Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-09

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 7.5)

In multiple nations, it is common for several family members to work together in a family-owned business, and even employ different generations within the businesses. Although this arrangement provides considerable financial and personal benefits such as loyalty and work flexibility, it may also create conflicts among family members. In my view, the overall benefits of family businesses outweigh the potential downsides.

One major advantage is the high level of trust and complete loyalty among family members. This is because, unlike unrelated employees, siblings and cousins are related by blood and likely may not cheat one another. Moreover, family enterprises offer greater work flexibility, as families may cooperate and support each other in times of distress. For instance, when working for a family bakery, one can adjust their schedule to manage urgent domestic responsibilities. Furthermore, family members may be prepared to work longer hours or make temporary financial sacrifices in times of crisis. Thus, being employed in family businesses is more secure both personally and financially.

On the other hand, such work arrangements may lead to misuse of freedom by some family members, which can create friction among the families. For example, if one brother works harder and the other shirks his job responsibilities, it is unfair to share the profits equally. Therefore, in such situations, working in a shared business becomes stressful and leads to disagreements. Family members may also feel pressured to join such businesses despite having different career aspirations.

In conclusion, although having a joint company can offer trust, loyalty and work flexibility, it may also affect familial relations negatively and limit professional opportunities. However, if such situations are managed carefully, the long term advantages of working in family business are far more substantial than any disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have clearly stated your position in the introduction and maintained it throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed, with specific examples provided for both the advantages (trust, flexibility) and disadvantages (misuse of freedom, career pressure). The arguments are logical and directly relevant to the topic. To reach a higher band, you could further extend the discussion by briefly considering the impact of these dynamics on the long-term sustainability of the business, but overall, the task is addressed thoroughly and effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is well-organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the advantages and disadvantages is handled smoothly using appropriate cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand' and 'Furthermore'. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate distinct points. The logical flow is consistent, and the relationship between ideas is easy to follow. The use of referencing is generally accurate, ensuring that the reader can easily track the subject matter throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, including topic-specific terms like 'family-owned business', 'career aspirations', and 'financial sacrifices'. The language is natural and generally precise. There are no significant errors in word choice that impede communication. To improve, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions to demonstrate a wider, more flexible range. For instance, instead of 'misuse of freedom', you might use 'nepotism' or 'lack of professional accountability' to elevate the academic tone of the discussion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional clauses ('if one brother works harder...') and concessive clauses ('Although this arrangement provides...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is solid. There are only very occasional minor slips, such as 'among the families' which could be more precisely phrased as 'among family members'. Overall, your grammatical control is strong and supports the clarity of your arguments effectively.

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