Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-27

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 are choosing self-employment instead of working for a company or organisation. This trend can be attributed to several factors, particularly the desire for greater freedom and financial independence. However, being self-employed also has some significant disadvantages.

One major reason why people prefer self-employment is the freedom it provides. Self-employed individuals can usually decide their own working hours, choose the projects they want to undertake and make important decisions without being controlled by a manager. In addition, successful entrepreneurs have the potential to earn considerably more than employees. For example, a skilled graphic designer may work independently for international clients and earn a higher income than they would in a traditional office job. Therefore, career autonomy and flexible working conditions are strong incentives for becoming self-employed.

Despite these advantages, self-employment can involve considerable risks. The most obvious disadvantage is income instability. Unlike regular employees, self-employed people may not receive a fixed monthly salary, particularly when their business is new. Furthermore, they are responsible for finding clients, managing finances and dealing with unexpected problems. This can result in a heavy workload and may negatively affect their work-life balance. For instance, a small business owner may have to work late at night to meet deadlines or deal with customers, whereas an employee can usually leave these responsibilities to their employer.

In conclusion, people are increasingly attracted to self-employment because of greater freedom, flexible working hours and the possibility of higher earnings. Nevertheless, income uncertainty, financial risks and increased responsibility can make this career path challenging. Therefore, individuals should carefully consider both the benefits and drawbacks before becoming self-employed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses both parts of the prompt. You have clearly identified the reasons for the rise in self-employment, such as autonomy and financial potential, and provided a balanced discussion on the disadvantages, including income instability and increased responsibility. The ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as the graphic designer scenario. Your position is clear from the introduction through to the conclusion, and the response maintains a consistent focus on the topic throughout. To reach a higher band, you could further extend the analysis by briefly discussing the broader societal implications of this shift, but the current development is sufficient for a high score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the benefits and the drawbacks is smooth, aided by effective cohesive devices like 'Despite these advantages' and 'In addition'. The use of referencing is precise, and the paragraphing is appropriate for the structure of the argument. The flow is natural, and the relationship between ideas is always clear. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive linking, and the overall structure supports the reader's understanding of your argument perfectly.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for an academic context. Phrases such as 'career autonomy', 'income instability', and 'financial independence' are used accurately and naturally. You avoid repetition and show a good awareness of collocation. While the vocabulary is precise and effective, it stays within the realm of standard academic English. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated or idiomatic collocations to demonstrate a wider, more flexible range, but the current usage is accurate and contributes to a clear, professional tone throughout the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a strong command of grammatical structures. You use a variety of complex sentence forms, such as conditional structures and subordinate clauses, with high accuracy. For example, 'Unlike regular employees, self-employed people may not receive...' is a well-constructed sentence. Punctuation is used correctly to manage the flow of information. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and there are no significant grammatical slips that impede communication. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent, reflecting a high level of grammatical competence suitable for this task.

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