Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-29

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 tends to be self-employed rather than to work for a company or organisation. This is mainly because of the freedom and flexibility that self-employment offers, although it also involves significant disadvantages.

One of the main reasons people choose self-employment is the freedom to make their own decisions. Unlike employees, they don`t have to follow a manager`s instruction and work according to their schedule. They can decide when and where they have to work. They can also have a bigger income than a person working at a company or organisation. Many people tend to earn more than usual employees because they don`t have a fixed salary. Self-employment allows them to do whatever they want as they are not entirely bound by their work. They can choose the work that better matches their satisfaction , which helps them stay focused and motivated.

However, they are still some major drawbacks of self-employment. They have to deal with accounting, finance, marketing and other tasks on their own which is very time consuming. This can result in longer working hours and considerable pressure. They might face difficulties managing their expenses during period of low demand as their income depend on the number of customers and the success of their work.For example, a freelance graphic designer may have several clients in one month but struggle to find sufficient work in another month.

In conclusion, although self-employment can offer freedom and flexibility, it can also lead to financial stress and heavier workload. These disadvantages may become difficult for people who prefer a stable income and a clear working schedule.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, exploring the reasons for choosing self-employment, such as freedom, flexibility, and income potential, as well as the disadvantages, including administrative burdens, time consumption, and financial instability during slow periods. The position is clear throughout, and the ideas are extended and supported with relevant explanations and a concrete example of a freelance graphic designer. However, the development of some points, such as income comparison, remains slightly generalised, which places the response firmly at Band 7. All parts of the task are well-covered with clear reasoning.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: introduction, reasons for self-employment, disadvantages, and conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'Unlike employees', 'They can also', and 'However' are used effectively to connect ideas, though referencing is occasionally slightly repetitive ('They have to... They can...'). Paragraphing is used appropriately and sufficiently to structure the essay logically. Overall, the flow is smooth and the reader is guided through the arguments effortlessly.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision, incorporating appropriate terms such as 'self-employment', 'freedom and flexibility', 'time consuming', and 'financial stress'. There are attempts at less common items like 'period of low demand' and 'freelance graphic designer'. Some minor inaccuracies appear, such as 'income depend' (subject-verb agreement error, though primarily a grammatical issue) and 'heavier workload' missing an article. Nevertheless, the lexical range is adequate for the task and allows clear communication of ideas.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilising subordinate clauses effectively ('Unlike employees, they don't have to...', 'although it also involves...'). There are frequent error-free sentences, alongside a few noticeable grammatical errors, such as 'an increasing number of people tends' (should be 'tend') and 'there are still some major drawbacks' (where the student actually wrote 'they are still some major drawbacks'). Additionally, punctuation around commas and apostrophes contains minor typographical issues like 'don`t'. However, control of grammar is generally good and errors rarely impede communication.

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.