Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-08

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 5.0)

There is no denying the fact that the phenomenon of many people to be self employed, rather than to work for a company or organisation is ubiquitous across the globe due to its paramount important. My own thought opines that it is laudable however others consider that a couple of problems also occurs because of the same. Although they have a plethora of merits yet numerous demerits are also there which will be elaborated in this essay.

Initiating with the best possible cases there will be a communication gap or misleading of their power are there as today's youngsters will not happy at all for doing some extra work or hard work for others they already built a mindset for not work for others. As the environment of many organisation is also not so good and the behaviour of senior level executives are rude and toxic for the lower level workers this also creates some negativity in the environment.

On the paradoxical side, there are many drawbacks as well. First and foremost will be after taking this step most of the youth will be facing unemployement after few months which result's them in depression or anxiety as well. Going forward other disadvantage is irregular income source, there is no employee benefit as well they will facing some long hour work also which tottaly imact on their health.

To conclude, without any doubt this is a mixed bag. If this topic has many positives then the negatives points of this notion may not be underestimated.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response4.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.0
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.0

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify reasons people may prefer self-employment, including dissatisfaction with toxic workplaces and reluctance to work for others, and you mention disadvantages such as unstable income, lack of benefits, long hours, and possible effects on health. However, the response only partially addresses the task: the reasons are unclear in places, and the disadvantages are listed rather than explained or supported with examples. The opening also refers to “merits” and “demerits” without establishing a clear, consistent position. The response is 241 words, so it does not meet the 250-word minimum; 13 words copied from the task prompt were not counted. Develop each main point with a clear explanation and a relevant example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic essay shape, with an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Signposts such as “On the paradoxical side” and “To conclude” help indicate the stages of the discussion. However, progression within paragraphs is often difficult to follow: the first body paragraph begins with “there will be a communication gap,” which does not clearly connect to the reasons that follow, and several ideas are joined without showing their relationship. The contrast between advantages and disadvantages is also not consistently organised. Use one focused paragraph for reasons and another for drawbacks, with each paragraph beginning with a clear topic sentence and developing points in a logical order.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You attempt a range of formal and topic-related vocabulary, including “ubiquitous,” “toxic,” “irregular income source,” and “employee benefit.” This shows an effort to discuss the topic beyond very basic terms. However, many choices are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “paramount important,” “my own thought opines,” and “misleading of their power,” which can make the intended meaning difficult to understand. Spelling and word-form errors, including “unemployement,” “tottaly,” and “imact,” also reduce clarity. Aim for precise, natural collocations rather than inserting elaborate expressions. For example, “important reason” or “major factor” would be clearer than “paramount important,” and “unstable income” is more idiomatic than “irregular income source.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a concession structure beginning “Although they have a plethora of merits…” and a conditional sentence in the conclusion. However, complex structures are often faulty, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences hard to follow. For example, “many people to be self employed … is ubiquitous” has an incorrect verb pattern and agreement, while “the behaviour … are rude” mismatches subject and verb. Other problems include “youngsters will not happy” and “they will facing,” which omit required verb forms. Sentence boundaries and punctuation also need attention, particularly where several ideas run together. Practise building accurate subject–verb–object sentences first, then add subordinate clauses while checking verb forms and agreement.

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