Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-12

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)

Currently, a significant proportion of individuals opt for self-employment over working for a corporate entity or institution. This trend can be related to several factors, including the desire for greater independence and advances in technology. However, self-employment also has a number of drawbacks that should not be overlooked.

One reason why many individuals choose self-employment is the freedom it offers. Unlike traditional employees, self-employed people can often decide their own working hours, select projects they wish to conduct, and make important business choice independently. This flexibility well-recieved by people who value a better life-work balance. Furthermore, expance of the internet makes starting of businesses more easier. For example, graphic designers, programmers, and content creators can now find new clients from around the world without leaving their homes. Another highly regarded advantage is the possibilty to make higher income, rather than salary that fixed by the government.

Despite these benefits, being self employed could show significant challenges. The main problem is that income is not always stable. Unlike employees who usually receive a fixed salary every month, self-employed people may earn less when they have fewer customers. They also have to deal with many responsibilities themselves, such as finding customers, managing money and paying taxes. This can make their work more stressful. For instance, a small business owner may have to work long hours when the business is busy, which can reduce their free time.

In conclusion, although there are lots of advantages like higher income, flexibility for working anywhere and can decide the crucial choices on their own, there are still many considerable drawbacks. It can cause financial uncertainty and extra stress because they have to manage many parts of their work themselves.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: reasons for choosing self-employment and the associated disadvantages. The ideas are relevant and clearly presented. The introduction sets a clear tone, and the body paragraphs provide specific examples, such as graphic designers and content creators, to support the arguments. While the development is logical, some points could be expanded further to reach a higher band. For instance, the discussion on financial instability could benefit from a more detailed explanation of how this impacts long-term planning. Overall, the response is well-focused and maintains a consistent position throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the advantages and disadvantages is handled effectively using the cohesive device 'Despite these benefits'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different aspects of the prompt. While the use of cohesive devices is generally effective, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, such as the repetitive use of 'Another' and 'Furthermore'. A more varied range of linking words would enhance the flow and elevate the coherence of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is sufficient to convey ideas clearly and with some precision. You have used topic-specific terms like 'corporate entity', 'financial uncertainty', and 'life-work balance' effectively. However, there are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'expance' (spelling error for 'expansion') and 'more easier' (a double comparative error). To reach a higher band, focus on using more sophisticated collocations and ensuring accurate spelling. The range is adequate for the task, but more variety in descriptive adjectives and precise verbs would strengthen the overall lexical impact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You have successfully used complex sentences to explain cause and effect, such as 'Unlike employees who usually receive a fixed salary...'. However, there are several grammatical slips, including 'well-recieved' (spelling and missing verb 'is'), 'salary that fixed' (missing auxiliary verb), and 'flexibility for working' (preposition error). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles will significantly improve your accuracy.

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