Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-08

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)

It is often argued by many that parents should encourage their children to participate in organized group activities, while others argue that young people should know hoe to spend time by their own. Undoubtedly, both approaches teach children valuable skills, however, in my opinion parents must adopt a balanced approach where children can enjoy both these options.

On the one hand, those who support organised group activities argue that they enable children to develop valuable interpersonal skills. By playing and working with their peers, youngsters can improve their confidence, leadership abilities and capacity to cooperate with others. For example, children who regularly participate in team sports may become more comfortable expressing their opinions and communicating with others than those who spend most of their free time alone. Moreover, group activities provide opportunities for children to learn from their peers and develop social skills that can benefit them in their future academic and professional lives.

On the other hand, allowing children to spend some of their free time according to their own preferences can help them become more independent. When youngsters are not constantly guided or entertained by their parents or peers, they have to decide for themselves how to use their time. As a result, they can discover their personal interests while also developing decision-making and problem-solving skills. For instance, a child who is given unstructured free time may choose to read, draw, build something or invent a game, which can encourage creativity and self-reliance.

In conclusion, although organised group activities provide children with valuable opportunities to develop teamwork, communication and leadership skills, excessive scheduling can limit their independence and creativity. In my view, parents should adopt a balanced approach by encouraging children to participate in group activities while also allowing them sufficient unstructured time. This would enable youngsters to develop both social skills and important qualities such as independence, problem-solving and time management.

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 benefits of organized group activities and the importance of independent, unstructured time—and provided a clear personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of team sports for social skills and creative activities like reading or drawing for independence. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes the arguments to support your balanced view. The response is well-structured and meets the requirements of the task comprehensively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, 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 'Moreover', 'As a result', and 'In conclusion' helps guide the reader through your argument. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different stages of your discussion. The flow of information is natural, and there is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of cohesive devices, making the text easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the task. You use precise terms such as 'interpersonal skills', 'unstructured free time', and 'self-reliance' effectively. The language is natural and conveys your meaning clearly. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the context well, it could be slightly more sophisticated to reach the highest band. For instance, instead of 'valuable skills', you could use 'essential competencies'. Overall, the lexical range is sufficient to express your ideas with precision, and there are no significant errors in word choice or collocation that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a good variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences that are generally error-free. You have used a mix of subordinate and coordinate clauses effectively, such as 'When youngsters are not constantly guided... they have to decide for themselves'. Punctuation is accurate, and the grammatical control is strong throughout. There is a minor typo in the first paragraph ('hoe' instead of 'how'), but this is a rare slip and does not affect the overall clarity or quality of the writing. The majority of your sentences are error-free, demonstrating a high level of grammatical competence.

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