This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of working harder than others.
IELTS Essay: Working Harder than Others
In education and employment, some people work harder than others.
Why do some people work harder?
Is it always good to work hard?
Some people clearly put more effort into their studies and jobs than others. This essay will explain why this happens and argue that although hard work often engenders tangible benefits, it is not always a positive approach due to the effects on mental health.
One key reason people work harder is pressure from their background or circumstances. For example, a student from a low-income family may study long hours to achieve high exam scores because education is seen as the main path to financial security. In employment, migrant workers often take extra shifts or accept demanding workloads because they have limited job options and may need to support relatives. In contrast, individuals with strong financial support or secure positions may feel less urgency to push themselves. Situational factors therefore explain the vast majority of hard-working individuals.
However, working hard is not always beneficial. In the short term it can increase productivity, but over time it may lead to burnout and declining long-term performance. Teachers who regularly work late nights marking papers and preparing lessons may initially improve student results, but prolonged stress can cause health problems and reduced teaching quality. Similarly, employees who consistently work overtime may sacrifice personal relationships and creativity, which are also essential for long-term success. Over time the impact on mental health exacts a toll and makes working hard a negative overall when taken to extremes.
In conclusion, people work harder due to necessity, personality, and external rewards. While dedication can lead to achievement, excessive hard work can be harmful, meaning a balanced approach is ultimately more effective.
Analysis
1. Some people clearly put more effort into their studies and jobs than others. 2. This essay will explain why this happens and argue that although hard work often engenders tangible benefits, it is not always a positive approach due to the effects on mental health.
1. One key reason people work harder is pressure from their background or circumstances. 2. For example, a student from a low-income family may study long hours to achieve high exam scores because education is seen as the main path to financial security. 3. In employment, migrant workers often take extra shifts or accept demanding workloads because they have limited job options and may need to support relatives. 4. In contrast, individuals with strong financial support or secure positions may feel less urgency to push themselves. 5. Situational factors therefore explain the vast majority of hard-working individuals.
1. However, working hard is not always beneficial. 2. In the short term it can increase productivity, but over time it may lead to burnout and declining long-term performance. 3. Teachers who regularly work late nights marking papers and preparing lessons may initially improve student results, but prolonged stress can cause health problems and reduced teaching quality. 4. Similarly, employees who consistently work overtime may sacrifice personal relationships and creativity, which are also essential for long-term success. 5. Over time the impact on mental health exacts a toll and makes working hard a negative overall when taken to extremes.
- 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.
- This essay is a bit long – aim for about 275 words.
1. In conclusion, people work harder due to necessity, personality, and external rewards. 2. While dedication can lead to achievement, excessive hard work can be harmful, meaning a balanced approach is ultimately more effective.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.
Some people clearly put more effort into their studies and jobs than others. This essay will explain why this happens and argue that although hard work often engenders tangible benefits, it is not always a positive approach due to the effects on mental health.
One key reason people work harder is pressure from their background or circumstances. For example, a student from a low-income family may study long hours to achieve high exam scores because education is seen as the main path to financial security. In employment, migrant workers often take extra shifts or accept demanding workloads because they have limited job options and may need to support relatives. In contrast, individuals with strong financial support or secure positions may feel less urgency to push themselves. Situational factors therefore explain the vast majority of hard-working individuals.
However, working hard is not always beneficial. In the short term it can increase productivity, but over time it may lead to burnout and declining long-term performance. Teachers who regularly work late nights marking papers and preparing lessons may initially improve student results, but prolonged stress can cause health problems and reduced teaching quality. Similarly, employees who consistently work overtime may sacrifice personal relationships and creativity, which are also essential for long-term success. Over time the impact on mental health exacts a toll and makes working hard a negative overall when taken to extremes.
