Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-11

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 7.0)

Nowadays, it is common to pay others to do household tasks because people do not have enough time. I believe that although hiring others can provide employment opportunities, people should do some tasks themselves to save money and become more independent.

On the one hand, paying others for household duties such as babysitting and domestic work can provide relief to individuals who work long hours. Moreover, they get some time for themselves. For example, a single parent works from 9 am to 6 pm and has a lot of responsibilities, including taking care of children and household chores, and gets relief by hiring someone for these tasks. Therefore, hiring someone is not only beneficial for the employer but also helps the employee to earn their bread and butter.

On the other hand, individuals who do their work themselves are independent and have a strong bond in a family. Additionally, they do not rely on others for support, and they can enjoy time with their children. For instance, parents who take care of their children by themselves spend more time with their kids and develop a strong bond between them. Thus, doing some work by themselves makes them independent and happy.

In conclusion, although paying others to perform household tasks creates jobs and saves time, I believe people should balance this with their own responsibilities. They should hire help when necessary but continue to manage important household duties themselves, especially those involving child care, because it is important to spend time with children, understand them, and teach life lessons.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

Your response addresses both questions and maintains a clear position: hiring help can create employment, but people should retain some household responsibilities. The examples of a single parent hiring help and parents caring for children themselves are relevant and support the two sides of your argument. The conclusion also gives a practical qualification by recommending help when necessary while keeping child care important. To develop the response further, explain more fully why doing tasks independently is valuable beyond saving money, and consider the quality or limits of the employment created. Some claims, such as that doing work oneself makes people “happy,” are asserted rather than demonstrated. More precise reasoning and fuller development would make the argument more convincing.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The essay is clearly organised into an introduction, two contrasting body paragraphs and a conclusion. The progression from the benefits of hiring help to the case for doing some tasks oneself is easy to follow, and signposts such as “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” guide the reader effectively. Examples are placed in the relevant paragraphs and linked to the main points. Cohesion is generally controlled, though the repeated use of “Moreover,” “Additionally,” “Therefore,” and “Thus” can make connections feel somewhat formulaic. Some ideas also repeat across the second body paragraph and conclusion, particularly the importance of spending time with children. Varying transitions and using more precise references between ideas would make the flow more natural.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use an adequate range of vocabulary to discuss employment and family responsibilities, including “employment opportunities,” “household duties,” “rely on others,” and “responsibilities.” These choices communicate the argument clearly, and there is some awareness of appropriate collocation. However, the range is not consistently precise or flexible: “do their work themselves” is vague, while “earn their bread and butter” is an informal idiom that is less suitable for this essay’s academic tone. “Strong bond” is repeated, and “gets relief” is not the most natural expression in context. To move higher, use more varied, exact wording for the benefits and drawbacks, and check that idioms and collocations fit the register. The meaning remains clear throughout.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

You demonstrate a useful mix of simple and complex structures, including the concession in “although hiring others can provide employment opportunities” and the relative clause “parents who take care of their children by themselves.” Most sentences are clear and several are error-free, showing good control of basic agreement, tense and punctuation. There are a few awkward grammatical constructions that limit precision. In “a single parent works … and has … and gets relief,” the long chain of coordinated verbs makes the sentence cumbersome; dividing it or restructuring it would improve control. The final sentence, with several infinitive phrases after “because,” is also lengthy and could be made clearer. Continue using complex forms, but vary sentence patterns and check that long sentences remain well balanced.

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