Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

It has often been seen that in some nations, people run their family businesses and all family members work together. Although it is beneficial due to motivation for young children and flexibility, there are some drawbacks, too. There could be chances of conflicts and an imbalance between professional & personal life.

To begin with, working together gives a sense of pride. Since young children see their parents working hard, they can get motivation from them and help them. It is beneficial for both the parents and children. This can reduce stress for parents, and young children can take it as a responsibility. Another advantage could be flexibility. If a person is looking after their family matters, another family member can manage the business.

On the contrary, there are chances of conflicts among family members. For example, disagreements regarding financial burden, the distribution of profits and individual responsibilities can create tension among family members and even damage their relationships. Another disadvantage is an imbalanced personal and professional life. Family members may prioritize personal relationships over professional standards, which can affect the quality of work. To quote an example, an owner might promote an inexperienced relative instead of a more qualified employee.

To conclude, family business has benefits, as it helps generations to maintain the dignity and pride of the family profession. But it does not come without negatives because of strain in family relations and stress in work-life balance. In my opinion, it is not necessary to work in a family profession, a person can have different interests and innovative ideas. He can pursue another profession irrespective of the family business.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You discuss both advantages and disadvantages and give a clear concluding view that people should be free to choose a different career. Relevant points include children learning responsibility, family members covering for one another, disputes over profits, and favouring an inexperienced relative. However, the response does not consistently answer the central comparison: whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The introduction lists benefits and drawbacks, while the conclusion shifts to whether someone must join the family business, without clearly weighing the two sides. Some ideas also need fuller explanation—for example, how working together motivates children or reduces parental stress. State your judgement directly and support it with a specific example or clearer reasoning.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response is organised into a clear introduction, two body paragraphs that separate advantages from disadvantages, and a conclusion. The progression is easy to follow, and signposts such as “To begin with,” “On the contrary,” and “To conclude” help readers recognise each stage. Examples are placed alongside the relevant points, particularly the discussion of profit-sharing disputes and promotion decisions. To make the flow more natural, rely less on formulaic transitions and connect ideas through their meaning. The final paragraph introduces the freedom to pursue another profession, which is not fully prepared by the preceding discussion; link this explicitly to your judgement about whether the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic-related vocabulary, including “distribution of profits,” “individual responsibilities,” “professional standards,” and “qualified employee.” These choices make the main points clear, and you attempt some less common expressions. However, several phrases are imprecise or unnatural, such as “get motivation from them,” “an imbalanced personal and professional life,” and “maintain the dignity and pride of the family profession.” “Family matters” is also broad in the context of managing a business. Aim for more natural collocations and precise wording, and avoid repeating “family members” where a pronoun or a more specific reference would work. The meaning remains clear despite these word-choice issues.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including subordinate clauses beginning “Since” and “If,” and a relative clause in “an owner might promote an inexperienced relative instead of a more qualified employee.” Most sentences communicate their meaning clearly, and punctuation generally supports the structure. Some grammatical choices are less controlled: “Although it is beneficial … there are some drawbacks” has an unclear reference for “it,” and “a person can have different interests and innovative ideas” joins two independent clauses with a comma. The ampersand in “professional & personal life” is also unsuitable in formal essay writing. Work on clear pronoun reference and accurate sentence boundaries while continuing to use varied structures.

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