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📋 How to use this lesson

👩‍🏫 For the teacher:

Use this 15-minute warm-up to review key vocabulary, linking words, and grammar before writing.

Have students work individually through sections A to E, then review the instant automatic feedback together as a class.

🧑‍🎓 For the learner:

Start with the vocabulary tasks in Section A and B, then test linking phrases and paraphrasing in Sections C and D.

Finish with the short grammar check in Section E so you are ready to write your full essay in Module 2.

Module 1: Build-up Practice

Get your vocabulary, connectors, and sentence structures ready for an essay on remote work and modern offices.

A Word Forms

Fill in the blank with the correct form of the word in brackets.

1. Many employees prefer working ___ from home instead of commuting every morning. [remote]

____

2. Several tech companies are testing the ___ of their work models by splitting time between home and office. [hybrid]

____

3. Workers often need to set up dedicated home ___ with quiet desks and proper lighting. [workspace]

____

4. Some managers feel uncomfortable when their staff work without direct ___. [supervise]

____

5. Mature staff members usually prefer to work ___ throughout the week. [independence]

____

B Common Collocations

Choose the word or phrase that naturally goes together with the unit word.

6. The firm provided each remote employee with a company-issued ___.

____ a. laptop ____ b. notebook paper ____ c. typewriter

7. Working from home allows parents to keep a ___ schedule around family duties.

____ a. bent ____ b. flexible ____ c. narrow

8. Spending every day alone at a desk can lead to feelings of social ___.

____ a. distance ____ b. separation ____ c. isolation

9. Without a boss nearby, people need high levels of personal ___ to stay on track.

____ a. motivation ____ b. temptation ____ c. reaction

10. Most directors judge remote staff by the quality of the final ___ rather than hours spent at a desk.

____ a. exit ____ b. closing ____ c. outcome

C Common Essay Phrases

Complete each sentence using one phrase from the word bank below. Use each phrase once.

As a result For instance In my view On the other hand In addition

11. ___, a mix of office days and home days gives the healthiest balance for most adults.

____

12. Commuters save money every week; ___, train fares and fuel bills are reduced immediately.

____

13. Many people exercise more often in the morning. ___, their general well-being improves.

____

14. Home working offers privacy. ___, it can create communication barriers between teammates.

____

15. Less driving cuts carbon emissions. ___, it eases heavy road congestion during rush hour.

____

D Paraphrasing Practice

Select the best paraphrase that accurately preserves the original meaning without repeating words unnecessarily.

Original sentence:

"Many people now work from home for part or all of the week."

Which sentence is the best paraphrase?

____ a. Many people now work from their house for half of every single week. ____ b. A substantial number of individuals currently carry out their duties remotely for some or all working days. ____ c. Almost all workers refuse to go into physical offices today.

Original sentence:

"Remote working saves time because staff do not need to commute to the office."

Which sentence is the best paraphrase?

____ a. By eliminating daily travel to headquarters, telecommuting frees up valuable hours for employees. ____ b. Staff waste time commuting when they should be working at home. ____ c. Offices are completely unnecessary because no one likes traveling.

Original sentence:

"Isolation can harm an employee's mental health and teamwork."

Which sentence is the best paraphrase?

____ a. Teamwork is ruined whenever anyone stays at home for a single morning. ____ b. Mental health always improves when people work away from colleagues. ____ c. Being cut off from coworkers may diminish psychological well-being and weaken team collaboration.

E Grammar Recap: Purpose Clauses

We use purpose clauses to explain why someone does something. Look at these natural patterns:

Pattern 1: so as (not) to / in order to

Teams meet once a week so as to share news.

Notice: follows directly with an infinitive verb (so as to + verb).

Pattern 2: so that + subject + can/could

Companies buy laptops so that staff can work from anywhere.

Notice: 'so that' is followed by a full clause with its own subject and modal verb.

Pattern 3: with a view to + -ing

Organizations redesign workspaces with a view to boosting collaborative energy.

Notice: 'to' here is a preposition, so it must be followed by an -ing verb.

19. Staff turn off notifications in the evening ___ prevent burnout.

____ a. with a view to ____ b. so as to ____ c. so that

20. Employers organize virtual coffee breaks ___ colleagues do not feel isolated.

____ a. in order to ____ b. so as not to ____ c. so that

21. Managers introduce weekly check-ins with a view to ___ (track) project progress.

Write the correct form of the verb in brackets:

____

Module 2: The Essay Task

Write your full essay using the plan, target grammar, and vocabulary you practiced in the build-up.

Writing Task Prompt

"Many people now work from home for part or all of the week. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?"

Task Constraints:

📏 Length

Write at least 250 words.

