Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-26

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 6.5)

An increasing number of people are now choosing self-employment over traditional jobs. This essay will discuss the main reasons behind this trend, as well as the drawbacks that self-employed individuals often face.

One of the most significant reasons for this shift is the flexibility that self-employment offers. Unlike employees who must follow fixed working hours, freelancers and business owners can manage their own schedules, which allows them to spend more time with their families. For example, many office workers in Pakistan spend eight to nine hours at work, plus two to three hours commuting daily, leaving almost no time for personal life. Self-employment removes this burden entirely. Another important reason is the potential for higher earnings. Many people feel that salaried jobs no longer provide sufficient income to support a family comfortably. In contrast, fields such as e-commerce and social media marketing offer far greater earning potential, which motivates many to start their own ventures instead of remaining employees.

However, self-employment also comes with notable disadvantages. Firstly, it brings a heavier workload, since individuals must manage every aspect of their business alone, including marketing, finances, and administration, without the support of dedicated departments. Secondly, self-employed people generally lack the financial security that a stable job provides; income can fluctuate significantly from month to month, and they do not receive benefits such as paid leave or health insurance.

In conclusion, while flexibility and higher earning potential explain why self-employment is becoming more popular, it also carries real risks in terms of workload and financial stability. Anyone considering this path should weigh both sides carefully before making the switch.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student fully addresses all parts of the task by exploring both why people choose self-employment and the disadvantages associated with it. The response has a clear position maintained throughout. Ideas are well developed and extended with relevant examples, such as mentioning office workers in Pakistan spending long hours commuting versus the flexibility of e-commerce and social media marketing. The response meets all criteria for a Band 7.0 by addressing all parts of the prompt with clear, supported ideas, though the expansion could be slightly more far-reaching to attain a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay presents a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, beginning with a well-defined introduction, moving through body paragraphs addressing reasons and disadvantages, and concluding with a concise summary. Cohesive devices are used appropriately and flexibly, such as 'Unlike employees', 'In contrast', 'Firstly', and 'In conclusion'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and effectively to group related ideas together. The flow of information is smooth and guides the reader naturally from one argument to the next, fulfilling the requirements for Band 7.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision, such as 'self-employment', 'freelancers', 'earning potential', 'financial security', and 'fluctuate'. There is an attempt to use less common items with general awareness of style and collocation, like 'dedicate departments' or 'salaried jobs no longer provide sufficient income'. Word choices are generally appropriate, and spelling is accurate throughout. While the lexical range is adequate to convey precise meanings, it lacks the more sophisticated and natural control of uncommon lexical items required for a Band 8.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a good control of grammar and punctuation, employing a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Examples of complex structures include 'Unlike employees who must follow fixed working hours, freelancers and business owners can manage their own schedules...' and '...while flexibility and higher earning potential explain why self-employment is becoming more popular...'. There are frequent error-free sentences, and punctuation is handled correctly. Minor issues are virtually absent, showing a strong command of syntax that fits comfortably within the Band 7.0 parameters.

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