Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-10

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)

There is a growing trend in many countries that family members work together to run a business. While some people believe that it offers the advantage of instant employment opportunites for the younger generations in a family, others argue that they limit the exposure and chance of learning from other professionals in a field. I firmly believe that the advantages of working in a family business outweigh the disadvantages.

Critics of family businesses contend that it limits the learning oportunities for younger generations who join their inherited business. This is because people who own a family business hesitate to recruit someone from outside their families. As a result, the professional exposure of younger individuals dramatically decreases, and they can only benefit from the knowledge and experience of their previous generations without getting a chance to learn from other experts in the field. To illustrate, my uncle owns a dental equipment factory, and he never recruits anyone outside his family. As a result, his son who has a degree in finance also manages the marketing department by taking guidance from his father instead of recruiting a professional in that field, who could earn greater profits for the company through his professional expertise. However, if they recruit professionals from diverse educationals backgrounds instead of just employing their own family members, this problem can be alleviated.

Although there are certain drawbacks of family-run businesses, the advantages are manifold. Firstly, the younger generation has an excellent opportunity to get a job without the hassle of searching for it and giving interviews. For example, one of my friend's father owned a dental clinic, so after her graduation she was very relaxed that she will join her father's clinic. On the other hand, I was distressed, as I had to search for a job. Secondly, when family members work together it is often convenient for them because they can trust each other with sensitive information, such as investment of financial assets, without constantly fearing disloyalty.

In conclusion, while there is some limited professional growth in a family business, the advantages of a instant employment opportunity after graduation, and the convenice of working with family members definitely take precedence over the disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

Your position is clear from the introduction—family businesses have more advantages—and remains consistent in the conclusion. You address both sides with relevant support: limited professional exposure is illustrated through your uncle’s factory, while easier access to employment and trust between relatives support your view. These examples help extend the main ideas. The discussion is generally convincing, though the point about trust is asserted rather than developed with a specific explanation or example, and the employment advantage focuses mainly on avoiding job-search stress rather than considering broader benefits to the business or family. To strengthen the response, explain more fully how these advantages affect business performance and qualify broad claims such as family owners’ reluctance to recruit outsiders.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response is organised into a clear introduction, a paragraph on disadvantages, a paragraph on advantages, and a conclusion. The progression is easy to follow, and signposting such as “Firstly,” “Secondly,” “As a result,” and “In conclusion” helps readers understand how the points relate. The contrast between the two main positions is also clear. Some linking is a little formulaic, particularly the repeated use of “As a result” and the predictable “Firstly/Secondly” sequence. In the first body paragraph, the long example contains several connected claims, so its central point could be easier to follow if divided or more tightly focused. Use referencing and transitions more flexibly, and make the relationship between each example and the argument explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range for discussing employment and business, including “professional exposure,” “inherited business,” “sensitive information,” and “disloyalty.” These choices communicate the main ideas, and some less common vocabulary shows an attempt to be precise. However, several word-choice and collocation problems reduce naturalness: “instant employment opportunities” is less suitable than “ready-made employment opportunities,” and “diverse educational backgrounds” is awkward in this context. There are also spelling errors, including “opportunites,” “oportunites,” “convenice,” and “educational[s]” (written as “educationals”). Check spelling carefully and learn vocabulary in natural combinations. Replacing broad or awkward phrases with precise business-related expressions would improve flexibility and control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex structures, including a concession clause (“While some people believe…”) and conditional forms (“if they recruit professionals…”). Most sentences communicate their meaning clearly, and the longer example shows an attempt to connect several ideas. Some grammatical errors remain. For example, “family businesses…they limit” has unclear agreement and reference; “a instant employment opportunity” needs the article “an”; and “she was very relaxed that she will join” shifts tense awkwardly. The sentence beginning “As a result, his son…” is also overloaded, making the relationship between managing the department and recruiting a professional harder to follow. Review articles, agreement, and consistent tense, and break up long sentences where needed. This would build on your existing structural range and improve accuracy.

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