Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-10

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 6.5)

When applying for a job, it is very common these days to be asked about hobbies, interests and marital status.

On one hand these questions might be useful for employers, as these questions can help them see the full picture about the person applying for the job and whether this person would be of a good fit to the team and the company's environment. Moreover, sharing such information with the employer shows that the employer is keen and interested to learn more things about the person filling the vacancy and that they care about what the person applying for the job likes or dislikes.

On the other hand, some people find it irrelevant during an interview to share personal information, due to two possible reasons. The first reason is that such information could be private for some people and that it would make no difference for the interviewer, if I have one hobby or the other. Accordingly, some people like to separate their professional life from their private life. The second reason would be that some people might think that such information is used to discriminate between interviewees and is used as factor to accept or reject an applicant.

In my opinion, I believe that being asked about the marital status during a job is totally irrelevant to the content of the interview because it represents sensitive and private information. However, I believe sharing information about personal hobbies or interest is fine as they make people know each other better.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant, though some development is limited. For instance, the argument regarding marital status as a discriminatory factor is a strong point, but it could have been expanded with a concrete example of how such bias manifests in a workplace. The position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, ensure that each supporting point is fully explored with more depth or specific examples to avoid a slightly superficial treatment of the arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The use of cohesive devices such as 'On one hand', 'Moreover', and 'The first reason' helps guide the reader through the arguments. However, the transition between the second body paragraph and the conclusion is slightly abrupt. Additionally, some referencing is a bit mechanical. Improving the variety of linking phrases and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the flow and coherence of the text, moving it toward a higher band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate and appropriate for the task. You use terms like 'vacancy', 'discriminate', and 'sensitive information' correctly. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simpler phrasing, such as 'good fit' or 'learn more things'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and less common lexical items. For example, instead of 'good fit', you could use 'compatible with the organizational culture'. The vocabulary used is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly without any significant errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'whether this person would be of a good fit' (should be 'a good fit') and 'is used as factor' (should be 'as a factor'). While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more consistent control over articles and prepositions. The punctuation is generally accurate, and the sentence variety is sufficient to maintain interest. Focusing on refining complex structures and ensuring grammatical precision will help elevate your score.

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

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