A growing number of companies allow employees to work from home permanently.
A full IELTS Writing Task 2 answer to this question, with a paragraph plan, ideas you can use, and the vocabulary that fits this topic.
The question
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
A growing number of companies allow employees to work from home permanently.
Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
How to read this question
Check the question line: this one asks you to outline both sides, so no verdict is strictly required — but the strongest answers still find an organising idea rather than listing. Here it is that remote work redistributes rather than removes costs: commuting time returns to the employee while office costs, supervision and informal learning shift onto individuals and onto the newest staff.
Paragraph plan
Introduction — Paraphrase, then signpost: gains in time, geography and inclusion; losses concentrated in informal learning and in who absorbs the hidden costs.
Body 1 — Advantages — recovered commuting time, access to jobs regardless of location, and viability for people excluded by fixed office attendance.
Body 2 — Disadvantages — junior staff lose the incidental learning that cannot be scheduled, and home becomes a workplace at the employee's expense.
Conclusion — The effects are unevenly distributed by seniority and by housing, which is what makes a blanket policy difficult.
Model essay
Band 8.5–9.0 model essay
320 words
An increasing number of companies now permit their staff to work remotely on a permanent basis. In my view, whether the merits of this arrangement outweigh its drawbacks largely depends on the nature of the role and the discipline of the individual employee.
On the one hand, for employees in self-directed, output-based roles, such as software development or writing, the advantages of permanent remote work can clearly surpass any drawbacks. To clarify, these employees can structure their day around their most productive hours rather than a rigid schedule, while also eliminating daily commutes that would otherwise consume significant time and expense. This flexibility often translates into higher job satisfaction and, consequently, improved output and lower staff absenteeism. Furthermore, companies employing remote staff can reduce overhead costs associated with maintaining large office spaces, savings that can then be reinvested into employee salaries or professional development, benefiting both parties involved in the long run. Employees in such positions also report a stronger sense of autonomy, which is closely linked to long-term job satisfaction and loyalty to the employer.
On the other hand, for roles requiring close collaboration or hands-on supervision, such as junior employees still developing professional skills, the disadvantages can become considerably more serious. Without regular in-person mentorship, new staff often struggle to absorb the informal knowledge and workplace norms typically acquired through direct observation of experienced colleagues. Additionally, permanent isolation from co-workers can gradually erode team cohesion and a sense of organisational belonging, potentially triggering higher rates of employee turnover. In such cases, unless companies actively organise regular in-person gatherings or structured mentorship programmes, the drawbacks of permanent remote arrangements are likely to outweigh their conveniences.
To conclude, I believe permanent remote work brings substantial benefits for experienced, self-directed employees in independent roles, whereas its disadvantages become more pronounced for junior staff who depend on close mentorship, meaning its overall value depends heavily on the individual and role in question.
Created by a Band 8.5–9.0 IELTS Writing achiever — Premium. Sign up free to read the rest of this essay and unlock every model on the site.
This is an advantages and disadvantages question. The essay above shows you what a strong answer looks like when it is finished. What it cannot show you is how to get there from a blank page in forty minutes.
That is what our Writing Study Library is for: the structure we teach for this exact question type, the paragraph pattern that goes with it, and the sentence openers for each stage — so the essay is planned before you start writing rather than assembled as you go.
Introduction: Introduction — paraphrase that companies increasingly allow permanent remote work, and state the conditional position that whether advantages outweigh disadvantages depends on the role and the employee's discipline.
Body 1: Body 1 — argue the cases where advantages outweigh disadvantages: self-directed, output-based employees gain flexibility, higher job satisfaction, and companies save on office overhead costs.
Body 2: Body 2 — argue the cases where disadvantages become more serious: junior employees lack in-person mentorship and workplace norms, and permanent isolation can erode team cohesion and raise employee turnover unless companies organise mentorship and gatherings.
Conclusion: Conclusion — restate the conditional position that remote work benefits experienced, self-directed employees but is more disadvantageous for junior staff needing mentorship.
Word or phrase
Meaning
Used in a sentence
self-directed
able to work independently without close supervision
these employees can structure their day around their most productive hours rather than a rigid schedule.
output-based roles
jobs evaluated by results produced rather than hours worked
for employees in self-directed, output-based roles, such as software development or writing, the advantages of permanent remote work can clearly surpass any drawbacks.
job satisfaction
the sense of fulfilment and contentment a person gets from their work
This flexibility often translates into higher job satisfaction and, consequently, improved output.
overhead costs
the ongoing expenses of running a business, such as office space
companies employing remote staff can reduce overhead costs associated with maintaining large office spaces.
in-person mentorship
guidance given face-to-face by a more experienced colleague
Without regular in-person mentorship, new staff often struggle to absorb the informal knowledge and workplace norms.
team cohesion
the sense of unity and connection among members of a team
permanent isolation from co-workers can gradually erode team cohesion.
employee turnover
the rate at which staff leave and are replaced
potentially triggering higher rates of employee turnover.
mentorship programmes
structured schemes pairing less experienced staff with mentors
Created by a Band 8.5–9.0 IELTS Writing achiever — Premium. Sign up free to see the ideas and vocabulary for this topic and unlock every model on the site.
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Common questions
Do I need an opinion in an advantages and disadvantages essay?
Check the question line, not the statement. "What are the advantages and disadvantages?" asks you to outline both. If it asks whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, a verdict becomes compulsory and an even-handed answer cannot exceed Band 6 for Task Response.
How do I avoid writing a list?
Find one idea that organises both sides. Here it is that costs are redistributed rather than removed, so every point becomes an instance of that. An organising idea is what makes the essay read as an argument even when no verdict is required.
Is it worth saying who benefits and who loses?
Yes — distributional analysis is one of the clearest markers of a high band. Noting that gains go to senior staff with spare rooms while costs fall on junior staff in shared flats is far more precise than saying there are pros and cons.
