Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-25

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 increasingly common for people to pay others to complete tasks they dislike or lack time for, such as housework or childcare. While this practice generates employment opportunities, it also raises concerns about personal responsibility. This essay will examine both the benefits of outsourcing such tasks and the arguments in favour of doing them independently.

There are clear economic and personal advantages to paying others for domestic tasks. Firstly, this practice creates employment, particularly for those with fewer formal qualifications. A single working parent who hires a cleaner or a babysitter, for example, not only frees up valuable time for their career or personal wellbeing but also provides a steady income for someone who might otherwise struggle to find work. On a larger scale, this kind of demand supports entire service industries — cleaning agencies, childcare centres, and food delivery platforms — which in turn contributes meaningfully to local economies. In this sense, outsourcing everyday tasks is not simply a matter of convenience; it functions as a genuine driver of employment.

Nevertheless, there are compelling reasons why individuals should, where possible, handle certain responsibilities themselves. Tasks involving vulnerable family members, such as young children or elderly relatives, carry an inherent element of trust and risk; even with background checks, no employer can fully guarantee a caregiver's reliability. A parent who is present for their child's upbringing, moreover, builds an emotional bond that cannot be replicated by paid care, however competent. Beyond childcare, everyday tasks such as cooking or budgeting also build practical life skills; someone who consistently delegates these responsibilities may find themselves poorly equipped to manage them when necessary. For this reason, certain tasks are better retained rather than outsourced, regardless of time constraints.

In conclusion, while paying others to perform household or childcare duties undoubtedly creates jobs and eases pressure on busy individuals, I believe this should be balanced against the personal, emotional, and practical value of doing such tasks oneself. A sensible approach would be to outsource routine or non-sensitive chores while personally retaining responsibilities that involve close relationships or essential life skills.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have fully addressed all parts of the prompt. Your position is clear from the introduction and is maintained consistently throughout the essay. You provide a balanced discussion, exploring both the economic benefits of outsourcing and the personal/developmental arguments for retaining tasks. The ideas are well-developed with relevant examples, such as the mention of service industries and the emotional bond between parents and children. The conclusion effectively synthesises your arguments and offers a nuanced final perspective. The response is well-structured and directly answers both questions posed in the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay demonstrates a logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, and the transition between the benefits of outsourcing and the arguments for personal responsibility is smooth, using effective signposting language like 'Nevertheless' and 'For this reason'. Cohesive devices are used naturally and accurately throughout the text. Paragraphing is managed well, with each section serving a distinct purpose in the overall argument. The flow of information is coherent, and the relationship between ideas is always easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a high band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a wide and sophisticated range of vocabulary. You use precise collocations and topic-specific terminology such as 'inherent element of trust', 'replicated by paid care', and 'meaningfully to local economies'. The language is natural and precise, showing a high level of control. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or spelling, and the vocabulary is well-suited to the formal tone of an IELTS essay. You successfully use less common lexical items to convey complex ideas with clarity and precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a wide range of complex grammatical structures, including conditional sentences, participial phrases, and varied sentence lengths. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is excellent. You use complex structures to link ideas effectively, such as 'A parent who is present for their child's upbringing, moreover, builds an emotional bond...'. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. Your control over tense, agreement, and word order is consistent and accurate throughout the entire response.

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