Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-20

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 6.5)

Some individuals think that socialising with work colleagues is good, whereas there are a lot of other people, who think that it's not a good idea and office colleagues should be kept separate from your social life. I am in the opinion that it is fine to socialise with workmates, but you should take your time before trusting them as your friends.

I think that socialising with office colleagues is important, as it builds trust. You have to work with them the whole day, so it is good to know them as a person too. It more of an individual choice, but I feel more comfortable working with a teammate that I know personally. For example, recently I had a medical emergency, on the same day on which I had an important client meeting. I had a colleague who is also a dear friend and I knew that I can trust him with the meeting. So, I could attend to the medical urgency without worrying about the business meeting.

I can also see why some people exercise caution while befriending work colleagues. A lot of time, the other employees who are at your position, are also competing for the same job or promotion with you and they might take advantage of your personal weaknesses. Also, some people argue that you are already spending so much time with your office colleague, why do you want to spend your personal time with them too.

In conclusion, I would like to say that making friends at work is not such a bad idea. You just have to maintain caution and stay away from people who might try to betray you for their personal gains. It is fine if you spend your personal time with someone as long as you are happy about it.

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 supported by a personal example regarding a medical emergency. However, the development of the opposing view is slightly less detailed than the supporting view. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the stance. To reach a higher band, ensure that the arguments for the opposing view are as thoroughly explored and supported as your own opinion, perhaps by adding a specific hypothetical scenario or a broader societal observation to balance the essay structure.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'For example', 'Also', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to link ideas. However, some transitions between sentences could be more sophisticated to improve the flow. For instance, the transition between the second and third paragraphs is functional but could be smoother. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate, and the logical flow is maintained throughout the text, meeting the requirements for a Band 7.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning clearly. You use some appropriate collocations such as 'medical emergency', 'important client meeting', and 'take advantage of'. However, the range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simpler phrasing like 'not such a bad idea' or 'good to know them'. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more precise or academic vocabulary, such as 'professional boundaries', 'collegial relationships', or 'potential conflicts of interest'. The current range is adequate for the task but lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some minor grammatical errors, such as 'I am in the opinion' (should be 'I am of the opinion') and 'A lot of time' (should be 'A lot of the time'). While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a lack of full control over complex structures. The punctuation is generally accurate, and the sentence variety is sufficient for a Band 6. To improve, focus on reducing minor slips and incorporating a wider variety of complex grammatical forms, such as conditional sentences or passive voice, to demonstrate greater control.

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

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