Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-23

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)

In life, few people regard work as the most important thing and have little interest in anything else, while others focus more on their hobbies and leisure interests rather than their jobs.

Overall, everybody has their own view and opinion in life. Some people believe work should be their major priority in life, and others focus on their hobbies and various interests. In my opinion, maintaining a balance between both work and hobbies is the best approach.

On the other hand, people consider work to be the most important part of their life because it is their source of income and provides them with a sense of achievement. As it is considered a source of income, it will be able to provide people with a comfortable living environment and also help build a successful career. In addition, people who give more dedication to their job have a high chance of promotion and rewards from the workplace. For example, a person who gives extra time and dedication to their work receives higher recognition and salary. Therefore, it can benefit you to grow both financially and personally.

On the other hand, many people believe that hobbies and interests are more important because they can relax and enjoy life more. Spending time on activities that you love can make you happier and also benefit your mental health by reducing stress. In comparison to work, you are less stressed and have more time to spend on yourself. For example, working on your hobbies and interests can also help you obtain a position in the field you are keen on.

In conclusion, both hobbies and work are equally important in your life. We should be able to balance both in our lives.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both attitudes and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant, such as the financial benefits of work and the mental health benefits of hobbies. However, the development is somewhat limited; the arguments are presented in a fairly repetitive manner, and the examples provided (e.g., 'a person who gives extra time... receives higher recognition') are quite general. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific, nuanced evidence or real-world examples to support your claims. The position is clear throughout, but the depth of analysis could be improved to move beyond surface-level observations.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each perspective, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'On the other hand', 'In addition', and 'Therefore', which help guide the reader. However, the use of 'On the other hand' to start both body paragraphs is repetitive and slightly confusing, as it implies a contrast between the two perspectives that is not necessarily the primary relationship. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the transition between the two body paragraphs could be more sophisticated to improve the overall flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There is some attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'sense of achievement', 'dedication', and 'mental health'. However, the range is somewhat limited and repetitive, with frequent use of basic phrases like 'important part of their life' and 'source of income'. There is little evidence of less common or idiomatic language. To improve, you should aim to incorporate more precise synonyms and collocations to demonstrate a wider range of vocabulary, rather than relying on simple, high-frequency words.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the grammar is generally accurate and communication is not impeded, there are some minor errors and a lack of variety in sentence construction. For instance, 'In life, few people regard work...' is a bit awkward, and 'As it is considered a source of income, it will be able to provide...' is slightly wordy. The control of punctuation is generally good, but the overall range of complex structures is limited. Increasing the use of varied subordinate clauses and more sophisticated sentence patterns would help elevate the score.

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

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