Cambridge IELTS 17 · Academic · Test 3 · Discuss both views

Cambridge IELTS 17 Test 3 Writing Task 2: Sample Answer

The question, a plan, a Band 7.5 sample answer written by IELTS 9, why it scores that band on the 4 criteria, and the mistake most candidates make on this prompt.

Cambridge IELTS 17 Test 3 · Writing Task 2

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.

Write at least 250 words. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

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Essay plan

  1. Introduce both views and state own opinion
  2. View 1: required to stay (subsidised training, public need)
  3. View 2: free to leave (rights, backfire, remittances and returnees)
  4. Own opinion: incentives and partial repayment, conclusion

Band 7.5 sample answer (303 words)

Written by IELTS 9 to the Band 7.5 descriptors, not the book's own answer and not scored by an examiner. Use it for structure and language, then write your own.

Doctors, engineers and similar professionals are expensive to train, so some argue that they should stay and serve their home country, while others believe they should be free to work anywhere. Although I understand the first view, I support freedom of movement.

Those who favour compulsion make a reasonable point. Medical and engineering degrees are usually subsidised by taxpayers, and developing nations in particular can ill afford to lose the specialists they have funded. When a rural hospital loses its only surgeon to a wealthier country, local patients suffer directly. Requiring graduates to work at home for a number of years would therefore protect public investment and keep essential services running. Without enough doctors, preventable illnesses spread, and a country's economy cannot grow without capable engineers to build roads, bridges and power stations.

On the other hand, forcing people to remain raises serious objections. Individuals have a right to choose where to build their careers, and a talented engineer may find that local industry offers neither modern equipment nor fair pay. Compulsion could also backfire: frustrated workers perform poorly, and prospective students may avoid these demanding courses altogether. Moreover, those who emigrate frequently send remittances to relatives, and some return later with advanced expertise and international contacts that enrich their homeland.

In my opinion, a balanced policy is preferable to a legal obligation. Governments could offer attractive incentives, such as higher salaries, housing allowances and research funding, so that professionals choose to stay. Graduates whose studies were funded by the state might be asked to repay part of the cost if they leave early, which is fairer than outright prohibition.

In conclusion, while the loss of skilled workers is a genuine concern, freedom to work abroad should be preserved, and countries should concentrate on making home careers more rewarding rather than imposing restrictions.

Why this answer scores Band 7.5

  • Task Response: Both views receive a full paragraph of balanced development, and the writer's opinion is stated in the introduction and developed in its own paragraph with practical proposals.
  • Coherence and Cohesion: The structure moves logically from one view to the other and then to the opinion, with discourse markers such as 'On the other hand' and 'Moreover' used naturally.
  • Lexical Resource: Items like 'subsidised by taxpayers', 'protect public investment', 'outright prohibition' and 'housing allowances' show range and precision without overreaching.
  • Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Complex sentences include a reduced relative clause, a colon explanation, a 'whose' clause and conditional modality ('could', 'might'), all accurately controlled.

Useful vocabulary

subsidised by taxpayerspublic investmentessential servicesprospective studentssend remittancesinternational contactsattractive incentivesoutright prohibition

Common mistake on this question

⚠Candidates often discuss only one view or state an opinion that contradicts their earlier paragraphs. Another trap is drifting into general brain drain without referring to the idea of being required to work in the training country.

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