Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-17

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 6.5)

It is always a matter of debate of whether the children need to be a part of an organization to spend their leisure time or they can spend time alone to do something they love. Before discussing the both ways, I think a mix of both is highly beneficial because the organized tasks promote discipline and cooperation whereas doing something alone boosts creativity and mindfulness.

On the one hand, taking part in organized group work will teach children to become responsible citizens by developing the habit of working with others. When kids do group activities, they learn how to be cooperative and helpful as they work together. It also assists them learn from each other. For instance, if the children are given a project to do, they can take assistance from their friends in the area they struggle with. Consequently, It will not only create a feeling of respect towards others but also help develop good qualities needed for the growth of a country.

On the other hand, spend free time alone has numerous benefits. Initially, kids can have some time when they can think about and do the activities they love. They can find their true passion by exploring their hobbies and get peace of mind. Furthermore, it will help them become self-dependent. For example, if a child is doing something alone, he/she do not have to think others. They can do every task without help and eventually be ready to take on the real responsibilities of upcoming life.

In conclusion, whereas taking part in group activities make kids smart, cooperative, helpful and disciplined, spending time alone helps find someone's inner hobbies and identify their hidden talents and make them responsible. My opinion is the mixture of both because the future has a lot of competition, all the skills and qualities learnt in both activities will be very helpful for career and life. Thus each type should be given equal importance and interest.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response7.0
Coherence and Cohesion7.0
Lexical Resource6.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy6.0
Overall6.5

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 ideas are relevant and generally well-developed. For example, the benefits of group activities are linked to social responsibility, while solitary time is linked to self-dependence and creativity. However, the development could be slightly more sophisticated to reach a higher band. The conclusion effectively summarizes the main points and reiterates the stance. The position is consistent throughout the essay, meeting the requirements for a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Furthermore', and 'Consequently' are used effectively to link ideas. However, there are minor issues with referencing and flow, such as 'It will not only create...' where the antecedent is slightly ambiguous. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the overall structure supports the argument well, justifying a Band 7.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient to convey ideas with precision. The student uses some good collocations like 'responsible citizens', 'true passion', and 'hidden talents'. There are occasional inaccuracies or slightly unnatural phrasing, such as 'upcoming life' instead of 'future life' or 'adulthood'. While the range is adequate for the task, it lacks the more sophisticated, idiomatic, or precise lexical choices that would characterize a Band 8.0. The spelling is accurate throughout, and the vocabulary choice does not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'It also assists them learn' (should be 'assists them in learning' or 'helps them learn'), 'spend free time alone has' (should be 'spending free time alone has'), and 'he/she do not have to think others' (should be 'do not have to think about others'). These errors are frequent enough to prevent a higher score but do not significantly impede the reader's understanding. A greater variety of error-free complex structures would be needed for a higher band.

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

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