Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-28

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 7.5)

Engaging in personal pastimes is widely considered a cornerstone of a balanced life. Far from being a luxury reserved for spare hours, maintaining at least one regular hobby offers indispensable mental, physical, and emotional benefits across every stage of human development.

From a health and cognitive perspective, pursuing a personal passion plays a vital role in nurturing resilience and mental acuity. For young children, creative activities such as painting or learning a musical instrument foster fine motor skills, spatial reasoning, and critical thinking—foundational abilities that enhance academic performance. Similarly, for working professionals facing modern workplace burnout, physical hobbies like running or cycling act as a vital release valve, reducing stress hormones while bolstering cardiovascular health. By providing an absorbing outlet separate from daily obligations, hobbies allow the brain to recharge and restore focus.

Beyond health advantages, structured leisure activities significantly enrich the daily lives of both younger demographics and retirees by preventing stagnation and promoting ongoing growth. In an era dominated by passive screen consumption, hobbies encourage active engagement and skill development. For example, retirees who immerse themselves in gardening, woodworking, or community chess clubs remain intellectually stimulated and socially connected, staving off the cognitive decline and isolation that often accompany late-life transitions. Far from wasting precious time, dedicated leisure pursuits cultivate a sense of purpose that enhances overall productivity.

Admittedly, some critics argue that allocating time to hobbies distracts individuals from academic or professional achievements. However, research consistently shows that well-rested, fulfilled individuals perform better in their primary duties than those who work without respite. Strategic downtime through creative or physical play ultimately yields a more focused, productive mindset.

In conclusion, having a personal hobby is essential for individuals of all age groups. Whether by stimulating cognitive development in children, mitigating stress in working adults, or offering purpose to retirees, personal pastimes are essential components of long-term well-being and productivity.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task prompt, exploring the importance of hobbies across four distinct demographic groups: children, young adults, working people, and retirees. The student establishes a clear, well-developed position right from the introductory paragraph, stating that hobbies offer indispensable mental, physical, and emotional benefits. Throughout the body paragraphs, ideas are thoroughly extended and supported with relevant examples, such as mentioning painting for children, running for working professionals, and gardening for retirees. The counter-argument in the fourth paragraph further demonstrates a well-rounded and fully developed exploration of the topic. The response easily meets the standard for Band 8.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and natural progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving smoothly from a general introduction to specific age groups in paragraphs two and three, followed by a counter-argument and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'Similarly', 'Beyond health advantages', 'Admittedly', and 'In conclusion' are used flexibly and appropriately without feeling mechanical. Paragraphing is fully logical and managed with skill, ensuring the reader can follow the writer's line of thought effortlessly. This performance aligns comfortably with the Band 8 descriptors.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a wide, fluent, and flexible lexical resource that is well-suited to the topic. Less common and sophisticated vocabulary items are employed skillfully throughout the text, including terms like 'cornerstone', 'mental acuity', 'release valve', 'staving off', and 'respite'. Word choice and collocations are generally very natural, as seen in 'foster fine motor skills' and 'mitigating stress'. There are only occasional minor inaccuracies, but these do not detract from the overall precision. The range of vocabulary easily satisfies the criteria for a Band 8 score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The student exhibits a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with a high degree of accuracy. Sentences feature varied subordination and participial phrases, such as 'Engaging in personal pastimes is widely considered...', 'By providing an absorbing outlet separate from daily obligations, hobbies allow...', and 'Whether by stimulating cognitive development in children...'. The vast majority of sentences are completely error-free, with only very occasional minor slips that never impede communication. Punctuation and sentence boundary control are excellent throughout the essay. This performance meets the criteria for Band 8.

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

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