Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-13

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 7.0)

The debate about whether to intermingle with acquaintances after work-hours or not is highly contentious. While some find it a great way to bond others think it is imperative to keep a distinct boundary between work colleagues and personal life. In my opinion, we should maintain a balance of both in life.

On one hand, the socializing with colleagues is an excellent way to maintain a healthy bond. This is because if workers spend their free time during evenings and weekends together, they can develop deep mutual understanding over time. As a result, colleagues provide back up to each other and work collaboratively as a team which not only enhances their performance but also increases their workplace productivity. For instance, many employers arrange family get-togethers for their employees especially on the occasions like Christmas which promote friendships and social support among them.

On the other hand, some individuals like to keep their work and personal lives separate. This means they want to get completely detached from their work environment once they clock out and enjoy their leisure time with their families and friends. They believe that hanging out with co-workers after work bring back job related discussions and does not let them to totally switch off from their job.

In conclusion, although socializing with work colleagues is desirable to promote healthy relationship, switching off from the work related discussions is crucial to unwind and recharge batteries. Therefore, in my opinion, a nuanced approach in which a balance of both is desirable to keep respectful boundaries.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both perspectives and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and logically developed, such as the benefits of team bonding versus the need for mental detachment. The position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, the development could be slightly more expansive; for instance, providing a more specific personal example or a more detailed explanation of how a 'nuanced approach' works in practice would strengthen the argument. Overall, the response is well-focused and meets the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'As a result' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the relationship between the two viewpoints and the author's opinion is clearly established. The use of referencing is generally accurate, contributing to the overall flow of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is generally appropriate and sufficient for the task. Phrases like 'highly contentious', 'imperative', and 'nuanced approach' demonstrate a good range. There are minor issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'intermingle with acquaintances' (colleagues would be more precise) and 'provide back up to each other' (support is more formal). However, these do not impede communication. The student attempts to use less common vocabulary, which is a positive feature, though some choices could be more precise to achieve a higher level of sophistication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'the socializing' (the article is unnecessary here), 'does not let them to totally switch off' (the 'to' is redundant after 'let'), and 'a balance of both is desirable' (the subject-verb agreement is correct, but the phrasing is slightly repetitive). Despite these occasional errors, the meaning is always clear, and the punctuation is generally accurate. The control of grammar is sufficient to maintain a professional tone throughout the response.

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