Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-28

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)

Nowadays, some employers ask job applicants to provide personal information, such as their hobbies, interests and marital status. While some people believe that this information can help employers select suitable candidates, others consider it unnecessary. In my opinion, information about a person's interests can sometimes be useful, whereas details about their marital status should not influence employment decisions.

On the one hand, knowing about an applicant's hobbies and interests may help an employer understand their personality and abilities. Certain activities can demonstrate skills that are valuable in the workplace, such as teamwork, communication and leadership. For example, a person who regularly participates in team sports may have developed strong communication and cooperation skills. These qualities could be particularly beneficial in jobs where employees are required to work closely with their colleagues. Therefore, asking about interests may provide employers with additional information when selecting candidates.

On the other hand, some personal information has little connection with a person's ability to perform a job and could potentially lead to unfair treatment. In particular, marital status does not necessarily indicate whether someone will be a productive employee. For instance, an employer might assume that a married applicant has greater family responsibilities and therefore prefer a single candidate, even if the married person has better qualifications and experience. For this reason, employers should mainly consider professional skills, education and work experience when making hiring decisions.

In conclusion, although information about hobbies and interests may help employers understand certain qualities of an applicant, details such as marital status are generally not relevant to job performance. I believe employment decisions should primarily be based on a candidate's qualifications, experience and skills.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task. The writer successfully discusses both views regarding whether personal information such as hobbies and marital status is relevant to employers, and clearly provides a nuanced personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. For instance, the distinction made between hobbies as a helpful indicator of personality versus marital status as a potential source of unfair discrimination is well-developed. The ideas are extended logically with relevant examples, such as team sports demonstrating communication skills and the risk of bias against married applicants. This corresponds well to the Band 7 level, as all parts of the prompt are addressed with a clear position throughout, and the main points are supported by relevant explanations.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response features a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving smoothly from a balanced introduction to the two body paragraphs exploring opposing views, and concluding with a well-synthesized summary. Cohesive devices are used effectively without being mechanical, as seen in transition phrases like 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'For this reason'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a single central theme. Referencing throughout the essay is clear and precise, ensuring that the reader can easily follow the progression of the argument, which comfortably meets the criteria for Band 7.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary that allows for some flexibility and precision. Less common lexical items are used appropriately, such as 'marital status', 'productive employee', 'potential source of unfair treatment', and 'employment decisions'. Word choice is generally accurate, and collocations such as 'professional skills' and 'work experience' are used naturally. Although there are no glaring lexical errors, the vocabulary remains fairly standard for this topic rather than displaying a wider, highly flexible range of uncommon idiomatic or sophisticated items, placing this essay squarely at Band 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

The writer displays good control of grammar and punctuation, utilizing a variety of complex structures effectively. Examples include conditional and concessive clauses such as 'While some people believe that this information can help employers select suitable candidates, others consider it unnecessary' and 'even if the married person has better qualifications and experience.' There are frequent error-free sentences, and minor mistakes are virtually absent. Punctuation is handled accurately throughout, and complex structures do not impede comprehension. This strong command of grammar and sentence variety fulfills the requirements for a Band 8 performance.

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