Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-08

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

It is important for children, young adults, working people and the retired to have at least one hobby.

What's your opinion about this?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 8.0)

It is considered imperative for people of all demographics to possess at least one hobby. I strongly agree that hobbies are crucial activities in one's life, as they not only support cognitive and social development, but also support physical and mental well-being at all ages.

Extracurricular activities in children and young adults support cognitive and social development. When youngsters engage in hobbies such as arts or sports, they develop cognitive and social skills, which contribute to their personality development while providing a constructive alternative to screen time. For instance, when children play the piano in group music sessions, it helps to develop discipline, creativity and perseverance. Hence, hobbies encourage overall development in growing children and young individuals.

Similarly, hobbies can act as a stress-buster for working and retired people. By practicing at least one recreational activity, individuals can alleviate the tedium of their daily lives and recharge themselves. For example, when employees spend some time on weekends on their favourite hobby, it allows them to unwind and relax, which prepares them for the next week. Furthermore, the retirees can keep themselves busy while pursuing their favorite pastime, which prevents them from feeling isolated and depressed. Moreover, hobbies with physical activities can support their muscles and keep them physically active. Thus, pursuing hobbies is vital for working and older individuals' physical and mental well-being.

In conclusion, I firmly believe having a hobby is beneficial at every stage of life. While hobbies assist in cognitive development, they can also allow people to unwind from the daily boredom and maintain their physical and emotional well-being. Therefore, people should make a conscious effort to devote some of their leisure time to activities they genuinely enjoy.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have clearly stated your position in the introduction and maintained it throughout the essay. Each demographic mentioned in the prompt—children, young adults, working people, and the retired—is addressed with relevant, well-developed ideas. For instance, the distinction between cognitive development in youth and stress management for adults shows a good understanding of the different needs of these groups. The arguments are extended with specific examples, such as playing the piano or weekend hobbies, which provide sufficient support for your claims. The response is balanced and logically structured, meeting all requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay demonstrates a clear logical progression. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between ideas is smooth. You have used a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'For instance,' 'Similarly,' 'Furthermore,' and 'In conclusion,' which help guide the reader through your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each section focusing on a distinct stage of life. The referencing is clear, and the flow of ideas is natural. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words, and the overall structure is coherent and easy to follow throughout the entire piece.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your ideas with precision. Phrases like 'imperative,' 'cognitive and social development,' 'alleviate the tedium,' and 'conscious effort' demonstrate a good command of language. While the vocabulary is generally accurate and appropriate for the context, there is room to incorporate more sophisticated or idiomatic collocations to reach the highest band. The word choices are natural, and there are no spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. The range is adequate to discuss the topic with flexibility and clarity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional and relative clauses (e.g., 'When youngsters engage in hobbies... they develop...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and grammar is strong. There are no significant errors that cause confusion or impede the reader's understanding. You have successfully balanced simple and complex structures, which contributes to the overall readability of the text. The grammatical accuracy is consistent throughout, reflecting a high level of proficiency.

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