IELTS Writing Task 2: A Band 7.0 Essay (Should Governments Cap Salaries?), Graded
A discuss-both-views essay on whether governments should cap high salaries — graded band-by-band by Cuepen's AI examiner. Sophisticated vocabulary, held to Band 7.0 by a wobbling position and a 249-word count.
Question:
In some countries, a few people earn extremely high salaries. Some people think that this is good for a country, while others believe that the government should control salaries and limit the amount people can earn. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. Write at least 250 words.
Candidate's answer:
Whilst it is widely debated that encouraging a few people to earn exorbitant salaries is beneficial to the society, others argue that imposing salary caps ensures income equality and the nation’s overall development. Though high salaries reflect growth of a certain segment of individuals, introducing upper limits not only discourages innovation, but also triggers brain drain. Thus, I strongly believe that governments must encourage growth by introducing educational programs, promoting literacy for all, and enabling entrepreneurship.
To begin with, research demonstrates that without redistributive policies, income inequality tends to widen over time. Instituting minimum wages and upper limits to salaries can ensure less income disparity and equality. This ensures equitable resource distribution and maintains stable purchasing power.
Conversely, introducing salary caps may lead to high emigration to other countries that promote capitalism. For instance, India, though lacking formal salary caps, has experienced significant talent outflow; many millionaires and billionaires emigrate to western countries to capitalize economies that reward earning potential without limits. This further trickles down to students who, witnessing successful emigration, move abroad to study in top universities and secure high paying employment internationally. Eventually, this leads to lower rates of growth and scientific progress of the nation.
To summarize, while salary caps may curb excessive inequality, they risk triggering talent flight. Instead governments must prioritize accessible education and startup culture to create sustainable upward mobility without limiting earning potential. Additionally, governments should streamline regulatory frameworks to reduce barriers to business formation and growth across all socioeconomic strata.
Full Cuepen report:
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Candidate's Answer
Task Response feedback (3)
Thus, I strongly believe that governments must encourage growth by introducing educational programs, promoting literacy for all, and enabling entrepreneurship.
💡The opinion pivots to 'education and entrepreneurship', which is off the question's axis (whether salaries should be capped), blurring the stance.
Thus, while I acknowledge the appeal of caps, I believe governments should not limit earnings and should instead widen opportunity through education and entrepreneurship.
Instituting minimum wages and upper limits to salaries can ensure less income disparity and equality.
💡This paragraph argues FOR upper limits without signalling it as the opposing view, so it appears to contradict the writer's anti-cap stance.
Supporters of intervention argue that minimum wages and salary caps reduce income disparity and promote fairness.
This ensures equitable resource distribution and maintains stable purchasing power.
💡Paragraph 2 is thin — three asserted sentences with no example — which also leaves the essay just under 250 words; a concrete case would fix both.
Nordic economies, for example, combine high taxes with generous services, which curbs inequality while keeping their societies prosperous.
The fastest route to Band 8
- Signpost each side ("supporters argue…", "critics counter…") so your own stance stays clear — here Paragraph 2 reads as if it endorses the caps you oppose.
- Keep the opinion on the actual question (whether to cap salaries) rather than drifting to education and entrepreneurship.
- Aim comfortably past the 250-word minimum so length is never a factor.
Frequently asked questions
What band is this salary-caps essay?+
It scores an overall Band 7.0 — Coherence, Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range at Band 7, with Task Response at Band 6.
Why is Task Response only Band 6?+
The essay is marginally under the 250-word minimum, the two views are not signposted (so the stance wobbles), and the opinion drifts from the cap question to education and entrepreneurship.
How do I write a "discuss both views" essay?+
Present each view clearly and separately, signpost whose view it is, then give and justify your own opinion — and always write at least 250 words.
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