TASK 1:
Written by: IELTS I-Ready, 29/5/2023
Marked by: Examiner
The line chart compares banana prices in four nations from 1994 to 2004. Overall, Japan and the USA saw an increase in their bananas’ prices, while the reverse was true for France and Germany. Notably, bananas from Japan remained relatively the most expensive, while those from the USA were almost always the cheapest.
In terms of Japan and the USA, the former had the most volatile trend, starting highest at nearly US$2 per kilogram. Despite peaking at about $2.7 the following year, the figure dropped to $2 in 1996. In 2001, the banana price in Japan fell again, reaching a nadir of just over US$1.5 per kilogram. However, it surged from 2001 onwards, and by 2004, it had risen to $2.5. In comparison, bananas in the USA were much cheaper, only increasing from the start of roughly $0.7 to about $1.3 in 1995. Towards the end of the period, the price stayed almost the same.
With bananas in the other two countries, the price in France was stable at around US$1.6 per kilogram from 1994 to 1999. But from there onwards, the figure dropped to about $1.3 in 2000 and fell again in 2003, reaching the lowest point of $1. However, it recovered immediately to finish at slightly above $1.5. Compared to banana prices in Germany, these were more stable, ranging from approximately $1.2 to $1.5. By the end of the period, the price had decreased by only roughly $0.2 from the starting price of approximately $1.4. (259 words)
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Task 2:
ESSAY INFORMATION:
Written by: IELTS I-Ready, 29/5/2023
Marked by: Examiner
(IELTS Academic – 27/5/2023)
Question: Some employers are giving increased importance to employing people with good social skills in addition to good qualifications. Do you agree or disagree that social skills are as important as good qualifications for success in a job?
ANSWER:
Various businesses are placing greater emphasis on hiring people who have decent interpersonal skills as well as good work expertise. This has led to a belief that the former holds equal importance as the latter in achieving career success. While that thinking is somewhat valid, I argue that the significance of social skills versus qualifications depends on the nature of different professions.
On the one hand, as effective communication is essential in the workplace, staff with communication competence are more likely to deliver high-quality performance and contribute to the financial success of a business. Internally, employees with proficiency in interpersonal skills can alleviate communication-related issues like miscommunication or misunderstanding, thereby saving time and effort put into work. Externally, employees who excel in persuading customers, stakeholders and partners can enhance overall financial values for the entire organisation. Sales executives with excellent communication abilities, for example, can generate lucrative profits for the company per purchase made. Considering these points, it is justifiable that social skills play a role as crucial as qualifications.
On the other hand, employers in certain industries prioritise appropriate qualifications over soft skills since without necessary expertise, employees might not be able to fulfil fundamental job requirements. Some recruiters ask for specific certifications from applicants to ensure their ability to deliver satisfactory performance. For instance, accountants are required to provide an ACCA certificate to pursue a career in finance and accounting before they can show employers whether they have good interpersonal skills or not. Likewise, certain professions demand strong specialisations acquired through years of extensive training and hands-on experiences such as doctors or lawyers. In such cases, once they meet the foremost requirements associated with qualifications, they will be provided with additional training to hone their communication skills later.
In conclusion, while there are valid reasons why some people think employers value good social skills and good qualifications equally as effective communicators can perform well and lead to financial success, I contend that the preferences vary depending on what type of occupations that employees are involved in due to the specialist nature of some fields. (346 words)
Highlight Vocabulary:
English | Vietnamese |
Emphasis | Nhấn mạnh |
Decent | Tử tế |
Interpersonal | Giữa các cá nhân |
Versus | So với |
Proficiency | Khả năng |
Alleviate | Giảm bớt |
Stakeholders | Các bên liên quan |
Executives | Giám đốc điều hành |
Lucrative | Béo bở |
Justifiable | Chính đáng |
Likewise | Tương tự như vậy |
Hands-on experiences | Trải nghiệm thực tế |
Preferences | Ưu tiên |