Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-08

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 5.5)

Few individuals prefer work as the most important thing in life and have less interest in anything other. while opponents give more importance to their hobbies and show less interest to their work .

In this essay i will discuss both sides .

Those people who prefer their jobs are those who has a lot of responsibilities of their families so they had to put back their favourite activities . Also they have not enough time for their hobbies and playing activities . These individuals want to secure their future so, they had to concentrate to their works . I think these situation force them to leave their hobbies and to work proper for their jobs.

On the other hand , their opponents give more importance to their hobbies instead of their work . They thought activities are also important for in their lives . Their family backgrounds were strong from the beginning so they don't have to work hard for their future . They were very fond of their activities for instance like spending money on their cars , villas . Specifications like in cars modifying their wheels and rap .

In my opinion , work is very important in our life but we can not live without our hobbies so , we need to make a suitable time schedule like in a week we need to work six days for a decent life style and one day for hobbies .

In concluation, work is more important then hobbies but refreshment

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The essay addresses both sides of the prompt and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is limited. The arguments regarding why people prioritize work or hobbies are somewhat simplistic and rely on generalizations, such as the assumption that those who value hobbies have 'strong family backgrounds.' The conclusion is incomplete, ending abruptly with the word 'refreshment,' which leaves the final thought underdeveloped. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific, nuanced examples and ensure that your conclusion fully synthesizes your arguments rather than trailing off.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. For example, the transition 'Also they have not enough time' is awkward, and the use of 'so' is repetitive throughout the text. The progression of ideas within paragraphs is sometimes disjointed, particularly in the second body paragraph where the shift from general hobbies to specific car modifications feels abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would significantly enhance the flow of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on basic phrasing such as 'important thing in life' and 'give more importance.' There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'playing activities' and 'work proper for their jobs,' which sound unnatural. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of sophisticated vocabulary and the presence of errors in word formation limit the score. Expanding your repertoire to include more academic collocations and precise terminology would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'Those people... is,' 'They thought activities are'), incorrect verb tenses ('they had to concentrate to their works'), and missing articles. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas. While you attempt complex sentences, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and article usage will help improve your accuracy.

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

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