Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-25

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 5.5)

Yes. This is a good way of providing work for others. Actually it is a win-win situation for both you and the person involved. You’re helping others to earn or to make a living while you work for other things. Your things to do are being lessened and you’ll have more time to rest if you’re too tired from work. But this is only a good way if it is paying somebody to do things like household chores which is normally and evident already around the world. It won’t be good way for example if you’ll pay someone to do your homework or other things just because you feel lazy. There are a lot of things that needed to be considered before you look for someone to do it for you. Well people should do these things themselves only if they have free time, or they can do it themselves. It’s also good to do it by yourself because you’ll save money and at the same time consider it as your exercise instead of paying someone to do your household chores. In my opinion, paying someone to look after your child isn’t a good thing because they’ll grow up without you most of the time. They should spend time with their children too. I know that hiring someone to do things for you helps other people to survive especially those who really need it the most. But for me, if you can do something by your own, we should do it

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both questions and give a recognisable, qualified position: paid help can provide work, but people should do tasks themselves when they can, and you distinguish household chores from doing homework. The examples of saving time, saving money and spending time with children are relevant. However, several points are asserted rather than explained—for instance, why paid childcare is not a good choice, and when hiring help is justified. The response also falls 7 words short of the 250-word minimum; the 8 words copied from the task prompt are not counted. Develop your reasons with a specific example and make the conditions for your position clearer to address the task more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The ideas are generally relevant and there is a basic progression from the benefits of hiring help to reasons for doing tasks yourself. Connectors such as “But,” “Well,” and “In my opinion” signal changes in direction. However, the response is presented as one block, so the shift between the two questions and the childcare example is not clearly organised. Several transitions feel abrupt, and “But this is only a good way if…” introduces a qualification without clearly linking it to the opening claim. The final sentence also ends without a full stop and does not provide a developed conclusion. Use separate paragraphs for your position, each side of the discussion, and the conclusion, with clearer links between related points.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough everyday vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “win-win situation,” “earn or to make a living,” “household chores,” and “look after your child.” The meaning is usually understandable, but the range is limited and several phrases are imprecise or unnatural, such as “your things to do are being lessened,” “normally and evident already,” and “do it by your own.” Repetition of “things,” “good,” and “do” also makes the argument less precise. Choose more specific terms for paid domestic work and explain benefits using accurate collocations. A broader, more controlled vocabulary would help you express distinctions—such as between essential help and convenience—more clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt some longer sentences and subordinate clauses, for example, “It won’t be good way … if you’ll pay someone…” and “I know that hiring someone … helps other people to survive.” Most of the message remains understandable, but errors occur in articles, verb forms, agreement and sentence construction. Examples include “a good way” (missing article in “It won’t be good way”), “There are a lot of things that needed to be considered,” and the shift from “you” to “we” in “if you can do something by your own, we should do it.” The final sentence is also incomplete in punctuation. Practise accurate complex sentences and keep the subject and point of view consistent; this will make your reasoning easier to follow.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.