Work & CareersDiscussion (Both Views + Opinion)
IELTS Essay: One Employer for Life vs Changing Jobs (Band 9 vs 6.5)
In short
Below is a full Band 9 model answer to this IELTS Writing Task 2 question, the same question written at Band 6.5, and a criterion-by-criterion breakdown of exactly what separates them — so you can see what to change in your own writing. Then check your essay with the free tool.
The question
Some people think it is better to work for the same organisation for their entire career, while others believe it is better to change jobs frequently. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
How to approach a Discussion (Both Views + Opinion) question
A discussion question asks you to do two distinct things: present both views fairly, and give your own opinion. Devote one body paragraph to each view, then make sure your position is clear — either woven through or stated plainly in the conclusion. The classic mistake is discussing both sides but forgetting to give an opinion at all, which directly costs Task Response marks.
The plan
- 01Intro: paraphrase the two views and preview a stance favouring frequent job changes.
- 02Body 1: the case for staying — deep expertise, trust, promotion, pensions and belonging.
- 03Body 2: the case for changing jobs — growth, skills, higher pay, adaptability; state my agreement here.
- 04Conclusion: recap both sides and confirm that flexibility outweighs loyalty for most workers.
Band 9 model answer
Career paths have diversified dramatically, and opinions differ over whether loyalty to a single employer or frequent job-hopping is the wiser strategy. This essay will examine both positions before arguing that, on balance, moving between organisations tends to serve most professionals better in the long run.
Those who advocate remaining with one company point to the deep expertise and trust that accumulate over time. A long-serving employee understands the organisation's culture intimately, cultivates a reliable network of colleagues, and is often first in line for promotion. Loyalty of this kind can also translate into tangible perks such as generous pensions and enhanced job security — benefits that recognise steadfast commitment. For many, this continuity brings a reassuring sense of belonging that constant upheaval can never provide.
Advocates of frequent moves, by contrast, emphasise the fresh challenges and accelerated growth that each new role brings. Switching employers exposes workers to diverse practices, broadens their skill set, and frequently commands a sharper pay rise than internal promotions ever could. Stagnating in a single post, they warn, risks complacency and leaves one vulnerable should the company falter. I find this reasoning more persuasive: in a rapidly evolving economy, adaptability is a greater asset than tenure, and the varied experience gained from several employers builds a resilience that lifelong loyalty rarely matches.
In conclusion, although devoting one's career to a single organisation offers stability and hard-won expertise, I believe the broader horizons and stronger bargaining power that come with changing jobs ultimately outweigh these benefits for the majority of today's workforce. Flexibility, ultimately, has become the defining virtue of a successful modern career.
The same question at Band 6.5
These days, some people prefer to stay in one company for all their life, but other people like to change their job many times. Both opinion have good points, and I will discuss them and give my view.
On one hand, working for the same company for long time has some benefit. The employee can learn everything about the company and become expert. Also the boss will trust him more and give him promotion. For example, my uncle work in the same bank for thirty years and now he is a manager with big salary. Another point is that old companies give good pension and the job is more secure, so the person don't need to worry.
On the other hand, many people think changing job is better. When you go to new company, you learn new thing and meet new people. Also, when you work in many different company, you can get a lot of experience and skill, and this is good for your CV. Usually you get more salary when you change job than when you stay. If you stay too long in same place, maybe you become lazy and stop to improve yourself. This is why a lot of young people today move very often.
In my opinion, I think changing job is more better in modern time. Because the world change fast, and the people who can adapt will be more success. But staying in one company is also not bad if the person is happy there.
What separates them, criterion by criterion
| Criterion | Band 9 | Band 6.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Task Response | Discusses both views fully and gives a clear opinion ('I find this reasoning more persuasive'), contrasting expertise with accelerated growth. | Covers both views and states a preference, but ideas such as 'you learn new thing and meet new people' remain thin. |
| Coherence & Cohesion | Cohesion is varied and natural ('by contrast', 'Advocates of frequent moves', 'Stagnating in a single post, they warn'). | Uses basic 'On one hand / On the other hand' framing and simple additive 'Also' throughout. |
| Lexical Resource | Flexible collocation: 'first in line for promotion', 'commands a sharper pay rise', 'bargaining power'. | Repeats plain phrasing: 'change job', 'more salary', 'good pension'. |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | Confident complex sentences with subordination ('Stagnating in a single post, they warn, risks complacency'). | Simple structures with errors — 'Both opinion have', 'the person don't', 'more better', 'stop to improve'. |
Examiner's note
The Band 9 response earns its score by weighing both positions thoroughly and taking an unambiguous stance, using flexible collocation and confident subordination throughout. The Band 6.5 covers both sides and reaches a clear opinion, but relies on 'On one hand / On the other hand' scaffolding, everyday vocabulary, and persistent errors like 'Both opinion have' and 'more better' that cap its accuracy.
Vocabulary from the Band 9 answer
| Word / phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| job-hopping | frequently moving from one employer to another |
| long-serving employee | someone who has worked at a company for many years |
| first in line for promotion | the most likely candidate to be promoted next |
| tangible perks | concrete, real benefits of a job |
| steadfast commitment | loyal, unwavering dedication |
| accelerated growth | unusually fast professional development |
| commands a sharper pay rise | earns a bigger salary increase |
| bargaining power | the ability to negotiate better terms and conditions |
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to give my own opinion in a 'discuss both views' essay?
Yes. The instruction 'and give your own opinion' is part of the task, so an essay that only reports both sides cannot reach the top bands. State your view in the introduction and reinforce it in the paragraph you agree with, as this model does.
Should each body paragraph cover one view?
That is the cleanest structure: one paragraph for each side. You can fold your opinion into the paragraph you support, or add a short separate stance — either works as long as your position is clear and consistent.
Can my opinion be that both are equally valid?
You can, but it is harder to score well because examiners look for a clear position. If you do balance them, still commit to which matters more in which circumstances rather than leaving it genuinely undecided.