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Lesson 4 of 5
The Future of Work & AI
Core 60 min
Pathway
Lesson 9.4 tackles Task 2 two-part questions on the future of work and AI, using Band 7 lexis and complex structures.
What you'll be able to do
- Answer BOTH parts of a two-part question in a balanced way
- Use Band 7 lexis for work and automation
- Vary sentence structure with subordination and conditionals
Exam Vocabulary
Vocabulary · Work & automation
workforce
all the people employed in a country / company
automate routine tasks
have machines do repetitive work
displace workers
push people out of jobs
upskill / reskill
learn new skills to stay employable
job security
the likelihood of keeping your job
creative and interpersonal work
tasks AI struggles to replace
productivity gains
increases in output per worker
widen inequality
make gaps between rich and poor bigger
Writing Task
Writing · Two-part question method
Two-part essay plan
Identify BOTH questions. Highlight each verb ('why', 'what', 'is this positive').
Dedicate ONE body paragraph to each question.
Take a clear position early — no fence-sitting.
Conclusion = summary of both answers.
Losing marks on Task Response usually means one of the two questions was ignored. Underline them both before you plan.
Writing Task
Writing practice · Prompt
Prompt
AI is expected to replace many jobs in the next twenty years. Why is this happening, and is it a positive or negative development?
Body 1 opener
Band 6 · Competent
- 'AI can do many jobs because it is fast and cheap.'
Band 7 · Good
- 'The primary driver of this shift is the sheer cost efficiency of AI: a well-designed model can perform routine analytical tasks in seconds and at a fraction of the cost of a human employee.'
Focus
Pathway focus · Academic hedging
Hedge your predictions: 'is likely to', 'has the potential to', 'may well'. Overclaiming loses Task Response marks.
Exam Strategy
Exam Strategy
- Exam Tip
Two-part questions = two body paragraphs. Non-negotiable.
Independent Practice
Independent Practice
Timed essay
Write the AI prompt in 40 minutes and check whether BOTH parts got their own paragraph.
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
Remember
- Answer BOTH questions with equal weight.
- Band 7 essays hedge — 'is likely to' beats 'will definitely'.
When you're done, mark this lesson complete.