IELTS Essay: Pay for CEOs and Executives

Large companies should pay higher salaries to CEOs and executives compared to other
workers.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Many believe that executives at major companies are overpaid. In my opinion, this disconcerting
wage gap is justified as there are few individuals capable of fulfilling the role responsibilities.

Critics of higher salaries for executives point out the unwarranted gap between them and other
employees. For example, the average office worker or a cleaner works a similar amount of hours
and, in some cases, the demanding nature of their job is arguably more strenuous. Nonetheless,
CEOs and other executives get paid in the tens of millions of dollars annually, and this occurs
even if the company reports disappointing results or in periods of economic downturn, such as
the recent global recession. Their salaries are so many times higher it is impossible to rationalise
the disparity by emphasising the hours worked alone. Therefore it is logical to decry the salaries
of executives and identify corruption as a culprit.

However, in my opinion, the outsized salaries for executives are justified by supply and demand.
It is an uncomfortable fact but true regardless that there is a large pool of potential applicants
who would make serviceable replacements for the lowly paid positions. This is not true for
executives generally and CEOs more specifically. A CEO must have a strong theoretical
background (often based on attending an Ivy League institution), years of proven experience,
tireless work ethic, uncommon leadership qualities, and exemplary understanding and insight
into global economics. These abilities and characteristics are rare and , therefore, companies
must compete to hire them by offering the greatest remuneration packages.
In conclusion, though the salaries for executives appear extravagant, they are the result of a
logical calculation of supply and demand. There are more important reforms needed within the
free market capitalist model.

Analysis
1. Many believe that executives at major companies are overpaid. 2. In my opinion, this
disconcerting wage gap is justified as there are few individuals capable of fulfilling the role
responsibilities.

1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.

2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. Critics of higher salaries for executives point out the unwarranted gap between them and other
employees. 2. For example, the average office worker or a cleaner works a similar amount of
hours and, in some cases, the demanding nature of their job is arguably more strenuous. 3.
Nonetheless, CEOs and other executives get paid in the tens of millions of dollars annually, and
this occurs even if the company reports disappointing results or in periods of economic
downturn, such as the recent global recession. 4. Their salaries are so many times higher it is
impossible to rationalise the disparity by emphasising the hours worked alone. 5. Therefore it is
logical to decry the salaries of executives and identify corruption as a culprit.

1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.

2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop it with specific examples.
4. Keep developing it fully.
5. Stay focused on the same main idea.

1. However, in my opinion, the outsized salaries for executives are justified by supply and
demand. 2. It is an uncomfortable fact but true regardless that there is a large pool of potential
applicants who would make serviceable replacements for the lowly paid positions. 3. This is not
true for executives generally and CEOs more specifically. 4. A CEO must have a strong
theoretical background (often based on attending an Ivy League institution), years of proven
experience, tireless work ethic, uncommon leadership qualities, and exemplary understanding
and insight into global economics. 5. These abilities and characteristics are rare and , therefore,
companies must compete to hire them by offering the greatest remuneration packages.

1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
2. Explain your new main idea.
3. Include specific details and examples.
4. Continue developing it...
5. as fully as possible!
1. In conclusion, though the salaries for executives appear extravagant, they are the result of a
logical calculation of supply and demand. 2. There are more important reforms needed within the
free market capitalist model.

1. Summarise your main ideas.

2. Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then
check below.

Many believe that executives at major companies are overpaid. In my opinion, this
disconcerting wage gap is justified as there are few individuals capable of fulfilling the role
responsibilities.

Critics of higher salaries for executives point out the unwarranted gap between them and other
employees. For example, the average office worker or a cleaner works a similar amount of
hours and, in some cases, the demanding nature of their job is arguably more strenuous.
Nonetheless, CEOs and other executives get paid in the tens of millions of dollars annually,
and this occurs even if the company reports disappointing results or in periods of economic
downturn, such as the recent global recession. Their salaries are so many times higher it is
impossible to rationalise the disparity by emphasising the hours worked alone. Therefore it is
logical to decry the salaries of executives and identify corruption as a culprit.

However, in my opinion, the outsized salaries for executives are justified by supply and
demand. It is an uncomfortable fact but true regardless that there is a large pool of potential
applicants who would make serviceable replacements for the lowly paid positions. This is not
true for executives generally and CEOs more specifically. A CEO must have a strong
theoretical background (often based on attending an Ivy League institution), years of
proven experience, tireless work ethic, uncommon leadership qualities, and exemplary
understanding and insight into global economics. These abilities and characteristics are rare
and , therefore, companies must compete to hire them by offering the greatest remuneration
packages.

In conclusion, though the salaries for executives appear extravagant, they are the result of a
logical calculation of supply and demand. There are more important reforms needed within the
free market capitalist model.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you
remember the new vocabulary:

executives the highest ranking people at a company

overpaid get too much money

disconcerting wage gap worrying difference in salaries

justified reasonable

fulfilling rewarding

role responsibilities what the job requires

critics those who are against it

point out argue

unwarranted gap unjustified difference

average normal

similar amount almost the same

in some cases occasionally

demanding nature how difficult it is

arguably it can be argued

strenuous difficult

nonetheless regardless

CEOs chief executive officer - head of the company

tens of millions of dollars annually every year $20,000,000+

occurs happens

reports disappointing results company revenue/profit is down

periods of economic downturn times when the economy is bad

recent global recession around the world economies doing badly

rationalise justify

disparity difference

emphasising focusing on

logical makes sense

decry are against

identify corruption find that cheating

culprit person to blame

outsized too big

supply and demand how much of something and how much it is wanted

uncomfortable fact unpleasant reality

regardless nonetheless

large pool lots of people

potential applicants possible employees

serviceable replacements good people who can take their place

lowly paid positions not well-paid

generally overall

more specifically more exactly

strong theoretical background good schooling

based on attending because they went to

Ivy League institution Harvard, Yale, etc.

