Ibt Sample Answers Writing.docx

Task 1 There is a scholarship sponsored by a newspaper in a community college. The reading passage describes the characteristics that a worthy scholarship recipient should have, while the listening passage describe the two final candidates for the scholarship. The reading passage indicates that there are three criteria for a worthy recipient. First, they must have good grades and a great interest in journalism. Secondly, they must have a wide variety of activity and interests, and thirdly, they must be involved in contributing to the community. It is particularly important that the recipient demonstrate their ability and interest to improve not only their personal and professional life, but also other people's lives. On the other hand, the listening passage describes the two finalist for the scholarship. The first one, Becky Stevens, is majoring in Journalism and have generally good grades. She is actively participating both in the campus activities, such as then student council, photography club, and soccer team, as well as in the community, where she volunteers for the local hospital and home for the elderly. The second one, Ralph Myers, majors in Biology but takes Journalism courses due to his interest in becoming an investigative science reporter. Ralph has impressive grades with straight A's, and in contrast to Becky, does not spend much time in social activities either in campus or in the community, as he is more occupied with research in the laboratory. Ralph prefers spending his spare time at a local sporting event. The committee must choose one of these two candidates as the scholarship recipient based on the three criteria.

Task 2 Some organizations may promote their employees to a higher position based on seniority. This is viewed as a way to reward and encourage their loyalty to the company. From the employee's point of view, this system allows them to have a sense of financial security and stability as they are not worried of finding even more lucrative occupation, as they can be assured that their future will be ensured as long as they stay working in the company. On the other hand, some institutions like to promote workers who perform the best in spite of their age or how long they have worked for the company, simply because it is the fairer system. In addition, the system allows the company to generate and motivate better performance and increase the company's profit. Nevertheless, for me, the better style would have to be the seniority-based one; not because I believe that people who work longer in the organization are somehow better and should be rewarded more, but because I see the flaw in the performance-based promotion system. My biggest concern is that the system would allow new people, and perhaps, although not necessarily, younger employee to take higher managerial position and responsibilities. Firstly, letting "juniors" to take over the steering wheel and try to lead their seniors would result in resentments, jealousy, and eventually internal office conflict, which benefits no one. Secondly, I believe in loyalty, and senior workers tend to have the sense of love and belonging to the place they work in most of their lives, which would encourage them subconsciously to simply do the best they can to give back to the company that have provided them with the life they have. Finally, no matter how good the performance of a younger/newer worker is, nothing can beat the longer experience and direct involvement with the company that senior workers have. Longer time working in one place means that you have learned how the company works, the appropriate managerial and management style, the people who work there and the dynamics among them, creating a harmony and preventing less conflict in the workplace. In conclusion, I believe seniority-based promotion works better, when compared to the performancebased system, both for the company/organization, and the overall employees who work there.