Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-04

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 in their family business and yes working in a family businesses has many advantages.

As if someone has a family business he do not have to think twice about their future plans. He just finish his studies and indulge in his family business only. Also, the advantage of joining it early is he will learn different things about business with his elder one's. Slowly or gradually he can take over his already running business and try to expand by new technologies and techniques which he has learnt over the period of time. Though still some people choose to go out and do something different by their own but eventually later or sooner they come back to their family business only. For example if one person joins a family business then he do not have to think before taking any action as he will be the owner of the business. He can take leave anytime and if the business grows he will enjoy the full profit.

Though sometimes it has some disadvantages as well, as it bounds you with one place and you cannot take many leaves, as you have to be present there. Learning path stay limited because of which the development of individual stops. Sometimes expectations of family also come in between that the children will handle their business work only despite of asking their children what does they actually want in their life.

If I conclude this I'll always in support of having a family business as it remains sustainable and the one who is running the business the whole and sole owner of the business which results in freedom and development of individual and their family.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You answer the question directly and maintain a clear preference for family businesses, especially in the opening and conclusion. Relevant advantages include learning from older relatives, taking over an established business, and retaining its profits; you also acknowledge drawbacks such as limited freedom to choose a career and family pressure. This covers both sides of the task, but some points are more fully addressed than others. For instance, the claim that an owner can “take leave anytime” is not explained and sits uneasily beside your later point that family members cannot take many leaves. The disadvantages also need a specific example or fuller explanation. Develop each main reason with clearer support and make the comparison behind your overall judgement more explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph on advantages, a paragraph on disadvantages, and a conclusion. The contrast signalled by “Though sometimes” helps readers follow the shift to drawbacks, and the main ideas are generally grouped by topic. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes difficult to follow because several claims are joined in long sequences, and links such as “Also,” “Slowly or gradually,” and “Though” can feel mechanical. References are occasionally unclear, particularly “the one who is running the business the whole and sole owner,” where the relationship between the person and the business is hard to track. Use clearer topic sentences, separate distinct points, and connect each example directly to the claim it supports.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to discuss the topic, including relevant terms such as “expand,” “technologies,” “sustainable,” and “expectations.” There are also attempts at less common expressions, but several choices or collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, which limits precision. For example, “indulge in his family business” does not mean simply joining or working in it, and “bounds you with one place” is not a natural way to describe restricted mobility. Phrases such as “learning path stay limited” and “whole and sole owner” also make the intended meaning less clear. Aim for accurate, natural combinations rather than more elaborate wording, and check word forms and collocations when revising.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including clauses introduced by “Though” and “because,” and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. However, errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction occur across the response. Examples include “he do not have,” “he just finish,” “the development … stops,” and “what does they actually want”; these should be corrected to match the subject and tense. The final sentence is also difficult to parse because it lacks a clear grammatical structure. Some long sentences combine several ideas without clear punctuation, as in the sentence beginning “Slowly or gradually.” Practise accurate subject–verb agreement and build complex sentences around one clearly expressed main clause.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.