Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-02

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)

For the past few decades, some people may think that people have had to spend most of their time with their work colleagues during evenings and weekends. While other individuals argue that the working life should be completely separate from social life. This essay will discuss both scenarios in the further paragraphs before reaching the conclusion.

On the one hand, people think that it is good to socialize with work colleagues during the free time and even on weekends, because it has lots of benefits to do such get-togethers outside the office. It enhances the quality of work while they change their state of mind by doing some productive discussion outside the office. Ultimately, the projects have been completed within the timelines. For instance, one of my colleagues had completed their projects by doing extra work outside the office hours.

On the other hand, some individuals may think that it is important to keep working life fully separate from social life, because it has several advantages. It gives better time to spend with family members. Overwork can distract the person from their work, and they cannot refresh their mind without doing any extra things. They also get some health concerns by doing extra work on weekends. For example, one of my friends, Mr. Mukesh enjoyed his life with their family by doing work within the working hours.

According to me, I firmly believe that it is important to keep working life fully separate from social life, as it has several advantages as discussed earlier.

In conclusion, people should have to separate their working life from their personal life. So that they can live their lives without any significant issues.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument for socializing is supported by a vague example about 'completing projects,' which does not clearly explain how socializing leads to better work outcomes. Similarly, the counter-argument relies on general statements about health and family time without deep exploration. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your points with more specific, logical reasoning rather than relying on brief, anecdotal examples. The position is clear, but the supporting arguments lack the depth required for a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'On the other hand,' and 'Ultimately' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, the transition from the benefits of socializing to the example provided is slightly abrupt. The paragraphing is appropriate, and there is a clear progression of ideas throughout the text, which helps the reader follow your argument without confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'socialize,' 'productive discussion,' and 'significant issues.' However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of slightly unnatural word choices, such as 'doing extra things' or 'get some health concerns.' To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and less common academic vocabulary. The vocabulary used is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, but it lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for a higher band score. Focus on using more varied and precise language to express your ideas.

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, such as 'some people may think that people have had to spend' (tense confusion) and 'they cannot refresh their mind without doing any extra things' (awkward phrasing). Additionally, there are minor errors in subject-verb agreement and article usage. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. You should focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and attempting more complex sentence structures with greater precision.

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

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