Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-11

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 5.5)

In many developing countries such as India, working in a family business is a crucial aspect to expand the business and exclusively involve family memebers. I think working together in a business has more downsides than merits.

To begin with the merits of working together in a business with other family members, firstly working together accelerates the growth of an organisation. when everyone is contributing together in expanding a business, every role such as promotion, fund management, profit loss ratio is well controlled. Such a format not only improves the marketing dynamic,but also improves the stability of a firm and acclerates the economic growth. In addition, staff retention is never a issue when everyone is family is working in synchrony.

On the other hand, working in a family business will limit other members potential and limit their individual growth. When working together, some crucial decision making skills are given to important member of the family. Such a behaviour will cease someone else's potential

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

Your position is clear in the opening: you believe family businesses have “more downsides than merits,” and you give relevant points on both sides. However, the response addresses the question only partially. The advantages—business growth, controlled roles and staff retention—are listed but not explained with examples, while the disadvantage about limiting relatives’ potential is left unfinished (“Such a behaviour will cease someone else's potential”). The task asks you to give reasons and relevant examples, but none are provided, and the response is substantially below the required 250 words. Develop each main point by explaining how it affects the business or family members, and add a specific example before concluding with a clear comparison of the two sides.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic, recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph on advantages and a contrasting paragraph on disadvantages. Phrases such as “To begin with” and “On the other hand” help signal the shift in direction. However, progression within the paragraphs is limited: several advantages are placed together without explanation, and the final disadvantage is not completed, so the argument does not reach a conclusion. The opening phrase “To begin with the merits” is also followed by “firstly,” making the signposting repetitive. Build a clearer sequence by giving one main idea per paragraph, explaining it, and linking it to the next point. A concluding paragraph would help the essay feel complete.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some topic-relevant vocabulary, including “staff retention,” “decision making skills,” “economic growth” and “fund management,” which helps communicate the subject. There are also attempts at less common expressions, such as “marketing dynamic,” but some combinations are unclear or unnatural, and spelling errors such as “memebers” and “acclerates” reduce accuracy. Phrases including “profit loss ratio” and “everyone is family is working in synchrony” do not express the intended ideas clearly. Aim for precise, natural collocations and check spelling carefully. For example, you could describe “the division of responsibilities,” “business performance” or “family members working in harmony,” depending on the point you want to make.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including the conditional-style clause “When everyone is contributing together in expanding a business…” and the contrast between advantages and disadvantages. Meaning is generally understandable, but errors in sentence construction and control remain. For example, “when” begins a sentence without a capital letter, “a issue” has an incorrect article, and “everyone is family is working” contains an extra verb. The sentence “Such a behaviour will cease someone else's potential” is also grammatically and structurally unclear. Use a wider range of sentence patterns while checking articles, agreement and clause structure. Reading each sentence aloud can help you identify missing or repeated words and ensure that each idea forms a complete sentence.

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