This is an IELTS Writing Task 2 sample answer essay from the real IELTS test/exam related to businesses and whether or not they have social responsibilities.
Topics about business and society are both very common so studying this answer will help you if you get a similar question on the exam.
Dave
Before you read the answer, listen to my audio and take some notes on the ideas and vocabulary to improve your listening:
IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Businesses Social Responsibility (Real Past IELTS Tests/Exams)
As well as making money, businesses also have a responsibility towards society.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Real Past IELTS Test/Exam
Many socially conscious public figures have called on businesses to show greater responsibility to the societies they depend on. In my opinion, the reponsibility of a business towards society extends to ethical management of their own operations but not to areas largely outside their purview.
Large and small businesses are no different from individuals and have the same obligation to be ethical. Every business, conducting themselves in a just manner, will contribute greatly to the betterment of society. A local grocery shop that pays its workers a living wage, charges fair prices, keeps accurate books, and sells quality food taken in the aggregate with stores around the country, produces innumerable benefits for both staff and patrons. Large companies are no exception. If Apple pays employees well and builds quality products while adhering to environmental and economic regulations, they make the world a better place. In contrast, companies without moral compass like Enron, Purdue and Facebook exact a heavy toll on society in exchange for their services.
However, companies should not to be forced to take responsibility for greater societal ills unless they are in some way culpable. A good example of this relates to education. The education of children and adolescents is the foundation of a stable, content society. Responsibility for education lies squarely with governments and parents, notwithstanding some private enterprise schools. If a company comes in direct contact with a school, for example by selling them textbooks, then the company is responsible for the quality of their products. If they pollute nearby land and students get sick, the company should bear full responsibility as well. In all other matters not under their direct influence, parents and governments take on the sole burden of care.
In conclusion, businesses are only in contact with certain aspects of society and they should not be asked to assume a full burden of responsibility. As free market companies become larger and supplant national governments this may require re-examination.
Word Count: 320
Analysis
1. Many socially conscious public figures have called on businesses to show greater responsibility to the societies they depend on. 2. In my opinion, the reponsibility of a business towards society extends to ethical management of their own operations but not to areas largely outside their purview.
- Paraphrase the overall topic for the essay. You can change it a lot like I did or just alter it slightly.
- Write your opinion. Mine seems like it is sitting in the middle but I have made it very nuanced and complicated – only do this if you are very confident with your English.
1. Large and small businesses are no different from individuals and have the same obligation to be ethical. 2. Every business, conducting themselves in a just manner, will contribute greatly to the betterment of society. 3. A local grocery shop that pays its workers a living wage, charges fair prices, keeps accurate books, and sells quality food taken in the aggregate with stores around the country, produces innumerable benefits for both staff and patrons. 4. Large companies are no exception. 5. If Apple pays employees well and builds quality products while adhering to environmental and economic regulations, they make the world a better place. 6. In contrast, companies without moral compass like Enron, Purdue and Facebook exact a heavy toll on society in exchange for their services.
- Write a simple topic sentence with a single, clear main idea.
- Explain your main idea if necessary.
- Begin a real or hypothetical example with specific evidence.
- Vary short and long sentences.
- Here I focus on a second example to further develop my opinion.
- Finally I use a counter-example to show the ways in which companies have to be ethical and socially responsible.
1. However, companies should not to be forced to take responsibility for greater societal ills unless they are in some way culpable. 2. A good example of this relates to education. 3. The education of children and adolescents is the foundation of a stable, content society. 4. Responsibility for education lies squarely with governments and parents, notwithstanding some private enterprise schools. 5. If a company comes in direct contact with a school, for example by selling them textbooks, then the company is responsible for the quality of their products. 6. If they pollute nearby land and students get sick, the company should bear full responsibility as well. 7. In all other matters not under their direct influence, parents and governments take on the sole burden of care.
- Write another main idea with a new main idea to develop.
- Start your example right away, if possible.
- Begin to develop it with more specifics or more argument. Don’t be repetitive.
- Keep developing it. Keep your claims weak – notice how I mention the exception that weakens my argument (private schools).
- Be specific with your hypothetical examples.
- I include a seond situation to further strengthen my point.
- Conclude your paragraph by relating it back to your main idea.
1. In conclusion, businesses are only in contact with certain aspects of society and they should not be asked to assume a full burden of responsibility. 2. As free market companies become larger and supplant national governments this may require re-examination.
- Repeat your opinion.
- Add in a final detail/thought to get full marks from the IELTS examiner for task achievement.
Vocabulary
Many socially conscious public figures have called on businesses to show greater responsibility to the societies they depend on. In my opinion, the reponsibility of a business towards society extends to ethical management of their own operations but not to areas largely outside their purview.
Large and small businesses are no different from individuals and have the same obligation to be ethical. Every business, conducting themselves in a just manner, will contribute greatly to the betterment of society. A local grocery shop that pays its workers a living wage, charges fair prices, keeps accurate books, and sells quality food taken in the aggregate with stores around the country, produces innumerable benefits for both staff and patrons. Large companies are no exception. If Apple pays employees well and builds quality products while adhering to environmental and economic regulations, they make the world a better place. In contrast, companies without moral compass like Enron, Purdue and Facebook exact a heavy toll on society in exchange for their services.
