Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-09

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 7.0)

Some people believe that work is the most important part of life, while others are more interested in their hobbies and leisure activities. Although work is important for a successful life, I believe that people should maintain a balance between their jobs and personal interests.

On the one hand, some people give priority to their careers because work provides financial security and personal achievement. A stable job allows people to pay for their basic needs and support their families. In addition, achieving professional goals can increase confidence and give people a sense of purpose. For example, doctors and teachers may spend many hours at work because they are passionate about their professions and want to help others. Therefore, focusing on a career can be rewarding for many individuals.

On the other hand, hobbies and leisure activities are equally important because they help people relax and reduce stress. Activities such as reading, playing sports, travelling and spending time with friends can improve people’s quality of life. Moreover, hobbies can help individuals develop new skills and build strong relationships. For instance, playing a team sport can improve physical health as well as provide opportunities to make new friends. If people concentrate only on their jobs, they may become stressed and have little time for their families.

In my opinion, work and leisure should have equal importance. While employment is necessary for financial stability and career development, free time is essential for happiness and well-being. A balanced lifestyle can also make people more productive at work.

In conclusion, although some people consider work the most important aspect of life, others value hobbies more. I believe that balancing professional responsibilities with leisure activities is the best approach to a fulfilling life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt effectively. You have clearly discussed both perspectives—the focus on career and the focus on leisure—and provided a distinct personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are well-developed, such as the mention of financial security and professional achievement for the first view, and the benefits of stress reduction and skill development for the second. To reach a higher band, you could provide more specific, nuanced examples or explore the potential downsides of each extreme more deeply to add further depth to your arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you use cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'In addition', 'Moreover', and 'In conclusion' effectively to guide the reader. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the transition between the two viewpoints and your own opinion is smooth. The flow of information is natural, and the use of referencing is accurate throughout the text, ensuring that the relationship between ideas remains clear.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'financial security', 'professional achievement', and 'fulfilling life' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is appropriate and conveys your meaning clearly, it is mostly functional. To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated, less common lexical items or idiomatic collocations that show a greater degree of flexibility and stylistic awareness, such as 'monetary stability' or 'intrinsic satisfaction'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good control of grammatical structures. You use a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the conditional structure 'If people concentrate only on their jobs, they may become stressed'. Punctuation is used correctly, and there are very few errors. The sentences are generally error-free, which indicates a high level of accuracy. To move toward a band 8 or 9, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex grammatical forms, such as inversion or more advanced relative clauses, to demonstrate greater flexibility.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.