Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-13

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 6.0)

There is an ongoing debate on whether people should prioritize their jobs or hobbies. Some people consider giving importance to their work, while others are more interested in leisure activities. In this essay, I will discuss both side before presenting a significant conclusion.

On one hand, people spend most of their time in doing work or completion of official tasks. They believe that it will help them to be more determined, focused, and productive in their work. Moreover, they hardly spare any time for their hobbies or fun activities, as they think that it will be a distraction from work and will waste their time. For instance, numerous employees work in late hours or on weekends to increase their productivity.

On the other hand, opponents argue that people should be more interested in their hobbies rather than their jobs. In this way, they feel more relaxed and satisfied, which will ultimately increase their productivity. For instance, people who are more in to leisure activities are less stressed about their work. They develop better cognitive abilities which benefit them to progress more efficiently.

In my opinion, people should use mixed approach rather than focusing on either jobs or hobbies. They should be focused about their work on weekdays, while can pursue their hobbies on weekends or holidays. For example, individuals can take leave from their office and can go for a family trip to recharge themselves for future tasks. Consequently, it will enable them to grow professionally as well as allow them to follow their interests and hobbies.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both attitudes and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant, though they could be developed with more depth. For instance, the argument regarding 'cognitive abilities' in the second body paragraph is a good point but remains somewhat general. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes the two viewpoints. To reach a higher band, ensure that examples are more specific and detailed to fully support the claims made.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different viewpoints. Cohesive devices such as 'On one hand,' 'On the other hand,' and 'Consequently' are used to guide the reader through the argument. However, the flow between some sentences is slightly mechanical, and the referencing could be more varied. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear, and the structure supports the central argument effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'cognitive abilities' and 'prioritize,' which are used correctly. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in collocation and word choice, such as 'in to leisure activities' (should be 'into') and 'use mixed approach' (should be 'use a mixed approach'). The range is sufficient to convey meaning, but more sophisticated or precise vocabulary would be needed for a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'discuss both side' (should be 'sides'), 'work in late hours' (should be 'work late hours'), and 'while can pursue' (should be 'while they can pursue'). These errors do not impede communication, but they indicate a lack of full control over complex structures. Increasing the variety of error-free complex sentences would improve the score in this criterion.

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

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