Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-11-04

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)

Nowadays many people believe that set their own businesses are more beneficial, rather than working under a company or organization. In this essay we will examine why people choose this and also discuss some drawbacks of having self-employed.

Many people wants to become self-employed there are many reasons of choosing these type of professions. Some people wants freedom in their lives, because they does not like the rigid routine of offices. If people set their own businesses, they became more independent and productive and become more hardworking to lead their businesses toward the success. For instance, I saw a young man on internet his name was Assad. He set his own business of fast food in Lahore, because he did not like his office routine and wanted to do some thing on his own behalf . Although, he has enough budget but hi work day and night to become more successful, and now he run a big restaurant because of his hard work and ambition.

Their are also many drawbacks of self-employed, first we need financial support for running own business, and a lot of experience about the work which we have to start. We have also need to become more consistent and hardworking, because for leading a business we have to work day and night. Most people start their businesses, but when they face some difficulties they become demotivate and leave their business. The main disadvantage of self-employed is spoil their work because of demotivation and lack of experiences.

In conclusion, self-employed might be very beneficial for many people who wants freedom and gain experience, but it demands a suitable amount of money and consistency for successful business.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.0
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses both questions and maintains a relevant focus. It gives plausible reasons for self-employment, especially wanting freedom from a rigid office routine and greater independence, and identifies financial needs, demanding hours, and the risk of losing motivation as disadvantages. The Lahore restaurant example helps illustrate the motivation, but it mainly develops the benefit of hard work rather than explaining the broader reasons people choose self-employment. Some drawbacks are also asserted rather than fully explained—for example, the claim that people may abandon a business when difficulties arise could be supported with a clearer consequence or example. To strengthen the response, develop each main point with a more precise explanation and ensure the disadvantages are as fully explored as the advantages.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, a paragraph on reasons, a paragraph on disadvantages, and a conclusion. This makes the response easy to follow, and transitions such as “For instance” and “In conclusion” help signal the direction of the discussion. However, some connections are mechanical or unclear. The opening of the second paragraph, “Many people wants to become self-employed there are many reasons,” joins two ideas without adequate punctuation or a linking structure. Within the disadvantages paragraph, the points about money, experience, consistency, and demotivation are listed, but their relationship is not always made explicit. Use clearer topic sentences and connect each drawback to its practical effect; also check pronoun references such as “their work” so the reader can identify whose work is meant.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate to discuss the topic, with relevant terms such as “rigid routine,” “independent,” “financial support,” and “demotivation.” The example also includes specific language about a fast-food business and a restaurant. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, including “set their own businesses are more beneficial,” “having self-employed,” and “spoil their work.” Spelling and word-form slips such as “hi” for “he” and “some thing” also reduce precision. Aim for natural business-related expressions and check whether a word is being used as a noun, adjective, or verb. More precise vocabulary would help distinguish the initial investment required from the ongoing financial risks of running a business.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more complex sentences, including a reason clause with “because,” a conditional sentence beginning “If people set their own businesses,” and a concession introduced by “Although.” These attempts show some range, but errors in agreement and verb forms occur across the essay: “Many people wants,” “they does not like,” “they became,” and “now he run.” Sentence boundaries also need attention; “Many people wants to become self-employed there are many reasons” contains two main clauses without suitable punctuation or a conjunction. Articles and sentence construction are sometimes inaccurate as well. Review subject–verb agreement and keep verb tense consistent when describing the example. Building accurate sentences first, then adding subordinate clauses, will make the ideas clearer.

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