Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-11-10

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Nowadays many people choose to be self-employed, rather than to work for a company or organisation.

Why might this be the case?

What could be the disadvantages of being self-employed?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

In recent years, a large number of people like to work for them selves rather than for others company. This essay will discuss the primary reason and examine some disadvantages for self-employed.

There are a number of reasons why people choose to work for them selves. Firstly, they can make their work routine by their own facilities. For example, there is no extra pressure from boss or a head person. Addition, all the things on their hand, such as time schedule, money and so on. Moreover, it is all depend on their own situations. Secondly, individuals can run their business from their own mindset. Furthermore, they can do their jobs in staying at home. And of course that's the thing everyone wants. As a result, it is feel more comfortable and flexible.

On the other hand, there is also some disadvantages. Firstly, it might be feel frustrated sometimes because this business control by the one person. For example, there is the only one who have to take eyes all over the work and obviously it is not easy at all. For that reason, some people face difficulties. Secondly, there is no fix salary after a month oy year. For instance, salary depend on the customers. In addition, this thing can be fluctuate sometimes. Also it would affect negatively on their daily lives. As a result, work on self-employed would be challenging.

In conclusion, although work by own save times and no extra headache from others, there are some risks that might be dangerous in future.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both questions: you suggest that self-employment offers control over routines, decisions and working from home, and identify the burden of managing a business alone and uncertain income as disadvantages. These points are relevant, and examples such as income depending on customers help make the discussion concrete. However, several ideas remain general or unclear—for instance, “run their business from their own mindset” does not explain what freedom this gives, and the conclusion introduces “save times” and “no extra headache” without clearly summarising the main reasons. Develop each point by explaining its practical effect and use a more specific example. The response covers the task, but the ideas are not consistently clear or sufficiently developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, a paragraph on reasons, a paragraph on disadvantages and a conclusion. Sequencing words such as “Firstly,” “Secondly,” “On the other hand” and “In conclusion” help signal the main stages. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical, and several links do not clarify the relationship between ideas: “Furthermore” and “And of course” lead to points that are not fully explained. References such as “this thing” are vague, while “As a result” is used where the preceding idea does not clearly establish a result. Group related points and make each sentence build on the previous one; clearer referencing and more precise transitions would improve the flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “self-employed,” “flexible,” “customers,” “salary” and “business,” so the reader can follow the main discussion. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are noticeably inaccurate, sometimes making meaning unclear. For example, “work for them selves” is not the natural expression, “make their work routine by their own facilities” does not convey the intended idea clearly, and “take eyes all over the work” is an awkward way to describe overseeing operations. There are also spelling and form issues such as “fix salary” and “fluctuate.” Build a more precise set of phrases for autonomy, workload and income uncertainty, and check common collocations before using them.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some longer sentences and use basic complex structures, including “because” and “although,” but most sentence patterns are simple, and attempts at more complex forms are often inaccurate. Errors in verb forms and agreement appear in phrases such as “it is all depend,” “this business control by the one person” and “salary depend on the customers.” Other examples include “there is also some disadvantages” and “it might be feel frustrated,” where sentence structure and agreement are faulty. These errors recur and can make the reader pause, although the overall meaning is usually recoverable. Practise accurate subject–verb agreement, passive forms and verb patterns, then proofread each sentence for a clear subject and correctly formed verb.

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