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Opinion (Agree / Disagree) Society Task 2

Some people say that it is better to work for a large company than a small one. Do you agree or disagree?

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.

Some people say that it is better to work for a large company than a small one. Do you agree or disagree?

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

You are given one statement and asked how far you agree. The examiner is checking that you take a clear position in the introduction and hold it consistently to the conclusion — a partial agreement is fine, an unclear one is not.

Paragraph plan

Introduction — Paraphrase the prompt and state a clear conditional/balanced position.

Body 1 — Develop the main supporting argument with specific reasoning.

Body 2 — Acknowledge the condition or group for which the opposite may be true.

Conclusion — Restate the conditional position without introducing new ideas.

Model essay

Band 8.5–9.0 model essay

320 words

According to some, securing a position at a large corporation is inherently preferable to working for a smaller enterprise. In my view, while sizeable companies generally provide superior financial security, structured career paths and comprehensive benefits, individuals who prioritise rapid professional growth and diverse hands-on experience may ultimately be better served by smaller firms.

To begin, large corporations afford their employees considerably greater financial security than their smaller counterparts. To clarify, thanks to diversified revenue streams and substantial capital reserves, multinational corporations can withstand economic downturns without resorting to abrupt layoffs, unlike small businesses, which often operate on thin profit margins. For instance, during a recession, an established firm with operations across multiple markets can continue honouring employee contracts, whereas a small business reliant on a single local market may be compelled to make immediate redundancies. Moreover, large companies typically offer comprehensive benefits packages, including health insurance, pension contributions and paid parental leave, very few of which small firms can realistically afford. Such corporations also facilitate career progression through cross-departmental transfers and international relocation, enabling employees to acquire diverse expertise without ever changing employer.

Nevertheless, individuals seeking accelerated career advancement may find greater opportunities within smaller organisations. This is attributable to the fact that, given limited staff numbers, employees at small firms are frequently required to assume responsibilities well beyond their designated role, thereby gaining exposure to a broader range of business functions. For instance, an entry-level employee at a startup might simultaneously handle marketing, client communication and basic accounting, acquiring managerial competence within a matter of years. By contrast, rigid hierarchical structures at a large corporation often mean that comparable advancement takes considerably longer, even for equally capable employees.

To conclude, although large companies generally provide greater financial stability and more extensive employee benefits, individuals who value swift career progression and hands-on professional exposure may find smaller enterprises the more advantageous choice, particularly at the outset of their careers.

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Ideas & vocabulary for this topic

Ideas you can use

  • Introduction: State a balanced position: large companies generally offer greater security and structure, but smaller firms can better serve those chasing rapid promotion.
  • Body 1: Argue that large corporations provide superior financial security, comprehensive benefits and career mobility through cross-departmental transfers, citing their resilience during economic downturns as evidence.
  • Body 2: Concede that smaller firms often deliver faster promotion because limited staff numbers force employees to take on broader responsibilities and demonstrate managerial competence sooner.
  • Conclusion: Restate the conditional verdict: large companies suit those who prioritise stability and benefits, while smaller firms reward those seeking quick, hands-on career growth.
Word or phraseMeaningUsed in a sentence
sizeablefairly large in size or amountsizeable companies generally provide superior financial security
diversified revenue streamsmultiple different sources of incomethanks to diversified revenue streams and substantial capital reserves
resorting toturning to a course of action, especially as a last resortwithout resorting to abrupt layoffs
thin profit marginsa small difference between the cost of a product and its selling pricesmall businesses, which often operate on thin profit margins
compelled toforced to do somethingmay be compelled to make immediate redundancies
cross-departmental transfersmoving employees between different departments within an organisationfacilitate career progression through cross-departmental transfers
accelerated career advancementfaster-than-usual progress in one's job or professionindividuals seeking accelerated career advancement may find greater opportunities
rigid hierarchical structuresstrict, inflexible systems of ranked authorityrigid hierarchical structures at a large corporation often mean that comparable advancement takes considerably longer

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