However, companies should not to be forced to take responsibility for greater societal ills unless they are in some way culpable. A good example of this relates to education. The education of children and adolescents is the foundation of a stable, content society. Responsibility for education lies squarely with governments and parents, notwithstanding some private enterprise schools. If a company comes in direct contact with a school, for example by selling them textbooks, then the company is responsible for the quality of their products. If they pollute nearby land and students get sick, the company should bear full responsibility as well. In all other matters not under their direct influence, parents and governments take on the sole burden of care.
In conclusion, businesses are only in contact with certain aspects of society and they should not be asked to assume a full burden of responsibility. As free market companies become larger and supplant national governments this may require re-examination.
Answers
socially conscious public figures politicians and popular people who care about society
called on asked for
show greater responsibility take on more responsibility
depend on rely on
extends goes to
ethical management moral direction
operations their business
largely outside their purview mostly not what they are involved in
obligation duty
ethical what’s right/wrong
conducting doing/handling
manner way/method
contribute greatly add a lot to
betterment improvement
grocery shop food shop
living wage enough money to live on
charges fair prices not too expensive goods
keeps accurate books do not cheat/conceal money
taken in the aggregate considered altogether
innumerable benefits great gains
patrons customers
no exception includes
adhering following
regulations rules
moral compass ethical/know what is right and wrong
exact a heavy toll take a lot away
in exchange for for
services what a business provides
societal ills hurts society
culpable liable/responsible
stable consistent
content society happy
lies squarely belongs entirely to
notwithstanding regardless of
private enterprise schools schools owned by businesses
direct contact personally
textbooks coursebooks
bear full responsibility take complete responsibility for
direct influence clear source
sole burden of care singly responsible
in contact with interact with
assume a full burden of responsibility take all the responsibility
free market companies capitalist companies
supplant national governments take the place of governments
re-examination consider again
Pronunciation
ˈsəʊʃəli ˈkɒnʃəs ˈpʌblɪk ˈfɪgəz
kɔːld ɒn
ʃəʊ ˈgreɪtə rɪsˌpɒnsəˈbɪlɪti
dɪˈpɛnd ɒn
ɪksˈtɛndz
ˈɛθɪkəl ˈmænɪʤmənt
ˌɒpəˈreɪʃənz
ˈlɑːʤli ˌaʊtˈsaɪd ðeə ˈpɜːvjuː
ˌɒblɪˈgeɪʃən
ˈɛθɪkəl
kənˈdʌktɪŋ
ˈmænə
kənˈtrɪbju(ː)t ˈgreɪtli
ˈbɛtəmənt
ˈgrəʊsəri ʃɒp
ˈlɪvɪŋ weɪʤ
ˈʧɑːʤɪz feə ˈpraɪsɪz
kiːps ˈækjʊrɪt bʊks
ˈteɪkən ɪn ði ˈægrɪgɪt
ɪˈnjuːmərəbl ˈbɛnɪfɪts
ˈpeɪtrənz
nəʊ ɪkˈsɛpʃən
ədˈhɪərɪŋ
ˌrɛgjʊˈleɪʃənz
ˈmɒrəl ˈkʌmpəs
ɪgˈzækt ə ˈhɛvi təʊl
ɪn ɪksˈʧeɪnʤ fɔː
ˈsɜːvɪsɪz
səˈsaɪətl ɪlz
ˈkʌlpəbl
ˈsteɪbl
ˈkɒntɛnt səˈsaɪəti
laɪz ˈskweəli
ˌnɒtwɪθˈstændɪŋ
ˈpraɪvɪt ˈɛntəpraɪz skuːlz
dɪˈrɛkt ˈkɒntækt
ˈtɛkstbʊks
beə fʊl rɪsˌpɒnsəˈbɪlɪti
dɪˈrɛkt ˈɪnflʊəns
səʊl ˈbɜːdn ɒv keə
ɪn ˈkɒntækt wɪð
əˈsjuːm ə fʊl ˈbɜːdn ɒv rɪsˌpɒnsəˈbɪlɪti
friː ˈmɑːkɪt ˈkʌmpəniz
səˈplɑːnt ˈnæʃənl ˈgʌvnmənts
riː-ɪgˌzæmɪˈneɪʃən
Listen and repeat:
Vocabulary Practice
Many _______________ have _______________ businesses to _______________ to the societies they _______________. In my opinion, the reponsibility of a business towards society _______________ to _______________ of their own _______________ but not to areas _______________.
Large and small businesses are no different from individuals and have the same _______________ to be _______________. Every business, _______________ themselves in a just _______________, will _______________ to the _______________ of society. A local _______________ that pays its workers a _______________, _______________, _______________, and sells quality food _______________ with stores around the country, produces _______________ for both staff and _______________. Large companies are _______________. If Apple pays employees well and builds quality products while _______________ to environmental and economic _______________, they make the world a better place. In contrast, companies without _______________ like Enron, Purdue and Facebook _______________ on society _______________ their _______________.
