How often does work & career come up in IELTS Writing Task 2?

It's one of the most-tested themes. Examiners draw on it because it generates strong opinions while remaining accessible to candidates from any background. You can reasonably expect to encounter a work & career question in practice tests and on the real exam.

What question types should I expect on work & career?

All five Task 2 shapes are fair game: opinion (agree/disagree), discuss both views, problem-solution, two-part, and advantages-and-disadvantages. The same theme can appear in any of these shapes, so practise the same idea across multiple question types rather than memorising essays.

How specific do my examples need to be?

Specific enough to be falsifiable. "Many studies show X" is empty; "a 2019 OECD report on X found Y in Z country" is concrete. You don't need a real citation. Examiners reward the specificity of the claim, not the accuracy of the source. Naming a country, a year, or an industry counts.

Can I use the same vocabulary across all work & career essays?

Topic-specific lexis matters. Each of the 18 questions below hides a slightly different angle, and Band 7+ vocabulary depends on naming the precise mechanism: "carbon-intensive industries" beats "polluters", "screen-mediated communication" beats "talking online".

💼 Work & Career18 questionsReal reported + Cambridge

IELTS work & career
essay questions.

18 Task 2 questions on work & career. Click any question to open the full breakdown, examiner watch-outs, and a 40-minute mock.

About this theme

Career choice, work-life balance, remote work, retirement age, automation, salary vs satisfaction, generational attitudes. Work & Career prompts usually probe a tension: money vs meaning, security vs growth, individual ambition vs collective good. The best essays acknowledge the tension exists, then defend a clear position with worked examples.

Task 2📅 Work & CareerAdvantages & disadvantages🔥 Hot

IELTS work & careeressay questions.

“Some argue that companies should switch to a four-day working week. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?”

“More people are working from home rather than the office. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?”

“Some people believe that professionals, such as doctors and engineers, should be required to work in the country where they did their training. Others believe they should be free to work in another country if they wish. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.”

“In many workplaces, older employees now report to younger managers. What problems does this create, and what can be done?”

“Some argue remote work damages team cohesion and company culture. To what extent do you agree?”

“Today's young workers change careers more often than previous generations. What are the causes, and is this a positive or negative trend?”

“The rise of the gig economy means more workers have no fixed employer. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?”

“Some say workers should specialise in one career for life; others believe people should change careers several times. Discuss both views.”

“Some argue people should work for themselves rather than for large companies. Do you agree?”

“Some say unpaid internships exploit young workers; others see them as a chance to gain experience. Discuss both views.”

“Some governments require workers to take a minimum amount of annual leave. To what extent do you agree with this policy?”

“Many workers complain of poor work-life balance. What are the causes, and what can be done?”

“Many manufacturing jobs are disappearing because of automation. What are the consequences for society, and what can be done?”

“Many governments are raising the retirement age as populations live longer. Is this a positive or negative development?”

“The bar chart shows the unemployment rate in six countries in 2021.”

“The line graph shows the female labour force participation rate in four countries from 1990 to 2020.”

“The bar chart shows the female labour force participation rate in four countries in 2010 and 2020.”

“The table shows average annual hours worked and statutory paid leave in five countries in 2019.”

About work & career in IELTS

IELTS work & career
essay questions.