Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-28

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)

Nowadays, an increasing number of people choose to be self-employed instead of working for a company or organisation. There are several reasons for this trend, although self-employment also has some disadvantages.

One main reason why people become self-employed is freedom and flexibility. When people work for themselves, they can usually decide their working hours and choose how to complete their tasks. This can help them maintain a better balance between their personal and professional lives. Another reason is that self-employed people have the opportunity to earn more money. For example, a successful business owner or freelancer can increase their income without depending on a fixed salary. In addition, some people prefer to be their own boss because they do not want to follow strict rules or instructions from managers.

However, being self-employed also has several disadvantages. The most important one is financial uncertainty. Unlike employees, self-employed people may not receive a regular monthly income, especially when their business has fewer customers. They also have to pay for business expenses such as rent, equipment and advertising. Another disadvantage is that they may have to work longer hours. Since they are responsible for managing the whole business, they may have less free time for their family and friends. Furthermore, self-employed workers may not receive benefits such as paid holidays, sick leave or employer-provided insurance.

In conclusion, people choose self-employment mainly because of greater freedom, flexibility and the possibility of higher earnings. Nevertheless, financial uncertainty, longer working hours and fewer employment benefits can make self-employment challenging.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by clearly explaining why people choose to be self-employed, such as 'freedom and flexibility' and the opportunity to 'earn more money', as well as outlining the disadvantages like 'financial uncertainty' and 'longer working hours'. The writer maintains a clear position throughout the essay. Ideas are extended and supported with relevant examples, such as mentioning successful business owners and freelancers increasing their income. Although some points could be slightly more elaborated, the response satisfies the requirements well, aligning comfortably with the Band 7 descriptor.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving smoothly from the introduction to the reasons for self-employment, the disadvantages, and finally the conclusion. The writer uses cohesive devices effectively to guide the reader, such as 'One main reason', 'Another reason', 'In addition', 'However', and 'Furthermore'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each body paragraph dealing with a separate aspect of the prompt. Referencing and substitution are clear, contributing to a coherent overall arrangement that fits the Band 7 level well.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The vocabulary used is adequate and appropriate for the task. The student employs a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic flexibly and with precision, using terms like 'self-employed', 'freelancer', 'financial uncertainty', and 'employer-provided insurance'. There are occasional attempts at less common lexical items, and word choice is generally accurate. Spelling and word formation are correct throughout the response. While it does not consistently display the sophistication required for higher bands, it comfortably meets the criteria for Band 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The writer uses a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating relative clauses and conditional structures such as 'When people work for themselves, they can usually decide their working hours' and 'especially when their business has fewer customers'. There is good control of grammar and punctuation, and a high proportion of error-free sentences is evident. The minor errors that do occur do not impede communication. This balanced control of complex structures alongside grammatical accuracy demonstrates solid Band 7 performance.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.