Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-04
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 time, people really want to earn money for themselves and family members. Sometimes, individuals are tried of doing an unsatisfied job. They wanted to become a CEO or businessmen for their own company. This essay will discuss some cases why people choose to be self-employed and drawbacks of being self-employed after I will give my opinion.
There are some situations where people prefer to be a businessmen. First, some companies do not pay sufficient money to their employee. Even if, employee put in enough effort and still the salary is not good, then that time employee wants to become self-employed. Second, workers or employees feel more pressure and stress while doing these kind of job. It will effects on mental and physical health. Sometimes, it leads to depression. Moreover, many people feel like cage when they do job because sometimes if leave application is not approved so need to cancel the plans and due to this they do not have time for follow their dreams.
There are few disadvantages of being self-employed. In any MNC company the monthly income is fixed and there is no delay on salary. While, on the own company or businesses the income is not fix sometimes it is on the lower then expected. Individuals need to be a ready for profit and loss. It all depends on how people put their exertion on work. For example, many people open a small business and if they face any kind of loss then they stop that business. It is not best way to become a successful, the best way is consistency.
From my perspective, being a self-employed is very significant and valuable things. People find it better and comfortable options in owing a business. Therefore, if any big MNC company provide good salary and incentives to their employees and maintain positive atmosphere in work then, employee should think twice before becoming a businessmen.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The essay addresses both parts of the prompt: reasons for self-employment and the disadvantages. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the point about 'feeling like a cage' is a good observation but lacks specific elaboration or a concrete example to fully support the argument. The conclusion is a bit repetitive and does not fully synthesise the points made. While the position is clear, the depth of analysis remains at a surface level, which prevents it from reaching a higher band. To improve, ensure each main point is supported by a clear, illustrative example or a more detailed explanation of the underlying logic.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. The use of cohesive devices such as 'First', 'Second', 'Moreover', and 'While' helps the reader follow the argument. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical or awkward, such as 'In recent time' or 'It is not best way to become a successful'. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the transition between the discussion of disadvantages and the personal opinion in the final paragraph. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the overall flow and coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express basic ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'exertion' and 'incentives', but there are also instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'unsatisfied job' (should be 'unsatisfying') and 'feel like cage' (should be 'feel trapped' or 'feel like they are in a cage'). Some phrasing is repetitive, and the range is somewhat limited. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and avoiding basic errors in word form and usage.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Examples include 'It will effects on' (should be 'It will affect'), 'do not have time for follow' (should be 'to follow'), and 'being a self-employed is' (should be 'being self-employed is'). Subject-verb agreement and article usage are inconsistent throughout the text. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors indicates a lack of control over more complex structures. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for common errors would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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