Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-09
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 TODAY'S COMPLEX WORLD NUMEROUS ISSUES OCCURED LIKE MANY PEOPLE SELECT TO BE SELF-EMPLOYED, RATHER THAN TO WORK FOR A COMAPNY OR ORGANIZATION. MEANWHILE, NOT ONLY THE POSTIVES OF THIS SITUATION BUT ALSO THE NEGATIVES ASSOCIATED WITH IT WILL BE EXPLAINED IN THE NEUSING PARAGRAPHS, LAONG WITH EXAMPLES.
DISCUSSING THE MERIT OF THIS PHENOMENON, THE MOST EVIDENT ONE IS PEOPLE CHOOSE SELF-EMPLOYED BECAUSE OF INDEPENDENCE AND FREEDOM. PEOPLE CAN MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS WITHOUT ANY RESTRICTIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, IN IT INDUSTRY FREELANCER CHOOSING THEIR OWN CLIENT AND PROJECTS. TO BE MORE JUSTIFY, BECAUSE OF SELF-EMPLOYMENT POEPLE CAN MANAGE THEIR TIME AND EASIER TO MANAGE TIME BETWEEN WORK AND PERSONAL LIFE. ONE PROMINENT EXAMPLE IS SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES EARN MORE MONEY AND WEATH THEN FIXED SALARY. FOR INSTANCE, PHOTOGRAPHER, CAFE OWNER RUNS THIER OWN BUSINESS START-UPS AND ENJOY AND TO BE MORE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR WORK. ONE NOTABLE REASON TO BE SELF-EMPLOYED IS PEOPLE CONVERT THEIR SKILLS AND HOBBIES INTO A CAREER. MOREOVER, SOMEONE WHO LOVES COOKING MAY OPEN A CATERING BUSINESS.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE PLENTY DISADVANTAGES OF BEING INDEPENDENT WORKER. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ONE IS UNSTABLE EARNING CHANGE MONTH-BY-MONTH. IN ADDITIONALLY, BUSINESS NEED LONG WORKING HOURS AND NO SEEK LEAVE AND WEEKEND HOLIDAYS. OWNER SHOULD SPEND THEIR ALL POSSIBLE EFFORTS, ENERGY AND TIME FOR RUNS BUSINESS. TO BE MORE SPECIFIC, IN INTIAL STAGES BUSINESS NEED SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL INVESTMENT. FOR EXAMPLE, DURING COVID-19 MANY FREELANCE AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNER LOSS THEIR CUSTOMERS AND CLIENTS.
IN CONCLUSION, IN THIS CONTEMPORARY ERA, THERE IS EQUALLY POTENTIAL EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE ARGUMWNT I HAVE PROVIDED. HENCE, IN MY OPINION, SELF-EMPLOYMENT OFFERS FREEDOM AND FLEXIBILTY BUT IT ALSO INVOLVES STRESS AND RESPONSIBILITY.
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: reasons for self-employment and the associated disadvantages. The ideas are relevant, such as independence, flexibility, and financial instability. However, the development is somewhat superficial. For instance, the point about 'successful businesses' earning more is a generalisation that lacks depth, and the explanation of disadvantages, while relevant, is hampered by unclear phrasing. The position is clear, but the overall development of ideas is limited, preventing a higher score. To improve, you should expand on your points with more detailed explanations rather than listing several ideas briefly.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs for each prompt, and a conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as 'To be more justify' and 'In additionally'. The flow between sentences is sometimes disjointed, making the progression of ideas feel slightly repetitive. While the paragraphing is appropriate, the internal cohesion needs more variety and precision to guide the reader more effectively through your arguments.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and sophistication. There are frequent spelling errors (e.g., 'OCCURED', 'COMAPNY', 'WEATH', 'THIER', 'INTIAL', 'ARGUMWNT') and some awkward collocations like 'In today's complex world numerous issues occured'. You attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'freelancer' and 'financial investment', but the overall range is limited. To reach a higher band, focus on accurate spelling and using more precise academic collocations rather than basic descriptive phrases.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('business need', 'owner loss') and incorrect word forms ('easier to manage time' instead of 'it is easier'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the writing from being considered fluent or accurate.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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