Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-21

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 today’s busy society, many people choose to pay others to complete household chores or look after their children. I believe that hiring other people can be a good way of providing employment and saving time. However, people should still take responsibility for important family duties themselves.

One major advantage of paying someone to do household work is that it creates employment opportunities. Many people earn their living by working as cleaners, babysitters, gardeners, or personal assistants. Therefore, hiring these workers can provide them with a stable source of income. At the same time, busy people can save valuable time by paying someone to complete tasks that they do not have enough time to do. For example, a person who works long hours may hire a cleaner to take care of their house. This allows them to spend more time relaxing or with their family.

On the other hand, I believe that some responsibilities should be handled by people themselves. In particular, parents should be actively involved in raising their children because children need love, emotional support, guidance, and attention from their parents. Although a babysitter can help with childcare, parents should not completely depend on another person to raise their children. Similarly, people should learn to manage basic household responsibilities because this can make them more independent and responsible.

Another benefit of doing some household tasks personally is that it can strengthen relationships within a family. When family members cook meals, clean the house, or do other chores together, they can spend quality time with each other. This can also teach children useful life skills that they will need when they become adults.

In conclusion, paying other people to perform household tasks is a positive way to create jobs and can be very useful for people with busy lifestyles. Nevertheless, individuals should continue to handle important responsibilities themselves, especially those related to raising children and maintaining strong family relationships.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses both parts of the prompt. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it throughout the essay. The arguments regarding employment opportunities and the importance of parental involvement are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of cleaners and the emotional needs of children. The ideas are extended logically, and the conclusion effectively summarizes your stance. You have successfully balanced the economic benefits of outsourcing tasks with the personal necessity of handling family duties, meeting all requirements of the task prompt.

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 the benefits of outsourcing and the necessity of personal involvement is smooth, signaled by the phrase 'On the other hand'. You make effective use of cohesive devices such as 'Therefore', 'At the same time', and 'Similarly' to link sentences and ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct arguments. The flow is natural, and the relationship between ideas is always clear, which is characteristic of a high-level response.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases such as 'stable source of income', 'actively involved', and 'strengthen relationships' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is generally appropriate and natural, it is mostly functional rather than sophisticated. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more precise collocations or less common lexical items related to the socio-economic impact of domestic labor. However, the current range is more than adequate for the task, and there are no errors in word choice that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use subordinate clauses effectively, such as in the sentence 'When family members cook meals, clean the house, or do other chores together, they can spend quality time with each other.' The grammar is highly accurate, with very few errors. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and the control over verb tenses and subject-verb agreement is consistent. The majority of your sentences are error-free, reflecting a strong command of English grammar suitable for a high band score.

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