In conclusion, people work harder due to necessity, personality, and external rewards. While dedication can lead to achievement, excessive hard work can be harmful, meaning a balanced approach is ultimately more effective.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
clearly put more effort into → demonstrate greater effort
This essay will explain why → This essay will outline the reasons why
engenders tangible benefits → produces measurable advantages
a positive approach due to the effects on mental health → a constructive attitude resulting from mental health impacts
One key reason → One primary factor
pressure from their background or circumstances → constraints arising from personal circumstances
a low-income family → a financially disadvantaged household
study long hours to achieve high exam scores → devote extended hours to attain strong examination results
education is seen as the main path to financial security → education is regarded as the primary route to economic stability
In employment → In the workplace
migrant workers → foreign or migrant labourers
take extra shifts → work additional shifts
accept demanding workloads → undertake heavy workloads
limited job options and may need to support relatives → restricted employment opportunities and family financial obligations
In contrast → By comparison
strong financial support → robust financial backing
secure positions → stable employment
less urgency to push themselves → reduced pressure to exert themselves
Situational factors therefore explain the vast majority of → Contextual circumstances therefore account for most
beneficial → advantageous
In the short term → In the immediate term
increase productivity → boost output
over time it may lead to burnout and declining long-term performance → eventually it can result in exhaustion and reduced sustained performance
regularly work late nights marking papers and preparing lessons → frequently stay up late grading assignments and planning lessons
initially improve student results → produce early improvements in student outcomes
prolonged stress → sustained pressure
cause health problems and reduced teaching quality → lead to health issues and diminished instructional standards
Similarly → Likewise
consistently work overtime → habitually work beyond standard hours
sacrifice personal relationships and creativity → compromise personal relationships and creative capacity
essential for long-term success → crucial for sustained success
Over time the impact on mental health exacts a toll → With time, the effects on mental health become damaging
when taken to extremes → when carried to excess
necessity → practical requirement
personality → individual disposition
external rewards → extrinsic incentives
dedication → commitment
achievement → accomplishment
excessive hard work can be harmful → overworking can be detrimental
meaning a balanced approach is ultimately more effective → therefore a balanced strategy proves more effective overall
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ˈklɪəli pʊt mɔːr ˈɛfət ˈɪntuː
ðɪs ˈɛseɪ wɪl ɪkˈspleɪn waɪ
ɪnˈʤɛndəz ˈtænʤəbᵊl ˈbɛnɪfɪts
ə ˈpɒzətɪv əˈprəʊʧ djuː tuː ði ɪˈfɛkts ɒn ˈmɛntᵊl hɛlθ
wʌn kiː ˈriːzᵊn
ˈprɛʃə frɒm ðeə ˈbækɡraʊnd ɔː ˈsɜːkəmstɑːnsɪz
ə ləʊ-ˈɪnkʌm ˈfæmᵊli
ˈstʌdi lɒŋ aʊəz tuː əˈʧiːv haɪ ɪɡˈzæm skɔːz
ˌɛʤʊˈkeɪʃᵊn ɪz siːn æz ðə meɪn pɑːθ tuː faɪˈnænʃᵊl sɪˈkjʊərəti
ɪn ɪmˈplɔɪmənt
ˈmaɪɡrənt ˈwɜːkəz
teɪk ˈɛkstrə ʃɪfts
əkˈsɛpt dɪˈmɑːndɪŋ ˈwɜːkˌləʊdz
ˈlɪmɪtɪd ʤɒb ˈɒpʃᵊnz ænd meɪ niːd tuː səˈpɔːt ˈrɛlətɪvz
ɪn ˈkɒntrɑːst
strɒŋ faɪˈnænʃᵊl səˈpɔːt
sɪˈkjʊə pəˈzɪʃᵊnz
lɛs ˈɜːʤᵊnsi tuː pʊʃ ðəmˈsɛlvz
ˌsɪʧuˈeɪʃᵊnᵊl ˈfæktəz ˈðeəfɔːr ɪkˈspleɪn ðə vɑːst məˈʤɒrəti ɒv
ˌbɛnɪˈfɪʃᵊl
ɪn ðə ʃɔːt tɜːm
ˈɪnkriːs ˌprɒdʌkˈtɪvəti
ˈəʊvə taɪm ɪt meɪ liːd tuː ˈbɜːnˈaʊt ænd dɪˈklaɪnɪŋ ˈlɒŋtɜːm pəˈfɔːməns
ˈrɛɡjələli wɜːk leɪt naɪts ˈmɑːkɪŋ ˈpeɪpəz ænd prɪˈpeərɪŋ ˈlɛsᵊnz
ɪˈnɪʃᵊli ɪmˈpruːv ˈstjuːdᵊnt rɪˈzʌlts
prəˈlɒŋd strɛs
kɔːz hɛlθ ˈprɒbləmz ænd rɪˈdjuːst ˈtiːʧɪŋ ˈkwɒləti
ˈsɪmɪləli
kənˈsɪstᵊntli wɜːk ˈəʊvətaɪm
ˈsækrɪfaɪs ˈpɜːsᵊnᵊl rɪˈleɪʃᵊnʃɪps ænd ˌkriːeɪˈtɪvəti
ɪˈsɛnʃᵊl fɔː ˈlɒŋtɜːm səkˈsɛs
