Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-18

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)

It is often argued that people should spend their evenings and weekends socializing with their colleagues, while others believe that professional and personal lives should ne kept completely separate. Although socializing with colleagues can strengthen relationships at work, I believe that maintaining healthy boundary between work and personal life is more essential.

On the one hand, spending time with colleagues outside working hours can have several advantages. Firstly, it helps employees develop stronger bond and build trust with one another. When colleagues know each other personally, they may communicate more comfortably and cooperate in better wat at work. Secondly, social activities such as having dinner, attending parties or on going trips can reduce workplace stress and create a friendly working environment. For example, colleagues who regularly participate in informal gathering may find it easier to support each other when they face difficulties at work.

On the other hand, there are good reasons for keeping work and social life separate. After spending several hours at work, people often need time to relax and focus on their families, hobbies and personal interests. If employees are constantly surrounded by their colleagues, they may find it difficult to switch from work-related responsibilities. Moreover, not everyone enjoys socializing with coworkers, and forcing employees to participate in such activities could make them feel uncomfortable or stressed.

In my opinion, occasional socializing with colleagues is beneficial, but it should not become an obligation. Employees should have the freedom to decide how they spend their free time. A reasonable balance would be to participate in important work place celebrations while keeping most evenings and weekends for personal life.

In conclusion, socializing with colleagues can improve team work and work place relationships, but completely separating work from personal life can provide greater relaxation and personal freedom. Therefore, i believe that occasional social interaction, rather than frequent socializing, is the best approach.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response7.0
Coherence and Cohesion7.5
Lexical Resource6.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy7.0
Overall7.0

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 well-supported with logical arguments. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the main points while reiterating the writer's stance. To reach a higher band, the development of the arguments could be slightly more nuanced, perhaps by exploring the impact of different workplace cultures or industries on the need for social boundaries.

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 two viewpoints is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Moreover', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different stages of the argument. The flow is natural, and the relationship between ideas is consistently clear throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is generally appropriate and sufficient for the task. The student uses some good collocations like 'strengthen relationships', 'workplace stress', and 'personal interests'. There are minor errors, such as 'cooperate in better wat' (should be 'way') and 'informal gathering' (should be plural 'gatherings'). While the range is adequate, incorporating more sophisticated or precise vocabulary—such as 'professional detachment' or 'camaraderie'—would elevate the lexical score further.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a good command of complex sentence structures, such as the use of 'Although' clauses and conditional structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the meaning is always clear. There are a few minor slips, such as 'ne kept' (typo for 'be kept') and 'important work place' (should be 'workplace'). Punctuation is generally accurate, though there is a minor capitalization error with 'i' in the final paragraph. Overall, the control of grammar is strong.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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