Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-07-24
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 7.0)
In the modern era, it is undeniable that employers often ask candidates about their personal interests, marital status, and hobbies. Some people believe that this information is useful for employer to evaluate candidate, whereas others argue that asking personal information is irrelevant and potentially inappropriate. This essay will evaluate both perspectives before presenting my own opinion.
On the one hand, individuals who believe that requesting information about candidates' interests and hobbies are reasonable argue that this information help employers understand candidates personality and suitability for the role. To illustrate, person's hobbies and interests often reflect their soft skills such as cooperation, teamwork, and discipline. For instance, candidate who participated in sports usually demonstrate leadership skills. In addition, some personal information help employer assess candidates availability and long-term commitment, which is essential for certain roles.
On the other hand, people who disagree with this view also provide some points that should not be overlooked. For example, asking personal information increases the risk of bias and unfair discrimination. Factors such as hobbies, interests, and marital status are not directly related to job performance. In some cases, employers can unconsciously favour certain candidates on the basis of irrelevant characteristics. This can lead to unequal opportunities. Moreover, asking personal questions during an interview makes candidate uncomfortable and invade privacy.
In conclusion, although questions about individuals hobbies, interests, and marital status provide insight into their character, there is a risk of invasion of privacy. In my opinion, employers should ask only relevant question and avoid unnecessary personal questions to ensure fair and professional interviews.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both sides of the argument and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and logically extended, such as the link between sports and leadership skills, and the potential for bias in hiring. The position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, the development of the 'marital status' aspect could be more specific, as it is mentioned in the introduction and conclusion but not fully explored in the body paragraphs. Overall, the response is well-focused and meets the requirements of the task effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'To illustrate', 'In addition', and 'Moreover' are used effectively to link ideas. However, there are minor issues with referencing and article usage, such as 'asking personal information' instead of 'asking for personal information'. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the overall structure supports the flow of the argument well.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
The vocabulary is generally appropriate for the task, with a sufficient range to convey ideas clearly. Phrases like 'unconsciously favour', 'irrelevant characteristics', and 'invasion of privacy' demonstrate a good grasp of the topic. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'asking personal information' (should be 'asking for') and 'help employer assess' (missing article 'the'). While the range is sufficient, it lacks the more sophisticated or idiomatic expressions that would characterize a higher band score. The errors do not impede communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is good control over basic grammar, but there are frequent minor errors, particularly with articles (e.g., 'help employer', 'ask only relevant question') and pluralization (e.g., 'individuals hobbies'). Subject-verb agreement is occasionally shaky, such as 'some personal information help' (should be 'helps'). Despite these errors, the meaning is always clear, and the punctuation is generally accurate. To improve, the student should focus on article usage and ensuring subject-verb agreement in complex sentences.
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