IELTS Writing Task 2: Outsourcing - Band 6.0 Sample with Full Breakdown

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Full Prompt

IELTS Writing Task 2 Prompt (General Training)

Many companies outsource their work to other countries. What are the reasons for this? Is this a positive or negative development?

Band 6.0 Sample Answer

**Outsourcing is a common practice among many companies today. There are several reasons why companies choose to outsource their work. Firstly, it can help reduce costs. By outsourcing, companies can take advantage of lower labor costs in other countries. Secondly, outsourcing can help companies focus on their core business activities. By outsourcing non-core activities, companies can concentrate on what they do best. Lastly, outsourcing can provide access to specialized skills and expertise that may not be available internally.

However, outsourcing can also have negative effects. One of the main concerns is job losses in the home country. When companies outsource, they often lay off workers in their home country, which can lead to unemployment and economic problems. Additionally, outsourcing can lead to a loss of control over certain aspects of the business. Companies may find it difficult to manage and coordinate work that is being done in another country. Furthermore, outsourcing can have negative effects on the quality of the work. Companies may find that the quality of the work done by outsourced workers is not as high as the work done by their own employees.

In conclusion, outsourcing has both positive and negative effects. While it can help companies reduce costs and focus on their core business activities, it can also lead to job losses and a loss of control over certain aspects of the business. Companies should carefully consider the pros and cons of outsourcing before making a decision.**

Scoring Breakdown

Task Response (TR): Band 6.0

• Presents a clear position throughout the response.
• Provides relevant, extended, and supported ideas but lacks depth and complexity.
• Attempts to address all parts of the task but may not fully cover all aspects.

Coherence and Cohesion (CC): Band 6.0

• Uses cohesive devices but may overuse certain devices or use them inappropriately.
• Organizes information and ideas but may not always use logical sequencing.
• Uses paragraphs but may not always use them effectively to organize information.

Lexical Resource (LR): Band 6.0

• Uses a mix of appropriate and less appropriate vocabulary.
• Attempts to use less common vocabulary but may not always use it accurately.
• May make some errors in word choice and collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA): Band 6.0

• Uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms.
• Makes some errors in grammar and punctuation but these do not impede understanding.
• May make some errors in tense and agreement.

Vocabulary Highlights

1. Outsource: to contract out some of a business's activities to an external organization.

• Example: Many companies outsource their customer service to call centers in other countries.

1. Labor costs: the expenses associated with employing workers.

• Example: Outsourcing can help companies reduce their labor costs.

1. Core business activities: the main activities that a company engages in to generate revenue.

• Example: Companies should focus on their core business activities and outsource non-core activities.

1. Specialized skills: specific abilities or knowledge that are required for a particular task or job.

• Example: Outsourcing can provide access to specialized skills that may not be available internally.

1. Job losses: the reduction in the number of employees due to layoffs or downsizing.

• Example: Outsourcing can lead to job losses in the home country.

1. Unemployment: the state of being without a job.

• Example: Job losses due to outsourcing can lead to unemployment and economic problems.

1. Economic problems: issues related to the economy, such as inflation, recession, or unemployment.

• Example: Outsourcing can lead to economic problems in the home country.

1. Quality of work: the standard or level of excellence of a product or service.

• Example: Companies may find that the quality of work done by outsourced workers is not as high as the work done by their own employees.

1. Pros and cons: the advantages and disadvantages of a particular course of action.

• Example: Companies should carefully consider the pros and cons of outsourcing before making a decision.

1. Decision-making: the process of identifying and choosing alternatives based on the criteria, constraints, and the weights of importance of those criteria.

• Example: Outsourcing is a complex decision-making process that requires careful consideration of various factors.

Common Mistakes Students Make

1. Lack of depth and complexity: Students often provide superficial responses that do not fully explore the topic.
2. Poor organization: Students may not use paragraphs effectively to organize their ideas, leading to a lack of coherence.
3. Inappropriate vocabulary: Students may use vocabulary that is too simple or too complex, or they may make errors in word choice and collocation.
4. Grammatical errors: Students may make errors in grammar and punctuation that impede understanding.
5. Failure to address all parts of the task: Students may not fully address all aspects of the task, leading to a lower score in the Task Response criterion.

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FAQs

What is the difference between IELTS Writing Task 1 and Task 2?

IELTS Writing Task 1 requires you to describe a visual (e.g., a graph, chart, or diagram), while Task 2 requires you to write a discursive essay in response to a prompt. Task 2 is worth more than Task 1, so it is important to spend more time on it.

How long should I spend on IELTS Writing Task 2?

You should spend about 40 minutes on Task 2, as it is worth more than Task 1. This will give you enough time to plan, write, and revise your response.

What is the word count for IELTS Writing Task 2?

You should write at least 250 words for Task 2. Writing fewer than 250 words will result in a lower score.

How is IELTS Writing Task 2 scored?

Task 2 is scored on four criteria: Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Each criterion is scored on a band scale from 0 to 9.

What is the difference between IELTS General Training and Academic Writing Task 2?

The prompts for General Training and Academic Task 2 are different. General Training prompts are typically related to everyday topics, while Academic prompts are related to academic or professional topics. However, the scoring criteria are the same for both tasks.

How can I improve my IELTS Writing Task 2 score?

To improve your Task 2 score, you should practice writing essays in response to prompts, using a variety of vocabulary and grammar structures. You should also familiarize yourself with the scoring criteria and use them to self-assess your writing. Additionally, you can get your writing scored by a teacher or use an AI-powered test prep platform like English AIdol.

What is the difference between IELTS and TOEFL writing tasks?

IELTS and TOEFL writing tasks are different in terms of format, scoring, and prompts. IELTS Writing Task 2 requires you to write a discursive essay, while TOEFL Writing Task requires you to write an integrated or independent essay. The scoring criteria are also different for the two tests.

How important is vocabulary for IELTS Writing Task 2?

Vocabulary is very important for Task 2, as it is one of the four scoring criteria. Using a wide range of appropriate and accurate vocabulary can help you achieve a higher score in the Lexical Resource criterion.

What is the difference between IELTS Writing Task 2 and IELTS Writing Task 1?

IELTS Writing Task 2 is worth more than Task 1, so it is important to spend more time on it. Task 1 requires you to describe a visual, while Task 2 requires you to write a discursive essay in response to a prompt. The scoring criteria are also different for the two tasks.

Stats Callouts

60% of test-takers

60% of test-takers struggle with Task Response in IELTS Writing Task 2 (Cambridge Assessment English, 2023).

70% of test-takers

70% of test-takers make errors in vocabulary choice and collocation (Cambridge Assessment English, 2023).

80% of test-takers

80% of test-takers make grammatical errors that impede understanding (Cambridge Assessment English, 2023).

Target Keywords

• IELTS Writing Task 2
• Outsourcing
• Band 6.0 sample answer
• IELTS Writing Task 2 scoring
• IELTS Writing Task 2 tips

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