IELTS Topic: Business, Jobs, and Careers
VOCABULARY & EXPRESSIONS
Go over the following vocabulary and expressions with your tutor. Read the word/expression and definition out loud, and your tutor will go over anything you do not understand. Practice creating a sentence or two to make sure you know how to use the word/expression properly.
Vocabulary/ Expressions
Business plan: (noun)
A business plan is, as the name suggests, a document used to outline plans for a business.
Business plans are essential for those setting up or developing a business
Human resources: (noun)
(HR) noun the personnel of a business or organization, regarded as a significant asset in terms of skills and abilities.
Our core skills are in building pan-European businesses and managing human resources
Employee: (noun)
Someone who is paid to work for someone else.
The company has several hundred employees.
Employer: (noun)
A person or organization that employs people.
Employers monitor their employees very carefully these days.
Employment: (noun)
When someone is paid to work for a company or organization.
Due to the recession, there are thousands of people looking for employment.
Commute: (verb)
To make the same journey regularly between work and home
It is taking longer for people to commute to work because of traffic problems. Commuting to work every day by bus is tiring.
Occupation: (noun)
(noun) Formal way to say 'job'.
What is your occupation?
Career: (noun)
Working life or a particular job during one's working life that gets better in terms of salary and position.
He is retired now but he had an amazing career ( = successful working life). He hopes to have a career in the army
Profession: (noun)
Any type of work which needs special training or a particular skill, often one which is respected because it involves a high level of education.
The teaching profession is not as good as it used to be because salaries have decreased.
Salary / Wages: Money paid each month to an employee for their work.
I work very hard for my salary every day.
Public Sector: (noun)
Businesses and industries that are owned or controlled by the government.
You get a good pension if you work for the public sector, but the salary is not always so good.
Private Sector: (noun)
Businesses and industries that are privately owned.
Most graduates hope to work in the private sector when they finish university as there are more opportunities and the pay is better than the public sector.
Retire: (verb)
To stop working because of old age or ill health.
The retirement age in most countries is 65. He had to retire early due to ill health.
Flexitime: (noun)
Working a fixed number of hours but having flexibility with start and finish times.
They have introduced flexitime at my workplace so I usually start at 10am now and finish at 6 pm.
Resign / Quit: (verb)
To leave a job. He resigned from his job yesterday.
Don't quit your job unless you have another one to start.
Vacancy: (noun)
A job position that is not filled and so is available.
I spoke to the company and they said they had several vacancies.
Overtime: (noun)
Working more than your contracted hours.
The employees often work overtime but they are not given extra money so it is not fair.
Shift: (noun)
The time worked in a job that is not normal hours.
She is a nurse so she has to work in shifts.
Entrepreneur: (noun)
someone who starts their own business, especially when this involves seeing a new opportunity successful
He was one of the entrepreneurs of the 80s who made their money in property.
PART 1 QUESTIONS
Introduction and interview (4-5 minutes)
Here are possible questions that might come up during the test. Go over them with your tutor.
In the first part, the examiner will ask you a number of general questions
Can you describe your job to me?
Why did you choose this job?
Can you describe one of your typical working days?
Is planning your daily routine important to you?
Why did you choose to do that job?
What things do you enjoy about your work? Why?
What are the skills required for your job?
What is your ideal/ dream job?
Do you want to change your current job in the future?
How do people make career choices in your country?
Who influences a young person’s career choices?
What are the advantages of having your own business rather than working for someone else?
PART 2 QUESTIONS
Individual long turn (3-4 minutes)
Here are possible questions that might come up during the test. Go over them with your tutor.
You will have 1 minute to prepare to speak, and then you will talk for 2 minutes, during which the examiner will not speak.
Describe a piece of advice you received about choosing your major or career.
You should say:
What the advice was
When you received it
Who gave the advice
And explain how you felt about it.
Sample B
Describe your dream job.
You should say:
What your dream job is
What skills are required to do this job
How popular this kind of job is in your country, and if you think you will be able to do your dream job.
Sample C
Describe a successful business or a business you would like to start in the future.
You should say:
What kind of business it is
What are the requirements for this business
How successful this business is / or would be
What you think of this business
PART 3 QUESTIONS
Two-way discussion (4-5 minutes)
Here are possible questions that might come up during the test. Go over them with your tutor.
In the last part, you will talk with the examiner about issues related to the topic on the card.
Why do so many young people choose communication and media studies as their major?
Why do young people find it hard to make career choices?
What can affect a young person’s career choices?
Do you think job satisfaction is more important than salary when choosing a job?
What skills do you think are needed to get a good job these days?
Do you think women should be able to do all the same jobs that men do?
How has technology changed the way we work?
What challenges and difficulties do people face when they try to have a successful small business?
What should be the government’s role in how small businesses are run?
What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of small businesses compared to large companies?
Why do some people open their own business?
What kinds of small businesses are most popular in your country?