However, companies should not to be forced to take responsibility for greater _______________ unless they are in some way _______________. A good example of this relates to education. The education of children and adolescents is the foundation of a _______________, _______________. Responsibility for education _______________ with governments and parents, _______________ some _______________. If a company comes in _______________ with a school, for example by selling them _______________, then the company is responsible for the quality of their products. If they pollute nearby land and students get sick, the company should _______________ as well. In all other matters not under their _______________, parents and governments take on the _______________.
In conclusion, businesses are only _______________ certain aspects of society and they should not be asked to _______________. As _______________ become larger and _______________ this may require _______________.
Listen and check:
Listening Practice
Watch the video below and take notes so that you can use it an example if a related topic comes up on your test:
Reading Practice
Here are some other examples of corporate social responsibility:
Speaking Practice
Practice with these speaking questions from the real test below:
Business
- Do most people in your country work for small or large businesses most of the time?
- Should the government help businesses or leave them alone?
- How important is the regulation of large businesses?
- What rights should large companies have?
i have a problem in writing task 2 in generating ideas . can you suggest me something
Sure try reading here about brainstorming ideas and practice as much as you can: https://howtodoielts.com/how-to-brainstorm-ideas-10-amazing-ways/
Hi Dave, I am a bit confused regarding the use of the pronoun in the first sentence. “They”, I feel, bears the sense of ambiguity–it may either refer to the “public figures” or the “businesses”. Could we use “the latter” instead ? Besides, I am wondering to know whether excessive use of the key word “responsibility” (6 times in the essay) stunts us from getting better score. However, I am much impressed by the writing style and essay. Thank you for the sample answer.
Hi Kishor!
I think the ‘they’ in the first sentence is clear – it wouldn’t make sense for public figures to call on businesses for the public figures to show responsility? The sentence can’t be read that way but the latter would have been ok there, though a little unnatural and awkward.
I wouldn’t worry so much about paraphrasing certain keywords. Sometimes students fixate on this too much – the topic of the essay is responsibility so naturally that word will be used frequently. That does not hurt your score. It would hurt your score if you over-paraphrase and use the wrong words.
Hope that answers your questions!
Thank you so much Dave for the response, I am overwhelmingly elated to get the best sample answers in addition to the followup link videos and articles. They are of much help. I thoroughly read the article on corporate responsibilities. Unfortunately, I couldn’t play the video. It says, “content unavailable in your country”.
That’s very strange – thank you for letting me know! Was that the listening practice at the bottom? Often those YouTube videos are restricted in certain areas.
Yes, the video intended for listening practice at the bottom couldn’t be played.
Yeah, there’s nothing I can do about it. But you can try opening up an incognito window if you are using Chrome or using a VPN.
hi dave
I try to memorise your essays as much as possible in order to have got ranges of vocabs, ideas, grammar structure and so on.
now I accomplished with 7 of them (actually out of more than 70 essayes totally)
are you recommand my method?
Thanks for the question Helena – it is something that I have thought about a lot!
I have a few recommendations.
The key is that you don’t practice with them the same way each time.
First, you can try practicing the way they are written in the post.
1. Listen to the audio of the answer and make notes before reading it.
2. Read and check your notes.
3. Practice with the vocabulary and grammar.
4. Use the listening and reading practice as well.
5. Try writing your own or remembering mine and writing it. It doesn’t have to be the whole essay – just a paragraph or a few sentences is enough.
But if you use that method each time, then you will get good at the method and your English will plateau!
So try to change it up.
For example you could – write about the topic before you read my answer then compare yours to mine, summarise my paragraphs or the whole essay, try to rewrite it the next day in your own words and then check the differences, practice speaking the answer aloud then writing it later, copy parts of my answer but write new examples, etc.
Just keep trying new methods to keep your mind active and learning so it doesn’t get lazy and used to one method!
Hope that helps!
Many people are of the view that apart from financial profits corporates also have societal liabilities. I completely disagree with this opinion because they already doing it indirectly and it is not part of their core duties.
Businesses all over the world pay hefty taxes and abide by the laws of the country. Every major Multinational corporation pays around 20% per cent in taxes and benefits to employees from the revenue even if it is making a profit or is going bankrupt. This sum of money is going directly to the government which could be used in infrastructure maintenance and health care of the country. Other than this, there is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Law in many countries where the company must contribute around 2% of its annual turnover to NGOs or prime-minister funds.
Furthermore, business set up by the industrialist is aimed to make a profit only. It is the onus of the Government and the administration to take care of the society and enact laws to safeguard and help society. If enterprises are also made to look after society, which is the core responsibility of the government, then they will not be able to completely concentrate on the trade. For example, in India CSR laws were stringent but they were relaxed in 2019 after repeated requests from the global business committee because it was hindering the companies to work to their full potential.
In conclusion, I strongly disagree with the opinion of business partaking in society building since they are providing nations with the capital in the form of taxes and this could also hamper the normal functioning of the firms. Governments should take complete responsibility for its citizens and society.