Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-07-27

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 8.0)

Employers often ask job applicants to provide personal information, such as their hobbies, interests, and marital status. While some people believe that this information is useful for selecting suitable candidates, others argue that it is irrelevant and may lead to unfair decisions. This essay will discuss both views before giving my opinion.

On the one hand, personal information can help employers understand an applicant's personality and suitability for a particular role. For example, hobbies such as playing team sports may indicate that a person has good teamwork and leadership skills. Similarly, interests in reading or learning new skills may show that the candidate is motivated and willing to improve. In some jobs, employers may also consider personal circumstances to determine whether the applicant can meet work schedules or travel requirements.

On the other hand, many people believe that personal details such as marital status should not influence hiring decisions. Recruitment should be based on qualifications, work experience, and professional skills rather than private information. Asking about personal matters may also result in discrimination or bias, especially against married people, parents, or certain groups. Therefore, many believe that employers should focus only on factors directly related to job performance.

In my opinion, employers should mainly evaluate candidates based on their abilities, experience, and qualifications. Although hobbies and interests can provide additional insight into a person's character, personal information such as marital status should not be considered unless it is genuinely relevant to the job.

In conclusion, while some personal information may help employers better understand applicants, hiring decisions should primarily depend on professional competence to ensure fairness and equal opportunity for everyone.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt effectively. You have clearly discussed both sides of the argument—the potential utility of personal information in assessing character and the concerns regarding discrimination and privacy. Your own position is clearly stated in the introduction and reinforced in the body paragraphs and conclusion. The ideas are well-developed, such as the example of team sports indicating leadership skills. To reach a higher band, you could further extend the discussion by providing a more nuanced example of when marital status might be considered 'genuinely relevant' to a job, as mentioned in your conclusion, to add more depth to your argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the transition between the two viewpoints is smooth, using appropriate cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand'. The conclusion effectively summarizes the main points without introducing new information. The use of referencing is clear, and the paragraphing is appropriate for the task. The flow is natural, and the reader is guided through your argument without any confusion or mechanical feel.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'professional competence', 'genuinely relevant', and 'equal opportunity' are used accurately. The vocabulary is natural and appropriate for a formal essay. While the range is good, it could be further enhanced by incorporating more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items to demonstrate a wider, more flexible range. For instance, instead of 'understand', you could use 'gauge' or 'ascertain'. Overall, the word choice is accurate and contributes to a clear, professional tone throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a good control of grammatical structures. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the conditional structure in the final paragraph ('...should not be considered unless it is genuinely relevant...'). Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free. To achieve a higher band, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as inversion or more advanced relative clauses, to show greater flexibility in your writing.

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