Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-01

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)

Nowadays, most of the people choose to be self-employed instead of working for a company or organisation. There might be a number or reasons along with an ample number of mindsets.

In my opinion, in today's world people don't compromise on their independence, they think working for another company restricts them to live their life as per their own choices. They believe if they are self employed, they are the rulers of their own kingdom. This freedom allows them to achieve a better work-life balance and pursue projects that match their interests and skills. Furthermore, advancements in technology and the internet have made it easier than ever to start a business. For example, freelance platforms, e-commerce websites, and digital marketing tools enable individuals to work independently and reach customers around the world with relatively low startup costs.

Furthermore, the trend of earning more while being self employed is increasing in today's generation.In many professions, skilled individuals can earn more by working directly with clients than by receiving a fixed salary from an employer. For instance, experienced software developers, consultants, and graphic designers often establish their own businesses to maximize their income.

Despite these benefits, self-employment has several disadvantages. The most significant drawback is financial instability. Unlike salaried employees who receive regular monthly income, self-employed individuals may experience fluctuations in earnings depending on market demand and the availability of clients.

Additionally, self-employed people generally do not receive employment benefits such as paid leave, health insurance, retirement plans, or job security. They are also responsible for managing taxes, accounting, marketing, and other administrative tasks, which can be both time-consuming and stressful.

In conclusion, people are increasingly choosing self-employment because it offers flexibility, independence, and the possibility of higher income. However, self-employment also involves considerable challenges, including financial uncertainty, lack of employee benefits, and increased responsibility.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt by explaining both the reasons for choosing self-employment and its disadvantages, maintaining a clear position throughout. Ideas are extended and supported with relevant examples, such as mentioning freelance platforms, e-commerce websites, and specific professions like software developers and graphic designers. However, there is a slight tendency to over-generalise in the opening paragraph regarding 'most of the people'. To reach a higher band, the main arguments could be pushed further with even deeper analysis or more nuanced personal examples, avoiding occasional generalisations.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information and ideas are coherently linked, and paragraphing is managed well, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of the topic, such as independence, financial benefits, drawbacks, and administrative burdens. Cohesive devices like 'Furthermore', 'Despite these benefits', and 'Additionally' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. To achieve a superior band, referencing could be even more seamless, and cohesion could occasionally be less formulaic to avoid minor mechanical transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The writer uses a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision, incorporating less common lexical items such as 'financial instability', 'administrative tasks', and 'work-life balance'. Word choice is generally appropriate, though there are minor slips such as 'number or reasons' instead of 'number of reasons'. The vocabulary allows the writer to convey precise meanings about professional life and economic shifts. To elevate this criterion further, a more adventurous and sophisticated range of less common collocations and idiomatic phrases could be integrated more fluidly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

A variety of complex structures is successfully employed, including conditional and relative clauses, alongside frequent error-free sentences. There is good overall control of grammar and punctuation, demonstrated in sentences such as 'Unlike salaried employees who receive regular monthly income, self-employed individuals may experience fluctuations...'. A few minor errors persist, such as omitting an article or misusing a preposition, but these do not impede communication. To attain a higher level, the writer would need to consistently produce a wider variety of sophisticated syntactic structures with near-total accuracy across the entire text.

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