Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-18

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)

It is sometimes possible to pay someone to do tasks that we either dislike or do not have enough time to complete. In my opinion, this can be a positive way of providing employment for others, and people should not feel obliged to do these tasks themselves if they can comfortably afford to outsource them.

Firstly, paying someone to perform unwanted or time-consuming tasks can create valuable employment opportunities. Many people earn a living by providing services such as childcare, cleaning and gardening, so outsourcing these responsibilities can benefit both parties. For example, parents who work long hours may choose to send their children to daycare rather than look after them throughout the day. The fees they pay provide income for caregivers while allowing the parents to continue working. Therefore, this arrangement can be beneficial to both the employer and the person providing the service.

Furthermore, I believe people should be willing to outsource certain responsibilities when doing so gives them more time to focus on important aspects of their lives. If a person’s workload is overwhelming, there is little benefit in forcing themselves to complete every household task alone. For instance, when I used to work from home, I often struggled to find enough time for household chores, and my apartment was frequently untidy. After hiring someone to help with housekeeping, I had more time to concentrate on my work and felt much less stressed. This experience showed me that paying for help can be a practical investment in both time and wellbeing.

In conclusion, paying other people to perform tasks that we dislike or do not have time for can be an effective way of creating employment. Although people may choose to do these responsibilities themselves when they cannot afford help, those who can comfortably pay for such services should not feel that they have to do everything on their own.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have fully addressed both parts of the prompt. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it throughout the essay. The first body paragraph effectively discusses the economic benefits of outsourcing, providing a relevant example regarding childcare. The second body paragraph addresses the personal aspect, using a well-integrated personal anecdote to support your argument. The ideas are well-developed and logically extended, meeting the requirements for a high band score. The response is balanced, addressing both the societal impact of providing work and the individual choice to outsource tasks.

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 appropriate cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion'. The use of referencing is precise, and the internal structure of the paragraphs is coherent. You have managed the flow of information effectively, ensuring that the reader can easily follow your argument from the introduction to the final summary. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the task. Phrases such as 'valuable employment opportunities', 'outsource these responsibilities', and 'practical investment' show a good level of lexical control. While the vocabulary is accurate and natural, it could be slightly more sophisticated to reach the highest band. For instance, instead of 'do things', you could use 'undertake responsibilities' or 'execute tasks'. However, the current range is sufficient to convey your meaning with precision, and there are no significant errors in word choice or collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

You use a variety of complex sentence structures effectively, such as conditional sentences ('If a person’s workload is overwhelming...') and subordinate clauses. The grammar is highly accurate throughout the text, with only rare, minor slips. Punctuation is used correctly to support the structure of your arguments. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over tense and aspect is consistent. The grammatical range is wide enough to allow for a fluent and sophisticated expression of your ideas, meeting the criteria for a high band score.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.