This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of part-time or hourly paid jobs from the real exam.

In the U.S.A., people typically say part-time work and in the U.K., hourly paid.

Employment is a really common topic on IELTS so reading this answer will help prepare you for similar questions on the real exam.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 General Training Sample Answer Essay: Part-Time Jobs (Real Past IELTS Exam/Test)

In many countries, teenagers are encouraged to find part-time jobs. Some think this is a good development while others disagree.

Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.

Real Past IELTS Exam/Test

Some believe that teenagers ought to take part in hourly paid work while others feel this is not a good idea. In my opinion, though this can be an added burden for teenagers, it offers a host of benefits related to life experience.

Opponents of part-time work for teenagers seize on the mental repercussions of stress. Teenagers already deal with so many life problems ranging from the chemical changes inherent in puberty to social stress to academic pressure. There are countries such as South Korea and Japan where the academic workload rarely allows for recreation time, let alone paid work. Adding in a job and its encumbent concerns can only worsen a teenager’s mental health and, in the most extreme cases, lead to depression and nervous breakdowns. Even students not affected as deeply are sure to be less happy due to stress.

Regardless, working is a maturing experience. Work continues and hastens the lifelong process of negotiating one’s own priorities against the expectations of others. Most high schoolers start with a low-paying part-time position and that may educate them about the importance of having a good education. They are also likely to begin developing the qualities that will serve them well in a variety of future workplaces including teamwork skills, organisation, and perseverance. The experience will also give them a window into an industry and help them make more informed choices for their future career.

In conclusion, though work can take a toll on mental well-being it is a positive, overall maturing experience. Teenagers should try a variety of jobs in order to have a clear overview of possible working environments.

Analysis

1. Some believe that teenagers ought to take part in hourly paid work while others feel this is not a good idea. 2. In my opinion, though this can be an added burden for teenagers, it offers a host of benefits related to life experience.

1. Paraphrase the overall topic for the whole essay.
2. Write your opinion – be clear!

1. Opponents of part-time work for teenagers seize on the mental repercussions of stress. 2. Teenagers already deal with so many life problems ranging from the chemical changes inherent in puberty to social stress to academic pressure. 3. There are countries such as South Korea and Japan where the academic workload rarely allows for recreation time, let alone paid work. 4. Adding in a job and its encumbent concerns can only worsen a teenager’s mental health and, in the most extreme cases, lead to depression and nervous breakdowns. 5. Even students not affected as deeply are sure to be less happy due to stress.

1. Write a topic sentence with a single, clear main idea at the end.
2. Begin to develop your main idea with specific ideas.
3. Be as specific as possible – use real countries!
4. Develop your specific examples.
5. State the final result to conclude the paragraph.

1. Regardless, working is a maturing experience. 2. Work continues and hastens the lifelong process of negotiating one’s own priorities against the expectations of others. 3. Most high schoolers start with a low-paying part-time position and that may educate them about the importance of having a good education. 4. They are also likely to begin developing the qualities that will serve them well in a variety of future workplaces including teamwork skills, organisation, and perseverance. 5. The experience will also give them a window into an industry and help them make more informed choices for their future career.

1. Write another topic sentence with a main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. My example here is hypothetical.
4. Develop the example.
5. Finish developing your main idea.

1. In conclusion, though work can take a toll on mental well-being it is a positive, overall maturing experience. 2. Teenagers should try a variety of jobs in order to have a clear overview of possible working environments.

1. Repeat your opinion.
2. Add in a final thought at the end.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean?

Some believe that teenagers ought to take part in hourly paid work while others feel this is not a good idea. In my opinion, though this can be an added burden for teenagers, it offers a host of benefits related to life experience.

Opponents of part-time work for teenagers seize on the mental repercussions of stress. Teenagers already deal with so many life problems ranging from the chemical changes inherent in puberty to social stress to academic pressure. There are countries such as South Korea and Japan where the academic workload rarely allows for recreation time, let alone paid work. Adding in a job and its encumbent concerns can only worsen a teenager’s mental health and, in the most extreme cases, lead to depression and nervous breakdowns. Even students not affected as deeply are sure to be less happy due to stress.

Regardless, working is a maturing experience. Work continues and hastens the lifelong process of negotiating one’s own priorities against the expectations of others. Most high schoolers start with a low-paying part-time position and that may educate them about the importance of having a good education. They are also likely to begin developing the qualities that will serve them well in a variety of future workplaces including teamwork skills, organisation, and perseverance. The experience will also give them a window into an industry and help them make more informed choices for their future career.

In conclusion, though work can take a toll on mental well-being it is a positive, overall maturing experience. Teenagers should try a variety of jobs in order to have a clear overview of possible working environments.

