Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-11

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Write about the following topic:

In many countries, family members work together in their family business.

Do you think family businesses have more advantages than disadvantages?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

IT IS VERY COMMON THAT FAMILY MEMBERS RUN A BUSINESS TOGETHER. AS THERE ARE VARIOUS ADVANTAGES THAN DISADVANTAGES OF WORKING WITH YOUR FAMILY LIKE TRUST AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST ADVANTAGES OF WORKING WITH THE FAMILY MEMBER IS STRONG SENSE OF TRUST AND RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER. UNLIKE OTHER JOB WHERE PEOPLE SHARE DIFFERENT GOALS AND HERE FAMILY WORKS TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS. FOR EXAMPLE RELIANCE THIS COMPANY IS RUN BY AMBANI FAMILY AND THEY ARE THE RICHEST FAMILY OF INDIA MAJOR REASON BEHIND THERE SUCCESS IS THAT THEY SHARE THE SAME GOALS AND INTEREST.

FUTHERMORE, COMMUNINATION AND DECISION-MAKING IS THE KEY BEHIND THE SUCCESS IT IS ALOT MORE EASIER AMONG THE FAMILY MEMBERS AS THEY ALREAD UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER STRENT AND WEAKNESSES. FOR EXAMPLE A FAMILY MEMBERS CAN SPLIT WORK AMONG THEMSELFS ACCORDING TO THERE STRENGTH SO THE CAN IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY AND REDUCE BUSINESS EXPENSES.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE CERTAIN DISADVANTAGES LEKE PERSONAL CONFILCT CAN LEAD TO BUSINESS FAILURE. FOR INSTANCE, FAMILY MEMBERS MAY HAVE DIFFERENT OPINION ABOUT INVESTEMENT AND FINANCIAL DECISIONS WHICH CAN LEAD TO ARGUMENTS.

IN CONCLUSION, DESPITE THE POSSIBILITY OF PERSONAL DISSAGREEMENT , I BELIEVE THAT FAMILY OWNED BUSINEESSARE VER

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.0
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You give a clear overall view that family businesses have more advantages, and you support it with relevant points about trust, shared goals, communication and dividing work. The Ambani example and the point about disagreements over investment help address both sides of the question. However, the response addresses the task only partially: the advantages are asserted more than explained, and the conclusion is cut off at “I believe that family owned businesses are ver…”, so your final position is not fully completed. The authoritative length check also shows that the response is 55 words below the required minimum. Develop each main point with a fuller explanation or example, and complete the conclusion by directly comparing the advantages with the disadvantages.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an opening, separate paragraphs for advantages and disadvantages, and an attempted conclusion. Linking expressions such as “Furthermore,” “However,” and “In conclusion” help signal the direction of the argument. At this level, though, progression is uneven: the opening repeats the question without clearly setting up the argument, and the final paragraph ends before the conclusion is complete. Some connections between ideas are also unclear, particularly the transition from the claim about shared goals to the Ambani example. Use each paragraph to develop one main point in a clear sequence, and make the relationship between examples and claims explicit. A complete concluding sentence would give the response a stronger overall sense of closure.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “mutual understanding,” “responsibility,” “decision-making,” “productivity,” and “financial decisions.” These terms show that you can discuss both the benefits and risks of family businesses. However, the range is limited and several noticeable spelling and word-choice errors make parts difficult to read, such as “communination,” “stre…,” “conflict,” and “businesses are ver…”. Some phrases are also imprecise, including “the key behind the success” and “a lot more easier.” Aim for accurate, natural collocations and check spelling carefully. More precise terms such as “shared objectives,” “operational costs,” and “family disagreements” would help express your ideas clearly without relying on repeated general wording.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to use both simple statements and longer sentences, including a sentence beginning “Unlike other job…” and a conditional-style explanation of how family members can divide work. However, the range is limited, and attempts at complex sentences are often faulty. For example, “As there are various advantages…” is a fragment, while “Unlike other job where people share different goals and here family works together” lacks a clear grammatical connection. There are also frequent problems with agreement, articles and sentence construction, as in “communication and decision-making is” and “a family members can split.” These errors sometimes make the intended meaning harder to follow. Practise building complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, then check agreement and punctuation before submitting.

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