Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-17

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 7.5)

Nowadays, an increasing number of people choose to become self-employed rather than work for a company or organisation. This trend can be attributed to the greater freedom that self-employment provides, although it also brings several significant disadvantages.

One major reason why people prefer self-employment is the freedom and flexibility it offers. Unlike traditional employees, self-employed individuals can often decide their working hours, choose which projects to undertake, and determine how they organise their workload. This can be particularly attractive to people who value a better work-life balance. Another reason is the possibility of earning a higher income. While employees usually receive a fixed salary, business owners and freelancers can potentially increase their earnings as their businesses grow. For example, a skilled graphic designer may earn considerably more by working directly with several international clients than by receiving a fixed salary from one company.

However, being self-employed also has several disadvantages. The most obvious one is financial uncertainty. Unlike salaried employees, self-employed workers may not have a guaranteed monthly income, particularly when there are few customers or when the economy is performing poorly. They are also generally responsible for expenses such as equipment, office space, taxes and insurance. Furthermore, self-employed people often have to perform tasks beyond their main profession, including marketing, accounting and dealing with clients. As a result, they may have to work longer hours and experience greater stress. For instance, a person running a small online business may spend much of their time managing orders and finances rather than concentrating on developing new products.

In conclusion, self-employment has become increasingly popular because it provides greater independence, flexibility and the potential for higher earnings. Nevertheless, the lack of financial security and the additional responsibilities involved can make it considerably more stressful than conventional employment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses both parts of the prompt. You clearly explain the reasons for the rise in self-employment, such as flexibility and income potential, and provide a balanced view of the disadvantages, including financial instability and the burden of administrative tasks. The position is clear throughout, and the ideas are well-supported with relevant examples, such as the graphic designer and the online business owner. The development is logical and covers all requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic sentence, and the progression of ideas is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Unlike traditional employees', 'Furthermore', and 'As a result', which help to connect sentences and ideas naturally. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the reasons from the disadvantages, making the text easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task. Phrases like 'financial uncertainty', 'conventional employment', and 'work-life balance' are used accurately. The vocabulary is precise and contributes to the clarity of your arguments. While the range is sufficient and effective, incorporating a few more sophisticated or less common collocations could elevate the score further. Overall, the language is natural and error-free in terms of word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a high level of grammatical control. You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively, such as the conditional-like structure in 'particularly when there are few customers or when the economy is performing poorly'. Punctuation is accurate, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, showing a strong command of English grammar.

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