IELTS Writing Task 2: Small Businesses - Band 6.5 Sample with Full Breakdown

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The Prompt

Prompt: Some people believe that small businesses are more beneficial to the economy than large corporations. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Model Answers

Band 6.5 Answer

Sample Answer:

Small businesses are often seen as the backbone of the economy, but I believe that large corporations also play a crucial role. While small businesses can drive local economic growth and provide personalized services, large corporations have the resources to innovate and create jobs on a larger scale.

On one hand, small businesses contribute significantly to the local economy. They create jobs for local residents and often cater to the specific needs of the community. For example, a small bakery can provide fresh bread and pastries that large chains might not offer. Additionally, small businesses tend to reinvest their profits back into the community, supporting other local enterprises. However, small businesses often struggle with limited resources and competition from larger companies.

On the other hand, large corporations have the financial resources to invest in research and development, leading to technological advancements and job creation. For instance, companies like Apple and Google have revolutionized industries and created millions of jobs worldwide. Large corporations also have the capacity to operate on a global scale, which can boost international trade and economic growth. Nevertheless, their size can sometimes lead to monopolistic practices and job cuts in favor of automation.

In conclusion, both small businesses and large corporations are essential for a balanced economy. Small businesses foster local economic growth and community development, while large corporations drive innovation and global economic expansion. A healthy economy requires a mix of both.

Scoring Breakdown:

• Task Response: The answer addresses the task and presents a clear position. The arguments are relevant but could be more fully extended and supported.
• Coherence and Cohesion: The information is logically organized, but there are some issues with cohesion and the use of cohesive devices.
• Lexical Resource: The range of vocabulary is sufficient, but there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation.
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The answer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but there are some errors in grammar and punctuation.

Band 7.0 Answer

Sample Answer:

The debate over whether small businesses or large corporations are more beneficial to the economy is a complex one. In my opinion, both have their advantages and disadvantages, and a balanced economy requires both.

Small businesses are vital for local economic growth. They provide jobs for local residents and often cater to the specific needs of the community. For example, a small bookstore can offer a personalized shopping experience that large chains cannot match. Additionally, small businesses tend to reinvest their profits back into the community, supporting other local enterprises. However, small businesses often face challenges such as limited resources and intense competition from larger companies.

Large corporations, on the other hand, have the financial resources to invest in research and development, leading to technological advancements and job creation. For instance, companies like Tesla and Amazon have revolutionized their respective industries and created millions of jobs worldwide. Large corporations also have the capacity to operate on a global scale, which can boost international trade and economic growth. Nevertheless, their size can sometimes lead to monopolistic practices and job cuts in favor of automation.

In conclusion, both small businesses and large corporations are essential for a balanced economy. Small businesses foster local economic growth and community development, while large corporations drive innovation and global economic expansion. A healthy economy requires a mix of both.

Scoring Breakdown:

• Task Response: The answer addresses the task and presents a clear position. The arguments are relevant and fully extended and supported.
• Coherence and Cohesion: The information is logically organized, and there is a clear progression throughout. The use of cohesive devices is effective.
• Lexical Resource: The range of vocabulary is sufficient, and there are some less common lexical items used appropriately.
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The answer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, and there is a good control of grammar and punctuation.

Band 8.0 Answer

Sample Answer:

The role of small businesses versus large corporations in the economy is a topic of much debate. In my view, both types of businesses have unique advantages that contribute to economic growth in different ways.

Small businesses are often the lifeblood of local economies. They create jobs for local residents and provide personalized services that large corporations cannot match. For example, a small restaurant can offer a unique dining experience that chains like McDonald's cannot replicate. Additionally, small businesses tend to reinvest their profits back into the community, supporting other local enterprises. However, small businesses often struggle with limited resources and intense competition from larger companies.

Large corporations, on the other hand, have the financial resources to invest in research and development, leading to technological advancements and job creation. For instance, companies like SpaceX and Microsoft have revolutionized their respective industries and created millions of jobs worldwide. Large corporations also have the capacity to operate on a global scale, which can boost international trade and economic growth. Nevertheless, their size can sometimes lead to monopolistic practices and job cuts in favor of automation.

In conclusion, both small businesses and large corporations are essential for a balanced economy. Small businesses foster local economic growth and community development, while large corporations drive innovation and global economic expansion. A healthy economy requires a mix of both.

Scoring Breakdown:

• Task Response: The answer addresses the task and presents a clear position. The arguments are relevant, fully extended, and supported with specific examples.
• Coherence and Cohesion: The information is logically organized, and there is a clear progression throughout. The use of cohesive devices is effective and sophisticated.
• Lexical Resource: The range of vocabulary is varied and precise, and there are many less common lexical items used appropriately.
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The answer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, and there is a good control of grammar and punctuation.

Vocabulary Highlights

1. Backbone (noun) - the most important part of something. Example: Small businesses are the backbone of the local economy.
2. Reinvest (verb) - to invest money again in a business or project. Example: Small businesses tend to reinvest their profits back into the community.
3. Monopolistic (adjective) - relating to a situation where one company has exclusive control of a commodity or service. Example: Their size can sometimes lead to monopolistic practices.
4. Automation (noun) - the use of machines or computers to do work that was previously done by people. Example: Job cuts in favor of automation.
5. Personalized (adjective) - made or done to meet the needs or tastes of a particular person. Example: A small bookstore can offer a personalized shopping experience.
6. Innovation (noun) - the introduction of new ideas, methods, or products. Example: Large corporations drive innovation and global economic expansion.
7. Technological advancements (noun phrase) - developments in technology. Example: Large corporations have the financial resources to invest in research and development, leading to technological advancements.
8. Global scale (noun phrase) - on a worldwide level. Example: Large corporations have the capacity to operate on a global scale.
9. Intense competition (noun phrase) - strong rivalry. Example: Small businesses often face intense competition from larger companies.
10. Localized (adjective) - relating to a particular area or region. Example: Small businesses cater to the localized needs of the community.
11. Revolutionized (verb) - to change something completely and usually rapidly into a better form or condition. Example: Companies like Apple and Google have revolutionized industries.
12. Economic growth (noun phrase) - an increase in the production of goods and services in an economy. Example: Small businesses foster local economic growth.
13. Job creation (noun phrase) - the process of creating new jobs. Example: Large corporations drive job creation on a global scale.
14. Community development (noun phrase) - the process of improving the social, economic, and environmental conditions in a community. Example: Small businesses foster community development.
15. Balanced economy (noun phrase) - an economy that has a mix of different types of businesses and industries. Example: A healthy economy requires a balanced economy.

Common Mistakes

1. Lack of Specific Examples: Many students fail to provide specific examples to support their arguments, which can weaken their response.
2. Poor Task Response: Some students may not fully address the task, either by not presenting a clear position or by not extending their arguments fully.
3. Inadequate Vocabulary: Using limited vocabulary can make the response seem less sophisticated and can affect the lexical resource score.
4. Grammatical Errors: Common grammatical errors can detract from the overall quality of the response and affect the grammatical range and accuracy score.
5. Poor Cohesion and Cohesion: Failing to use cohesive devices effectively can make the response difficult to follow and can affect the coherence and cohesion score.

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