This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of robots and jobs from the real IELTS general training exam.
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IELTS Essay: Robots and Jobs
Machines are taking over more and more jobs previously done by humans.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your own opinion.
There has been growing concern in recent years related to the number of positions robots now occupy in the workforce. In my opinion, though this has clear disadvantages for the average worker, it is a positive overall.
Those who decry this trend towards automation point out its impact on unskilled labourers. The most affected live in poorer, predominately rural areas rather than cities where there are more white collar workers. For example, in the United States in the primarily agrarian economies of the Midwest, the number of jobs for farmers and factory workers has been in steep decline. The result is either than many families now struggle to make ends meet and are embittered towards the current economic model or they leave their homes to earn subsistence wages in the city. This migrations brings its own negatives as cities become overcrowded and the consumer class in the countryside dwindles.
Nonetheless, the forward progress of technology is a positive sign for the future. There is little doubt that the transitional period will be rife with unrest among working class people; however, this will be more than compensated for by future generations. In the future, workers will be free to pursue their passions rather than having to toil in manual jobs better done by robots. This could lead to a concomitant rise in the number of scientists, artists, researchers, artisans, and other skilled positions. There is even consideration these days of a universal basic wage that would sever individuals from the necessity of work and open up a range of leisure options for the average citizen.
In conclusion, though the dominance of robotic technologies has short-term downsides, it will ultimately lead to a flourishing of human creativity and innovation. It is therefore important for governments to capably manage this transition.
Analysis
1. There has been growing concern in recent years related to the number of positions robots now occupy in the workforce. 2. In my opinion, though this has clear disadvantages for the average worker, it is a positive overall.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Those who decry this trend towards automation point out its impact on unskilled labourers. 2. The most affected live in poorer, predominately rural areas rather than cities where there are more white collar workers. 3. For example, in the United States in the primarily agrarian economies of the Midwest, the number of jobs for farmers and factory workers has been in steep decline. 4. The result is either than many families now struggle to make ends meet and are embittered towards the current economic model or they leave their homes to earn subsistence wages in the city. 5. This migrations brings its own negatives as cities become overcrowded and the consumer class in the countryside dwindles.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific examples.
- Continue to develop it.
- State the result or develop the idea fully.
1. Nonetheless, the forward progress of technology is a positive sign for the future. 2. There is little doubt that the transitional period will be rife with unrest among working class people; however, this will be more than compensated for by future generations. 3. In the future, workers will be free to pursue their passions rather than having to toil in manual jobs better done by robots. 4. This could lead to a concomitant rise in the number of scientists, artists, researchers, artisans, and other skilled positions. 5. There is even consideration these days of a universal basic wage that would sever individuals from the necessity of work and open up a range of leisure options for the average citizen.
- 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 more detail but don’t add in a new main idea.
1. In conclusion, though the dominance of robotic technologies has short-term downsides, it will ultimately lead to a flourishing of human creativity and innovation. 2. It is therefore important for governments to capably manage this transition.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
There has been growing concern in recent years related to the number of positions robots now occupy in the workforce. In my opinion, though this has clear disadvantages for the average worker, it is a positive overall.
Those who decry this trend towards automation point out its impact on unskilled labourers. The most affected live in poorer, predominately rural areas rather than cities where there are more white collar workers. For example, in the United States in the primarily agrarian economies of the Midwest, the number of jobs for farmers and factory workers has been in steep decline. The result is either than many families now struggle to make ends meet and are embittered towards the current economic model or they leave their homes to earn subsistence wages in the city. This migrations brings its own negatives as cities become overcrowded and the consumer class in the countryside dwindles.
Nonetheless, the forward progress of technology is a positive sign for the future. There is little doubt that the transitional period will be rife with unrest among working class people; however, this will be more than compensated for by future generations. In the future, workers will be free to pursue their passions rather than having to toil in manual jobs better done by robots. This could lead to a concomitant rise in the number of scientists, artists, researchers, artisans, and other skilled positions. There is even consideration these days of a universal basic wage that would sever individuals from the necessity of work and open up a range of leisure options for the average citizen.
In conclusion, though the dominance of robotic technologies has short-term downsides, it will ultimately lead to a flourishing of human creativity and innovation. It is therefore important for governments to capably manage this transition.
