Is it more important for a job to pay well or to be enjoyable?

A score 160 model answer to a real Duolingo English Test writing question in the official format, with notes on why it scores. Write your own version below it and get an instant rater-style score.

The question

Is it more important for a job to pay well or to be enjoyable? Explain your opinion with reasons and examples from your own experience.

Write my answer and get scored

Score 160 model answer

My answer changes with circumstances, and I think honest answers to this question always do. When my family depended on my income, pay mattered more, full stop; enjoyment is a luxury you buy after rent. But once earnings pass the point of covering needs and modest savings, the balance flips completely. A job takes eight hours of every day, and no salary compensates for eight daily hours of dread; I watched an uncle earn excellent money in a role he hated, and the money mostly went to treating the stress the job created. So my rule is sequence, not preference: secure enough pay first, then trade every further increase for work you actually want to wake up for.

Why this answer earns score 160

Rejects the false binary with a conditional answer, showing genuine analysis.
The uncle example is short, human and directly on point.
'Sequence, not preference' gives the response a quotable core idea.

Do not memorise model answers; raters recognise recycled essays instantly. Study the moves, then make them with your own ideas, and check where you stand with a scored practice.

Questions about this answer

What score is this model answer?

It is written to score 160, and the notes under it quote the answer's own words to show why.

How long should my answer be?

This model answer is 118 words, and the task asks for at least 50.

What is the most common mistake with a model answer?

Memorising it. Raters recognise recycled answers instantly, so study the moves, then make them with your own ideas.