IELTS Cambridge 17 Essay: Professionals

Some people believe that professionals, such as doctors and engineers, should be required
to work in the country where they did their training. Others believe they should be free to
work in another country if they wish.

Discuss views and give your own opinion.

Certain groups today have argued that skilled professionals should be obliged to work where
they did their initial training, while others feel they are owed the right to work anywhere. In my
opinion, assuming that the qualifications translate, all individuals ought to have the freedom to
choose their country of occupation.

Those who oppose this practice contend that professionals owe a debt of gratitude to the location
of their training. Qualified professionals ranging from medical practitioners and engineers to
scientists and teachers at some point likely relied deeply on governmental and educational
resources in their local area. It is therefore logical that these individuals should remain at least in
the same country and contribute their skills to bettering society as a whole. For instance, a doctor
who has benefited from quality schools and government aid in the United States can justifiably
be asked to help their fellow citizens and train future doctors.

However, the right to choose freely where one works and lives is paramount. Since many
professionals will likely end up remaining where they did their training, this is rarely a pressing
problem in most nations. Given that reality, workers should not be restricted in their movement
and choice of living environment. When moving to another locale, they will likely have to ensure
their standardization and certification is valid and learn the intricacies of working in another
nation. However, these are simply individual impediments and should not be used as definitive
counter-arguments. Preventing individuals from working in other countries would also
considerably impair the sharing of expertise and culture across international borders.
In conclusion, though there are certain standards that must be reached, all working professionals
should be free to work abroad. This policy is largely already in place for most occupations.

Analysis
1. Certain groups today have argued that skilled professionals should be obliged to work where
they did their initial training, while others feel they are owed the right to work anywhere. 2. In
my opinion, assuming that the qualifications translate, all individuals ought to have the freedom
to choose their country of occupation.

1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.

2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. Those who oppose this practice contend that professionals owe a debt of gratitude to the
location of their training. 2. Qualified professionals ranging from medical practitioners and
engineers to scientists and teachers at some point likely relied deeply on governmental and
educational resources in their local area. 3. It is therefore logical that these individuals should
remain at least in the same country and contribute their skills to bettering society as a whole. 4.
For instance, a doctor who has benefited from quality schools and government aid in the United
States can justifiably be asked to help their fellow citizens and train future doctors.

1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.

2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
4. Keep developing it fully.

1. However, the right to choose freely where one works and lives is paramount. 2. Since many
professionals will likely end up remaining where they did their training, this is rarely a pressing
problem in most nations. 3. Given that reality, workers should not be restricted in their
movement and choice of living environment. 4. When moving to another locale, they will likely
have to ensure their standardization and certification is valid and learn the intricacies of working
in another nation. 5. However, these are simply individual impediments and should not be used
as definitive counter-arguments. 6. Preventing individuals from working in other countries would
also considerably impair the sharing of expertise and culture across international borders.

1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
2. Explain your new main idea.
3. Include specific details and examples.
4. Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
5. Finish the paragraph strong.
6. This paragraph should be a little longer.
1. In conclusion, though there are certain standards that must be reached, all working
professionals should be free to work abroad. 2. This policy is largely already in place for most
occupations.

1. Summarise your main ideas.

2. Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then
check below.

Certain groups today have argued that skilled professionals should be obliged to work where
they did their initial training, while others feel they are owed the right to work anywhere. In
my opinion, assuming that the qualifications translate, all individuals ought to have the
freedom to choose their country of occupation.

Those who oppose this practice contend that professionals owe a debt of gratitude to the
location of their training. Qualified professionals ranging from medical practitioners and
engineers to scientists and teachers at some point likely relied deeply on governmental and
educational resources in their local area. It is therefore logical that these individuals should
remain at least in the same country and contribute their skills to bettering society as a whole.
For instance, a doctor who has benefited from quality schools and government aid in the
United States can justifiably be asked to help their fellow citizens and train future doctors.

However, the right to choose freely where one works and lives is paramount. Since many
professionals will likely end up remaining where they did their training, this is rarely a
pressing problem in most nations. Given that reality, workers should not be restricted in their
movement and choice of living environment. When moving to another locale, they will likely
have to ensure their standardization and certification is valid and learn the intricacies of
working in another nation. However, these are simply individual impediments and should not
be used as definitive counter-arguments. Preventing individuals from working in other
countries would also considerably impair the sharing of expertise and culture across
international borders.

In conclusion, though there are certain standards that must be reached, all working
professionals should be free to work abroad. This policy is largely already in place for most
occupations.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you
remember the new vocabulary:

certain groups today some people

argued contended

skilled professionals people with jobs that require training and education

obliged should have to do it

initial training first learning

while however

owed are obliged to

right deserve to

assuming that given that

qualifications translate certifications carry over

ought to have should have

country of occupation where you work

oppose go against

practice contend policy argue

owe a debt of gratitude have to pay back

location place

training learning and studying and practicing

Qualified professionals people who are trained and certified

ranging from medical practitioners and engineers to scientists and teachers including
doctors, etc.

