Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-19

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)

In these modern times, self-employment is considered to be a better alternative than working for an orgnization. This essay will answer both the questions and provide reasons for this view.

One major factor why some people feel that being self-employed is actually better beacuse having a own business means they do not have to follow orders from their superiors and they can schedule their work at any time. There is no corporate hierarchy that needs to be followed. For instance, A sole proprietor with his own business can begin the work at his desired time. As a result, he can work at his own pace while consistantly maintaining the peace of mind.

In contast, there are a few drawbacks of being self-employed. One significant disadvantage is that it involves high proportion of uncertainty and risk. It is crucial for a business owner to consider and analyse all the potential risks prior to starting a business. If not analysed thoroughly, it may pose a risk to the person's financial position. For example, If a person starts his own firm without proper planning and execution, then there is a high probability of the person ending up in a financial loss, which may result in serious chronic diseases such as depression and anxiety.

In conclusion, although some people choose to be self-employed, rather than to work for a company. The others believe that working for an organization is more safe and secure. I think both the views involve their own merits and drawbacks. Hence both views should be considered before reaching a final decision.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by explaining why people choose self-employment and identifying the disadvantages. A clear position is maintained throughout the essay. However, some ideas are slightly under-developed or rely on generalised points, such as mentioning serious chronic diseases like depression and anxiety as an extension of financial loss without further elaboration. The introduction is also slightly generic, stating that this essay will answer both questions. Nevertheless, the main requirements of the prompt are sufficiently covered, fitting the criteria for Band 6.5 or a solid Band 6.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a clear focus, moving from an introduction to the reasons for self-employment, then to the disadvantages, and finally a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately. Cohesive devices are generally well managed, such as using 'In contast' and 'As a result', although there is a minor spelling slip in 'contast'. Referencing is mostly clear, though the concluding paragraph introduces a slight shift in focus regarding safety that disrupts the logical flow slightly. Overall, the structure is clear and easy to follow, aligning well with Band 6.5.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting less common items such as 'sole proprietor', 'corporate hierarchy', and 'potential risks'. However, there are noticeable spelling and word choice errors, such as 'orgnization' instead of 'organization', 'beacuse' instead of 'because', 'having a own business' instead of 'having one's own business', and 'consistantly'. There is also a collocation error with 'high proportion of uncertainty', where 'high degree' would be more natural. These errors do not impede communication, but they prevent the score from reaching Band 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms. The writer successfully employs complex structures, such as 'If a person starts his own firm without proper planning and execution, then there is a high probability...'. However, there are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasing instances, such as 'having a own business', 'maintain the peace of mind', and a punctuation/conjunction issue in the conclusion where a sentence fragment occurs ('...rather than to work for a company. The others believe...'). While errors are present, they rarely impede communication, placing the grammar firmly in the Band 6 category.

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