Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-24

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)

While some argue that personal details of employees are irrelevant to the job they get interviewed for, others think they are beneficial in the interview process. In my view, it is imperative for employers to know employees' background in order to assign them in the field where their interests align with job profiles, which would mutually benefit both employers and employees.

On the one hand, supporters maintain it is crucial to know the candidates thoroughly during the interview. This is because they believe it is consequential to know their likes and dislikes, hobbies and interests to assign them to the departments where their interests aligns with the job duties. By doing this, both employers and employees mutually benefit. For example, if a candidate's interest is in arts, it is best to recruit them in the creative team of a company instead of a marketing team. This proves how knowing additional personal details assist in the recruitment process.

On the other hand, critics argue that employers should not ask for information which is mandatory for the job only and it should not bother about their martial status or hobbies. As some applicants like to keep their personal and professional lives separate, they do not feel comfortable sharing such information. For example, for the job of a receptionist, being married or divorced has nothing to do with the job requirements.

In conclusion, although some demographics are not in favour of discussing such personal details during the recruitment process, I believe it provides vital information to the employers which will assist in better job allocation and improves work productivity.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. The position is consistent throughout the essay. Ideas are relevant, such as the example of matching creative interests to job roles, though the development of the opposing view regarding marital status could be slightly more nuanced. The conclusion effectively summarises the argument. To reach a higher band, ensure that the discussion of the 'disadvantages' side is as fully developed as the 'advantages' side, as the current argument regarding marital status is somewhat brief compared to the initial point.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organised with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is appropriate, with each paragraph focusing on a central theme. The flow of ideas is smooth, and referencing is generally clear. To improve, ensure that the transition between sentences within paragraphs is even more varied, as some connections rely on standard linking phrases that could be replaced with more sophisticated cohesive ties.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient for the task and allows for some precision. Phrases like 'imperative for employers', 'mutually benefit', and 'recruitment process' demonstrate a good grasp of topic-specific language. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'it should not bother about their martial status' (should be 'marital') and 'some demographics are not in favour' (where 'demographics' is used slightly inaccurately to mean 'people' or 'groups'). The range is adequate, but incorporating more idiomatic or less common collocations would help elevate the score to a higher band.

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 occasional errors that slightly affect fluency. For instance, 'their interests aligns' should be 'interests align' (subject-verb agreement), and 'information which is mandatory for the job only' is slightly awkward in phrasing. Additionally, 'it should not bother about' lacks a clear subject. Despite these slips, the meaning is always clear, and the errors do not impede communication. Increasing the variety of complex structures and ensuring consistent subject-verb agreement will improve the score.

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