Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-20

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 6.0)

In many nations today, members of a family work together building their family business. This essay will discuss the Prons and cons of family enterprise and as well explain why I believe its demerits outweigh its merits.

In the world of today, is not new that family businesses is the base of many empire and successful businesses. family enterprise is advantageous as the capital are sourced as a unit than individually thereby overcoming the capital barrier of sole proprietors. Again, if the business is already established, the members bring in their individual skills to the making of the success of the business. For example, In a family, one member might be good in communication, another good in managing finance and another blessed with ideation creation. All these skills when put together by its members, ensures the smooth running of the business.

While family enterprise may be profiting, it still comes with a lot of demerits such as less Job creation, power torsel, and mismanagement of fund. With just one business managed by the family, there will be less job creation leading up to increased unemployment among the members of the society. Again, the family members may be at war with each other in deciding who takes each post in the company, and without a constant financial auditing, the embezzlement of the company's fund may be inevitable when run by its member thereby reducing the effectiveness, productivity and profits of the business. For example, Okey and sons business ltd, a well-known family business in my place for the production of cooking oils was ruined by this kind of proprietorship.

In conclusion, family business is a good ground for one to start as its skills finances are communally sourced by its members. Despites these merits, the rivalry and misappropriation of fund that arises with many family businesses has marred them. I believe the demerits outweigh the merit and as such, individual members should be allowed to venture into what they enjoy doing.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

Your response addresses both sides of the question and gives a clear, consistent view: you argue that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages, then restate this in the conclusion. The advantages are supported with a relevant example of family members contributing different skills, while the disadvantages include limited job creation, conflict over roles, and financial mismanagement. The example of Okey and Sons also helps make the discussion specific. This is a well-focused response with ideas extended and supported. To strengthen it further, explain the link between family businesses and reduced job creation more carefully, since a single business does not necessarily create fewer jobs than other businesses. Develop the consequences of family conflict or poor oversight in a little more depth rather than listing several drawbacks together.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay has a clear overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for advantages and disadvantages, and a conclusion that returns to your position. The progression from shared capital and skills to problems with employment, decision-making, and finances is generally easy to follow. Linking expressions such as “Again,” “While,” and “For example” help signal relationships between ideas. However, some connections feel mechanical, and the long sentence beginning “Again, the family members may be at war…” combines several distinct points, making the progression harder to track. The conclusion also repeats earlier claims rather than synthesising them. Use clearer transitions between each disadvantage and divide complex points into shorter, logically connected sentences to make cohesion more flexible.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some topic-relevant vocabulary, including “capital barrier,” “sole proprietors,” “financial auditing,” “embezzlement,” and “productivity.” These choices show an attempt to discuss business issues precisely. However, noticeable spelling, word-choice, and collocation problems limit clarity and naturalness. Examples include “Prons,” “power torsel,” “ideation creation,” and “mismanagement of fund”; some expressions are difficult to interpret, while others are not idiomatic. There is also repetition of “family business” and “family enterprise.” Aim for accurate, natural combinations and check spelling and word forms carefully. A more controlled range of business vocabulary, used precisely rather than ambitiously but inaccurately, would make your argument clearer and more convincing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including conditional and subordinate structures such as “if the business is already established” and “when put together by its members.” This gives the response some structural variety, and the main argument is usually understandable. However, errors occur across sentence patterns and sometimes make the reader pause. For example, “is not new that family businesses is” has an omitted subject and incorrect agreement; “the capital are sourced” also has a subject–verb agreement problem. In “All these skills … ensures,” the plural subject does not agree with the verb. Articles, plurals, and punctuation also need closer control. Review agreement and sentence boundaries, and proofread each sentence for a clear subject and correctly formed verb.

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