Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-07-27
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 7.5)
Nowdays, many people prefer to be self-employed instead of working for a company or organisation. This trend has become more common because people want greater freedom and better financial opportuinities. However, being self-employed also has several drawbacks.
On the one hand, one of the main reasons why people choose self-employed is that they want to be their own boss. They can decide their working hours, choose the projects they are interested in, and maintain a better work life balance. In addition, many people believe that running their own business allows them to earn more money than a fixed monthly salary. For example, a freelance graphic designer or an online shop owner can increase their income by attracting more clients. Futhermore, modern technology and social media have made it much easier to start and promote a business with limited investment.
On the other hand, self-employed also has significant disadvantages. The biggest problem is the lack of a stable income. Unlike employees who receive a regular salary self-employed people may experience periods with very little work or income. Moreover, they usually do not receive benefits such as paid holiday, health insurance or retirement plans. Another challenge is the heavy workload. Business owners often have to manage marketing, accounting, customer service and other responsibilities on their own, which can lead to stress and long working hours.
In conclusion, although self-employed offers flexibility, independence and the possibility of higher earnings, it also involves financial uncertainty and greater responsibilty. Therefore, people should carefully consider both the advantages and disadvantages before deciding to work for themselves.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing clear reasons for the rise in self-employment and identifying relevant disadvantages. The position is clear throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed, such as the mention of 'work-life balance' and the 'lack of a stable income'. To reach a higher band, the student could provide more nuanced examples or explore the implications of these trends more deeply. However, the current response fully satisfies the requirements of the task by providing a balanced and logical discussion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the advantages and disadvantages. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'In addition', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the argument. The progression of ideas is clear, and the relationship between sentences is logical. The use of referencing is generally accurate, though some minor improvements in the variety of linking words could enhance the flow further.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
The vocabulary is sufficient for the task and allows for clear communication. The student uses some topic-specific vocabulary such as 'freelance', 'fixed monthly salary', and 'financial uncertainty'. There are a few minor errors, such as 'Nowdays' (spelling) and 'self-employed' used as a noun (e.g., 'why people choose self-employed' instead of 'self-employment'). While the range is adequate, it lacks the more sophisticated or idiomatic collocations that would characterize a higher band score. The errors do not impede communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is good control over basic grammar, and the meaning is always clear. However, there are some recurring grammatical slips, such as missing articles or incorrect word forms (e.g., 'self-employed also has' instead of 'being self-employed also has'). Punctuation is generally correct, though some sentences could be more complex to demonstrate a wider range of structures. The errors present are minor and do not cause difficulty for the reader.
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