Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-07-26

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people regard work as the most important thing in life and have little interest in anything else. Other people are more enthusiastic about their hobbies and leisure interests than their jobs.

Discuss both these attitudes and give your own opinion.

You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence.

Student answer (Band 7.5)

While some prioritize climbing the career ladder in their lives, others are spending more energy on hobbies. I believe that we need to try to integrate our hobbies and careers into one thing.

Firstly, people who perceive work as the most important thing might have realized the importance of stability at a very early age. Although this may cause them to have little interest in other activities, increasing the chance of feeling bored, workaholics may even have more freedom to explore a variety of leisure activities after gaining financial security. For instance, Jack Ma, a well-known entrepreneur in China, has developed a wide range of hobbies after retiring. He spent the first twenty years of his life solely working on his business, and the rest of his life enjoying the fortune.

Secondly, individuals who pay more attention to leisure interests may care more about a work-life balance. To illustrate this: once some people who are not so ambitious have secured job positions, they start developing hobbies, going to the gym, and focusing on other family members. As a result, the likelihood of following a healthy lifestyle and gaining a sense of satisfaction for them is far higher than that for others.

Finally, I would argue that it is of paramount importance for the general public to find what they truly want to do and to work on it. For example, my hobby is traveling and I am determined to run my own business related to tourism despite the fact that I was majoring in physical education, which is an irrelevant major. Because I am doing what I want to do, I rarely feel exhausted and always full of motivation, enabling myself to achieve something in the future while enjoying each moment.

In conclusion, while some think that work is the most important thing because they are eager to gain financial security first in their lives, others are spending more time on hobbies because they want to strike a balance between their professional and personal lives. I argue that we need to further develop our hobbies to the point that we can make a living off them because this way can help us feel more motivated.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have addressed all parts of the prompt by discussing both attitudes and providing a clear personal opinion. Your position is consistent throughout the essay. The ideas are relevant and supported by examples, such as the reference to Jack Ma and your personal experience with tourism. To reach a higher band, ensure that your arguments are fully extended; for instance, the discussion on work-life balance could be deepened by explaining the long-term societal implications of prioritizing leisure over career advancement. Overall, the response is well-structured and directly answers the question.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'In conclusion', which help guide the reader through your arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. To improve, try to vary your linking words further to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. For example, instead of relying solely on 'Firstly' and 'Secondly', you could use more sophisticated transitions like 'From one perspective' or 'Conversely'. Referencing is generally clear, and the flow of ideas is smooth throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'climbing the career ladder', 'financial security', and 'paramount importance' are used accurately. There are some minor issues with collocation, such as 'enjoying the fortune', which could be more naturally phrased as 'enjoying his wealth'. You attempt to use less common vocabulary, which is a positive sign. To improve, focus on refining word choices to sound more natural and academic, ensuring that your vocabulary is consistently precise rather than just functional.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this level. Most of your sentences are clear and error-free, though there are occasional slips, such as 'enabling myself to achieve something in the future while enjoying each moment', which is slightly awkward. Your control of punctuation is generally good. To reach a higher band, aim for more complex sentence structures with greater accuracy, and ensure that your verb tenses remain consistent throughout the essay. Overall, your grammar is strong enough to communicate your ideas clearly without any significant confusion.

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