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This is an IELTS Writing Task 2 sample answer on the topic of leadership from the real IELTS test/exam.
It’s really interesting because when I started this blog years ago – this was the very first question that I wrote a sample answer for!
The questions can repeat themselves on IELTS, but only years later.
I thought it would be interesting to write about it again to see if my sample essays have changed a lot or not.
You can find the one that I wrote on the same topic years ago here.
Read my new one below!
Be sure to check out my Patreon exclusive essays as well.
Dave
Before reading, listen to the audio and take notes, then check with the sample answer:
IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Leadership Essay 2 (Real Past IELTS Tests/Exams)
Some believe that people are naturally born as leaders while others feel that leadership skills can develop.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Many are of the view that leadership is innate, rather than cultivated through time and experience. In my opinion, leadership is largely developed rather than gifted.
Those who believe that there are naturally born leaders point out the character of a person as a fixed quantity. There are certain individuals who display a natural charisma and inimitable capacity for command. A recent example of this would be Barack Obama. He is a naturally eloquent, stately, physically imposing presence and perfectly walks a fine line between warmth and firmness. Researchers have long identitified common natural characteristics of leadership such as height, a deep voice, a strong chin and natural grace of movement. These cannot be developed to a significant degree and therefore support the claim that leadership is intrinsic.
However, great leadership is more deliberate than spontaneous. There are countless examples of individuals possessing all the physical characteristics of leaders who fall well short of inspiring people. An instructive example of this is Steve Jobs. Early in his career he inspired people with his exceptional talent but that had its limits as he pushed and demeaned employees ultimately leading to his ouster from Apple. This humbling experience led him to soften the sharper edges of his personality in the ensuing decade by considering other viewpoints and giving up more control to competent employees. These learned traits served him well when he become CEO of Apple again and reached what many regard as the pinnacle of leadership.
In conclusion, though the endpoint may obscure the origins, all leaders must cultivate their hubris to become great leaders. The long-standing assumptions about leadership must be challenged in order to put in place better institutional practices to mold future pioneers of industry and politics.
Word Count: 289
Analysis
1. Many are of the view that leadership is innate, rather than cultivated through time and experience. 2. In my opinion, leadership is largely developed rather than gifted.
- Paraphrase the overall topic in your first sentence.
- Give your opinion – make it clear!
1. Those who believe that there are naturally born leaders point out the character of a person as a fixed quantity. 2. There are certain individuals who display a natural charisma and inimitable capacity for command. 3. A recent example of this would be Barack Obama. 4. He is a naturally eloquent, stately, physically imposing presence and perfectly walks a fine line between warmth and firmness. 5. Researchers have long identitified common natural characteristics of leadership such as height, a deep voice, a strong chin and natural grace of movement. 6. These cannot be developed to a significant degree and therefore support the claim that leadership is intrinsic.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Begin to develop/explain your main idea.
- Give a specific example.
- Develop the example with specific details.
- Here I quote (fake) research to further support my main idea.
- Tie it back to your main idea for the paragraph/the overall essay question.
1. However, great leadership is more deliberate than spontaneous. 2. There are countless examples of individuals possessing all the physical characteristics of leaders who fall well short of inspiring people. 3. An instructive example of this is Steve Jobs. 4. Early in his career he inspired people with his exceptional talent but that had its limits as he pushed and demeaned employees ultimately leading to his ouster from Apple. 5. This humbling experience led him to soften the sharper edges of his personality in the ensuing decade by considering other viewpoints and giving up more control to competent employees. 6. These learned traits served him well when he become CEO of Apple again and reached what many regard as the pinnacle of leadership.
- Write a new main idea.
- Begin to develop that main idea by explaining it first.
- Start another specific example of a person that you know a lot about.
- Go into great detail in your example.
- Continue developing the example.
- Finish developing your example to fully support your main idea.
1. In conclusion, though the endpoint may obscure the origins, all leaders must cultivate their hubris to become great leaders. 2. The long-standing assumptions about leadership must be challenged in order to put in place better institutional practices to mold future pioneers of industry and politics.
- Repeat your opinion.
- Add in a final thought/extra detail for full points from the IELTS examiner.
Vocabulary
What do the words in below in bold mean?
Many are of the view that leadership is innate, rather than cultivated through time and experience. In my opinion, leadership is largely developed rather than gifted.
Those who believe that there are naturally born leaders point out the character of a person as a fixed quantity. There are certain individuals who display a natural charisma and inimitable capacity for command. A recent example of this would be Barack Obama. He is a naturally eloquent, stately, physically imposing presence and perfectly walks a fine line between warmth and firmness. Researchers have long identitified common natural characteristics of leadership such as height, a deep voice, a strong chin and natural grace of movement. These cannot be developed to a significant degree and therefore support the claim that leadership is intrinsic.
However, great leadership is more deliberate than spontaneous. There are countless examples of individuals possessing all the physical characteristics of leaders who fall well short of inspiring people. An instructive example of this is Steve Jobs. Early in his career he inspired people with his exceptional talent but that had its limits as he pushed and demeaned employees ultimately leading to his ouster from Apple. This humbling experience led him to soften the sharper edges of his personality in the ensuing decade by considering other viewpoints and giving up more control to competent employees. These learned traits served him well when he become CEO of Apple again and reached what many regard as the pinnacle of leadership.
In conclusion, though the endpoint may obscure the origins, all leaders must cultivate their hubris to become great leaders. The long-standing assumptions about leadership must be challenged in order to put in place better institutional practices to mold future pioneers of industry and politics.
