Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-26

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)

Nowadays, many people pay others to carry out tasks such as cleaning their homes, preparing meals or looking after their children. In my opinion, this can be an effective way of creating employment, and people should be free to hire help when their circumstances make it necessary. However, they should not become completely dependent on others for every responsibility.

On the one hand, paying people to perform household chores or provide childcare can create valuable employment opportunities. Many individuals earn a living by working as cleaners, caregivers or domestic assistants, particularly when they do not have access to highly specialized jobs. Moreover, these services allow busy professionals and parents to manage their time more effectively. For example, a working couple with demanding jobs may hire a childcare provider to ensure that their children are properly cared for while they are at work. Therefore, such services can benefit both the workers who provide them and the people who use them.

On the other hand, people should still be capable of managing their own basic responsibilities. Cooking simple meals, cleaning one's home and caring for family members can develop independence and strengthen personal relationships. In addition, relying entirely on paid help may be expensive and could reduce a person's ability to manage everyday tasks. For instance, parents should spend sufficient time caring for and communicating with their children rather than transferring all parental responsibilities to a nanny.

In conclusion, paying others to perform household tasks and childcare is a useful way of providing employment and can be particularly beneficial for people with limited time. Nevertheless, individuals should maintain responsibility for important aspects of their own lives and avoid becoming overly dependent on paid assistance.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it throughout the essay. Both questions—whether it is a good way to provide work and whether people should do these things themselves—are explored with relevant, well-developed arguments. You provide a balanced view, acknowledging the economic benefits of creating employment while also highlighting the personal value of maintaining independence. The ideas are extended with logical examples, such as the mention of working couples and the importance of parental involvement, which effectively support your arguments.

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 hiring help and the importance of self-reliance is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'On the one hand', 'Moreover', 'In addition', and 'Nevertheless', which help guide the reader through your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a concise conclusion. The referencing is clear, and the flow of information is natural throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the task. Phrases like 'valuable employment opportunities', 'demanding jobs', and 'overly dependent' show a level of precision and flexibility. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the context well, it is functional rather than highly sophisticated. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more idiomatic expressions or less common collocations that sound more natural in a formal context. However, the current range is sufficient to convey your ideas clearly and effectively without any errors in word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

Your grammar is consistently accurate, and you use a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. For example, the use of conditional-like structures ('when their circumstances make it necessary') and complex noun phrases ('transferring all parental responsibilities to a nanny') shows good control. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and punctuation is used correctly throughout. There are no significant grammatical slips that impede communication. To aim for a higher band, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex structures, such as inversion or more advanced passive constructions, to demonstrate even greater flexibility.

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