Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-12

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

It is sometimes possible to pay somebody to do things you don't want to do, or don't have time to do, for example, household chores or looking after children.

Is this a good way of providing work for others?

Should people do these things themselves?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 8.0)

In modern society, outsourcing daily tasks—such as house cleaning, maintenance, and childcare—has become increasingly common. While some argue that individuals should handle their domestic responsibilities personally, I firmly believe that paying others to perform these services is a positive arrangement that creates vital employment while optimizing personal productivity.

On the one hand, delegating household chores and caregiving provides substantial economic benefits by generating employment. The service industry offers accessible job opportunities for millions of individuals, particularly those who may lack formal academic qualifications or specialized technical training. For instance, in many urban areas, domestic work and professional childminding serve as reliable, primary sources of income for local workers and immigrant communities alike. Furthermore, as demand for these services grows, it fosters a legitimate gig economy where workers can establish flexible schedules and earn a livelihood.

On the other hand, the primary advantage of paying for these services is time efficiency for the employer. In today's fast-paced economy, working professionals often face demanding work schedules. By outsourcing routine domestic tasks, individuals can reclaim precious time to focus on high-value professional projects, skill development, or rest. For example, a busy professional who hires a cleaner for two hours a week can dedicate that time to career advancement or quality recreation with family, which reduces stress and improves overall work-life balance.

However, critics suggest that people should handle these chores themselves to maintain self-reliance and save money. While doing so may instill discipline, the opportunity cost of spending hours on routine tasks often outweighs the monetary savings for busy individuals. As long as workers are paid fairly and treated with respect, outsourcing creates a mutually beneficial exchange where both parties gain value.

In conclusion, paying for domestic and caregiving assistance is an effective way to generate meaningful employment for others while allowing busy individuals to manage their time effectively. Therefore, it should be viewed as a practical economic choice rather than a neglect of personal duty.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have fully addressed all parts of the prompt. You clearly established a position in the introduction and maintained it throughout the essay. Both questions—whether this provides work for others and whether people should do these things themselves—are explored with relevant, well-developed arguments. Your use of examples, such as the mention of the gig economy and the time-efficiency benefits for professionals, effectively supports your claims. The ideas are extended logically, and the conclusion provides a clear summary of your stance. The response is balanced and demonstrates a high level of task fulfillment.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth, using cohesive devices like 'On the one hand,' 'On the other hand,' and 'However' effectively. The use of referencing is precise, and the structure of the argument flows naturally from the economic benefits to the personal advantages of outsourcing. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points, making the text easy to follow. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive linking, and the overall structure is highly coherent.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a wide and sophisticated range of vocabulary. Phrases such as 'optimizing personal productivity,' 'legitimate gig economy,' 'mutually beneficial exchange,' and 'opportunity cost' are used accurately and naturally. The vocabulary is well-suited to the formal tone of the task. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and your ability to use topic-specific terminology (e.g., 'domestic responsibilities,' 'professional childminding') shows a high level of lexical control. The language is precise and contributes significantly to the clarity of your arguments.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

You display a wide range of complex sentence structures with high accuracy. Your use of subordinate clauses, such as 'While some argue that individuals should handle their domestic responsibilities personally,' and conditional structures, such as 'As long as workers are paid fairly,' is handled with ease. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly to manage complex ideas. There are no grammatical slips that impede communication, and the control over verb tenses and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the response.

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