Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-09-22

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Write about the following topic:

Many young people choose to take a year out between finishing school and starting university in order to gain work experience or to travel. The experience of non-academic life this offers benefits the individual when they return to education.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience

Student answer (Band 7.5)

contemporary society, an increasing number of high school graduates choose to delay their tertiary education by taking a gap year to travel or enter the workforce. It is argued that experiencing non-academic life during this period yields significant benefits for individuals once they resume their studies. I completely agree with this view, as a gap year fosters personal maturity and provides career clarity, both of which enhance academic performance.

To begin with, taking a year out develops essential life skills and emotional maturity that directly translate to academic success. In school, students operate within a highly structured environment where teachers and parents guide their daily routines. However, working a job or navigating a foreign country independently forces young adults to develop self-reliance, time management, and problem-solving skills. When these individuals eventually enter university, they are far better equipped to handle the autonomy of higher education, manage heavy workloads without supervision, and cope with academic pressure.

Furthermore, a gap year gives students a clearer sense of purpose and direction regarding their future careers. Many teenagers transition straight to university without a genuine understanding of their professional interests, often resulting in unmotivated learning or dropped courses. By spending a year gaining practical work experience, individuals can explore different industries and discover their true strengths. Consequently, when they return to education, they choose degrees aligned with their career goals. This clarity fosters deep academic motivation, as they view their university lectures not just as tasks to complete, but as valuable steps toward a defined future.

In conclusion, taking a gap year is highly advantageous for future university students. The real-world experiences gained through travel or employment instill a sense of responsibility and help students make informed decisions about their academic paths, ultimately making them more focused and successful learners.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing the role of a gap year in gaining work and travel experience and how non-academic life benefits individuals upon their return to university. The student establishes a clear and consistent position throughout the essay ('I completely agree with this view'). The ideas are well-developed and supported with logical explanations, such as how self-reliance helps students handle the autonomy of higher education and how work experience fosters career clarity. The arguments flow naturally from personal maturity to professional direction, fulfilling the requirements for a Band 8 level.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with an introduction that outlines the thesis, followed by well-sequenced body paragraphs introduced by appropriate cohesive phrases ('To begin with', 'Furthermore', 'In conclusion'). Referencing and substitution are managed skilfully, and paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately. The cohesion is natural and never mechanical, allowing the reader to follow the writer's line of reasoning with ease, which easily satisfies the criteria for a Band 8.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student uses a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic discussion. Less common items such as 'tertiary education', 'emotional maturity', 'self-reliance', and 'professional interests' are employed with good control. There are only occasional minor inaccuracies in word choice, but overall the lexical resource allows the writer to convey precise meanings effortlessly. The vocabulary choices contribute to a formal and persuasive tone, making this a strong Band 7.5 or 8 performance, comfortably landing at Band 7.5 due to slight generalisations in phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response exhibits a wide range of complex structures used accurately and flexibly. Sentences such as 'By spending a year gaining practical work experience, individuals can explore different industries and discover their true strengths' showcase good control of subordinate clauses and participial phrases. The majority of sentences are error-free, with only very occasional minor slips. Punctuation is handled correctly throughout, and grammar never impedes communication. The control over complex syntax justifies a solid Band 8 score.

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

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