Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-17

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 countries, family members work together to operate their business. Although this arrangement has some disadvantages, I believe that its benefits outweigh its drawbacks.

Family members work together to run their business effectively I beleive that it provides many benefits for the family to grow their business rapidly with consistency because while operating a family business firstly, They can support each other and make the decisions accordingly without unnecessary interference from outsiders. Secondly, they can share the profits among family members which reduces the business expenses. As a result, it provides them with a profit in their business as well the trust between their family members. For example, if an individual has a business and later his son will be taking care of the particular business which helps them to achieive their financial targets by including a young person from their family as they can generate new ideas for the business.

Although working in a family business has several advantages, it also brings some drawbacks. Firstly, family conflicts and misunderstandings can affect business performance and may lead to financial losses. Additionally, family members may lack professional skills or experience because parents sometimes transfer their businesses to their children, who may not have sufficient business knowledge. As a result, poor decisions can negatively affect business growth and prevent the company from achieving its financial targets.

In many countries, family members work together to operate their own businesses. Although this arrangement has some disadvantages, I believe that its advantages outweigh its drawbacks.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

Your position is clear: you believe the benefits of family businesses outweigh the drawbacks, and you address both sides of the question. The advantages paragraph gives relevant reasons, including mutual support, shared profits and the possibility of younger relatives introducing ideas. You also identify plausible disadvantages, such as family conflict and a successor lacking business knowledge. However, some points are not fully explained: for instance, the link between sharing profits and reducing business expenses is unclear, and the example about a son taking over is not developed with a specific outcome. The conclusion repeats your opening rather than drawing the main reasons together. Explain the cause-and-effect links more precisely and develop one example to support your position.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable overall structure, with an introduction, a paragraph on advantages, a paragraph on disadvantages and a concluding statement. Sequencing words such as “Firstly,” “Secondly,” and “Additionally” help signal the points. However, the advantages paragraph begins with a sentence that runs directly into “I beleive,” making the opening difficult to follow, and several ideas are crowded into one long sentence. The final paragraph repeats the introduction almost word for word, so it does not provide a strong sense of progression or synthesis. Use clearer topic sentences, separate distinct ideas into sentences, and use the conclusion to summarise why the benefits outweigh the drawbacks rather than restating the opening.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “financial losses,” “business performance,” “professional skills,” and “financial targets.” This is enough to communicate the main ideas, but the range is somewhat repetitive: “business,” “family members,” and “advantages” recur frequently. Some expressions are imprecise or unnatural, such as “provides them with a profit in their business as well the trust” and “achieve their financial targets by including a young person.” Spelling errors in “beleive” and “achieive” also reduce accuracy. Aim for more precise collocations and vary repeated terms—for example, refer to a “company” or “enterprise” where appropriate, and explain that a successor may “introduce fresh ideas” rather than simply being included.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including a concession in the introduction (“Although this arrangement has some disadvantages”) and a reason clause beginning with “because.” The disadvantages paragraph is generally easier to follow, and the main meaning remains clear. However, some sentences are not controlled successfully. The advantages paragraph has a run-on opening (“Family members work together… I beleive…”) and an awkward sequence of clauses beginning “because while operating…”. There are also problems with tense and sentence construction in “if an individual has a business and later his son will be taking care of” it. Use full stops to separate complete ideas, check that conditional clauses have consistent verb forms, and vary sentence patterns while keeping each sentence manageable.

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