Answers

take part in do

added burden more pressure

host of benefits many advantages

part-time work hourly paid jobs

seize on point out

mental repercussions psychological effects

deal with handle

ranging from including

chemical changes inherent in puberty body changing as you become a teenager

social stress social anxiety

academic pressure stress to get good grades

academic workload amount of schoolwork you have

recreation time free time

let alone paid work not mentioning a real job

adding in also including

encumbent concerns related worries

worsen become bad

in the most extreme cases rare situations

nervous breakdowns losing your mind for a bit

deeply not superficially

regardless nonetheless

maturing experience makes you more of an adult

hastens speeds up

lifelong process over the course of your life

negotiating one’s own priorities bargaining your interests

expectations of others the interests of other people

low-paying part-time position menial work

importance of having a good education why you should get a degree

serve them well helps them later

future workplaces where you might work later

teamwork skills working together in a group

organisation keeping things in order

perseverance trying hard

give them a window into show them

industry economic sector

informed choices good decisions

future career what you will do for work later in life

take a toll on mental well-being psychological problems

clear overview good idea of

possible working environments potential jobs

Pronunciation

teɪk pɑːt ɪn 
ˈædɪd ˈbɜːdn 
həʊst ɒv ˈbɛnɪfɪts 
pɑːt-taɪm wɜːk 
siːz ɒn 
ˈmɛntl ˌriːpɜːˈkʌʃənz 
diːl wɪð 
ˈreɪnʤɪŋ frɒm 
ˈkɛmɪkəl ˈʧeɪnʤɪz ɪnˈhɪərənt ɪn ˈpjuːbəti 
ˈsəʊʃəl strɛs 
ˌækəˈdɛmɪk ˈprɛʃə
ˌækəˈdɛmɪk ˈwɜːkˌləʊd 
ˌriːkrɪˈeɪʃən taɪm
lɛt əˈləʊn peɪd wɜːk
ˈædɪŋ ɪn 
ˈɛnkʌmbɛnt kənˈsɜːnz 
ˈwɜːsn 
ɪn ðə məʊst ɪksˈtriːm ˈkeɪsɪz
ˈnɜːvəs ˈbreɪkˌdaʊnz
ˈdiːpli 
rɪˈgɑːdlɪs
məˈtjʊərɪŋ ɪksˈpɪərɪəns
ˈheɪsnz 
ˈlaɪflɒŋ ˈprəʊsɛs 
nɪˈgəʊʃɪeɪtɪŋ wʌnz əʊn praɪˈɒrɪtiz 
ˌɛkspɛkˈteɪʃənz ɒv ˈʌðəz
ləʊ-ˈpeɪɪŋ pɑːt-taɪm pəˈzɪʃən 
ɪmˈpɔːtəns ɒv ˈhævɪŋ ə gʊd ˌɛdju(ː)ˈkeɪʃən
sɜːv ðɛm wɛl 
ˈfjuːʧə ˈwɜːkˌpleɪsɪz 
ˈtiːmwɜːk skɪlz
ˌɔːgənaɪˈzeɪʃən
ˌpɜːsɪˈvɪərəns
gɪv ðɛm ə ˈwɪndəʊ ˈɪntuː 
ˈɪndəstri 
ɪnˈfɔːmd ˈʧɔɪsɪz 
ˈfjuːʧə kəˈrɪə
teɪk ə təʊl ɒn ˈmɛntl wɛl-ˈbiːɪŋ 
klɪər ˈəʊvəvjuː 
ˈpɒsəbl ˈwɜːkɪŋ ɪnˈvaɪərənmənts

Listen and repeat:

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

Some believe that teenagers ought to t______________n hourly paid work while others feel this is not a good idea. In my opinion, though this can be an a________________n for teenagers, it offers a h_________________s related to life experience.

Opponents of p_________________k for teenagers s_________n the m____________________s of stress. Teenagers already d__________h so many life problems r____________m the c___________________________________y to s_______________s to a_________________________e. There are countries such as South Korea and Japan where the a__________________d rarely allows for r___________________e, l______________________k. A________________n a job and its e____________________s can only w_____________n a teenager’s mental health and, i______________________________s, lead to depression and n__________________________s. Even students not affected as d____________y are sure to be less happy due to stress.

R_____________s, working is a m_________________e. Work continues and h_____________s the l_______________s of n____________________________s against the e________________________s. Most high schoolers start with a l_____________________________n and that may educate them about the i_________________________________________n. They are also likely to begin developing the qualities that will s______________l in a variety of f_____________________________s including t_____________________s, o__________________n, and p_________________e. The experience will also g_________________________o an i_____________y and help them make more i_____________________s for their f__________________r.

In conclusion, though work can t___________________________________g it is a positive, overall maturing experience. Teenagers should try a variety of jobs in order to have a c_______________w of p_________________________________s.

Listen and check:

Listening Practice

Watch a Ted Talk on this subject below:

Reading Practice

Read from The New York Times on this subject:

https://www.southernphone.com.au/Blog/2018/Apr/part-time-jobs-for-teenagers-complete-guide

Speaking Practice

Answer the questions from the real speaking booklet below:

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 question below then read my sample answer:

Some people argue that job satisfaction is more important than job security, while others believe that they cannot always expect job satisfaction and a permanent job is more important.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Real Past IELTS Exam/Test

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Job Satisfaction/Security (Real Past IELTS Exam/Test)