Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-11-11

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Employers sometimes ask people applying for jobs for personal information, such as their hobbies and interests, and whether they are married or single. Some people say that this information may be relevant and useful. Others disagree.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

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

 

Student answer (Band 5.0)

Collecting personal data from the candidates during job interviews has become a common part. People's opinions differ as to whether this information is beneficial to the companies or whether this should consider as unwanted practice. I agree with the later viewpoint.

Those who argue for interviewers to ask questions about non-professional activites have their reasons. The most prominent one is that it could help companies to hire a deserving employee who alligns better with the job duties. Most organizations use this technique as a tie-breaker when a few individuals have achieved similar academic results. For instance, if an individual's hobby is participating in debates and he is applying for position of a speaker, he can have high chances to get onboard as he could have good communication skill rather than someone else who have different interests outside the professional life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You state a clear opinion in the introduction: “I agree with the later viewpoint,” and you begin to explain why some employers value personal information, using a relevant example about debating and a speaker role. However, the response addresses only one side of the discussion. It does not explain why such questions may be irrelevant or intrusive, and your own position is not supported beyond the brief opening statement. The essay also ends before reaching a conclusion, so the argument remains incomplete. The response contains 140 words, which is 110 words below the required minimum. To develop the task fully, discuss both views, explain your opinion with reasons and examples, and add a concluding paragraph.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introductory paragraph gives your position, followed by a paragraph presenting one argument in favour of employers asking about interests. Phrases such as “Those who argue” and “For instance” help signal the relationship between the claim and its example. However, the essay stops after this example, so there is no progression to the opposing view or a conclusion. The link between the example and the broader question is understandable but could be made more explicit. Build a complete sequence of paragraphs—one for each view, followed by your position—and use clear transitions to guide the reader through the comparison.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some topic-relevant vocabulary, including “personal data,” “job interviews,” “tie-breaker,” and “job duties,” and the example makes your meaning generally clear. There are also attempts at more specific phrasing, such as “deserving employee” and “communication skill.” However, several spelling and word-choice errors reduce accuracy, including “activites,” “alligns,” and “later viewpoint” where “latter viewpoint” is intended. Some combinations are unnatural, such as “hire a deserving employee” and “get onboard.” Aim for more precise, natural collocations and check spelling carefully. A broader range of vocabulary for privacy, relevance, and professional suitability would also help you discuss both sides of the question.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including a conditional example beginning “if an individual's hobby is participating in debates.” The main ideas remain understandable, but errors in sentence construction and agreement are noticeable. For example, “whether this should consider as unwanted practice” needs a passive form (“should be considered”), while “someone else who have different interests” requires “has.” Articles are also missing in “applying for position of a speaker,” and “communication skill” would normally be plural or preceded by an article. Review passive constructions, subject–verb agreement, and article use, then proofread each sentence. More accurate control of these patterns would make your argument easier to follow.

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