Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-22

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)

Nowadays, parents pay increasing attention to how their children spend their leisure time because these activities play an important role in their overall development. Some people believe parents should encourage their children to participate in organized group activities during their free time, while others think children should learn to keep themselves occupied independently. I believe both approaches have their own benefits, but a balanced combination of group activities and independent play is the most effective way to help children develop both social skills and self-reliance.

On the one hand, taking part in organized group activities can provide children with valuable social and practical skills. Activities such as team sports, music groups and drama clubs teach children how to cooperate, communicate and respect others. They also encourage discipline because children have to follow rules and attend activities regularly. For example, a child who plays football with a local team may learn how to work with teammates and accept both success and failure. These experiences can help children become more confident and responsible adults.

However, children should also have opportunities to occupy themselves without constant guidance from parents or organized activities. Spending time alone can motivate them to create their own creativity to spend time, problem-solving skills, and independence. For illustration, a child who is given free time to read a book, draw, build something or pley independently has to decide how to use that time. This can teach them to make their own decisions and become confortable with being alone, which are important skills later in life.

In conclusion, organised activities are beneficial because they help children develop social skills, discipline and confidence, while independent play encourages creativity and self-reliance. In my opinion, parents should provide a healthy balance between both types of activities rather than focusing exclusively on one. This would allow children to develop into well-rounded and independent individuals.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have clearly discussed both perspectives—the value of organized group activities and the importance of independent play—and provided a clear personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are well-developed with relevant examples, such as team sports for social skills and reading or drawing for individual creativity. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the arguments are logically extended, meeting the requirements for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the transition between the two viewpoints is smooth, using appropriate cohesive devices like 'On the one hand' and 'However'. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different arguments. The flow of information is natural, and referencing is clear throughout the text. The structure is coherent and supports the reader's understanding of your argument without any confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'overall development', 'self-reliance', and 'well-rounded individuals' are used effectively. There are some minor errors, such as 'create their own creativity' (which is slightly awkward phrasing) and 'confortable' (spelling error). However, these do not impede communication. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and ensure spelling accuracy for common words.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex structures, such as conditional-like constructions and subordinate clauses. Most sentences are error-free, and your control over grammar is generally strong. There are a few minor slips, such as 'pley' (spelling) and the slightly unnatural phrasing 'create their own creativity'. Despite these, the majority of your sentences are accurate, and the punctuation is handled well. The range of structures used is sufficient to convey complex ideas clearly.

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

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