IELTS Task 2 model essay: Job satisfaction is more important than a high salary

The question

Job satisfaction is more important than a high salary. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Essay type: Opinion (agree or disagree). Write at least 250 words in 40 minutes.

The plan (5 minutes)

• Paragraph 1: When choosing a job, people often have to decide between work they enjoy and work that pays well.
• Paragraph 2: The main reason job satisfaction matters so much is the amount of time we spend at work.
• Paragraph 3: That said, salary cannot be ignored.
• Paragraph 4: Overall, I believe the best approach is to find work that offers an adequate income and genuine satisfaction.
• Paragraph 5: In conclusion, although a sufficient salary is essential, job satisfaction is ultimately more important for long-term wellbeing and success.

Model essay (261 words)

When choosing a job, people often have to decide between work they enjoy and work that pays well. I mostly agree that job satisfaction is more important than a high salary, although a reasonable income is clearly necessary.

The main reason job satisfaction matters so much is the amount of time we spend at work. Most adults work around forty hours a week for several decades, so a job that feels meaningless or stressful can affect their health, relationships and overall happiness. In contrast, people who find their work interesting and feel valued tend to be more motivated, more productive and less likely to suffer burnout. Research on wellbeing also suggests that, once people earn enough to live comfortably, additional income adds relatively little to their happiness.

That said, salary cannot be ignored. People need enough money to pay for housing, food and their family's needs, and financial stress can quickly destroy any satisfaction a job provides. For someone struggling to pay rent, a better-paid position may reasonably be the priority, even if the work is less enjoyable. In some cases, a high salary can also lead to satisfaction indirectly, by allowing people to support their family or save for the future.

Overall, I believe the best approach is to find work that offers an adequate income and genuine satisfaction. Beyond a certain level of pay, satisfaction should take priority, because a fulfilling job improves almost every part of a person's life.

In conclusion, although a sufficient salary is essential, job satisfaction is ultimately more important for long-term wellbeing and success.

Why it's a band 7+ answer

• Task Response: every part of the question is answered, with a clear position from the introduction to the conclusion.
• Coherence and Cohesion: 5 paragraphs, each with one main idea, linked naturally (however, moreover, in my view, in conclusion).
• Lexical Resource: precise topic vocabulary and collocations, without forced "big words".
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy: a mix of simple and complex sentences, with very few errors.

Your turn

Write your own answer to this question in 40 minutes, then paste it into the free IELTS writing checker for an estimated band on all four criteria. For more practice questions, see the 60 IELTS Task 2 questions.