Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-07-25

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 7.0)

In the recent times, majority of people prefer to start their own business instead of working in the different companies and organizations. There are a lot of reasons for this evolution and I'll provide my reasoning along with disadvantages of being self-employed.

Nowadays, old-school jobs has become extremely difficult due to inflation and workload. Even after working 8 hours for 5 days in a week, employees can't afford a decent life. They have to work on weekends as well which impacts their both personal and professional life in a negative way. Companies are also not interested in hiring new employees due to latest technologies like artificial intelligence and automated machines. Because of these circumstances, job holders don't see their future in a company and want to start their own business so they can be fully independent.

However, there are a lot of disadvantages in starting a business. Firstly, a lot of investment is needed which should be acquired from other investors or banks. Banks charge high interest rates on loans and investors often see a risk investing in a business which is new to the market. Secondly, failure rate of new businesses is very high. Most of the businesses fail in their first few years. Thirdly, people has to work all seven days to make their companies profitable. They can't count on an employee to take care of their business in their absense. One small mistake can ruin the output of product which can be very costly.

It can be concluded that although there are many benefits of being self-employed but people should not neglect the drawbacks of running a business. Where jobs give us feel of security, running a business is a big milestone.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: reasons for the rise in self-employment and the associated disadvantages. The ideas are relevant and logically grouped. However, the development is somewhat limited; for instance, the explanation regarding artificial intelligence is a bit generic and could have been supported with a more specific example. The position is clear throughout, and the conclusion provides a summary of the main points. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is expanded with more depth or specific real-world examples to demonstrate a more thorough exploration of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two main ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'Thirdly', and 'However' are used to guide the reader through the argument. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The referencing is clear, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow throughout the text. Overall, the structure is effective and supports the development of the argument well.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'evolution' and 'profitable', but the range is somewhat limited. Some word choices are slightly imprecise, such as 'old-school jobs' or 'give us feel of security', which are informal or slightly unnatural. While the errors do not impede communication, a wider range of precise, academic collocations would be required for a higher band score. Focus on using more sophisticated synonyms and idiomatic expressions appropriate for an academic context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('old-school jobs has', 'people has to work') and missing articles ('in their absense'). While these errors are noticeable, they rarely impede communication. The punctuation is generally correct, but the sentence variety could be improved by incorporating more advanced complex structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice, to demonstrate greater control. The current level of accuracy is sufficient for a 6.0, as the meaning remains clear despite the recurring slips.

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