over more traditional, compartmentalized floor plans. In my opinion, despite the limited advantages for efficiency, this is a positive change due to its social and work-related benefits.
On the one hand, an open layout can reduce efficiency. When individuals work in private offices or cubicles, they are less likely to be disturbed and can therefore work more effectively. Each time a person is interrupted, this not only requires them to stop working but it may also take an indeterminate amount of time to focus again. Over the course of a day, various interruptions in the aggregate can massively reduce the amount of work completed. Recent research has in fact shown that communication around the office, though beneficial in other ways, does lead to declines in total work output. An office trying to achieve optimal output thus should emphasize private working spaces.
On the other hand, increased communication is a boon both socially and creatively. A standout example of this would be the offices designed by Apple founder Steve Jobs for both Pixar and Apple. He intentionally created offices that directed individuals to meet in common areas and that would facilitate interactions between different divisions in the company. The impact of this on morale is massive as individuals can make friends and enjoy each other’s company throughout the workday. Moreover, the true intention of this design was to facilitate creativity. By meeting others on a regular basis, employees are more likely to combine diverse perspectives and be more imaginative in their work.
In conclusion, although there may be minor tradeoffs in terms of productivity, this is a progressive change as it allows employees to converse and be more creative. Such offices should become the rule, rather than the exception.
Answers
opting for choosing
open designs lots of space in the floor plan
traditional normal
compartmentalized floor plans offices with lots of cubicles and individual offices
limited advantages small benefits
efficiency productivity
due to because of
social interacting with people
work-related benefits good for your job
open layout office with lots of space
reduce decrease
private offices individual rooms
cubicles spaces sectioned off with walls but not a separate room for work
disturbed interrupted
therefore thus
effectively does it well
interrupted disturbed
requires needs
indeterminate amount of time some period of time
focus concentrate
over the course of a day throughout the day
various different kinds of
in the aggregate all together
massively reduce cut down on a lot
completed finished
recent research has in fact shown new studies indicate
beneficial in other ways good in different ways
lead to causes
total work output amount of work done
achieve optimal output accomplish as much as they can
emphasize private working spaces focus on individual offices
boon benefit
socially talking to others
creatively imaginatively
a standout example of this would be a good instance is
intentionally on purpose
directed pointed at
common areas places to congregate
facilitate interactions make people talk more
different divisions other parts of the company
morale how people in the company feel
massive really big
enjoy each other’s company throughout the workday have fun talking all day
true intention actual reason
facilitate help, enable
on a regular basis normally
combine diverse perspectives learn from others
imaginative creative
minor tradeoffs small disadvantages
in terms of when it comes to
productivity efficiency
progressive change good reform
converse talk
the rule, rather than the exception normal, not rare
Pronunciation
ˈɒptɪŋ fɔː
ˈəʊpən dɪˈzaɪnz
trəˈdɪʃənl
kəmˈpɑːtmənt ˈrɪəlaɪzd flɔː plænz
ˈlɪmɪtɪd ədˈvɑːntɪʤɪz
ɪˈfɪʃənsi
djuː tuː
ˈsəʊʃəl
wɜːk-rɪˈleɪtɪd ˈbɛnɪfɪts
ˈəʊpən ˈleɪaʊt
rɪˈdjuːs
ˈpraɪvɪt ˈɒfɪsɪz
ˈkjuːbɪklz
dɪsˈtɜːbd
ˈðeəfɔː
ɪˈfɛktɪvli
ˌɪntəˈrʌptɪd
rɪˈkwaɪəz
ˌɪndɪˈtɜːmɪnɪt əˈmaʊnt ɒv taɪm
ˈfəʊkəs
ˈəʊvə ðə kɔːs ɒv ə deɪ
ˈveərɪəs
ɪn ði ˈægrɪgɪt
ˈmæsɪvli rɪˈdjuːs
kəmˈpliːtɪd
ˈriːsnt rɪˈsɜːʧ hæz ɪn fækt ʃəʊn
ˌbɛnɪˈfɪʃəl ɪn ˈʌðə weɪz
liːd tuː
ˈtəʊtl wɜːk ˈaʊtpʊt
əˈʧiːv ˈɒptɪməl ˈaʊtpʊt
ˈɛmfəsaɪz ˈpraɪvɪt ˈwɜːkɪŋ ˈspeɪsɪz
buːn
ˈsəʊʃəli
kri(ː)ˈeɪtɪvli
ə ˈstændaʊt ɪgˈzɑːmpl ɒv ðɪs wʊd biː
ɪnˈtɛnʃənli
dɪˈrɛktɪd
ˈkɒmən ˈeərɪəz
fəˈsɪlɪteɪt ˌɪntərˈækʃənz
ˈdɪfrənt dɪˈvɪʒənz
mɒˈrɑːl
ˈmæsɪv
ɪnˈʤɔɪ iːʧ ˈʌðəz ˈkʌmpəni θru(ː)ˈaʊt ðə ˈwɜːkdeɪ
truː ɪnˈtɛnʃən
fəˈsɪlɪteɪt
ɒn ə ˈrɛgjʊlə ˈbeɪsɪs
ˈkɒmbaɪn daɪˈvɜːs pəˈspɛktɪvz
ɪˈmæʤɪnətɪv
ˈmaɪnə treɪd ɒfs
ɪn tɜːmz ɒv
ˌprɒdʌkˈtɪvɪti
prəʊˈgrɛsɪv ʧeɪnʤ
kənˈvɜːs
ðə ruːl, ˈrɑːðə ðæn ði ɪkˈsɛpʃən
Vocabulary Practice
Many offices these days are o_______________r o_____________s over more t_____________l, c_________________________s. In my opinion, despite the l____________________s for e______________y, this is a positive change d______o its s______l and w_______________________s.
On the one hand, an o______________t can r__________e efficiency. When individuals work in p______________s or c_________s, they are less likely to be d_________d and can t__________e work more e____________y. Each time a person is i_______________d, this not only r_________s them to stop working but it may also take an i____________________________e to f______s again. O_____________________y, v_________s interruptions i_______________e can m_____________e the amount of work c_________d. R______________________________n that communication around the office, though b__________________s, does l_________o declines in t__________________t. An office trying to a___________________t thus should e______________________s.
On the other hand, increased communication is a b_____n both s_________y and c_________y. A_________________________________e the offices designed by Apple founder Steve Jobs for both Pixar and Apple. He i________________y created offices that d___________d individuals to meet in c_____________s and that would f__________________s between d___________________s in the company. The impact of this on m_________e is m_________e as individuals can make friends and e_____________________________________________y. Moreover, the t______________n of this design was to f__________e creativity. By meeting others o_________________s, employees are more likely to c__________________________s and be more i_______________e in their work.
In conclusion, although there may be m_________________________________y, this is a p_________________e as it allows employees to c_______________e and be more creative. Such offices should become t__________________________________n.
Listening Practice
Reading Practice
https://www.creativebloq.com/design/design-offices-912828
Speaking Practice
Offices
- Do you work in an office?
- Is it common for people in your country to work in office?
- Where do most of your friends work?
- Would you like to design an office?
Writing Practice
Some people believe that it is a good idea that older people continue to work if it is possible for them to do.
Do you agree or disagree?
Saru
Hi there. Thanks for sharing so much information for free. you’re definitely a blessing to all students.
A quick question. Aren’t we supposed to include at least two advantages and disadvantages in order to satisfy the task response for this kind of question?
Yes, but you can make them related as I do here, Amir.
Thanks for your question!