Prepare for IELTS by Topic
20. Work
Nearly everyone needs to work and even if you're a student now, you may be asked to talk about your ideas about your future career. Work is also connected to many questions that have appeared in the IELTS Writing test in the past. Be ready to talk about work as it's a common topic in IELTS.
LISTENING
Listening Test Part:
3
Questions 1 - 2
Choose TWO letters, A - E.
What are TWO reasons Anna gives for why working from home is convenient?
A The home is more comfortable.
B People can take care of family members.
C People don’t need to spend so much time travelling.
D People can save money.
E People are able to be more productive.
Question 3 - 4
Choose TWO letters, A - E.
According to Chris, who might find remote work unattractive?
A People without a home office.
B People living in shared accommodation.
C People who like to socialise with colleagues.
D People sharing a small flat.
E Young people.
Questions 5 - 10
Choose the correct letter A, B or C.
5 Chris thinks that the studies showing remote workers feel isolated are
A not relevant to the situation today.
B only accurate for some companies.
C only based on a small data set.
6 What does Anna say about a supermarket chain’s work from home scheme?
A Employees were generally very satisfied.
B Some staff members weren’t happy with the scheme.
C All employees could work from home 2 days per week.
7 How did a remote work scheme help a consultancy firm?
A Employees stayed at the company longer.
B Employee productivity increased.
C It was easier to find skilled workers.
8 Why is it sometimes easier for people to work abroad if they work for a multinational company?
A Because the company has offices in other countries.
B Because the company frequently outsources jobs.
C Because the company has more specialist local knowledge.
9 Why do many companies have difficulties allowing employees to work remotely from abroad?
A Because of time differences between countries.
B Because of local taxation laws.
C Because of short working hours..
10 Why can it sometimes be challenging to work in a team with people from many different countries?
A Because of language problems.
B Because of issues with communication technologies.
C Because of cultural differences.
READING
How Technology Is Reshaping Our Lives at Work
A
The past half-century has seen huge shifts in the way we work, primarily driven by rapid advancements in technology. These advancements have brought about changes that are now deeply ingrained in our lives, and have greatly altered the traditional ways of working. In the 1970s, work generally involved a lot more physical activity. Factories were reliant on significant amounts of manual work, while white collar workers also did most of their activities in the physical world, with information stored on paper in files, and businesses heavily reliant on the postal system for the transfer of information. The advent of personal computers in the late '70s and '80s, however, sparked the beginning of large scale changes. Suddenly, people had a tool that could perform complex calculations, store vast amounts of information, and automate routine tasks. This marked the beginning of the digital revolution, and all of the changes that followed.
B
The invention of the Internet in the late 20th century further pushed these boundaries. Email replaced conventional mail, and this new technology allowed for instant communication and file transfers regardless of geographical barriers and time zones. Search engines like Google gave us access to a vast pool of information at our fingertips, reducing dependence on physical libraries and archives.
C
The beginning of the 21st century has welcomed in an era dominated by mobile technology. With smartphones and tablets found everywhere, work is no longer confined to an office or a desk. Working remotely, once an exception, has increasingly been becoming the norm, at least during part of the work-week. This not only offers flexibility but also opens doors to global opportunities, with companies and freelancers more easily able to accept jobs from different countries and even continents.
D
Another significant impact of technology on work is seen through the rise of automation and artificial intelligence (AI). These technologies have made it possible to automate routine tasks, increasing efficiency and accuracy. As AI’s improve and develop, they will potentially be able to take on a large part of the workload in the service sector, at a fraction of the current cost. At the same time, robots will be able to carry out increasingly complex and varied manual tasks. It may only be decades before we’ll see construction robots that can lay bricks, carry cement, and put in a roof, all at super-human speed.
E
On the flip side, there are large and well-founded concerns about the job losses that will be caused by machines replacing humans in all these roles. Future governments may have to grapple with large-scale layoffs, and solutions such as a universal basic income, which provides people with an income whether or not they work, need to be found. Others, however, argue that technological advances ultimately lead to new opportunities and more rewarding jobs in previously unthought of areas emerging to take the place of the manual work taken by robots and AI.
F
In fact, technology has already led to the creation of entirely new industries and jobs that were unimaginable 50 years ago. The digital economy has given birth to roles like app developers, data scientists, and digital marketers. Simultaneously, traditional jobs have evolved as well; teachers now use digital tools for instruction while doctors use telemedicine for remote patient care. Nonetheless, these technological developments come with their own set of challenges. Issues such as cybersecurity threats, privacy concerns, the digital divide (inequitable access to technology), and a worsening work-life balance due to constant connectivity are some potential drawbacks that need to be addressed.
G
Despite these challenges, it's undeniable that technology has irreversibly transformed our work lives for the better. As we move forward into this digital age, businesses and individuals alike must continue to adapt to these changes to stay relevant and productive. As we stand on the cusp of further technological breakthroughs such as quantum computing and advanced AI applications, one can only imagine what the workplace will look like another fifty years from now.
Questions 1-5
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the reading passage?
Choose:
TRUE If the statement agrees with the information
FALSE If the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN If there is no information on this
1 Technological advances have become a part of daily life.
2 In the past office work involved more physical activity.
3 At first, email was restricted by borders between countries.
4 Many companies now prefer employees to work from home a few times per week.
5 In the future, robotics will mainly be used for simple routine tasks.
Questions 6-10
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
6. What major technological advancement marked the beginning of the digital revolution in the late 20th century?
A The invention of the Internet
B The introduction of personal computers
C The development of smartphones
D The creation of search engines
7. What impact did the invention of the Internet have on communication and information access?
A It lowered the need for physical libraries and archives.
