Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-14

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 7.0)

The way children spend leisure time can significantly influence their personal and social development. While sopme people believe that parents should encourage their children to participate in organised group activities, others argue that independent paly is equally important. In my opinion, although both approaches offer valuable benefits, children should experience a combination of the two to develop into well-rounded individuals.

On the one hand, participating in organised group activities enables children to develop essential interpeosonal skills. Activities for example, team sports, drama clubs and group music lessons teach yem how to work together as a team. Additionally, children learn how to communicate effectively and work towards a common goal. These experinces can help children develop discipline and resilience, particularly when they encounter competition or setbacks. For example, a child who plays football as a team not aonly follows instructions, but also to appriciate the importance of supporting teammatees and accepting defeat graciously. Furthermore, structured group activities also allows children to form friendships who share similar interests or hobbies.

On the other hand, larning to entertain onself without constant supervision is equally beneficial. While children have the freedom to choose how they spend their time, they are more likey to develop independence, creativity and problem solving abilities. For example, a child who builds a model, reads a book or invest in games use their immagination and make decisions whithout relying on others. Such experience can foster self-discipline and teach children how to manage boredom.

In my prespeective, neither approach should be prioritised to the exclusion of the other. Parents should provide opportunities for group participation while also allowing children sufficient unstructured time to explore their interests independently. The appropriate balance will depend on the child's age, personally and individual needs.

All in all, organised activities help children develop social skills and team work, whereas independent leisure encourages creativity and self-reliance. A balanced combination of both is the most effective way to support children's overall development.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response addresses both views and gives a clear, consistent opinion: children benefit from a combination of organised activities and independent leisure. Each side is supported with relevant explanations and examples, such as team sports developing cooperation and a child building a model encouraging independent decision-making. The conclusion also restates the balanced position, so the task is fully covered. To strengthen the development further, explain some points in more depth rather than relying on broad claims. For instance, the benefits of “discipline and resilience” could be linked to how children respond to challenges beyond the activity itself. The final point that the balance depends on age and individual needs is relevant, but a brief example would make it more convincing.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The essay has a clear, effective structure: an introduction presents the debate and position, separate body paragraphs discuss each view, and the conclusion synthesises the argument. Progression within the paragraphs is generally logical, and signposts such as “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In my perspective” help readers follow the discussion. Examples are placed close to the claims they support. To make the organisation more polished, vary the linking language and strengthen connections between some sentences. For example, “Additionally” and “Furthermore” both introduce further benefits in the first body paragraph, creating a somewhat list-like effect. A clearer link between the examples and the broader developmental claims would also make cohesion feel more flexible and less dependent on explicit transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The response uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the topic, including relevant terms such as “interpersonal skills,” “resilience,” “independence,” “self-discipline,” and “self-reliance.” These choices help communicate the main ideas, and meaning remains clear despite some inaccuracies. However, spelling errors are noticeable, including “sopme,” “experinces,” and “immagination,” while several word choices or collocations are imprecise, such as “invest in games” and “a child who plays football as a team.” These slips limit the accuracy and naturalness of the vocabulary. Proofread carefully and check collocations; for example, use “plays football in a team” and “plays games.” More precise phrasing would help the existing range sound more controlled.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

There is a useful mix of simple and complex structures, including the concessive opening “While …, others argue …” and the conditional sentence “The appropriate balance will depend on …”. Many sentences are clear and grammatically controlled, and punctuation generally supports the meaning. Some errors remain, particularly in agreement and sentence construction. For example, “structured group activities also allows” should use a plural verb, while “a child … not only follows instructions, but also to appreciate” has an inconsistent verb pattern. In “a child who builds … or invest in games use their imagination,” the subject and verbs do not agree consistently. Review subject–verb agreement and parallel structures, especially in longer sentences, while continuing to use varied sentence forms.

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