Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-04
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
Some people think that it’s a good idea to socialise with work colleagues during evenings and weekends. Other people think it’s important to keep working life completely separate from social life.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
Some people support the idea of socializing with work colleagues outside of working hours, while others believe that working life should not interfere in social life. This essay will discuss both perspectives before explaining why I believe that socialization with work mates is beneficial for both work and social life.
On the one hand, outings with work colleagues during evenings and weekends are important to develop social network. It helps to build stronger connections with team mates, supporting a positive and friendly work environment. For example, meetings outside of work environment can favor better understanding and avoid conflicts between colleagues, which can help to get along better in the group projects.
On the other hand, social meetings with colleagues can avoid a person to spend enough time with their families and closed ones, affecting their personal lives. A worker doesn't left with sufficient time after office hours to stay with their loved ones, and using the personal hours with their colleagues can neglect completely their personal relations.
In conclusion, while socializing with work colleagues can make a hinderance in the personal lives of individuals, it is really favorable to enhance social life by spending more time with colleagues.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion in the introduction. However, the essay is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement, which severely limits the development of ideas. The arguments provided are somewhat superficial; for instance, the point about 'social network' is mentioned but not fully extended with specific examples or deeper analysis. Because the response is 52 words short, the development of the topic is incomplete, leading to a lower score in this criterion as the task requirements were not fully met.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, and there is a logical progression of ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are used to signal the structure of the argument. However, the transitions between sentences are sometimes mechanical, and the limited length prevents the use of more sophisticated cohesive links. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the overall flow is hindered by the brevity of the content.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are some attempts at collocation, such as 'positive and friendly work environment' and 'group projects'. However, the range is limited, and there are some awkward phrasings, such as 'make a hinderance' (should be 'hinder' or 'create a hindrance') and 'closed ones' (should be 'loved ones'). The vocabulary is functional but lacks the variety and precision required for a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. Examples include 'A worker doesn't left with sufficient time' (should be 'is not left') and 'neglect completely their personal relations' (awkward word order). These errors do not usually impede communication, but they demonstrate a lack of control over more complex grammatical forms. A wider range of error-free complex structures is needed for a higher score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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