Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-16

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 7.5)

The debate about whether or not to socialise with acquaintances after office hours is contentious. Although some people prefer to keep a distinct boundary between their personal and professional lives, I firmly believe socialising with colleagues outside work promotes healthy relationships at the workplace.

On the one hand, supporters of socialising with co-workers contend that it offers greater cooperation between them and boosts work productivity. This is because when co-workers party together, they may develop healthy relationships, which can help them to cooperate better at the workplace. Consequently, greater work cooperation improves work productivity by avoiding unnecessary tensions, which otherwise could hinder the job performance. For example, when employees of a small IT firm socialise on weekends, they may become friends, resolve conflicts at work and improve work production. Therefore, partying with co-workers is beneficial for them as well as the company.

On the other hand, critics argue that there should be a distinct boundary between one's personal and professional life. They believe that spending time with colleagues beyond office hours may bring back work-related discussions and stress. Moreover, for single employees it can lead to gossiping and unprofessional romantic relationships, which could be damaging for their reputation. For most married employees, evening and weekend hours generally mean unwinding and spending quality time with family. For instance, an office manager may prioritize spending time with family on weekends to relax himself and choose not to engage in social activities with colleagues. Thus, keeping working life completely separate from social life is vital to break away from the monotony of work.

In conclusion, although the decision to socialize with colleagues primarily depends on the priorities of employees, I believe it is favourable because it not only improves cooperation among co-workers but also maintains harmony at the workplace.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the task fully and effectively. The student discusses both views—socialising with work colleagues during evenings and weekends versus keeping working life separate from social life—and clearly states their own opinion in the introduction and conclusion. Ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant explanations and examples, such as the mention of an IT firm and an office manager. The position is maintained throughout the essay. The response meets all task requirements with a well-developed argument, demonstrating a strong grasp of the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay displays clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, starting with an introduction, followed by body paragraphs addressing each perspective using standard transition markers such as 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand', and concluding with a summary. Cohesive devices are used flexibly and appropriately (e.g., 'Consequently', 'Moreover', 'Thus'), and paragraphing is skillfully managed. Referencing is clear and logical, maintaining good cohesion without mechanical faults.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision. Less common lexical items are used appropriately, such as 'contentious', 'monotony of work', and 'unprofessional romantic relationships'. There is good awareness of collocation and style. While the vocabulary is not excessively advanced, it is entirely adequate for the task and allows the writer to convey precise meanings. Spelling and word choice are accurate, with no noticeable errors impeding communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The writer uses a good variety of complex sentence structures effectively, such as conditional and concessive clauses (e.g., 'Although some people prefer...', 'This is because when co-workers party together...'). There are frequent error-free sentences and a high level of grammatical control. Punctuation is accurate, and syntax is handled smoothly throughout. Errors are extremely rare, reflecting a strong control over both simple and complex grammatical forms.

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