Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-30

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 7.5)

Some people consider work to be the most important aspect of their lives, whereas others place greater value on hobbies and leisure activities. Although having a fulfilling career is important for financial security and personal development, I believe that maintaining a balance between work and leisure is essential for a satisfying life.

On the one hand, there are several reasons why people may regard work as their highest priority. First, employment provides the income needed to meet essential needs, such as housing, food, education and healthcare. For many people, therefore, having a successful career is closely connected with financial stability and a comfortable lifestyle. In addition, work can provide a strong sense of achievement and purpose. People who are passionate about their professions may enjoy developing their skills, taking on greater responsibilities and achieving professional goals. As a result, they may naturally devote most of their time and energy to their careers.

On the other hand, many people consider hobbies and leisure activities to be more important than their jobs. One major reason is that leisure provides an opportunity to relax and recover from the pressures of working life. Activities such as exercising, reading, travelling or spending time with friends and family can improve people's emotional well-being and help them maintain healthy relationships. Furthermore, hobbies can allow individuals to develop interests and abilities that may not be related to their occupations. Someone who works in an office, for example, may find great satisfaction in painting, playing a musical instrument or participating in sports during their free time.

In my view, neither work nor leisure should completely dominate a person's life. While a rewarding career is necessary for financial security. Similarly, spending too much time on leisure at the expense of employment can create financial difficulties. Therefore, people should aim to establish a healthy balance between their professional responsibilities and personal interests.

In conclusion, some people prioritize work because it provides financial security and a sense of purpose, while others value hobbies because they offer relaxation, enjoyment and personal fulfilment. I believe that combining a satisfying career with sufficient time for leisure is the most sustainable approach to a happy and balanced life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both attitudes towards work and leisure and clearly presenting the writer's own opinion in both the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant explanations and examples, such as mentioning specific leisure activities like 'exercising, reading, travelling' and the reasons why people prioritize work for financial security. The position is clear throughout the essay. This performance aligns comfortably with the Band 8 descriptor, as all parts of the prompt are covered well and the ideas are thoroughly extended.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear overall progression. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving smoothly from the introduction to discussing the pro-work perspective, the pro-leisure perspective, a nuanced middle-ground opinion, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'In addition', and 'Furthermore' are used effectively to guide the reader through the arguments. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, resulting in seamless cohesion that supports the logical flow of ideas, reflecting strong Band 8 performance.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a wide and flexible vocabulary range suited to the academic task. Words and phrases such as 'financial security', 'personal development', 'emotional well-being', and 'sustainable approach' are used naturally and with precision. There is good use of less common vocabulary like 'fulfilling career' and 'professional responsibilities' with strong collocation control. Minor slips or slightly unnatural phrasing are virtually absent, though vocabulary control remains just shy of the sophisticated, native-like nuance required for a Band 9. Overall, the lexical resource is strong and precise, comfortably earning a Band 8.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response exhibits a wide range of sentence structures, including complex sentences with dependent clauses (e.g., 'Although having a fulfilling career is important for financial security..., I believe that...'). The majority of sentences are completely error-free, with excellent control over punctuation and grammar. However, there is a minor fragment error in the fourth paragraph ('While a rewarding career is necessary for financial security. Similarly, spending too much time...'), where the first clause is left incomplete. Despite this occasional slip, control over complex grammar is strong, leading to a solid Band 7 score.

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