IELTS Writing Task 2: Self-Employment (Band 9 Sample Answer)
This Task 2 question asks you to explain why self-employment has become more popular and to weigh up its drawbacks. A band-9 response answers both parts fully, develops each reason with a concrete consequence, and keeps a clear position throughout. Below is a model answer of roughly 260 words, followed by a breakdown of why it scores 9 on all four criteria.
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01 · The task
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?
02 · Band 9 sample answer
261 words · Band 9A growing number of people are now abandoning conventional employment in favour of working for themselves. This shift is driven largely by the desire for autonomy and flexibility, though it carries real financial and personal risks that should not be underestimated.
1. Why people choose self-employment
The most compelling reason is control. When you are your own boss, you decide which projects to take on, how to price your work and when to do it, rather than answering to a manager whose priorities may not match your own. This flexibility is especially valuable to parents and carers, who can arrange their hours around family commitments in a way that a rigid nine-to-five rarely permits.
Many are also motivated by earning potential and personal fulfilment. Rather than accepting a fixed salary, the self-employed keep whatever their business generates, and they can build a career around a genuine passion instead of a role assigned to them.
2. The disadvantages
The clearest drawback is income insecurity. Without a guaranteed monthly wage, earnings can fluctuate sharply, and a quiet month can quickly become stressful for those without a financial cushion. The self-employed also forfeit benefits that employees take for granted, such as paid holiday, sick leave and pension contributions.
Equally significant is the burden of sole responsibility. Every task, from finding clients to filing taxes, falls on one person, and this can lead to long hours and eventual burnout.
In conclusion, people increasingly opt for self-employment because it offers freedom and the chance to profit directly from their efforts, but this independence comes at the cost of stability and a healthy work-life balance.
03 · Why this scores Band 9
Both questions are answered in full: two developed reasons ("why") and two developed disadvantages, each taken beyond a bare statement to its real-world consequence (e.g. income insecurity → stress without a cushion). A clear position is maintained from introduction to conclusion.
Ideas are logically grouped — reasons, then drawbacks — with each paragraph built around one central idea. Cohesion is natural rather than mechanical: "The most compelling reason", "Equally significant", "In conclusion" guide the reader without a checklist of memorised linkers.
Vocabulary is precise and idiomatic — "answering to a manager", "a financial cushion", "forfeit benefits", "eventual burnout" — used correctly in context. Nothing is thesaurus-stuffed; every "advanced" word is the natural choice, which is exactly what band 9 rewards.
A wide range of structures appears with full control: relative clauses ("a manager whose priorities may not match"), a fronted participial phrase ("Rather than accepting a fixed salary, the self-employed keep…") and a noun clause ("whatever their business generates"). The writing is error-free without forcing complexity for its own sake.
04 · Useful collocations for this task
Tap a phrase to see what it means and how to use it. Natural collocations like these lift your Lexical Resource score.
05 · Frequently asked questions
How long should an IELTS Writing Task 2 essay be?
You must write at least 250 words. A band-9 response is usually 260–290 words — long enough to develop every idea fully, but not padded. This model answer is 261 words.
Do I have to give my own opinion in this question?
This is a "reasons + disadvantages" question, so a formal opinion is not required. However, a clear stance — here, that the freedom is real but comes at a cost — makes the essay more coherent and is rewarded under Task Response.
How many reasons and disadvantages should I include?
Two well-developed points on each side is ideal. Examiners reward depth over quantity: a reason explained down to its consequence scores higher than four reasons merely listed.
Is advanced vocabulary the key to band 9?
No. Band 9 rewards precise, natural word choice, not rare words. A misused "impressive" word scores worse than a well-chosen common one. Aim for correct collocation and register.
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