Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-27

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In some countries, more and more people are hiring a personal fitness trainer, rather than playing sports or doing exercise classes. What are the reasons for this? Is this a positive or a negative development?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 7.5)

In many parts of the world, an increasing number of people are hiring personal fitness trainers instead of attending fitness classes or participating in sports. This is mainly due to concerns about sustaining injuries and the growing influence of public figures. I firmly believe that this is a negative development, as people may become dependent on trainers and miss out on the numerous benefits of other forms of exercise.

There are several reasons why personal trainers have become increasingly popular. One major factor is the desire to exercise safely and effectively. Many people, particularly those who are inexperienced, are concerned about performing exercises incorrectly and suffering injuries. A personal trainer can design a suitable workout programme, demonstrate the correct techniques and monitor an individual's progress. As a result, people may feel more confident about exercising under professional supervision. Another reason is the influence of celebrities and social media personalities. Fitness influencers frequently share their workout routines and promote personal training as an efficient way to achieve a desirable physique. This can encourage their followers to adopt the same approach.

Despite these advantages, I believe that the growing preference for personal trainers is largely a negative development. Firstly, relying heavily on a trainer can make individuals less independent. Instead of learning how to exercise appropriately and developing their own fitness routines, they may feel unable to work out without professional guidance. This can be particularly problematic when a person can no longer afford or access a trainer. Secondly, people who exclusively use personal training may miss out on the social and psychological benefits of sports and group exercise. Participating in activities such as football, swimming or group fitness classes can help people develop friendships, teamwork skills and a sense of belonging. These benefits are difficult to obtain from one-to-one training.

In conclusion, people are increasingly choosing personal trainers because they want professional guidance and are influenced by fitness-related content on social media. Although personal training can provide safety and personalised support, I believe that excessive reliance on trainers is a negative trend because it can reduce people's independence and prevent them from enjoying the broader physical and social benefits of sports and group exercise.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly identify two reasons for the rise of personal trainers—safety concerns and social media influence—and provide a well-reasoned argument for why this is a negative development. Your position is consistent throughout the essay, and the ideas are well-extended with relevant examples, such as the mention of teamwork and social benefits. The structure is logical, and the content is directly relevant to the task, demonstrating a clear understanding of the requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the reasons for the trend and the evaluation of its impact is smooth. You make effective use of cohesive devices such as 'As a result', 'Another reason is', and 'Despite these advantages' to link your points. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion, ensuring the reader can follow your argument without difficulty.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for an academic task. Phrases like 'professional supervision', 'desirable physique', and 'excessive reliance' show a level of precision and sophistication. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the context well, it remains largely functional. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more idiomatic expressions or less common collocations to demonstrate a more flexible and fluent range of language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a high level of grammatical control. You use a variety of complex sentence structures effectively, such as conditional clauses and participial phrases (e.g., 'Instead of learning how to exercise appropriately and developing their own fitness routines...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your punctuation is accurate throughout. There are no significant grammatical slips that impede communication, and the overall flow is natural and professional.

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