Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

In today's era, many people prefer to be self-employed, rather than working for someone. This could be credited to factors such as not being recognised. But this does bring many disadvantages along such as creating your own opportunities.

While working for an organisation, you might feel that your efforts are not being fully recognised. In the vast sea of employees, you may not be truly valued. In addition you may become used to burning the midnight oil. Considering the deadlines of the already assigned work, you may be asked to work overtime with minimal pay. For example, an employee being asked to create a presentation at his departing time for an urgent meeting the next day. As a result, the personal life of the employees is imbalanced as expectations are pretty high.

Although the stress of these above mentioned factors vanishes from the mind of a self-employed person, the danger still lurks over him. You have to create your own opportunities now. There is no one to guide you. For instance, you no longer have to follow a set pattern but have to find your own clients and arrange meetings. Consequently, self-pressure is increased.

Furthermore, you never know when you are going to hit the bullet. Monthly salary is not credited anymore. Quoting an example, you might not find clients in a month and eventually it means no business. Hence, the demotion from being self-employed to unemployed is of high probability.

In conclusion, self-employment comes with both advantages and disadvantages. The anxiety of your hard work not being appreciated for working like a hog no longer exists. However, more efforts are required in finding opportunities and avoiding the terrible times.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses both questions: it suggests that employees may feel unrecognised or overworked, and identifies the challenges of finding clients and having an uncertain income when self-employed. The examples, such as being asked to prepare a presentation after work and having no business in a month, make the points relevant. However, the reasons for choosing self-employment are less fully explained than its disadvantages. The opening phrase “This could be credited to factors such as not being recognised” is also unclear about how that experience leads someone to become self-employed. The conclusion summarises the contrast but does not add much development. Explain the link between workplace dissatisfaction and the decision to work independently, then extend each main disadvantage with a clearer consequence or example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay has a clear overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs on workplace dissatisfaction and self-employment risks, and a conclusion. Ideas generally progress in a sensible order, and examples are placed near the points they support. Linking expressions such as “For example,” “As a result,” and “Furthermore” help guide the reader. At times, however, cohesion feels mechanical or the reference is unclear. “These above mentioned factors” is awkwardly repetitive, while “Although the stress of these above mentioned factors vanishes” makes the transition sound as if the stress disappears entirely. The conclusion also shifts to “working like a hog” without a smooth connection to the earlier discussion. Use more precise references and vary transitions by showing the actual relationship between ideas.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

There is an adequate range of vocabulary for discussing employment, including “recognised,” “overtime,” “clients,” “self-pressure,” and “monthly salary.” The writer also attempts less common expressions such as “burning the midnight oil” and “hit the bullet,” showing willingness to use idiomatic language. Some choices are inaccurate or unnatural, though, and they sometimes make the meaning less precise: “credited to factors” does not naturally express a cause, “hit the bullet” is not the intended idiom, and “demotion from being self-employed to unemployed” is an unsuitable collocation. “Working like a hog” is also an awkward fit for the conclusion. Prefer clear, conventional phrasing and check idioms and collocations before using them.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including conditional structures (“you might feel”) and a concessive clause beginning “Although.” Most sentences communicate their main meaning, and punctuation generally supports readability. Some grammatical inaccuracies remain. In “For example, an employee being asked to create a presentation,” the example is a fragment rather than a complete sentence; it could be joined to the preceding sentence or rewritten with a finite verb. “Considering the deadlines of the already assigned work” is also an awkwardly constructed opening phrase, and “the personal life of the employees is imbalanced” has an unclear singular/plural relationship. Aim to make examples complete sentences and check that introductory phrases and subjects connect clearly to the main clause.

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