Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-27

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 7.0)

In many parts of the world, family-owned enterprises form a vital part of the economy, with multiple generations working side by side. While working with relatives can occasionally blur the line between personal and professional life, I strongly believe that family businesses offer significantly more advantages than disadvantages due to high trust and long-term commitment.

The principal advantage of a family business is the deep level of mutual trust and inherent loyalty among employees. Family members generally share a unified vision and a strong emotional connection to the venture’s survival. This high trust speeds up decision-making and allows for greater flexibility during difficult financial times. For example, during economic downturns, family members are often willing to accept reduced compensation or work longer hours to keep the enterprise afloat—a level of dedication rarely matched by standard employees. Furthermore, the informal transfer of knowledge from parents to children creates strong practical expertise from an early age.

On the other hand, running a business with relatives presents distinct challenges. The main drawback is the risk of personal conflicts bleeding into professional operations, which can damage both the business and family harmony. Additionally, promoting an underqualified family member over a highly competent non-family worker can demotivate external staff and lower overall productivity.

However, these drawbacks can be effectively managed through clear professional boundaries as well as open communication. In conclusion, although family businesses require careful management to prevent interpersonal conflicts, the unmatched trust, shared long-term dedication, and organic skill transfer make them remarkably advantageous.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of family businesses and taking a clear, well-developed position throughout. The writer presents a strong stance in the introduction, arguing that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages due to trust and commitment. Ideas are well-extended with relevant examples, such as the willingness of family members to accept reduced compensation during economic downturns. The reasoning is sound and directly relates to the prompt. According to Band 8 descriptors, the task is covered well with well-developed ideas, and there are no omissions. The position is maintained logically from start to finish.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving smoothly from the introduction to the primary advantages, the counter-argument regarding challenges, management strategies, and finally a succinct conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively and naturally, such as 'The principal advantage', 'On the other hand', and 'However'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately to separate different facets of the argument. Referencing is clear, and the flow of ideas is never disrupted. This performance comfortably aligns with Band 7 descriptors, featuring clear logical progression and flexible use of cohesive devices.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to the topic of business and employment. Phrases such as 'family-owned enterprises', 'blur the line', 'mutual trust', 'economic downturns', and 'interpersonal conflicts' show a strong command of less common lexical items with a good awareness of collocation and style. There are only occasional minor inaccuracies, but word choice is generally precise and natural. Meaning is conveyed smoothly without any strain for the reader. This meets the criteria for Band 7, displaying a sufficient range of vocabulary for precision and flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The writing features a wide variety of complex sentence structures, including participial phrases and subordinate clauses, such as 'while working with relatives can occasionally blur...' and 'promoting an underqualified family member over a highly competent non-family worker can demotivate...'. The majority of sentences are entirely error-free, demonstrating excellent control of grammar, punctuation, and tense consistency. There are only very occasional minor slips, which do not impede communication in any way. This level of control and structural variety firmly matches the Band 8 criteria, where the majority of sentences are error-free.

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