Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · 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 8.0)

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 enhance concentration, therefore parents should encourage both forms of learning in order to support their overall development.

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 children 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 make children independent and enhance 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 fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly discuss both views—the benefits of solitary activities for independence and concentration, and the advantages of group activities for social and communication skills. Your position is established in the introduction and maintained consistently throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed with relevant examples, such as mentioning specific hobbies like puzzles or musical instruments, and the benefits of martial arts for discipline. The conclusion effectively synthesizes these points to support your balanced opinion. The response is well-structured and directly answers the prompt requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay demonstrates a clear logical progression. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the transition between the two viewpoints is smooth, using appropriate cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand'. The use of linking words like 'therefore', 'consequently', and 'while' helps to connect ideas effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, the two body paragraphs, and the conclusion. The flow of information is natural, and the relationship between ideas is easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the task. Phrases like 'interpersonal skills', 'self-reliant', 'resilience', and 'well-rounded individuals' show a strong command of language. The vocabulary is used accurately and helps to convey your ideas with precision. While the range is sufficient and effective, it could be pushed further toward a more sophisticated level to reach the highest band, but for this response, the lexical control is consistent and error-free, effectively supporting the clarity of your arguments.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences and conditional clauses (e.g., 'if children learn to occupy themselves, they become...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is excellent. You use a variety of sentence lengths and structures, which makes the writing engaging and fluent. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. The accuracy is high, and the use of complex forms is natural and well-integrated into the flow of your arguments.

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