ˈəʊvə taɪm ði ˈɪmpækt ɒn ˈmɛntᵊl hɛlθ ɪɡˈzækts ə təʊl
wɛn ˈteɪkᵊn tuː ɪkˈstriːmz
nəˈsɛsəti
ˌpɜːsᵊnˈæləti
ɪkˈstɜːnᵊl rɪˈwɔːdz
ˌdɛdɪˈkeɪʃᵊn
əˈʧiːvmənt
ɪkˈsɛsɪv hɑːd wɜːk kæn biː ˈhɑːmfᵊl
ˈmiːnɪŋ ə ˈbælᵊnst əˈprəʊʧ ɪz ˈʌltɪmətli mɔːr ɪˈfɛktɪv
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 clearly ______________ into their studies and jobs than others. This _____________ why this happens and argue that although hard work often engenders ________benefits, it is not always a ________________________________health.
One ________reason people work harder is pressure __________________________ circumstances. For example, a student from a _________________ family may study _____________________________________ scores because education _________________________________ security. In e____________t, migrant w________s often take _______shifts or accept ____________workloads because they have limited___________________________________ relatives. In c_________t, individuals with strong ________________support or secure p________s may feel less _____________________ themselves. Situational _____________________________________________________ of hard-working individuals.
However, working hard is not always b___________l. In ___________ term it can increase p__________y, but over ________________________________________________ performance. Teachers who regularly____________________________________________ lessons may initially __________________ results, but prolonged s_______s can cause _____________________________________________ quality. S________y, employees who consistently _________overtime may sacrifice ___________________________creativity, which are also essential _________________________ success. Over __________________________________________ toll and makes working hard a negative overall when ____________ extremes.
In conclusion, people work harder due to n__________y, p__________y, and external r_________s. While d___________n can lead to a_____________t, excessive _________________ harmful, meaning ___________________________________ effective.
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
https://paulgraham.com/hwh.html?viewfullsite=1
Speaking Practice
Work
What do you do for work?
What are your responsibilities?
Is there some other kind of work you would rather do?
Lower Level Version
Some people work harder in school and at work than others. This essay will explain the reasons for this and argue that while hard work often brings clear benefits, it is not always good because it can affect mental health.
One main reason people work hard is their background or life situation. For example, a student from a poor family may study for many hours in order to get high exam scores, as education is often seen as the best way to get a stable job in the future. At work, migrant workers often do extra shifts or take difficult jobs because they have few choices and may need to send money to family members. By contrast, people who have financial support or stable jobs may feel less pressure to work very hard. This shows that personal circumstances strongly influence how hard people work.
However, working hard is not always a good thing. In the short term, it can help people be more productive, but in the long run it can cause tiredness and stress. For example, teachers who work late every night to mark papers and prepare lessons may see quick improvements in students’ results, but too much stress can harm their health and reduce the quality of their teaching. In the same way, workers who always do overtime may damage their personal relationships and lose creativity, which are important for long-term success.
In conclusion, people work hard because of necessity, personality, and rewards. Although hard work can lead to success, too much of it can be harmful, so a balanced approach is better.
Writing Practice
Some countries have introduced laws to limit the working hours that an employer can ask from an employee.
Why are these law introduced?
Is this a positive or negative trend?
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