Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-09
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
Some people say that parents should encourage their children to take part in organised group activities in their free time. Others say that it is important for children to learn how to occupy themselves on their own.
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)
Some people believe that parents should encourage their children to participate in organised group activities, while others argue that children should learn to spend their free time independently. Although both approaches have their advantages, I believe that a combination of the two is the most beneficial.
On the one hand, organised group activities can help children develop important social skills. By taking part in sports teams, music groups or other clubs, children learn how to communicate, cooperate and work towards common goals. They can also develop discipline and responsibility by following schedules and respecting other members. For example, a child who regularly plays football with a local team may become more confident and learn how to handle both success and failure.
On the other hand, learning to occupy oneself can also be valuable for a child's development. When children spend time alone, they have an opportunity to discover their own interests and become more independent. They may read books, draw, play an instrument or simply find creative ways to entertain themselves. This can improve their problem-solving skills and help them become comfortable making decisions without relying on others. For instance, a child who regularly chooses activities independently may become more self-reliant as they grow older.
In my opinion, parents should encourage both types of activities. While group activities are essential for developing social and communication skills, independent activities teach children creativity and self-reliance. Therefore, parents should provide opportunities for organised activities while also allowing their children sufficient free time to explore their own interests.
Overall, a balanced approach would help children develop both strong social skills and independence.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt effectively. You clearly discuss both perspectives—the benefits of organised group activities and the value of independent play—and provide a clear personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are well-developed with relevant examples, such as football for group dynamics and reading or drawing for individual development. The position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, you could further extend the analysis by discussing the potential drawbacks of each approach, which would provide a more nuanced and sophisticated exploration of the topic.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0
The essay is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth, using standard cohesive devices like 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand'. The use of referencing is accurate, and the paragraphing is appropriate for the task. The flow of information is natural and easy to follow. To improve, you could experiment with a wider variety of cohesive devices to link sentences within paragraphs more dynamically, moving beyond basic connectors to show more sophisticated relationships between ideas.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases such as 'develop important social skills', 'cooperate and work towards common goals', and 'self-reliant' are used appropriately. The vocabulary is natural and fits the context well. While the range is adequate for a high score, it remains somewhat standard. To achieve a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more 'less common' lexical items or idiomatic collocations that demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the language, such as 'foster interpersonal skills' or 'nurture autonomy'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The essay displays a good command of grammatical structures. You use a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as the conditional structure in the second paragraph and the complex sentences in the conclusion. The punctuation is accurate, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free. To move towards a band 8 or 9, ensure you are consistently using a wider variety of complex structures, such as inversion or more advanced subordinate clauses, to demonstrate greater flexibility and control over your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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