Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-11

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 6.5)

In recent years, family businesses have become more common in many countries by allowing family members to cooperate and manage companies together. I believe that family businesses benefit from easier communication and trust outweighing the drawbacks, even though they sometimes create personal conflicts.

On the one hand, the major reason why family businesses have become more popular recently is that it is easier to communicate with each other. Working with family is more comfortable and trusting than working with outsiders. For example, many cafes nowadays are built by family members or relatives who have a close connection and the same passion. Since family members understand each other's personalities, communication is usually easier. Communicating with them tends to be easier and leads to better understanding. As a result, business can grow and cope with challenging situations through communication with good relationships. This reduces misunderstandings and allows decisions to be made more quickly.

On the other hand, running companies involves many difficulties that can lead to inevitable arguments among family members. Financial difficulties and daily feedback are the main problems, which create a stressful environment. For instance, some families face financial obstacles while managing profit and loans; these issues can be overcome with mutual understanding and empathy between family members.

In conclusion, although family businesses can enhance trust and financial status for the family, it is an unavoidable situation that they will inevitably create arguments between family members. To maintain harmony while working together, communication and empathy will be key to achieving the best results.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the task and maintains a clear position throughout. You have identified both advantages (trust, communication) and disadvantages (conflict, stress). However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, while you mention that family members understand each other's personalities, you could have expanded on how this specifically impacts business efficiency or long-term stability. The conclusion is clear, but the supporting examples, such as the mention of cafes, are quite brief. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is fully extended with more detailed reasoning or specific real-world evidence.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'As a result' to guide the reader through your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the advantages and disadvantages. However, there is some repetition in the use of linking phrases, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, the transition between discussing communication and the conclusion could be more sophisticated to better connect your final thoughts to the preceding arguments.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'mutual understanding', 'financial obstacles', and 'inevitable arguments'. The language is generally natural and conveys your meaning clearly. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simpler vocabulary in places. To improve, try to incorporate more precise, topic-specific collocations or less common lexical items. For example, instead of repeating 'easier' multiple times, you could use 'streamlined' or 'facilitated'. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You demonstrate good control over basic grammar, and your sentences are generally error-free, which makes the text easy to follow. There are no major grammatical errors that hinder understanding. To achieve a higher band, you should aim to incorporate a wider variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences or more varied subordinate clauses. Currently, the sentence structure is somewhat repetitive, which limits the demonstration of grammatical flexibility.

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