Answers
innate intrinsic
cultivated developed
largely mostly
rather than gifted instead of given
naturally born leaders innate leaders
point out argue
character temperament
fixed quantity unchangeable
display show
natural charisma personality
inimitable capacity for command can’t be repeated ability to lead
naturally eloquent speaks well
stately presidential
physically imposing presence looks like a leader
perfectly walks a fine line balances well
between warmth and firmness being friendly and strong
natural characteristics your character
deep voice manly voice
natural grace of movement refined manners
to a significant degree much
support the claim give evidence for
intrinsic innate
deliberate intentional
spontaneous without intent
countless examples many instances
fall well short nowhere near
inspiring people leading
instructive example instance that shows well
inspired visionary
exceptional talent standout ability
limits boundaries
pushed forced
demeaned condescended to
ultimately leading to in the end resulting in
ouster kicked out
humbling experience brough him down to Earth
soften the sharper edges of his personality mature
ensuing decade over the next 10 years
considering other viewpoints listening to others
giving up more control empowering others
competent employees able staff
learned traits served him well experiences benefited him later
what many regard as lots of people think
pinnacle of leadership height of leadership
endpoint final destination
obscure hide
origins where it started
cultivate develop
hubris ego/pride
long-standing assumptions unquestioned
challenged rethink
put in place implement
institutional practices schools, companies, etc. how they operate
mold shape
pioneers trailblazers
Pronunciation
ɪˈneɪt
ˈkʌltɪveɪtɪd
ˈlɑːʤli
ˈrɑːðə ðæn ˈgɪftɪd
ˈnæʧrəli bɔːn ˈliːdəz
pɔɪnt aʊt
ˈkærɪktə
fɪkst ˈkwɒntɪti
dɪsˈpleɪ
ˈnæʧrəl ˈkærɪzmə
ɪˈnɪmɪtəbl kəˈpæsɪti fɔː kəˈmɑːnd
ˈnæʧrəli ˈɛləʊkwənt
ˈsteɪtli
ˈfɪzɪkəli ɪmˈpəʊzɪŋ ˈprɛzns
ˈpɜːfɪktli wɔːks ə faɪn laɪn
bɪˈtwiːn wɔːmθ ænd ˈfɜːmnəs
ˈnæʧrəl ˌkærɪktəˈrɪstɪks
diːp vɔɪs
ˈnæʧrəl greɪs ɒv ˈmuːvmənt
tuː ə sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt dɪˈgriː
səˈpɔːt ðə kleɪm
ɪnˈtrɪnsɪk
dɪˈlɪbərɪt
spɒnˈteɪniəs
ˈkaʊntlɪs ɪgˈzɑːmplz
fɔːl wɛl ʃɔːt
ɪnˈspaɪərɪŋ ˈpiːpl
ɪnˈstrʌktɪv ɪgˈzɑːmpl
ɪnˈspaɪəd
ɪkˈsɛpʃənl ˈtælənt
ˈlɪmɪts
pʊʃt
dɪˈmiːnd
ˈʌltɪmɪtli ˈliːdɪŋ tuː
ˈaʊstə
ˈhʌmblɪŋ ɪksˈpɪərɪəns
ˈsɒfn ðə ˈʃɑːpər ˈɛʤɪz ɒv hɪz ˌpɜːsəˈnælɪti
ɪnˈsjuːɪŋ ˈdɛkeɪd
kənˈsɪdərɪŋ ˈʌðə ˈvjuːpɔɪnts
ˈgɪvɪŋ ʌp mɔː kənˈtrəʊl
ˈkɒmpɪtənt ˌɛmplɔɪˈiːz
lɜːnttreɪts sɜːvd hɪm wɛl
wɒt ˈmɛni rɪˈgɑːd æz
ˈpɪnəkl ɒv ˈliːdəʃɪp
ˈɛndˌpɔɪnt
əbˈskjʊə
ˈɒrɪʤɪnz
ˈkʌltɪveɪt
ˈhjuːbrɪs
ˈlɒŋˈstændɪŋ əˈsʌmpʃ(ə)nz
ˈʧælɪnʤd
pʊt ɪn pleɪs
ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃən(ə)l ˈpræktɪsɪz
məʊld
ˌpaɪəˈnɪəz
Listen and repeat:
Vocabulary Practice
Many are of the view that leadership is i____________, rather than c____________ through time and experience. In my opinion, leadership is l____________ developed r____________.
Those who believe that there are n____________ p____________ the c____________ of a person as a f____________. There are certain individuals who d____________ a n____________ and i____________. A recent example of this would be Barack Obama. He is a n____________ , s____________, p____________ and w____________ b____________. Researchers have long i____________ common n____________ of leadership such as height, a d____________, a strong chin and n____________. These cannot be developed t____________ and therefore s____________ that leadership is i____________.
However, great leadership is more d____________ than s____________. There are c____________ of individuals possessing all the physical characteristics of leaders who f____________ of i____________. An i____________ of this is Steve Jobs. Early in his career he i____________ people with his e____________ but that had its l____________ as he p____________ and d____________ employees u____________ his o____________ from Apple. This h____________ led him to s____________ in the e____________ by c____________ and g____________ to c ____________. These l____________ when he become CEO of Apple again and reached ____________ the p ____________.
In conclusion, though the e____________ may o____________ the o____________, all leaders must c____________ their h____________ to become great leaders. The l____________ about leadership must be c____________ in order to p____________ better i____________ to m____________ future p____________ of industry and politics.
Listen and check:
Listening Practice
Listen to Tony Robbins below on leadership:
Reading Practice
Here is a fascinating article on leadership from research that Google conducted:
Speaking Practice
Answer the question below about leadership from real IELTS speaking test:
Talk about a group project that you worked on. Include:
What the project was about
Who you worked with
The result of the project
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