Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-18

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 take part in organised group activities, while others think children should learn to spend their free time by themselves. I believe that both are important, but children should have a balance between the two.

On the one hand, organised group activities can be very useful for children. For example, playing football, joining a dance class, or taking part in a school club can help children make friends and learn how to work with others. They can also develop important skills such as teamwork, communication, and responsibility. In addition, regular activities can keep children active and reduce the amount of time they spend using phones or playing video games.

On the other hand, children also need to learn how to occupy themselves. When children spend time alone, they can become more independent and creative. For instance, they may read a book, draw pictures, build something, or simply think about their own interests. These activities can help children learn how to make decisions without always depending on their parents or friends.

In my opinion, parents should encourage both types of activities. Group activities are important for social and physical development, while spending time alone helps children become independent and creative. Therefore, the best approach is to give children opportunities to enjoy organised activities while also allowing them enough free time to choose what they want to do.

In conclusion, both group activities and independent play have clear benefits. Parents should provide a healthy balance so that children can develop different skills and enjoy their free time.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both the benefits of organised group activities and the value of independent play. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it throughout the essay. The ideas are relevant and well-supported with specific examples, such as 'playing football' for group activities and 'reading a book' for independent time. To reach a higher band, you could further extend your arguments by exploring the potential drawbacks of each approach or discussing the long-term impact on child development, which would demonstrate a more sophisticated level of critical thinking.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organised with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use appropriate cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'In addition', and 'Therefore' to link your points effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the response. The structure is consistent and supports the development of your argument well throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your ideas clearly. Phrases like 'social and physical development' and 'make decisions without always depending on their parents' are accurate and appropriate. While the vocabulary is functional and precise, it is somewhat standard. To achieve a higher band, you should incorporate more 'less common' lexical items or idiomatic collocations related to the topic, such as 'fostering independence', 'interpersonal skills', or 'self-reliance', which would add more sophistication to your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Your grammar is generally accurate, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. You use complex sentences effectively, such as 'When children spend time alone, they can become more independent and creative.' The punctuation is also handled correctly. To improve further, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice, to demonstrate greater grammatical flexibility.

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

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