Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-01
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)
-Nowadays many people prefer self-employed because of own business To earn
more income, instead of they own boss of business owner however, self-employed can be disadvantages.
one of the main trends most of time individuals are prefer own business not only to the higher income but also own business ownership. also they Flexible working hours and work-life balance. moreover, No pressure for work and load. in addition decision making power one person to higher position also quality of working business for instance many people start their own online clothing business insted of working for a company.
In addition their are several disadvantages. Therefore, no employees no fixed salary, and no paid holidays also they work for long working hours, however, they working work life balance between consumers or business, as a additionally stress for managing customers, as busines in taxes pay pay for organisation. oven though they paid on one person owner of business own risk for in business. for instance they usually pay do not recive health insurance, pension. for in freelance workers must pay for their own medical expenses.
In conclusion, who people think prefer to be self employed in trens of earn higher income or own business ownerships, even in additionally there are more than dem disadvantages of being self employed.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both parts of the prompt, discussing reasons for self-employment and its disadvantages. However, the development of ideas is limited and often repetitive. The essay fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 214 words. This significantly impacts the depth of the argument, as points are listed rather than fully explained or supported with detailed examples. While the position is generally clear, the lack of elaboration and the failure to meet the length requirement prevent a higher score. To improve, you should aim to expand on your points with more specific examples and ensure you meet the minimum word count to allow for full development of your ideas.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the logical progression of ideas is frequently interrupted by fragmented sentences and awkward phrasing. While some cohesive devices are used (e.g., 'In addition', 'Moreover', 'In conclusion'), they are often used incorrectly or in a mechanical way that does not always link ideas smoothly. The referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the argument. To improve, focus on using transition words more naturally and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, unified focus that connects logically to the next.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive, often relying on basic terms like 'business' and 'work'. There are frequent errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'quality of working business' and 'dem disadvantages'. Some phrases are difficult to interpret due to incorrect usage, such as 'work-life balance between consumers or business'. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to express complex ideas precisely. To improve, try to learn collocations related to employment and business, and focus on using more precise terminology rather than repeating the same simple words throughout the text.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The grammatical range is very limited, consisting mostly of simple, fragmented sentences. There are frequent errors in basic grammar, including subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'they Flexible working hours'), article usage, and sentence structure (e.g., 'who people think prefer to be self employed'). Many sentences are incomplete or lack a main verb, which significantly hinders readability. There is little evidence of complex sentence structures, and the errors are pervasive enough to cause difficulty for the reader. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring every sentence has a subject and a verb, and practicing the correct use of articles and prepositions.
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