Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · 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 8.0)

The debate about whether or not employees should socialize with colleagues after office hours is contentious. Although some people prefer to maintain a clear boundary between their personal and professional lives, I firmly believe that socialising with colleagues outside work can foster healthy relationships and improve workplace cooperation.

On the one hand, socialising with co-workers promotes greater cooperation and boosts workplace productivity. This is because when colleagues socialise together, they may develop stronger personal relationships, which can enable them to communicate and cooperate more effectively at work. Consequently, improved cooperation can enhance productivity by reducing unnecessary tensions that might otherwise hinder job performance. For example, when employees of a small IT firm socialise on weekends, they may become friends, resolve workplace conflicts more easily and collaborate more efficiently on projects. Therefore, socialising with co-workers can be beneficial for both employees and the company.

On the other hand, some 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 result in further work-related discussions and prevent employees from fully disconnecting from workplace stress. Moreover, employees may simply prefer to use their evenings and weekends to relax and spend quality time with their families. For instance, an office manager may prioritise family time on weekends as a way of unwinding after a demanding working week and therefore choose not to participate in social activities with colleagues. Thus, maintaining some separation between professional and personal life can help employees escape the monotony and pressures of work.

In conclusion, although whether employees socialise with colleagues outside working hours largely depends on their individual priorities, I believe that such interaction can be beneficial because it can strengthen professional relationsips, improve cooperation and contribute to workplace harmony.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response successfully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views on socialising with work colleagues and providing a clear personal position throughout. The introduction outlines the writer's stance, which is then well supported in the body paragraphs. The first body paragraph effectively argues how socialising boosts cooperation and productivity, supported by a relevant example of an IT firm. The second body paragraph explores the opposing perspective regarding work-life separation and personal stress relief, reinforced by an example of an office manager. The conclusion succinctly summarises the main points and reaffirms the writer's viewpoint. Ideas are well developed and extended appropriately without being repetitive, meeting all the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The response demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, with the introduction setting up the essay, the two body paragraphs addressing opposing views, and the conclusion providing a neat summary. Cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'Consequently', and 'In conclusion' are used flexibly and appropriately to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used logically and effectively. Referencing is clear and unambiguous throughout the text, ensuring that the discourse flows smoothly without mechanical errors.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The vocabulary used is sufficient and demonstrates a good level of flexibility and precision appropriate for the task. The writer successfully employs less common lexical items and collocations, such as 'contentious', 'maintain a clear boundary', 'foster healthy relationships', 'workplace cooperation', 'unwind after a demanding working week', and 'escapes the monotony'. Word choices are generally natural and precise. There is a minor spelling slip in the conclusion ('relationsips' instead of 'relationships'), but this is an isolated typographical error and does not impede communication or detract significantly from the overall lexical range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a wide range of grammatical structures, successfully blending complex and compound sentences with simple structures. The writer demonstrates good control over subordinate clauses, conditionals, and participial phrases, as seen in sentences like 'This is because when colleagues socialise together, they may develop stronger personal relationships, which can enable them to communicate and cooperate more effectively at work.' The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled correctly. Minor errors are practically non-existent, reflecting a high level of grammatical accuracy and control throughout the text.

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