Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-12

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)

Whether employees should spend their free time socialising with colleagues is a topic of considerable debate. While some argue that building relationships outside of work is beneficial, others believe a strict separation between professional and private life is essential. This essay will discuss both views before concluding that a balanced approach is most sensible.

On the one hand, there are strong arguments in favour of socialising with work colleagues in the evenings and at weekends. Firstly, it can significantly improve teamwork and communication. When people know each other on a personal level, they are more likely to trust each other, share ideas openly and support one another during stressful projects. For example, a team that regularly has dinner together may collaborate more effectively in the office because personal bonds have reduced formal barriers. Secondly, networking in a relaxed setting can enhance career prospects. Social events often provide opportunities to talk to senior managers or colleagues from other departments whom one might not meet during normal working hours.

On the other hand, many people feel it is healthier to keep work and social life completely separate. The main reason is the need for work-life balance and mental recovery. Employees who are constantly with the same people from work may find it difficult to switch off, which can lead to burnout. Having friends and interests outside of work allows a person to relax and return to work with fresh energy. Furthermore, mixing social and professional life can sometimes create problems.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both views on socialising with colleagues and providing a clear personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. Ideas are relevant and supported with explanations and examples, such as how team dinners improve collaboration and how social events aid networking. However, the length requirement of 250 words is not met, as the response stands at 248 words. This represents a minor negative under-length infraction that prevents the score from reaching a higher band, resulting in a capped score of 6.0 based on the official task response descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement with a clear logical progression throughout. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with distinct introduction, body, and concluding sections. Cohesive devices are used effectively to signal transitions between ideas, such as 'On the one hand', 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'On the other hand'. Referencing is clear and appropriate throughout the text. While the final paragraph cuts off slightly abruptly due to the word count limitation, the logical organisation remains strong and easy to follow, easily satisfying the requirements for Band 7.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The writer uses a sufficient range of vocabulary with adequate flexibility and precision for the task. Less common lexical items are attempted with good awareness of style and collocation, such as 'considerable debate', 'professional and private life', 'mental recovery', and 'work-life balance'. Word choice is generally natural, and spelling is accurate throughout. Although there are no major lexical errors, the vocabulary range is solid rather than wide or sophisticated, fitting comfortably into the Band 7 descriptor criteria.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay exhibits a good variety of complex structures alongside simple sentence forms. The majority of sentences are error-free, demonstrating good control of grammar and punctuation. Examples of complex structures include 'While some argue that building relationships outside of work is beneficial, others believe a strict separation...' and 'Employees who are constantly with the same people from work may find it difficult to switch off...'. Grammatical control is strong, with only minor issues related to the truncated ending. This reflects solid Band 7 performance.

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.