Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-22

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 5.5)

In contemporary era, individuals believe that self employed is beneficial, instead of work for a company or organisation. However, nowadays person consider that own business is effective because individual can perform without any burden of owner, also it has various disadvantages of self employed such as budget, rent of space and minor sale.

In todays world, person has right to grow their own business. Which has multiple benefit like ownership, freedom. Furthermore, individual can work freely without any burden, although flexible time for work and they can hire workers for company. For example, if individual have their own operation they have right to open or close work any time in any occasion, which is positive side of self business.

Running business had various drawbacks, it could be challenging because of competition in market with alternative brands. At starting of business, sales will depend on the places, and on customer.

In addition, own business has disadvantage as rent of space, worker salary, bill of electricity and water. For example, to run a business need proper guidance of how the market works and how to satisfy consumer requirements, however business takes time and it grow gradually. Moreover, to grow agency need huge assist and government signature to run business, so it could be complex to get surety by authority.

To conclude ,individuals have right to chose between work or business, but it could complex for everyone because every individuals could not available to run business due to requirement of significant amount. From my perspective, if person had funds go for business or if citizens do not have assist they can work for company with good amount.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both parts of the question: you suggest that self-employment offers ownership, freedom and flexible working hours, and you identify costs, competition and uncertain sales as disadvantages. These are relevant points, and the example of choosing when to open or close a business helps illustrate the benefits. However, the reasons people choose self-employment are only briefly explained, and several disadvantages are listed without showing their effects on the owner. The point about needing government approval is also unclear and not developed. Your conclusion gives a preference based on whether someone has funds, but the overall position could be stated more clearly. Explain each main idea with a specific consequence or example to make the response more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for benefits and drawbacks, and a conclusion. This helps the reader follow the broad direction of your answer. You also use linking expressions such as “Furthermore,” “In addition,” and “To conclude.” However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes uneven: the benefits paragraph moves from freedom to flexible hours and hiring workers without clearly connecting these points. Some transitions, including “however” in the drawbacks paragraph, do not show a clear contrast between the ideas around them. References such as “it” and “they” can also be unclear. Organise each paragraph around one central point and use linking words only when their relationship between ideas is precise.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some vocabulary relevant to the topic, including “competition,” “customer,” “consumer requirements,” and “flexible time,” so the reader can understand the general subject. There are also attempts to express business-related ideas beyond very basic terms. However, the range is limited and several phrases are unnatural or imprecise, such as “burden of owner,” “minor sale,” “huge assist,” and “get surety by authority.” Repetition of “business,” “individual,” and “disadvantage” also limits variety. Choose more natural collocations and use precise terms for costs, income and business support. For example, describe “low sales” or “financial support” rather than relying on unclear phrases; this will make your ideas easier to understand.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, including clauses introduced by “because,” “although” and “if.” This shows an effort to connect ideas rather than relying entirely on short sentences. However, errors in sentence construction and basic grammar are frequent enough to make some sentences difficult to follow. For example, “Which has multiple benefit” is an incomplete sentence, while “if individual have” and “every individuals could not available” show problems with agreement and clause structure. Articles, plurals and verb forms are also inconsistent. Work on building complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check agreement and tense. Accurate simple sentences should come first; then add subordinate clauses where the relationship between ideas is clear.

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