Boost Your IELTS Writing Score: Sample Essays on Gender-Diverse Company Boards (Band 6-9)

The topic of gender diversity in corporate boards has gained significant attention in recent years, reflecting broader societal discussions about equality and representation in the workplace. This issue has appeared in IELTS Writing Task 2 questions multiple times, with variations focusing on the benefits, challenges, and potential mandates for gender-diverse boards. Given its relevance to current global trends, it’s likely to remain a popular topic for future IELTS exams.

One of the most common question types on this subject is:

Some people think that companies should be required to have gender-diverse boards of directors. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Let’s analyze this question and explore sample essays for different band scores.

Question Analysis

This question is asking for your opinion on whether companies should be legally obligated to have boards of directors that include both men and women. Key points to consider:

1. The main focus is on gender diversity in corporate leadership.
2. The question uses the word “required,” implying potential legislation or regulation.
3. You need to state your level of agreement or disagreement and explain why.
4. Consider both sides of the argument before presenting your stance.

Sample Essay 1 (Band 8-9)

In recent years, the push for gender diversity in corporate leadership has gained momentum, with some advocating for mandatory gender-diverse boards of directors. While I acknowledge the importance of equal representation, I disagree with the notion that companies should be legally required to have gender-diverse boards, as I believe this approach may have unintended consequences and overlook more effective solutions.

Mandating gender diversity on boards could lead to several problems. Firstly, it may result in tokenism, where women are appointed to meet quotas rather than for their qualifications or expertise. This not only undermines the credibility of female board members but also fails to address the root causes of gender inequality in the corporate world. Secondly, such requirements might inadvertently limit a company’s ability to select the most suitable candidates for their specific needs, potentially impacting overall business performance.

Diverse boardroom meeting with men and women discussing business strategies

Instead of enforcing gender diversity through legislation, I believe a more effective approach would be to address the underlying issues that contribute to the gender imbalance in corporate leadership. This could involve initiatives such as improving access to education and mentorship programs for women, challenging societal stereotypes about gender roles in the workplace, and promoting work-life balance policies that support career advancement for both men and women. By creating an environment that nurtures talent regardless of gender, companies are more likely to naturally develop diverse leadership teams.

Moreover, encouraging companies to voluntarily adopt diversity policies could yield better results than mandatory requirements. Many progressive businesses have already recognized the benefits of diverse perspectives in decision-making and are actively working to increase gender representation on their boards. By highlighting these success stories and the positive impacts on innovation and financial performance, other companies may be inspired to follow suit without the need for legal mandates.

In conclusion, while the goal of achieving gender diversity in corporate boards is commendable, I disagree with the idea of making it a legal requirement. Instead, efforts should focus on addressing the root causes of gender inequality and encouraging voluntary adoption of inclusive practices. This approach is more likely to result in meaningful, sustainable change and truly equal opportunities for all in the corporate world.

(Word count: 345)

Essay Analysis (Band 8-9)

This essay demonstrates excellent qualities that align with Band 8-9 criteria:

1. Task Response: The essay clearly addresses all parts of the task, presenting a well-developed argument against mandatory gender-diverse boards while acknowledging the importance of the issue.
2. Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is well-organized with clear progression throughout. Each paragraph has a central topic, and ideas are logically connected using appropriate cohesive devices.
3. Lexical Resource: The vocabulary used is sophisticated and precise (e.g., “tokenism,” “root causes,” “underlying issues,” “nurtures talent”). There is a good range of less common words and phrases used accurately.
4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay demonstrates a wide range of complex structures used accurately and appropriately (e.g., “While I acknowledge…”, “Instead of enforcing…”, “By creating an environment that…”). There are no noticeable errors.
5. Development of Ideas: Each main point is well-elaborated with relevant examples and explanations. The essay presents a balanced view by considering potential counterarguments and alternative solutions.

Sample Essay 2 (Band 6-7)

In today’s world, many people believe that companies should be forced to have boards of directors with both men and women. While I can see some benefits to this idea, I partly disagree with making it a requirement for all companies.

On one hand, having gender-diverse boards can be good for companies. When there are both men and women in leadership roles, it can bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. This diversity might help companies make better decisions and understand their customers better. Also, it sets a good example for younger employees and shows that both men and women can succeed in business.

Female mentor providing guidance and support to a younger colleague

However, I think there are some problems with making this a legal requirement. First, it might not be fair to choose board members based on gender instead of their skills and experience. This could lead to hiring people who are not the best fit for the job just to meet the gender requirement. Second, different industries might have different needs, and a one-size-fits-all approach might not work well for all companies.

Instead of forcing companies to have gender-diverse boards, I think there are better ways to encourage diversity. For example, companies could offer more training and mentoring programs to help women advance in their careers. Schools and universities could also do more to encourage girls to study business and leadership. These steps could naturally lead to more women being qualified for board positions over time.

In conclusion, while gender diversity on company boards is important, I partly disagree with making it a requirement. I believe that focusing on education, training, and changing attitudes towards women in business would be more effective in the long run.

(Word count: 281)

Essay Analysis (Band 6-7)

This essay demonstrates good qualities that align with Band 6-7 criteria:

1. Task Response: The essay addresses the main parts of the task and presents a clear position, though the argument could be more fully developed.
2. Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is generally well-organized with clear paragraphing. There is a logical progression of ideas, though some cohesive devices are overused or under-used.
3. Lexical Resource: The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with some attempts at less common words (e.g., “perspectives,” “diversity”). However, the range is more limited compared to the Band 8-9 essay.
4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures with generally good control. There are some minor errors, but they do not impede communication.
5. Development of Ideas: Main ideas are relevant and supported, though the level of detail and explanation is less than in the Band 8-9 essay.

Key Vocabulary

1. Gender diversity (noun phrase) – /ˈdʒendə daɪˈvɜːsəti/ – The equitable representation of people of different genders.
2. Corporate board (noun phrase) – /ˈkɔːpərət bɔːd/ – A group of individuals elected to represent shareholders and oversee a company’s activities.
3. Tokenism (noun) – /ˈtəʊkənɪzəm/ – The practice of making only a symbolic effort to be inclusive to members of minority groups.
4. Mandate (noun/verb) – /ˈmændeɪt/ – An official order or commission to do something; to authorize or require.
5. Representation (noun) – /ˌreprɪzenˈteɪʃn/ – The action of speaking or acting on behalf of someone or the state of being so represented.
6. Initiatives (noun) – /ɪˈnɪʃətɪvz/ – Acts or strategies intended to resolve a difficulty or improve a situation.
7. Stereotypes (noun) – /ˈsteriəˌtaɪps/ – Widely held but fixed and oversimplified images or ideas of a particular type of person or thing.
8. Work-life balance (noun phrase) – /wɜːk laɪf ˈbæləns/ – The division of one’s time and focus between working and family or leisure activities.
9. Mentorship (noun) – /ˈmentɔːʃɪp/ – The guidance provided by a mentor, especially an experienced person in a company or educational institution.
10. Innovation (noun) – /ˌɪnəˈveɪʃn/ – The action or process of innovating; a new method, idea, product, etc.

In conclusion, the topic of gender-diverse company boards is likely to remain relevant in IELTS Writing Task 2. To prepare, practice writing essays on related themes such as:

• The benefits and challenges of workplace diversity
• Government intervention in business practices
• Equality and discrimination in the corporate world
• The role of education in promoting gender equality in leadership

Remember to structure your essay clearly, use a range of vocabulary and grammatical structures, and support your arguments with relevant examples. Feel free to share your practice essays in the comments section for feedback and discussion with other learners.