Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-22
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 5.0)
It is true that many people choose to do work on the base of self-employed rather than employee under the company or organization.
The case is flourished at this era due to multiple reason. First of all, self employed person become independent. He will do work without any hesitation and fear of disrespect. Secondly, people want to become billionaire rather than millionaire. Thirdly, at present, jobs are not enough for young people. Industries are shrinking due to the latest technology. Young educated are under motivation. Public sector does not meet the needs of the youngsters.
There are many disadvantages of self-employed. First of all, self-employed person does not take decision promptly due to fear of loss. Secondly, he has not enough money to do work at large level. Thirdly, self-employed person takes more responsibilities as compared to the profit. Profit is very small and loss is so high.
In short, self-employed person to do work day and night and get the goals instantly as compared to the dependent person. At present, people become billionaire on her work. They do work diligently and build the brand. For example, Cheesious and sweet cream brand are very popular in Pakistan. In my experience, youngster to do work on the base of self-employed. Because this type of activities become the less pressure on Government and society. Self-employed younger is the backbone of society. Society feels proud on him. They provide the jobs to the uneducated people.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses both parts of the prompt, but the development of ideas is limited and often lacks clarity. The word count is 242 words, which falls below the 250-word minimum requirement, resulting in a penalty. While you mention reasons for self-employment (independence, financial goals, job scarcity) and disadvantages (fear of loss, lack of capital, high responsibility), these points are presented as a list rather than being fully extended or supported with logical analysis. The examples provided, such as 'Cheesious', are relevant but lack sufficient explanation to connect them effectively to the broader argument. To improve, focus on expanding each point with detailed reasoning and ensuring the essay meets the minimum length requirement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the progression of ideas is often disjointed. While you use basic cohesive devices like 'First of all' and 'Secondly', these are used in a repetitive and mechanical manner. The transition between sentences is sometimes abrupt, making the flow of the argument feel stilted. For instance, the jump from discussing job scarcity to 'Young educated are under motivation' is unclear. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each sentence logically follows the previous one to create a more cohesive and natural flow of information.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally basic and sometimes inaccurate, which limits your ability to convey complex ideas precisely. Phrases like 'do work on the base of self-employed' and 'flourished at this era' are unnatural and indicate a lack of control over collocation. You attempt to use some topic-specific vocabulary, but the word choice is often imprecise, such as 'young educated are under motivation' or 'do work at large level'. To reach a higher band, you should focus on learning common collocations related to business and employment, and practice using more precise academic vocabulary to express your ideas more clearly.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are consistent issues with article usage (e.g., 'the base of self-employed'), subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'youngster to do work'), and sentence structure. Many sentences are simple or contain errors that make the meaning ambiguous, such as 'Self-employed younger is the backbone of society.' While you attempt some complex structures, they are often faulty. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, specifically subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles, before attempting more complex grammatical structures. Proofreading for these common errors will significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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