Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-10
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 6.0)
Unanimously, the phenomena of many people choose to be self employed ,rather than to work is ubiquitous across the globe due to a plethora of merits .
Reasons why people choose to be self employed might be Freedom and flexibility Self-employed people can decide their own working hours, choose their projects and have more control over how they work and can spent lot of time with their family without any disturbance This can help them maintain a better work-life balance. For example A freelance graphic designer can choose to work from home and arrange their schedule around family commitments. Higher earning potential Running a business or working independently can allow people to earn more than they might receive as a fixed salary, especially when their business becomes successful. To cite an instance a skilled web developer who works independently can handle several clients and potentially earn more than someone doing the same job for one company
On the darker side, there are plenty of disadvantages of being self employed such as . Financial insecurity Unlike regular employees, self-employed workers may not have a fixed monthly income. Their earnings can fluctuate depending on the number of customers or projects they receive. To exemplify, a freelance photographer may earn a lot during the wedding season but have very few clients during other months.
Greater responsibility and stress self-employed people have to manage many aspects of their work, such as finding customers, paying taxes, handling finances and solving problems themselves. This can lead to stress and long working hours. For example A small business owner may have to deal with marketing, customer complaints and accounting in addition to their main work.
In conclusion, people are increasingly attracted to self-employment because it offers greater independence and potentially higher earnings. However, it also involves financial uncertainty and greater responsibility, which can make it more stressful than traditional employment.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response addresses both parts of the prompt: reasons for choosing self-employment and the potential disadvantages. The ideas are relevant and supported by clear examples, such as the freelance graphic designer and the web developer. However, the development is somewhat formulaic. While the main points are covered, the analysis could be deepened by exploring the broader societal or economic implications of these trends to reach a higher band. The position is clear throughout, and the structure is logical, ensuring all requirements of the task are met effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each focusing on a specific aspect of the prompt. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'For example', 'To cite an instance', and 'On the darker side', which help guide the reader. However, the transition between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the use of cohesive devices could be more varied to improve the flow. Paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow, though the opening sentence is slightly awkward and lacks a smooth introduction to the topic.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task. You use some topic-specific terms like 'financial insecurity', 'fixed salary', and 'work-life balance'. However, there are some awkward phrasings, such as 'Unanimously, the phenomena of many people choose to be self employed', which is grammatically and lexically imprecise. To improve, focus on using more sophisticated collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing. While the range is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with punctuation and sentence construction, such as missing commas after introductory phrases and run-on sentences like 'Freedom and flexibility Self-employed people can decide...'. Additionally, there are minor errors in subject-verb agreement and word form, such as 'can spent lot of time'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Increasing the variety of complex structures and proofreading for basic punctuation would significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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