Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-18

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 7.0)

IELTS GT Writing Task 2 — Opinion Essay

Having a hobby can play an important role in people’s lives, regardless of their age or occupation. Some people believe that everyone, including children, young adults, working people and retired individuals, should have at least one hobby. I completely agree with this view because hobbies can reduce stress, improve personal skills and make life more enjoyable.

Firstly, hobbies are an excellent way to relax and take a break from daily responsibilities. Children and young adults often experience pressure from their studies, while working people may have stress because of their jobs. Spending some time on activities such as painting, gardening, cooking or playing sports can help people refresh their minds. For example, a person who works long hours may feel more relaxed after going for a walk, playing a sport or listening to music.

Secondly, hobbies can help people develop useful skills and discover new interests. Activities such as reading can improve knowledge and vocabulary, while sports can improve physical fitness and teamwork. Similarly, creative hobbies such as painting or photography can develop a person’s imagination. In some cases, a hobby can even become a career or an additional source of income.

Finally, hobbies are particularly beneficial for retired people because they usually have more free time after leaving work. Having regular activities can help them stay active and socially connected. For instance, joining a gardening club or participating in community activities gives older people opportunities to meet others while doing something they enjoy.

In conclusion, I strongly believe that everyone should have at least one hobby. Hobbies not only provide relaxation and enjoyment but can also improve physical and mental well-being, develop useful skills and help people make better use of their free time.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The candidate has fully addressed all parts of the task by clearly stating a position in the introduction and supporting it throughout the essay. The prompt asks for an opinion on whether children, young adults, working people, and the retired should have at least one hobby. The student explicitly covers each of these demographic groups across the body paragraphs. For instance, the second paragraph discusses children and young adults facing pressure from studies alongside working people facing job stress. The fourth paragraph specifically addresses retired individuals and how hobbies help them stay active. Ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as gardening and cooking for relaxation, and reading or photography for skill development. The response meets the criteria for Band 7.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, introduced effectively with cohesive markers such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'Finally'. The introduction establishes a clear roadmap, and the conclusion neatly summarises the main points. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, separating the distinct life stages and demographics logically. Cohesive devices are used generally well, although some transitions are slightly formulaic. However, referencing and substitution are clear, ensuring the reader can follow the writer's argument without confusion. This aligns comfortably with a Band 7 descriptor.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates an adequate to sufficient range of vocabulary for the task. Less common lexical items are attempted, such as 'regardless of their age or occupation', 'additional source of income', and 'socially connected'. There is some awareness of collocation, and word choice is generally precise enough to convey the intended meaning clearly. While the vocabulary is not overly sophisticated or rare, it is functional and appropriate for an upper-intermediate level. Spelling and word formation are accurate throughout the response. This performance fits well within the Band 6.5 to 7.0 range, leaning toward a solid 7.0 for sustained adequacy and precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. The writer successfully employs subordinate clauses and participial phrases, such as 'Spending some time on activities such as painting, gardening, cooking or playing sports can help people refresh their minds.' There is good control of grammar and punctuation, with frequent error-free sentences. Errors are minimal and do not impede communication. Complex structures are attempted with good accuracy, though a wider variety of advanced syntactic forms could push the score higher. This performance easily satisfies the Band 7 criteria.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.