🎯 Target Grammar

Use at least 3 sentences with purpose clauses (in order to, so as (not) to, so that, or with a view to + -ing).

📚 Unit Words

Include at least 5 Unit words (remote, hybrid, workspace, laptop, supervise, independence, schedule, isolation, motivation, outcome).

4-Paragraph Essay Plan

Structure your essay into four clear parts using these exact sentence starters:

1 Paragraph 1: Introduction

"In this essay I will discuss ..."

2 Paragraph 2: First Body Paragraph

"One advantage is ..."

3 Paragraph 3: Second Body Paragraph

"However, one disadvantage is ..."

4 Paragraph 4: Conclusion

"In conclusion, ..."

✅ Self-Check List

Review your draft against each point before submitting your work:

____ 1. My essay contains at least 250 words and is organized into 4 distinct paragraphs. ____ 2. I have used at least 3 sentences with target purpose clauses (in order to, so as (not) to, so that, or with a view to + -ing). ____ 3. I have incorporated at least 5 words from the Unit word list. ____ 4. I used the required starter phrase for each paragraph and gave a clear final opinion on whether advantages outweigh disadvantages.

Your Essay

Minimum 250 words

Grading criteria: Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy

____ (Type your essay here starting with Paragraph 1: In this essay I will discuss ...)

Module 3: Model Essay

Read this sample essay written by a strong B2 student to see how purpose clauses and unit vocabulary work together naturally.

Sample Answer

Remote Work: Benefits vs. Drawbacks

Length: 256 words

Paragraph 1: Introduction

In this essay I will discuss both the benefits and drawbacks of working remotely. In recent years, many professionals have begun doing their jobs from home for part or all of the week. In my view, having this flexibility brings far more positive results than negative ones.

Paragraph 2: Advantages

One advantage is the high degree of independence that employees gain. Workers can follow a flexible schedule, which helps them balance job duties and family needs without stressful commuting. For instance, people can set up a quiet home workspace in order to concentrate on difficult tasks without office distractions.

💡 Why this works: Using "in order to + verb" directly connects an action to an intended goal.

In addition, staff can use a portable laptop in comfortable areas so that they can stay productive all day.

💡 Why this works: Using "so that + subject + modal" explains what ability or outcome is made possible.

Because employees are trusted rather than watched, their personal motivation increases, resulting in a much better outcome for every project.

Paragraph 3: Disadvantages

However, one disadvantage is that remote working can cause social isolation. When individuals spend every day alone, they miss informal chats with colleagues, which may hurt morale. In addition, when team leaders cannot supervise staff directly, some workers feel disconnected. That is why many groups adopt a hybrid schedule with a view to maintaining healthy collaboration.

💡 Why this works: Using "with a view to + -ing" expresses a forward-looking plan or purpose in formal writing.

Employees also shut down their computers in the evening so as not to blur the boundary between home life and work.

💡 Why this works: Using "so as not to + verb" explains what negative problem someone wants to prevent.

Paragraph 4: Conclusion

In conclusion, although working from home can occasionally cause loneliness and requires discipline, the freedom to control one's time is a great benefit. So I think the advantages of this arrangement clearly outweigh the disadvantages.

🔍 Check Your Understanding of the Model Essay

Answer these quick questions to see how the writer met all prompt instructions and used grammar accurately.

1. What is the writer's final answer to the essay question: "Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?"

____ a. No, because social isolation makes teamwork impossible. ____ b. Yes, the advantages of flexibility and time control are greater than the disadvantages. ____ c. The writer remains completely neutral and does not give any opinion.

2. In Paragraph 3, which purpose phrase is used specifically to describe an action taken to avoid a negative result?

____ a. in order to ____ b. with a view to ____ c. so as not to

3. Complete the sentence from the model essay with the exact verb form used after "with a view to":

"...many groups adopt a hybrid schedule with a view to ___ (maintain) healthy collaboration."

____

4. Decide whether these statements about the model essay are True or False:

Feature in the Model Essay	True	False
It uses all four required paragraph starters exactly as planned.	____ True ____ False
It mentions named policies from specific real-world companies or governments.	____ True ____ False

IELTS Writing: Remote Work and Future Offices

📋 How to use this lesson

Module 1: Build-up Practice

A Word Forms

B Common Collocations

C Common Essay Phrases

D Paraphrasing Practice

E Grammar Recap: Purpose Clauses

Module 2: The Essay Task

Task Constraints:

4-Paragraph Essay Plan

✅ Self-Check List

Your Essay

Module 3: Model Essay

Remote Work: Benefits vs. Drawbacks

🔍 Check Your Understanding of the Model Essay

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