Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-10

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 7.0)

In recent years, self-employment has become an increasingly attractive alternative to conventional employment. This shift is largely attributed to the greater autonomy and the earning potential it offers, although working independently also exposes individuals to financial instability and a greater range of professional responsibilities.

A key factor behind this trend would be the greater degree of autonomy that self employment offers over conventional employment. Individuals who work for themselves can determine their working hours, choose the projects that they can undertake and make their own individual decisions without being subject to the policies of the employer. This is particularly appealing for people who want flexibility in their life managing their professional and family responsibilities.

In addition, self employment can offer greater financial opportunities, since individuals are not constrained by fixed salary and can increase their earnings by expanding their client base or business operations. For example, a freelance software developer who has a strong reputation can secure several high-paying contracts and earn substantially more than a conventional salaried position.

However, self employment can also entail financial and professional risks. The most obvious drawback is the absence of a guaranteed and a regular income. Whereas salaried employees receive a regular monthly wage, self-employed workers may experience substantial fluctuations in their earnings depending on demand, availability of clients and wider economic conditions.

Overall, the growing appeal of self-employment stems primarily from the independence and financial opportunities it can provide. Nevertheless, these benefits are accompanied by significant drawbacks, mostly the unpredictable income and the additional responsibilities the individuals must shoulder themselves

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing clear reasons for the rise in self-employment and identifying relevant disadvantages. The position is consistent throughout. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the explanation of autonomy and the example of the software developer. However, the discussion on disadvantages could be slightly more extended to reach the highest band; for instance, mentioning the lack of benefits like health insurance or paid leave would have added depth. Overall, the response is well-focused and meets the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, and ideas progress smoothly. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'However', and 'Whereas' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the referencing is clear throughout. The flow of the argument is natural, and the reader is guided through the points without confusion. The structure is sound and supports the overall clarity of the essay.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. You demonstrate a good range of topic-specific language, such as 'autonomy', 'conventional employment', 'financial instability', and 'fluctuations'. The word choice is generally precise, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. While the range is solid, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions could elevate the score further. The current level of lexical control is consistent and serves the purpose of the essay well.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You show control over grammatical forms, and the majority of sentences are error-free. There are minor issues, such as the missing hyphen in 'self-employment' in some instances and a slight awkwardness in the final sentence ('mostly the unpredictable income'). However, these are rare and do not interfere with the reader's understanding. The punctuation is generally accurate, and the grammatical control is strong enough to support a high band score.

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