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Discussion (Discuss both views) Education Task 2

Some people work for the same organisation all their working life. Others think that it is better to work for different organisations. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

A full IELTS Writing Task 2 answer to this question, with a paragraph plan and what this question type is asking you to do.

The question

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Some people work for the same organisation all their working life. Others think that it is better to work for different organisations. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

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 two opposing views and asked to discuss both before giving your own. The single most common Band 6 cause here is discussing both sides but never stating your own opinion, or stating it only in the conclusion.

Paragraph plan

Introduction — Paraphrase the topic, introduce both views, and state a clear opinion.

Body 1 — Present and develop the first view with explanation and a specific example.

Body 2 — Present and develop the second view with explanation and a specific example.

Body 3 — Give a balanced or one-sided personal opinion with clear reasoning.

Conclusion — Summarise both views and restate your opinion clearly.

Model answer

Model answer

400 words

Career loyalty and occupational mobility represent two contrasting approaches to professional life. Some individuals choose to build their entire career within a single organisation, while others believe that moving between employers leads to greater growth and opportunity. Although both approaches carry genuine merit, I believe that staying with one organisation ultimately offers stronger long-term professional and personal benefits.

Those who remain with one employer throughout their career often benefit from deep institutional knowledge and strong professional relationships. Over many years, such employees develop an intimate understanding of internal systems, company culture, and long-term strategic goals — knowledge that is difficult to acquire quickly and that makes them genuinely valuable contributors. Trust built with management also tends to translate into greater responsibility, leadership opportunities, and job security. In Japan, for instance, the tradition of lifetime employment within major corporations has historically produced highly specialised, loyal workforces that drive sustained organisational success.

On the other hand, those who move between different organisations argue that exposure to varied environments accelerates professional development. Each new workplace introduces different management styles, technologies, and business practices, broadening a person's skillset in ways that a single employer rarely can. This adaptability is particularly valuable in rapidly changing industries such as technology and finance, where transferable skills and fresh perspectives are highly sought after. Research in many Western economies has consistently shown that professionals who change employers strategically tend to earn higher salaries over the course of their careers compared with those who remain static.

From my perspective, the stronger argument belongs to those who advocate staying with one organisation, though I acknowledge that context matters. For professionals in creative or technology-driven fields, changing roles may indeed be necessary to remain competitive. However, for the majority of workers in fields such as education, healthcare, medicine, or public administration, long-term commitment enables a depth of expertise, mentoring relationships, and reputational capital that simply cannot be replicated through frequent moves. The stability of sustained employment also supports personal wellbeing, as constant transitions carry genuine psychological and financial costs that are often underestimated.

In conclusion, while working across multiple organisations can accelerate skill acquisition and improve earning potential, the benefits of remaining loyal to a single employer — including deep expertise, trust, and long-term advancement — are, for most people, more substantial. The right choice may depend on one's industry and personal goals, but stability and commitment remain powerful professional assets.

Model answers written and reviewed by The English All-in-One IELTS team. They are teaching models showing what each band looks like, not real candidate scripts.

This is a discussion (discuss both views) question. The model answer 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.

See the structure for this question type →

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