Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-02

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 5.0)

Nowadays, many people believe that it's a good idea to socialise with work colleagues during evenings and weekends. While people think that it's important to keep working life completely different from social life. I believe that both views have advantages to build a good relationships with work colleagues and having a private life.

On the one hand, others believe that it is a good idea to socialise with work colleagues because they want to get to know each other and have fun after a busy week. However, it helps to build a strong relationship at work. For example, if they work on some projects at the company, it is easy to solve problems as a team. In addition, it could help to build trust and honesty.

On the other hand, some employees choose to keep their personal lives private. They focus on work and their families. In addition, they would like to change the environment, such as work-related stress and the surroundings. They want to face the problems on their own. They want to learn to be independent and comfortable at work.

In conclusion, employees choose to socialise with their workmates to reduce their stress at work and have fun after busy

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response4.5
Coherence and Cohesion4.5
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.0

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You discuss both views: socialising can help colleagues get to know one another, build trust and work as a team, while keeping work and private life separate gives employees time for family and a change of environment. However, your own opinion is only briefly stated in the introduction, and the conclusion is unfinished, so your position is not fully established. Several points are asserted rather than explained; for instance, the link between socialising and solving project problems could be developed with a specific example. The response contains 182 words, below the required 250, which limits how fully you can address the task. Develop both sides, state your view clearly, and complete the conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion beginning with “In conclusion.” This helps the reader identify the main sections. However, progression within paragraphs is limited, and some linking is awkward or repetitive. The opening sentence of the second paragraph, “On the one hand, others believe,” does not connect smoothly to the preceding contrast, while “However” introduces a point that supports rather than contrasts with the previous sentence. The final paragraph stops mid-thought, leaving the argument without a completed ending. Use linking expressions more precisely, connect each explanation to its main point, and finish with a concise summary of your opinion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough relevant vocabulary to communicate the topic, including “socialise,” “work colleagues,” “personal lives,” “trust,” and “work-related stress.” These terms make the main ideas understandable. However, the range is limited and some expressions are imprecise or repetitive, such as “build a good relationships” and “change the environment, such as work-related stress and the surroundings.” The latter does not clearly express what employees want to change. Aim for more precise collocations and avoid repeating general words such as “work” and “build.” For example, you could describe strengthening professional relationships or creating a clearer boundary between work and personal life.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You use mostly straightforward sentence patterns and attempt some subordination, as in “because they want to get to know each other” and “if they work on some projects.” Meaning is generally understandable, but errors and incomplete structures occur often enough to limit accuracy. “While people think that it’s important to keep working life completely different from social life” is a dependent clause presented as a complete sentence. In “a good relationships,” the article and plural noun do not agree, and “I believe that both views have advantages to build” uses an awkward grammatical construction. The conclusion is also incomplete. Practise combining clauses into complete sentences, checking singular and plural agreement, and proofreading punctuation and sentence endings.

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