Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-22
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)
In recent years, it is frequently debated by some individuals whether it is appropriate to use the leisure time available on after work or on the weekends with fellow workers while other people believe it is essential to totally keep their fun live with themselves or the family. I believe socializing with one's colleagues should be practiced. In the following paragraph, I will discuss both views and highlight my perspectives.
To commence with, it essential to spend free time to have fun with other co-workers. This act would enhance familiarity. Because of completing a task in the office, people have limited or no time to spend with each other in offices which makes it difficult not to know anything about their colleagues. I believe when leisure time is being spent together, they will be more familiar with themselves which would assist in their productivity in the company and also to be available for each other in time of needs.
Despite the spending time together with fellow workers, there are strong arguments that one's social life should be kept away from colleagues. This because some people believe their free time should be for the family, because most of their time is being used to carry out one particular task or the other. They want to ha
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 fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, as it is only 215 words long and ends abruptly mid-sentence. While the essay attempts to address both sides of the argument and provides a clear position, the development is severely hampered by the incomplete nature of the text. The second body paragraph is unfinished, meaning the counter-argument is not fully explored or concluded. To reach a higher band, you must ensure that all parts of the prompt are fully developed and that the essay reaches the required length to allow for a complete discussion and a proper conclusion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay uses some basic cohesive devices such as 'To commence with' and 'Despite', which help to organize the ideas. However, the logical progression is interrupted by the incomplete ending. Paragraphing is attempted, but the final paragraph is missing entirely. Referencing is generally clear, but the flow is hindered by the abrupt termination of the text. To improve, ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and that the essay follows a logical structure from introduction to a full conclusion, using a wider variety of linking words to connect ideas more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains somewhat repetitive and basic. Phrases like 'have fun' and 'carry out one particular task' are functional but lack the precision expected at higher levels. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'fun live' (likely meant 'social life') and 'in time of needs'. To improve, focus on using more academic and precise vocabulary. For example, instead of 'have fun', use 'foster professional relationships' or 'engage in informal interaction'. Expanding your range of synonyms will help you express your ideas with greater sophistication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'the leisure time available on after work' (incorrect preposition usage) and 'This because some people believe' (missing verb 'is'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the sentence structure is often clunky. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions. Practice writing complex sentences using subordinating conjunctions like 'although', 'whereas', or 'consequently' to demonstrate better control over your grammatical range.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.