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✦ IELTS Topic: Work – 10 Useful Phrases

Climb the career ladder
e.g., Most people work hard in order to climb the career ladder.
Work-life balance
e.g., Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is essential for mental health.
A dead-end job
e.g., He left because he felt stuck in a dead-end job with no opportunities.
Burnout
e.g., Long hours and pressure can lead to employee burnout.
Job satisfaction
e.g., Job satisfaction is more important to me than a high salary.
Freelance work
e.g., Freelance work gives people more flexibility but less job security.
Be stuck in a rut
e.g., After ten years in the same office, I felt stuck in a rut.
To land a job
e.g., She finally landed a job at a top law firm after months of interviews.
Flexible working hours
e.g., Many companies now offer flexible working hours to improve staff morale.
A demanding job
e.g., Being a surgeon is a very demanding job with a lot of stress.

✦ IELTS Speaking Practice Test – Work

Part 1: Introduction & Interview

What kind of job do you have (or want)?
What do you enjoy about your work or studies?
Would you like to do the same job in the future?
Do you prefer working alone or in a team?
What is your idea of a perfect job?

Part 2: Cue Card

Describe a job you would like to do in the future.
You should say:

what the job is
what skills it requires
why you are interested in it
and explain whether you think it would be a good fit for you.

✦ Sample Answers Using the Work Phrases

Part 1 Answers

1. I’d love to land a job in marketing because it combines creativity and communication skills.
2. I really enjoy working on projects where I feel a sense of job satisfaction.
3. Yes, I think I could build a good career and eventually climb the career ladder.
4. I enjoy team projects – they break the routine and keep me from getting stuck in a rut.
5. My perfect job would offer flexible working hours and a healthy work-life balance.

Part 2 Answer

One job I would love to have in the future is being a content strategist for a global company. It’s a creative but demanding job that requires strong writing and digital marketing skills.

I’ve always enjoyed producing content, and the idea of helping shape a company’s voice online really appeals to me. I also value freelance work, so I hope to find a role that offers some flexibility or remote options.

What attracts me most is the chance to develop professionally and eventually climb the career ladder in the field. At the same time, I want to avoid burnout, so a company that promotes a strong work-life balance is very important to me.

All in all, I think this job would be a good fit for my personality and goals.

✦ Comprehension Test: Work Phrases

1. "Most people work hard in order to climb the career ladder."
Q: What does this phrase suggest about people's goals?

2. "Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is essential for mental health."
Q: What is the person trying to manage in this sentence?

3. "He left because he felt stuck in a dead-end job with no opportunities."
Q: Why did the person leave their job?

4. "Long hours and pressure can lead to employee burnout."
Q: What is the danger of working too much?

5. "Job satisfaction is more important to me than a high salary."
Q: What does the speaker value most in a job?

6. "Freelance work gives people more flexibility but less job security."
Q: What are the pros and cons of freelance work?

7. "After ten years in the same office, I felt stuck in a rut."
Q: How does the speaker feel about their work?

8. "She finally landed a job at a top law firm after months of interviews."
Q: What happened after the speaker kept trying?

9. "Many companies now offer flexible working hours to improve staff morale."
Q: Why are flexible hours becoming more popular?

10. "Being a surgeon is a very demanding job with a lot of stress."
Q: What is the nature of the surgeon’s job?

✅ Answer Key

To advance or get promoted
The balance between work and personal life
It didn’t offer progress or growth
Exhaustion or mental collapse
Enjoyment and fulfillment
Flexibility vs. insecurity
Bored and unmotivated
She succeeded in getting the job
To make employees happier
It's stressful and challenging