Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-13

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)

ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS BECOMING A FASCINATION AMONG THE YOUNG GENERATIONS. HENCE, PEOPLE TEND TO COME WITH START-UP IDEAS INSTEAD OF WORKING AS AN EMPLOYEE FOR A CERTAIN COMPANY. CERTAIN RULES AND TIMINGS NEEDS TO BE FOLLOWED WHEN WORKING WITH AN ORGANIZATION, AND IT MAY NOT BE NECESSARILY APPEALING TO EVERYONE. ALTHOUGH, THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGH THE DRAWBACKS, HOWEVER DETRIMENTAL FACTORS SHOULS ALSO BE KEPT IN MIND IN SUCH SITUATIONS.

WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL WORK FOR A COMPANY, WORK PATTERNS MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR THEIR PERSONAL GROWTH. THEREFORE, THIS LEADS TO FRUSTRATION, DEPRESSSION AND OTHER PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES WHICH WOULD BE HEARD TO DEAL WITH, IF NOT TAKEN APPROPRIATE CARE. AFTER SEVERAL TRAININGS AND EXAMS, A JUNIOR LEVEL EMPLOYEE CAN REACH TO THE SENIOR-MOST LEVEL. THE RESPONSIBILITIES WOULD BE WIDLEY INCREASED, HENCE THE PRESSURE TO WITHSTAND IT, WOULD GROW OUTSTANDINGLY.

ON THE OTHER HAND, MOST OF THE PEOPLE PREFER TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR. THIS HELPS TO SHOWCASE THEIR TALENT AND SKILLS FOR THEIR OWN COMPANY. THIS INVOLVES RISK, HOWEVER, IT CAN BE TAKEN UNDER CONTROL. LEADERSHIP QUALITIES CAN HELP TO GROW A COMPANY FROM SMALL TO MULTI-NATIONAL EXPANSION. THIS REQUIRES THOROUGH PRACTICE AND INTEREST FOR THE JOB. PATIENCE IS ONE OF THE KEY FACTOR WHICH HELPS TO GROW IF SELF-EMPLOYED. THE WORK CAN BE PAUSED OR STOPPED AT THEIR OWN TIME AND SITUATION.

IN CONCLUSION, BEING SELF-EMPLOYED IS BETTER FOR THE PEOPLE WHO PREFER TO WORK IN A SCENARIO OF THEIR OWN RULES. HOWEVER, IT CAN BE TOO RISKY IN NEAR FUTURE IF APPROPRIATE MEASURES ARE NOT TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT FOR A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: reasons for choosing self-employment and the potential disadvantages. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. For example, the explanation of why people choose self-employment focuses on avoiding rigid rules, but could be expanded with more specific examples of autonomy or financial motivation. Similarly, the disadvantages are mentioned briefly, such as 'risk' and 'pressure', but lack depth. The essay is written entirely in capital letters, which is inappropriate for formal writing and affects the overall presentation. To improve, ensure that each point is supported with a concrete example or a more detailed explanation to fully satisfy the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'Therefore', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are used to link sentences and paragraphs. However, the flow is occasionally interrupted by awkward phrasing and some mechanical use of transitions. For instance, the opening paragraph contains a contradictory structure: 'Although, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, however detrimental factors should also be kept in mind'. This creates confusion. Improving the variety of cohesive devices and ensuring they are used naturally will help elevate the score in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to convey their meaning. There are some attempts at more sophisticated language, such as 'detrimental factors' and 'showcase their talent'. However, there are instances of word choice errors or unnatural collocations, such as 'reach to the senior-most level' (should be 'reach the senior level') and 'grow outstandingly'. Additionally, the spelling of 'DEPRESSSION' and 'WIDLEY' indicates a need for more careful proofreading. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary and ensuring correct spelling and collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the quality of the writing. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('rules and timings needs to be followed') and incorrect verb forms ('When an individual work'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas. While the errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage will significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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