Band 7 Example

Question: What do you think of family businesses?

Idea 1

Advantages
Model Answer
I think family businesses have some good points. For example, family members usually trust each other a lot, so they can work together well. They also care about the business more because it’s part of their family, so they are willing to work harder. Decisions can be made quickly because everyone knows each other. Also, family businesses often keep traditions and values, which is nice. And of course, it gives jobs to relatives, which helps the whole family.
Family businesses definitely have several advantages. One of the biggest is the strong trust that exists among family members, which can lead to better teamwork and loyalty. They also tend to have a long-term vision, as the business is often seen as a legacy to be passed down. Family members are usually more committed and willing to put in extra effort. Decision-making can be faster since there’s less bureaucracy, and important traditions and values are often preserved. Plus, they provide employment opportunities for relatives, which can strengthen family bonds.
Grammar Analysis
1. Comparative structures: "more committed" and "better teamwork" use comparative adjectives to show the advantages of family businesses. 2. Passive voice: "as the business is often seen as a legacy to be passed down" uses passive voice to emphasize the business as a legacy. 3. Present participle as adjective: "willing to put in extra effort" uses the present participle "willing" as an adjective to describe family members. 4. Complex sentences with relative clauses: "which can lead to better teamwork and loyalty" and "which can strengthen family bonds" use relative clauses to add detail and complexity.
Vocabulary
  • strong trust
  • better teamwork
  • loyalty
  • long-term vision
  • legacy to be passed down
  • more committed
  • put in extra effort
  • decision-making can be faster
  • less bureaucracy
  • traditions and values are preserved
  • employment opportunities for relatives
  • strengthen family bonds

Idea 2

Disadvantages
Model Answer
But there are also some problems with family businesses. Sometimes, personal feelings get in the way of business decisions, and family arguments can hurt the company. It’s also hard to keep work and family life separate, so people might feel stressed. New ideas from outside are not always welcome, and younger family members might feel forced to join the business. Also, sometimes people get jobs just because they are family, not because they are good at the job.
However, family businesses also face significant disadvantages. Personal relationships can interfere with professional decisions, and conflicts between family members can seriously damage the business. It’s often difficult to separate work from family life, leading to stress and tension. Bringing in fresh ideas from outside can be challenging, as families may prefer to stick to tradition. Younger generations might feel obligated to join the business even if they’re not interested, and nepotism can result in less qualified people holding important positions, which can harm the company’s performance.
Grammar Analysis
1. Modal verbs: "might feel obligated," "can interfere," "can seriously damage," "can be challenging," "can result," "can harm"—these modals express possibility, ability, and potential consequences, adding nuance to the analysis. 2. Complex sentences: Use of clauses such as "even if they’re not interested" and "as families may prefer to stick to tradition" demonstrates advanced sentence structure. 3. Gerund phrases: "Bringing in fresh ideas from outside" and "separating work from family life" use gerunds as subjects, showing grammatical variety. 4. Parallel structure: Listing disadvantages in a parallel way ("stress and tension," "work from family life") improves clarity and cohesion.
Vocabulary
  • significant disadvantages
  • personal relationships
  • interfere with professional decisions
  • conflicts between family members
  • damage the business
  • difficult to separate work from family life
  • stress and tension
  • bringing in fresh ideas
  • stick to tradition
  • feel obligated
  • nepotism
  • less qualified people
  • harm the company’s performance

Idea 3

My Opinion
Model Answer
In my opinion, family businesses can be good if they manage relationships well. They need to have clear rules and good communication to avoid fights. Sometimes, it’s helpful to bring in experts from outside to give new ideas. Overall, family businesses are important for the economy and community, but they have special problems. If they are managed well, I think they can be successful and last a long time.
Personally, I believe family businesses can be very successful if they handle relationships and communication effectively. Setting clear rules and boundaries is essential to prevent conflicts. It’s also a good idea to bring in outside professionals who can offer fresh perspectives and expertise. Overall, family businesses play a vital role in the economy and local communities, but they do face unique challenges. With the right management and willingness to adapt, I think they can be both rewarding and sustainable in the long run.
Grammar Analysis
1.Conditional sentence: "family businesses can be very successful if they handle relationships and communication effectively" uses a first conditional to show a possible result based on a specific condition. 2.Infinitive phrase as subject: "To bring in outside professionals" is used as a suggestion, showing the use of infinitive phrases for recommendations. 3.Complex noun phrase: "family businesses play a vital role in the economy and local communities" uses a complex noun phrase to express the importance of family businesses. 4.Prepositional phrase for time: "in the long run" is a prepositional phrase indicating duration, adding detail to the statement about sustainability.
Vocabulary
  • family businesses
  • handle relationships and communication
  • setting clear rules and boundaries
  • prevent conflicts
  • bring in outside professionals
  • fresh perspectives and expertise
  • play a vital role
  • local communities
  • unique challenges
  • right management
  • willingness to adapt
  • rewarding
  • sustainable in the long run