Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-07-29

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 8.0)

Nowadays, many people prefer to be self-employed instead of working for a company or organisation. This trend has become increasingly common due to several factors, although it also has some significant disadvantages.

One of the main reasons why people choose self-employment is the desire for greater independence. Instead of following a fixed schedule or taking instructions from a manager, self-employed individuals can make their own decisions and manage their working hours according to their preferences. In addition, many people believe that running their own business offers better financial opportunities. If their business is successful, they can earn a much higher income than they would receive as employees. Furthermore, some people become self-employed because they want to turn their passion or skills into a career, such as starting an online business or working as a freelance designer.

However, being self-employed also has several drawbacks. The most significant disadvantage is the lack of a stable income. Unlike employees who receive a regular salary every month, self-employed people may experience periods with little or no income, especially when business is slow. Another disadvantage is that they often have to work longer hours and take full responsibility for every aspect of their business, including finance, marketing and customer service. This can lead to stress and an unhealthy work-life balance. Moreover, self-employed workers usually do not receive employee benefits such as paid holidays, sick leave or retirement plans.

In conclusion, although self-employment attracts many people because of its flexibility, independence and earning potential, it also involves financial uncertainty, heavy responsibilities and fewer employment benefits. Therefore, individuals should carefully consider both the advantages and disadvantages before deciding to become self-employed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt clearly. You have provided logical reasons for the rise in self-employment, such as the desire for independence and financial potential, and balanced this with relevant disadvantages like income instability and the lack of benefits. Your position is clear throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, you could further develop your ideas by providing a specific, concrete example of a self-employed person or a particular industry to illustrate your points more vividly. The structure is well-balanced, ensuring that both parts of the question receive adequate attention.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the transition between the advantages and disadvantages is handled smoothly using the cohesive device 'However'. You use a range of linking words such as 'In addition', 'Furthermore', and 'Moreover' effectively to guide the reader. The paragraphing is appropriate, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The flow is natural, and the relationship between ideas is easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task. Phrases like 'financial uncertainty', 'unhealthy work-life balance', and 'employment benefits' are used accurately. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning with precision. To improve further, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common idiomatic expressions where appropriate. For example, instead of 'many people', you could use 'a growing number of individuals'. Your spelling is accurate throughout, and your word choices are consistently natural and well-suited to the formal tone of the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a good variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences that are generally error-free. You use conditional structures ('If their business is successful...') and relative clauses effectively. The grammar is controlled, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. Punctuation is used correctly to support the clarity of your arguments. To move into the higher band, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex structures, such as inversion or more advanced passive constructions, to demonstrate even greater flexibility in your writing.

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