Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-14

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 7.5)

It is common practice for employers to request personal details from job applicants, including their hobbies and marital status. While some believe this information helps employers make better hiring decisions, others argue it is irrelevant and intrusive. I personally support the latter viewpoint.

Those in favour of collecting such information argue that it offers insight into a candidate's character beyond what qualifications and work history reveal. A person's hobbies, for instance, can indicate transferable skills: someone who plays team sports may demonstrate strong collaboration abilities, while a candidate who enjoys writing might have sharper communication skills. Similarly, knowing whether an applicant is married could help employers anticipate their availability for travel or relocation, which is particularly relevant for roles requiring frequent overseas assignments.

On the other hand, critics contend that this information has little bearing on job performance and can lead to unfair discrimination. Marital status, for example, reveals nothing about a person's competence, yet it has historically been used to disadvantage certain applicants, particularly women who may be perceived as more likely to prioritise family over career. Likewise, hobbies are a matter of personal life and should not influence hiring decisions unless directly related to the role in question. Critics argue that focusing on qualifications, skills, and experience produces fairer and more accurate outcomes.

In my view, while some personal information can occasionally be useful, it should only be requested when clearly relevant to the position. Asking a candidate for a physically demanding job about their fitness-related hobbies is reasonable, but enquiring about marital status rarely serves any legitimate purpose and risks enabling bias.

In conclusion, although personal details can sometimes provide useful context, I believe employers should generally avoid gathering information unrelated to a candidate's ability to perform the job, in order to ensure fairness in recruitment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The candidate has fully addressed all parts of the task by discussing both views on whether personal information should be requested by employers and providing a clear, well-supported personal opinion throughout the essay. In the second paragraph, the writer explains the arguments in favour of collecting such details, such as transferable skills from hobbies and availability for relocation based on marital status. The third paragraph effectively explores the opposing view, highlighting concerns over unfair discrimination and lack of relevance to job performance. The student's position is clearly stated in the introduction, nuanced in the body, and reiterated in the conclusion. Ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant reasoning and explanations, matching the standard for a Band 8 performance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, starting with an introduction that presents the topic and the writer's stance. Body paragraphs follow a predictable and logical sequence, moving from arguments in favour to arguments against, and finally to a balanced personal view and conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively and naturally, such as 'While some believe', 'Similarly', 'On the other hand', and 'In my view'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately to separate distinct stages of the argument. Referencing is clear and unambiguous, earning a solid Band 8 score for cohesion and coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student displays a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary suited to a formal essay. Less common lexical items are used skilfully, including 'common practice', 'transferable skills', 'bearing on job performance', 'unfair discrimination', and 'legitimate purpose'. Word choices and collocations are generally precise and natural. There are only occasional minor inaccuracies, but these do not impede communication. The control of vocabulary throughout the response clearly satisfies the Band 7 criteria, showing both precision and a sufficient range to discuss complex professional and ethical issues.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response exhibits a wide range of structures, successfully combining complex sentences with accurate simple forms. Examples of complex structures include conditional and participial phrases, such as 'someone who plays team sports may demonstrate strong collaboration abilities' and 'employers should generally avoid gathering information unrelated to a candidate's ability to perform the job'. The majority of sentences are error-free, with excellent control of punctuation and grammatical boundaries. Only occasional minor slips occur, reflecting a high level of grammatical control that aligns comfortably with Band 8 descriptors.

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