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)

While some argue that families should motivate their offspring to participate in team activities in their leisure time, others think that it is crucial for them to entertain themselves independently. To my way of thinking, group activities develop interpersonal skills whereas solitary activities enhances concentration, therefore parents should encourage both forms of learning in order to support their overall learning.

On the one hand, if children learn to occupy themselves, they become independent and self-reliant. When children read books, complete puzzles, practice a musical instrument or engage in a creative hobby on their own, they learn to solve problems without relying on others. These activities also enhance their concentration, imagination and critical thinking, allowing chilfren to discover their own strengths and weaknesses. These abilities are essential because people are often required to make decisions and work independently throughout their lives.

On the other hand, children who actively participate in organized group activities such as dance, music or sports classes in their free time, not only improve team spirit, but also develop social and communication skills. This practice prepares them for future real life events by giving them opportunities to resolve conflicts and gain leadership qualities. For instance, young kids participating in a martial arts class on weekends, learn team spirit, discipline and resilience in their life. Therefore, active participation in such group activities enhances their interpersonal and social skills.

In conclusion, while solitary activities makes children independent and enhances creativity, organised activities improve teamwork and develop social skills which will foster a cohesive society by encouraging interdependence in the future generation. Therefore, in my opinion, a healthy balance between the two enables children to become well-rounded individuals who are capable of working effectively both with others and on their own.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response addresses all parts of the task effectively. You have clearly presented both sides of the argument and provided a personal opinion in the introduction, which is maintained throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed, with relevant examples such as 'martial arts' and 'puzzles' to support your points. The conclusion provides a clear summary and reinforces your stance on the importance of a balanced approach. To reach a higher band, ensure that the development of ideas is consistently deep; for instance, you could briefly explain how 'interdependence' specifically manifests in a future society to add more depth to your final argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you have used cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Therefore' to link your points effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall flow of the argument. The transition between the two viewpoints and your own opinion is smooth. To improve further, try to vary your cohesive devices slightly more to avoid relying on standard transition phrases, which would make the flow feel even more natural and sophisticated.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the task. Phrases like 'self-reliant', 'interpersonal skills', and 'well-rounded individuals' show a good command of language. There is an occasional minor error, such as the typo 'chilfren' instead of 'children', and a subject-verb agreement issue in the conclusion ('solitary activities makes'). However, these do not impede communication. To move into the higher bands, try to incorporate more precise collocations or less common idiomatic expressions that fit the formal tone of an IELTS essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. You demonstrate good control over complex sentences, such as the conditional structure in the second paragraph ('if children learn to occupy themselves, they become...'). While there are a few minor grammatical slips, such as 'solitary activities makes' (should be 'make') and 'enhances' (should be 'enhance'), the majority of your sentences are error-free. Your punctuation is generally accurate, which helps maintain clarity. To achieve a higher score, ensure consistent subject-verb agreement throughout the text.

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

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