Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-18

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)

There is an ongoing Debate about Balance of professional and personal life. While some people believe that work is the most crucial thing in our life, others argue that following hobbies is more interesting. Although both views have some merits, some believe that being passionate about work is more enthusiastic because it is the primary source for fulfillment of our hobbies.

People who believe that professional work as the most important part of there lives argue that pursuing hobbies is not that much crucial for growth. The main reason for this is that career provides us a social status, individual identity and personal achievement. They often driven to this by financial goals, which means they dedicate their vast amount of time and energy to the workplace., leaving little interest for external hobbies.

On the other hand, certain different group of people believes that life outside the workplace is more valuable. To them, a job is just a practical resource for funding their true passions or hobbies, which revolve around building a comfortable environment for leisure interests. They prioritize family, relaxation and hobbies to find happiness, they believe true happiness comes from personal experiences rather than professional titles.

In conclusion, while dedication to work can bring financial rewards and professional titles, focusing on home and leisure activities ensures mental stability and personal happiness. Ultimately,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides an opinion. However, the essay is significantly under the 250-word minimum, which limits the depth of development. The conclusion is incomplete, cutting off abruptly after 'Ultimately,', which prevents a full summary of the position. While the ideas presented are relevant, they are not fully extended or supported with specific examples, leading to a somewhat superficial treatment of the prompt. To improve, you must ensure you meet the word count requirement and provide a complete, well-structured conclusion that reinforces your main argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each viewpoint, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'While', 'Although', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are used to signal shifts in the argument. However, the abrupt ending of the essay negatively impacts the overall coherence. Additionally, some transitions are slightly mechanical. To reach a higher band, ensure that your ideas flow smoothly from one sentence to the next and that your conclusion is fully developed rather than left unfinished.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, with some attempts at more academic phrasing like 'social status', 'individual identity', and 'professional titles'. However, there are some awkward collocations and word choice errors, such as 'not that much crucial' (should be 'not as crucial') and 'more enthusiastic' (when referring to a viewpoint rather than a person). The range is somewhat limited, and the vocabulary does not consistently demonstrate the precision required for higher bands. Expanding your range of synonyms and focusing on natural collocations would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'work as the most important' (missing verb 'is'), 'there lives' (should be 'their lives'), and 'They often driven' (missing auxiliary 'are'). Punctuation is generally functional, though there are minor issues with comma usage. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense 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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