Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-07

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)

Undoubtedly, while applying for a job, an applicant has to fill out a long application form whether applying online or offline. Some people believe that asking for information such as hobbies and interests or marital status is useful while other people disagree with this concept. This essay will explain both the ideologies and my viewpoint in favor of this notion.

One school of thought believes that it is better to ask prospective employees about some personal information from them before selecting them. The reason behind is that, there are certain jobs which are meant only for those who have specific interest in a particular thing. For example, these days before hiring a candidate employer ask if they are married or not because married people have more responsiblities as compared to single. In addition, they may go on maternity or paternity leave soon after they hired. None of the employer wants to pay if the employee just started working.

Another school of thought opines that it is not fruitful to ask unnecessary questions because it would result in hiring the wrong candidate because of biased selection. A case was raised in the civil court in 2025 in which an applicant appealed that he was not hired by the boss because, during the interview, he claimed that he did not like playing golf, and the owner who was taking the interview was a national golf player. So, under such circumstances, it is better not to ask personal questions in the selection process to avoid biased decisions.

In my opinion, it is important to include some personal questions to know whether the person is eligible for the job or not. For example, if a job is open in the child care sector, then the person who does not like spending time with children should not be selected.

In conclusion, both viewpoints have their own importance in the selection process so, cautiously employer should use the appropriate steps.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The essay addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both viewpoints and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant, such as the discussion on maternity leave and the potential for bias in hiring. However, the development is somewhat uneven. The argument regarding marital status is a bit simplistic, and the example of the golf-playing employer is a specific anecdote that lacks broader analytical depth. To reach a higher band, ensure that the arguments are more thoroughly explored and that the connection between personal information and job performance is more nuanced and logically sustained throughout the body paragraphs.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different viewpoints. Cohesive devices are present, such as 'In addition,' 'Another school of thought,' and 'In conclusion,' which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are a bit mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For instance, the transition into the example about the civil court case is slightly abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing is consistently clear would enhance the overall coherence of the piece.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There is an attempt to use some less common vocabulary, such as 'prospective employees,' 'fruitful,' and 'ideologies.' However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'None of the employer wants to pay' (should be 'No employer') and 'cautiously employer should use' (should be 'employers should use caution'). The range is sufficient to communicate, but more precise and sophisticated vocabulary would be required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that persist throughout the text. Examples include 'The reason behind is that, there are' (incorrect punctuation and phrasing), 'soon after they hired' (missing passive voice: 'are hired'), and 'cautiously employer should use' (incorrect word order). These errors do not impede communication, but they do show a lack of consistent control over complex structures. Increasing the frequency of error-free sentences and refining punctuation would help improve this score.

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

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