at some point eventually

relied deeply had to get a lot of help from

governmental federal

educational resources schools

local area where you live

logical rational

remain at least stay at minimum

contribute add to

bettering society as a whole making life better for all

quality schools good education

government aid federal support

justifiably good reason for it

help their fellow citizens aid other people in the country

train future doctors help teacher young doctors

paramount crucial

will likely end up probably will happen

remaining staying

rarely not often

pressing problem key issue

Given that reality since

workers employees

restricted limited

movement going to a new place

choice of living environment where you live

locale place

ensure make sure of

standardization making sure everything is the same and certified

certification standardized

valid not fraudulent

intricacies complexities

simply individual impediments only personal obstacles

definitive counter-arguments strong argument against

preventing stopping

considerably impair hurt a lot

sharing of expertise and culture across international borders collaborating and working with
others

certain standards some thresholds

reached got to

policy way of doing things

largely already in place mostly true now

occupations jobs

Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

ˈsɜːtn gruːps təˈdeɪ

ˈɑːgjuːd
skɪld prəˈfɛʃənlz
əˈblaɪʤd
ɪˈnɪʃəl ˈtreɪnɪŋ
waɪl
əʊd
raɪt
əˈsjuːmɪŋ ðæt
ˌkwɒlɪfɪˈkeɪʃənz trænsˈleɪt
ɔːt tuː hæv
ˈkʌntri ɒv ˌɒkjʊˈpeɪʃən
əˈpəʊz
ˈpræktɪs kənˈtɛnd
əʊ ə dɛt ɒv ˈgrætɪtjuːd
ləʊˈkeɪʃən
ˈtreɪnɪŋ
ˈkwɒlɪfaɪd prəˈfɛʃənlz
ˈreɪnʤɪŋ frɒm ˈmɛdɪkəl prækˈtɪʃnəz ænd ˌɛnʤɪˈnɪəz tuː ˈsaɪəntɪsts ænd ˈtiːʧəz
æt sʌm pɔɪnt
rɪˈlaɪd ˈdiːpli
ˌgʌvənˈmɛntl
ˌɛdju(ː)ˈkeɪʃənl rɪˈsɔːsɪz
ˈləʊkəl ˈeərɪə
ˈlɒʤɪkəl
rɪˈmeɪn æt liːst
kənˈtrɪbju(ː)t
ˈbɛtərɪŋ səˈsaɪəti æz ə həʊl
ˈkwɒlɪti skuːlz
ˈgʌvnmənt eɪd
ˈʤʌstɪfaɪəbli
hɛlp ðeə ˈfɛləʊ ˈsɪtɪznz
treɪn ˈfjuːʧə ˈdɒktəz
ˈpærəmaʊnt
wɪl ˈlaɪkli ɛnd ʌp
rɪˈmeɪnɪŋ
ˈreəli
ˈprɛsɪŋ ˈprɒbləm
ˈgɪvn ðæt ri(ː)ˈælɪti
ˈwɜːkəz
rɪsˈtrɪktɪd
ˈmuːvmənt
ʧɔɪs ɒv ˈlɪvɪŋ ɪnˈvaɪərənmənt
ləʊˈkɑːl
ɪnˈʃʊə
ˌstændədaɪˈzeɪʃən
ˌsɜːtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən
ˈvælɪd
ˈɪntrɪkəsiz
ˈsɪmpli ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəl ɪmˈpɛdɪmənts
dɪˈfɪnɪtɪv ˈkaʊntər-ˈɑːgjʊmənts
prɪˈvɛntɪŋ
kənˈsɪdərəbli ɪmˈpeə
ˈʃeərɪŋ ɒv ˌɛkspɜːˈtiːz ænd ˈkʌlʧər əˈkrɒs ˌɪntə(ː)ˈnæʃənl ˈbɔːdəz
ˈsɜːtn ˈstændədz
riːʧt
ˈpɒlɪsi
ˈlɑːʤli ɔːlˈrɛdi ɪn pleɪs
ˌɒkjʊˈpeɪʃənz

Vocabulary Practice
I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down
the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

C_____________________y have a________d that s_________________s should be

o________d to work where they did their i_____________g, w_____e others feel they are
o_____d the r______t to work anywhere. In my opinion, a_____________t the
q________________________e, all individuals o_______________e the freedom to choose
their c_____________________n.

Those who o_________e this p______________d that professionals

o_____________________e to the l________n of their t_______g. Q_______________s
r________________________________________________________s a______________t
likely r________y on g____________l and e______________________s in their
l___________a. It is therefore l________l that these individuals should r_______________t in
the same country and c_____________e their skills to b_________________________e. For
instance, a doctor who has benefited from q________________s and g____________________d
in the United States can j____________y be asked to h_____________________________s and
t______________________s.

However, the right to choose freely where one works and lives is p___________t. Since many
professionals w__________________________________g where they did their training, this is
r________y a p___________m in most nations. G________________y, w_________s should
not be r____________d in their m____________t and c________________t. When moving to
another l_______e, they will likely have to e______e their s____________n and
c______________n is v_____d and learn the i____________s of working in another nation.
However, these are s____________________s and should not be used as
d___________________________s. P__________g individuals from working in other countries
would also c________________r the
s_________________________________________________s.

In conclusion, though there are c___________________s that must be r_________d, all working
professionals should be free to work abroad. This p_____y is l___________________________e
for most o_______________s.
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these
activities:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH_Jriu7XkU

Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.gooverseas.com/blog/best-countries-work-abroad

Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Work (Model answer available on my Patreon)

1. Are you student or are you working now?

2. What do you like about your job/school at the moment?
3. What job would you like to do in the future?

Writing Practice
Practice with the related IELTS essay topics below:

These days people spend more and more time at work and less time at home.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?