Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-04

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)

Nowadays individuals choose to work independently instead of working for a company or organization. There are several reasons for this trend, as well as some disadvantages. This essay will discuss the reasons for this trend and its drawbacks.

One of the most important reasons for being self-employed is independence and flexibility. When people work for themselves, they have more freedom and flexibility to choose their working hours rather than follow fixed working hours at a company. As a result, many people prefer to work for themselves, which may bring them greater happiness and job satisfaction. Additionally, individuals may want to start their own businesses and become successful entrepreneurs. People have not only a desire but also a passion to start their own businesses, which may provide them with high earning potential. Therefore, their financial situations may improve, allowing them to fulfill their family members’ wishes.

However, this trend has several drawbacks. Firstly, there is financial uncertainty. Businesses require significant initial investment, which does not guarantee whether the business will grow or decline. Individuals are unable to earn a stable income, as businesses experience ups and downs, which can lead to fluctuations in their income. Secondly, there are no fixed working hours. Running a business requires a lot of hard work and time to manage it effectively, which can result in long working hours. As a result, entrepreneurs have to face many challenges at any time of the day, even late at night.

In conclusion, self-employment is an effective option for individuals rather than working for a company. The main reasons for this trend are independence, flexibility, and the desire to become entrepreneurs. However, financial uncertainty and long working hours can be negative factors.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The essay addresses both parts of the prompt: the reasons for the rise in self-employment and the potential disadvantages. The ideas are relevant and clearly presented. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, while you mention 'financial uncertainty' and 'long working hours' as drawbacks, these points could be further extended with more specific examples or deeper analysis to reach a higher band. The position is clear throughout, and the structure is logical, meeting the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is well-organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is logical. You use cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'Therefore', 'However', and 'Firstly' to link sentences and paragraphs. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions are slightly mechanical. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure supports the reader's understanding of the argument without any confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'entrepreneurs', 'financial uncertainty', and 'job satisfaction' correctly. The language is clear and conveys your meaning effectively. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items to show greater precision. For example, instead of 'many people', you could use 'a significant number of individuals'. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication, but the vocabulary remains somewhat functional rather than academic or varied.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically accurate, and punctuation is used correctly. You successfully employ complex structures, such as 'When people work for themselves, they have more freedom...', which demonstrates a good grasp of grammar. While there are no major errors that impede communication, the range of structures is somewhat limited. To achieve a higher band, try to vary your sentence beginnings and incorporate more advanced grammatical forms, such as passive voice or conditional structures, to add complexity.

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

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