Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-18

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 6.5)

Paying others to do household chores or childcare is becoming more common these days. Although it is a good way of providing employment opportunities, some people argue it might make others overly dependent on paid help.

To begin with, various jobs such as babysitters, cleaners and caregivers can earn steady income it could be really useful for those who may have limited employment opportunities. Although people are very indulged in their hectic schedule, they can still hire some help to save their time. This can allow them to focus more on their careers or other responsibilities. For instance, a full-time working couple can hire a house help to do their chores. The cleaner gets money, while the couple gets to concentrate on work.

On the other side, individuals should not avoid their responsibilities. Parents should spend time with the children rather than completely relying on babysitters. Moreover, this can bring the family together and strengthen their bond. For example, a mother can cook a meal for her children while, father can help them with studies and they can spend quality time with each other. Thus, it is better not to depend entirely on help people should still do some things by themselves.

To put this in a nutshell, paying others to do the housework can be a employment opportunity and it is suitable to save individuals time. I believe that some of the family matters should be handled by themselves rather than using paid assistance if not necessary and there should be a balance between convenience and personal duty.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt, discussing both whether paid help provides useful employment and whether people should handle these tasks themselves. The position is clear throughout the essay. Ideas are generally extended and supported, such as when the student gives the example of a full-time working couple hiring a cleaner, or a mother cooking while a father helps with studies. However, some arguments lean slightly towards over-generalisation or remain somewhat basic in their development, preventing the response from reaching the highest bands. For instance, the discussion around employment opportunities could have been expanded with broader economic considerations. Nevertheless, all parts of the task are adequately covered, satisfying the criteria for a Band 6.5 to 7.0 range, solidifying a comfortable Band 6.5 overall for Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and overall progression. It is divided into four distinct paragraphs with an introduction, two body paragraphs representing each side of the prompt, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used to guide the reader through the text, such as 'To begin with', 'On the other side', and 'To put this in a nutshell'. However, some of the referencing and transitions are slightly mechanical or awkward, such as 'help people should still do some things by themselves' in the third paragraph. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, but the management of cohesion within sentences occasionally lacks the seamless flexibility seen in higher bands. Therefore, a Band 6.5 is appropriate for Coherence and Cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating topic-specific terms such as 'employment opportunities', 'babysitters', 'caregivers', and 'steady income'. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary, though some word choices and collocations feel slightly unnatural or inaccurate, such as 'people are very indulged in their hectic schedule' (instead of 'engrossed' or 'caught up') and 'a employment opportunity' (grammatical error with article). Spelling is generally accurate, and vocabulary errors do not impede communication. The lexical range is sufficient for some flexibility, aligning well with the Band 6 descriptor.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional and subordinate clauses (e.g., 'Although it is a good way of providing employment opportunities, some people argue...'). There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings throughout the text, such as 'can earn steady income it could be really useful' (run-on sentence), 'help people should still do some things' (missing punctuation or conjunction), and 'be a employment opportunity'. Despite these errors, they rarely impede communication, and the meaning remains clear. This balance of mixed structures and persistent minor errors fits the Band 6 descriptor.

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

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