proven experience years of work that show their ability

tireless work ethic work really hard

uncommon leadership qualities rare ability to lead

exemplary understanding excellent knowledge of

insight into ideas about

global economics the world economy at large

characteristics traits

compete fight each other for

offering the greatest remuneration packages pay the most

appear extravagant seem too big

logical calculation rational decision

reforms changes

free market capitalist model the economic system of most countries involving private
companies and a consumer economy

Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

ɪgˈzɛkjʊtɪvz
ˌəʊvəˈpeɪd
ˌdɪskənˈsɜːtɪŋ weɪʤ gæp
ˈʤʌstɪfaɪd
fʊlˈfɪlɪŋ
rəʊl rɪsˌpɒnsəˈbɪlɪtiz
ˈkrɪtɪks
pɔɪnt aʊt
ʌnˈwɒrəntɪd gæp
ˈævərɪʤ
ˈsɪmɪlər əˈmaʊnt
ɪn sʌm ˈkeɪsɪz
dɪˈmɑːndɪŋ ˈneɪʧə
ˈɑːgjʊəbli
ˈstrɛnjʊəs
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
siː-iː-əʊz
tɛnz ɒv ˈmɪljənz ɒv ˈdɒləz ˈænjʊəli
əˈkɜːz
rɪˈpɔːts ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntɪŋ rɪˈzʌlts
ˈpɪərɪədz ɒv ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˈdaʊntɜːn
ˈriːsnt ˈgləʊbəl rɪˈsɛʃən
ˈræʃnəlaɪz
dɪsˈpærɪti
ˈɛmfəsaɪzɪŋ
ˈlɒʤɪkəl
dɪˈkraɪ
aɪˈdɛntɪfaɪ kəˈrʌpʃən
ˈkʌlprɪt
ˈaʊtsaɪzd
səˈplaɪ ænd dɪˈmɑːnd
ʌnˈkʌmfətəbl fækt
rɪˈgɑːdlɪs
lɑːʤ puːl
pəʊˈtɛnʃəl ˈæplɪkənts
ˈsɜːvɪsəbl rɪˈpleɪsmənts
ˈləʊli peɪd pəˈzɪʃənz
ˈʤɛnərəli
mɔː spəˈsɪfɪk(ə)li
strɒŋ θɪəˈrɛtɪkəl ˈbækgraʊnd
beɪst ɒn əˈtɛndɪŋ
ˈaɪvi liːg ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃən
ˈpruːvən ɪksˈpɪərɪəns
ˈtaɪəlɪs wɜːk ˈɛθɪk
ʌnˈkɒmən ˈliːdəʃɪp ˈkwɒlɪtiz
ɪgˈzɛmpləri ˌʌndəˈstændɪŋ
ˈɪnsaɪt ˈɪntuː
ˈgləʊbəl ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪks
ˌkærɪktəˈrɪstɪks
kəmˈpiːt
ˈɒfərɪŋ ðə ˈgreɪtɪst rɪˌmjuːnəˈreɪʃən ˈpækɪʤɪz
əˈpɪər ɪksˈtrævɪgənt
ˈlɒʤɪkəl ˌkælkjʊˈleɪʃən
ˌriːˈfɔːmz
friː ˈmɑːkɪt ˈkæpɪtəlɪst ˈmɒdl
Vocabulary Practice
I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down
the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

Many believe that e____________s at major companies are o__________d. In my opinion, this
d_____________________p is j__________d as there are few individuals capable of
f______________g the r_____________________s.

C________s of higher salaries for executives p__________t the u______________________p

between them and other employees. For example, the average office worker or a cleaner works a
s_________________t of hours and, i________________s, the d__________________e of their
job is a__________y more s____________s. N______________s, C_____s and other executives
get paid in the t______________________________y, and this o_______s even if the company
r______________________________s or in p_______________________n, such as the
r________________________n. Their salaries are so many times higher it is impossible to
r________________e the d_____________y by e__________________g the hours worked
alone. Therefore it is l___________l to d_______y the salaries of executives and
i___________________n as a c________t.

However, in my opinion, the o_________d salaries for executives are justified by

s_____________________d. It is an u__________________t but true r____________s that
there is a l____________l of p____________________s who would make
s_________________________s for the l___________________s. This is not true for executives
g____________y and CEOs m__________________y. A CEO must have a
s__________________________d (often b___________n a___________g an
I____________________n), years of p__________________e, t_____________________c,
u_______________________s, and e______________________g and i_____________o
g_________________s. These abilities and c__________________s are rare and , therefore,
companies must c__________e to hire them by
o___________________________________________s.

In conclusion, though the salaries for executives a_____________________t, they are the result
of a l__________________n of supply and demand. There are more important r__________s
needed within the f____________________________l.

Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities:

[Link]
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

[Link]
than-average-worker-analysis-finds

Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Leadership

1. What makes someone a good leader?

2. Are there differences between male and female leaders?
3. What makes for a bad leader?
4. Is it important for leaders to be decisive?
5. Have leadership qualities changed much over time?

Writing Practice
Practice with the same basic topic below and then check with my sample answer:

Some feel executives in large companies should receive high salaries while others think they are
paid too much compared to ordinary workers.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.