Answers
growing concern increasing worry
positions jobs
occupy take
clear disadvantages definite negatives
average worker normal person with a job
positive overall good in general
decry argue against
trend pattern
automation things being done automatically/by robots
unskilled labourers work that doesn’t require much skill
most affected impacted greatly
predominately rural areas mostly just in the countryside
white collar workers people with better jobs
primarily agrarian economies mostly based on farming
Midwest the middle and Western area of the United States
steep decline going down a lot
result effect
struggle to make ends meet have a tough time making enough money
embittered angry towards
current economic model the way the economy is now
earn subsistence wages just make enough to survive
migrations travelling/moving
negatives bad parts
overcrowded too many people
consumer class people who buy things
dwindles disappears
nonetheless regardless
forward progress development
positive sign good thing
there is little doubt that it is clear
transitional period time of change
rife full of
unrest unhappiness
more than compensated for more than makes up for
pursue their passions do what they want
toil work pointlessly/hard
manual jobs physical jobs
concomitant rise related increase
artisans skilled makers
consideration area to think about
universal basic wage salary for all people
sever cut off from
necessity of work needing to work
open up allow for
range variety of
leisure not doing anything
dominance supremacy
short-term downsides negatives in the short-term
ultimately in the end
flourishing improving
innovation new ideas
capably manage do well handling
Pronunciation
ˈgrəʊɪŋ kənˈsɜːn
pəˈzɪʃənz
ˈɒkjʊpaɪ
klɪə ˌdɪsədˈvɑːntɪʤɪz
ˈævərɪʤ ˈwɜːkə
ˈpɒzətɪv ˈəʊvərɔːl
dɪˈkraɪ
trɛnd
ˌɔːtəˈmeɪʃ(ə)n
ʌnˈskɪld ˈleɪbərəz
məʊst əˈfɛktɪd
prɪˈdɒmɪneɪtli ˈrʊərəl ˈeərɪəz
waɪt ˈkɒlə ˈwɜːkəz
ˈpraɪmərɪli əˈgreərɪən i(ː)ˈkɒnəmiz
ˈmɪdˈwɛst
stiːp dɪˈklaɪn
rɪˈzʌlt
ˈstrʌgl tuː meɪk ɛndz miːt
ɪmˈbɪtəd
ˈkʌrənt ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˈmɒdl
ɜːn səbˈsɪstəns ˈweɪʤɪz
maɪˈgreɪʃənz
ˈnɛgətɪvz
ˌəʊvəˈkraʊdɪd
kənˈsjuːmə klɑːs
ˈdwɪndlz
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
ˈfɔːwəd ˈprəʊgrəs
ˈpɒzətɪv saɪn
ðeər ɪz ˈlɪtl daʊt ðæt
trænˈsɪʒənl ˈpɪərɪəd
raɪf
ʌnˈrɛst
mɔː ðæn ˈkɒmpɛnseɪtɪd fɔː
pəˈsjuː ðeə ˈpæʃənz
tɔɪl
ˈmænjʊəl ʤɒbz
kənˈkɒmɪtənt raɪz
ˌɑːtɪˈzænz
kənˌsɪdəˈreɪʃən
ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsəl ˈbeɪsɪk weɪʤ
ˈsɛvə
nɪˈsɛsɪti ɒv wɜːk
ˈəʊpən ʌp
reɪnʤ
ˈlɛʒə
ˈdɒmɪnəns
ʃɔːt-tɜːm ˈdaʊnˌsaɪdz
ˈʌltɪmɪtli
ˈflʌrɪʃɪŋ
ˌɪnəʊˈveɪʃən
ˈkeɪpəbli ˈmænɪʤ
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
There has been g_______________n in recent years related to the number of p___________s robots now o_________y in the workforce. In my opinion, though this has c_________________s for the a_________________r, it is a p___________________l.
Those who d________y this t_________d towards a_________________n point out its impact on u________________________s. The m_____________d live in poorer, p_________________________s rather than cities where there are more w__________________________s. For example, in the United States in the p_____________________________s of the M_________t, the number of jobs for farmers and factory workers has been in s_____________e. The r______t is either than many families now s__________________________t and are e__________________d towards the c________________________l or they leave their homes to e___________________________s in the city. This m___________s brings its own n_____________s as cities become o_______________d and the c___________________s in the countryside d____________s.
N______________s, the f_______________s of technology is a p_______________n for the future. T________________________t the t______________________d will be r___e with u____________t among working class people; however, this will be m______________________________r by future generations. In the future, workers will be free to p________________________s rather than having to t_____l in m___________________s better done by robots. This could lead to a c________________________e in the number of scientists, artists, researchers, a_____________s, and other skilled positions. There is even c________________n these days of a u_______________________e that would s______r individuals from the n__________________k and o___________p a r_________e of l_________e options for the average citizen.
In conclusion, though the d_______________e of robotic technologies has s_______________________s, it will u_____________y lead to a f____________g of human creativity and i______________n. It is therefore important for governments to c___________________e this transition.
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.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/01/iron-chefs/546581/
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Work
- Why did you choose your job?
- How much work do you do in a week?
- Do you have to work on weekends as well?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related topic below and then check with my sample answer:
Nowadays more tasks at home and work are being performed by robots.
Is this a negative or positive development?
Your Passion and Love for coaching and guidance is praise worthy. Let us keep the candle on and on .Let us pass on the light to be spread by good people to and for everybody. Let us keep the candle on.God bless You my Friend.God bless you. Ameen
Regards
Dr.Aqeel F. Durrani
extraordinary and you made it very simple.
Thank you, Mazen!