B It led to the rise of automation and artificial intelligence.
C It allowed people to travel more freely.
D It replaced personal computers with smartphones.
8. Which technological advancement is mentioned as potentially causing large-scale unemployment in the future?
A The development of smartphones
B The rise of automation and artificial intelligence
C The introduction of personal computers
D The creation of the Internet
9. What is universal basic income?
A Large scale unemployment caused by automation and artificial intelligence taking jobs.
B A policy of restricting the use of artificial intelligence in order to protect jobs.
C A social welfare proposal in which all citizens in a country receive a guaranteed income.
D A tax on the wealthy to help fund benefits for the unemployed.
10. What is one of the challenges mentioned in the text that accompanies the benefits of technological developments in the workplace?
A) Increased work pressure
B) Decreased access to technology
C) Reduced efficiency in routine tasks
D) Limited opportunities for global work
Questions 11 - 16
The reading passage has seven paragraphs A - G.
Choose the correct heading for each paragraphs from the list of headings below:
i The challenges of unemployment
ii Being ready for change
iii The chance to move around as we work
iv Machines that can work for us
v Communication suddenly got much easier
vi The opportunities and costs of being more connected
vii From the material to the digital
11 Paragraph A
12 Paragraph B
13 Paragraph C
14 Paragraph D
15 Paragraph E
16 Paragraph F
17 Paragraph G
SPEAKING
Speaking Part 1
1. What is your job?
2. Why did you decide to do that job?
3. What do you do during a normal workday?
4. Is your job difficult?
5. Do you like your colleagues at work?
6. Would you like to be promoted?
7. If you had the opportunity, would you change your job?
8. At what age would you like to retire?
Speaking Part 2
Describe a job you have had.
You should say:
where you worked
what you did
and why you liked or disliked the job
Speaking Part 3
1. What jobs are most valuable to society?
2. What are the most difficult jobs?
3. What are the most useful skills to have in order to get a job these days?
4. Do you think job satisfaction is more important than a high salary?
5. How has technology changed the way people do their jobs?
6. At what age should people be able to retire?
WRITING
Writing Task 1 Assignment (General Training)
During a recent plane journey, you sat next to a businesswoman who owns a chain of shops. While talking she suggested that you should contact her about a possible job in one of the shops.
Write a letter to the businesswoman. In your letter:
remind her where and when you met
tell her what type of job you are interested in
explain why you would be suitable for the job
Writing Task 2 Assignment
Unemployment is often a serious problem in societies.
What are the causes of unemployment?
What solutions are there to this problem?
VOCABULARY
Vocabulary Exercises:
Exercise 1: Matching Exercise
Match a word(s) from A with a word from B.
A
job
manual
shift
take
take time
white collar
work-life
B
work (x2)
balance
off
security
worker
on
Exercise 2: Matching Exercise
Match the adjectives with the correct definitions below.
1. demanding
2. engaging
3. freelance
4. lucrative
5. monotonous
6. rewarding
7. self-employed
8. vocational
a. Repetitive and boring.
b. Providing services independently, rather than working for someone else.
c. A task, job, or situation that is interesting and keeps one's attention.
d. Describes a job or business that can earn a lot of money.
e. Providing a feeling of satisfaction because you are doing something worthwhile.
f. Referring to education or training that prepares students for a specific career or trade.
g. A task, job, or situation that requires a lot of effort, skill, or time.
h. Working for different employers on a project basis rather than being employed by only one company.
Exercise 3: Gap-fill Exercise
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate word or phrase from the list provided.
1. The heavy ___________ of the new project was overwhelming for the team.
2. After years of working for large companies, she decided to become ___________.
3. Completing the apprenticeship was a ___________ experience for the young carpenter.
4. Although the company pays a low salary, it offers very good ___________ for promotion.
5. The ___________ nature of the job made it difficult to stay motivated.
6. The government wants to increase ___________ training opportunities for school leavers.
7. The ___________ worker spent most of his time in the office.
8. The company implemented ___________ during the economic recession.
9. Maintaining a healthy ___________ is essential for overall well-being.
10. He decided to ___________ a new project to challenge himself.
11. ___________ often requires working unsociable hours.
12. The ___________ in the organisation was clearly defined.
take on
monotonous
work-life balance
self-employed
prospects
hierarchy
vocational
workload
shift work
white collar
rewarding
lay offs
Listening Answer Key:
1/2 B/C, 3/4 B/D, 5A, 6B, 7A, 8A, 9B, 10C
Reading Answer Key:
1. True, 2. True, 3. False, 4. Not Given, 5. False, 6. B, 7. A, 8. B, 9. C, 10. A, 11. vii, 12. v, 13. iii, 14. iv. 15. i, 16. vi. 17. ii
Vocabulary Answer Key:
Exercise 1: job security, manual work, shift work, take on, take time off, white collar worker, work-life balance
Exercise 2: 1g, 2c, 3h, 4d, 5a, 6e, 7b, 8f
Exercise 3: 1. workload, 2. self-employed, 3. rewarding, 4. prospects, 5. monotonous, 6. vocational, 7. white collar, 8. lay offs, 9. work-life balance, 10. take on, 11. Shift work, 12. hierarchy