Task 2 · · 18 samples

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 that they should be free to work in another country if they wish. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

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Plan your answer

Try your own response before reading the samples.

Ideas to explore

  • Publicly funded professional training may create a reasonable expectation that graduates contribute to local services, especially where skilled workers are scarce.
  • Freedom to work abroad can support career development and may bring expertise back through return migration or international collaboration.
  • A choice between a defined period of service and proportionate repayment can balance public investment with individual mobility.

Suggested structure

  1. Introduce the disagreement and state a qualified position.
  2. Explain the argument for requiring local service, linking public funding to shortages and taxpayer benefit.
  3. Present the case for freedom of movement, including professional opportunity and possible benefits to the home country.
  4. Give your own balanced solution and explain why it is fair.
  5. Conclude by restating the principle that retention is better supported by good opportunities than by excessive restrictions.
Useful vocabulary & examples
public investment
Government or taxpayer spending intended to benefit the public.

A period of local service could help ensure that public investment in medical training benefits the community.

skilled-worker shortages
A lack of qualified people available to fill important jobs.

Skilled-worker shortages may worsen if many newly trained professionals leave immediately.

a proportionate share
A fair amount that reflects the size or level of something.

Graduates could repay a proportionate share of heavily subsidised training costs.

freedom of movement
The ability to choose where to live or work without unreasonable restrictions.

A balanced policy should recognise professionals’ freedom of movement.

Sample answers

AI-completed learning example

283 words · Illustrative target band

It is sometimes argued that people who were educated in some schools, such as medical or engineering, in a certain country should not be allowed to leave the country. However, I am firmly of the opinion that professionals should have the right of choosing their region of interest to live in, even if they are trained in a different country. Those who support requiring professionals to remain point out that their educa…

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AI-completed learning example

275 words · Illustrative target band

With the world entering the globalisation of the workforce, we live in a world that is open to all. Many people argue that professionals like engineers and doctors must not leave their countries. Some may argue that they are free to leave their country of origin. I believe this is more of a personal liberty than an obligation, although governments should take steps to ensure that local communities are not left withou…

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AI-completed learning example

295 words · Illustrative target band

There is a common belief that professionals like doctors and engineers should not be free to work in a different country than the one they did their training at. There is an opposing view that they should be required to work in the same country they studied in. From where I stand, restricting these professionals for a short period after qualification may be reasonable, but a permanent restriction is unfair. The first…

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