Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-12

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)

Family businesses are often run by family members in most countries. I believe its advantages weigh over disadvantages.

One of the main reasons for supporting this idea is that family members can be trusted easily, so there is no need to hire any outsider to manage operations of the company. For example, two brothers can own a business and share a profit between them. It will save time and effort to search a business partner and completely rely on them in their absence. Another benefit is the flexibility of working schedule. If the family members are working together in the same business, they can decide their working hours based on their preferences. For instance, one person can do an early morning shift and responsible for the opening of the company, while another individual can work late till closing and perform all the locking-up duties. Therefore, blood relations sharing a business is more convenient than choosing a business partner from outside the family.

However, there are a couple of drawbacks as well, such as disagreements between family members, which can lead to the separation of the business. As a result, both partners need to be extra cautious on their words and actions. Moreover, favouritism can lead to unfair decisions. Nevertheless, these disadvantages can be managed by making mutual decisions and avoiding all the potential causes of disagreements.

In conclusion, I strongly support the idea of family members running a business together because it gives them reliability and flexibility, which they can not get if they have to hire an external person. There are some disadvantages, which can be easily managed by taking care of each other's needs and build an understanding between them.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

Your position is clear from the opening—“its advantages weigh over disadvantages”—and remains consistent in the conclusion. You address both sides, supporting trust and flexible scheduling with relevant examples, then acknowledging disagreements and favouritism. This meets the task well, with ideas extended and supported. To strengthen the response further, develop the drawbacks more fully: for example, explain how family disagreements might affect employees, finances, or business decisions, rather than moving quickly to say they can be managed. The claim that family members can be trusted and avoid hiring outsiders is also somewhat general; a brief qualification would make the reasoning more convincing. Overall, the response gives a clear, relevant answer, though some points could be explored in greater depth.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay has a clear four-paragraph structure, and its progression—from advantages, to disadvantages, to a conclusion—is easy to follow. Linking phrases such as “One of the main reasons,” “For example,” “However,” and “In conclusion” guide the reader effectively. The examples are placed beside the points they support, which helps the argument remain coherent. At times, however, the connections are somewhat formulaic, and the final sentence repeats the conclusion’s earlier claims about reliability and flexibility. You could improve flow by varying transitions and using clearer references between ideas, while trimming repeated statements. The organisation is already logical; more subtle cohesion would make it feel less like a sequence of separate points.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary to discuss the topic, including “flexibility,” “favouritism,” “mutual decisions,” and “potential causes of disagreements.” These choices make the main ideas clear, and the reader can follow your argument without difficulty. However, some phrasing is imprecise or unnatural, such as “advantages weigh over disadvantages,” “share a profit,” and “rely on them in their absence.” There is also repetition of “business” and “family members.” Aim for more accurate collocations and a little more variety when describing the effects of working together. The vocabulary is sufficient for the task, but more consistent control of word choice and natural phrasing would make the argument more precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including conditional and subordinate clauses: “If the family members are working together… they can decide…” and “which can lead to the separation of the business.” Most sentences communicate the intended meaning clearly. Some grammatical errors remain, including “its advantages” for the plural subject “family businesses,” “one person can do an early morning shift and responsible” (the second verb needs a matching form), and “build an understanding” after “by taking care” (the verb form should be parallel). The sentence beginning “It will save time and effort” also has an unclear reference. Greater consistency in agreement, parallel verb forms, and pronoun reference would improve accuracy while preserving your range of structures.

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