Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-15

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 6.5)

Hobbies play an essential role in human life. It is believed by some individuals that everyone should have at least one hobby. I largely agree with this statement, and I will explain the reasons in the following paragraphs with relevant examples.

To begin with, hobbies can keep people fit and active. Games, such as cricket and football, are a good example of this. By participating in these types of physical activities, people can utilize their free time effectively. Unlike in the past, in the present era, people are more into digital platforms and are becoming less active. To resolve this, having at least one hobby can reduce their screen time. One of the famous digital stars said in an interview that people should play at least one physical game to protect themselves from being addictive to mobile phones. Furthermore, if people are not physically capable of playing outdoor games, they can choose activities like painting and playing chees. These types of activities will not only enhance their creativity, but can also enhance their decision-making power. Rather than spending their time on social media, individuals must choose one activity. This is mainly because of staying connected with the real world. For instance, in many schools, it is compulsory to participate in extracurricular activities to connect with people and society.

In conclusion, instead of prioritising social life, people should have at least one hobby to keep their minds and bodies fit. To build a healthy connection with the world, having a hobby is important.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the task prompt by discussing whether individuals across different life stages should have at least one hobby. The candidate takes a clear position by stating 'I largely agree with this statement' and extends their arguments by categorizing hobbies into physical activities and creative or mental pursuits like painting and chess. The ideas are relevant and supported with examples, such as mentioning cricket and football, as well as referencing the benefits of extracurricular activities in schools. However, some arguments could be further developed to reach a higher band. For example, the mention of different life stages from the prompt (children, young adults, working people, and the retired) is slightly generalized rather than fully unpacked for every demographic. Overall, all parts of the prompt are addressed, fulfilling the criteria for Band 6.5 to 7.0, and a solid Band 7 is awarded for clear positioning and well-selected examples.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay displays a clear logical organization and progression throughout. The introduction successfully outlines the writer's stance, followed by body paragraphs that examine physical and mental hobbies respectively, and concludes with a summary statement. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well, such as 'To begin with', 'Unlike in the past', and 'Furthermore', guiding the reader smoothly through the text. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, separating the introduction, body ideas, and conclusion into distinct blocks. Referencing is generally clear, though minor improvements in transitional flow could make the cohesion less mechanical. The overall arrangement is coherent, matching the descriptors for a Band 7.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common lexical items such as 'extracurricular activities', 'decision-making power', and 'utilize their free time effectively'. There are some minor lexical inaccuracies and spelling slips, such as 'playing chees' instead of 'playing chess' and 'protect themselves from being addictive' instead of 'addicted'. Despite these occasional errors, the vocabulary is sufficient for precision in most areas and does not impede communication. The lexical resource aligns comfortably with a Band 6.0 descriptor.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The writer demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures throughout the essay, utilizing clauses such as 'By participating in these types of physical activities, people can...' and 'If people are not physically capable...'. There are some grammatical errors and awkward phrasing present, such as 'people are more into digital platforms' and 'protect themselves from being addictive to mobile phones', which should use 'addicted to'. However, punctuation and grammar control are generally good, and the errors rarely impede communication. This balance of mixed structures and occasional non-systematic errors points directly to a Band 6.0.

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

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