Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

In many countries, family members work together in their family business. Although this arrangement can sometimes create conflicts between relatives, I believe that family-run businesses have more advantages than disadvantages because they encourage trust, commitment and long-term stability.

One major advantage is that family members tend to have a stronger sense of responsibility towards the business. Unlike ordinary employees, they are usually emotionally and financially invested in its success, which can motivate them to work harder and remain committed during difficult periods. In addition, relatives often have a high level of trust in one another, making it easier to delegate important responsibilities and discuss sensitive financial matters. For example, a small family-owned restaurant may be operated by parents and their children, with each person managing a different area such as cooking, accounting or customer service. This can reduce staffing costs while also allowing the owners to make decisions quickly. Furthermore, family businesses can be passed from one generation to the next, preserving valuable knowledge and experience.

However, working with relatives can also have certain disadvantages. Personal disagreements may easily spill over into the workplace, making professional decision-making more difficult. Family members may also expect preferential treatment, which can create resentment among other employees. For instance, if a business owner promotes an inexperienced family member instead of a more qualified employee, the latter may feel undervalued and eventually leave the company. Nevertheless, these problems can be reduced by establishing clear roles, professional management practices and objective criteria for promotion. Therefore, I believe that the benefits of family businesses generally outweigh their drawbacks.

In conclusion, despite the possibility of personal conflicts and unfair treatment, family businesses offer greater trust, dedication and continuity. With appropriate professional boundaries, these advantages can make them highly successful and sustainable.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of family businesses and maintaining a clear, consistent position throughout. The main arguments are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as the illustration of a family-operated restaurant and the scenario involving the promotion of an inexperienced family member. The ideas are extended logically, showing a strong understanding of the topic without over-generalising. The writer successfully addresses the prompt by weighing trust, commitment, and continuity against potential conflicts and unfair treatment, culminating in a reasoned conclusion. This performance aligns comfortably with the Band 7.0 descriptors for Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay demonstrates clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving smoothly from the introduction to the advantages, the disadvantages, the mitigating strategies, and finally the conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'One major advantage', 'In addition', 'For instance', and 'Nevertheless' are used flexibly and appropriately to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used skillfully and effectively. Referencing and substitution are handled with precision, ensuring that the relationships between ideas remain transparent and easy to follow. Overall, the structural flow of the essay meets the criteria for a strong Band 8.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The student employs a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to the topic, demonstrating good control over less common lexical items such as 'emotional and financially invested', 'sensitive financial matters', 'preferential treatment', and 'objective criteria for promotion'. Word choice is generally precise, and collocations are used naturally, as seen in phrases like 'preserving valuable knowledge' and 'professional management practices'. There are very few lexical inaccuracies, and spelling is flawless throughout the response. The writer displays an awareness of style appropriate for a general task. This lexical control reflects a solid Band 7.5 standard.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures, successfully blending simple sentences with complex constructions, such as 'Although this arrangement can sometimes create conflicts between relatives, I believe that...' and 'if a business owner promotes an inexperienced family member instead of a more qualified employee...'. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is managed accurately throughout. The few grammatical structures attempted show good control and flexibility, with only rare, non-systematic slips that never impede communication. The control over complex multi-clause sentences places this performance firmly at the Band 8.0 level for grammar.

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