Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-24

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Many working people get little or no exercise either during the working day or in their free time, and have health problems as a result.

Why do many working people not get enough exercise?

What can be done about this problem?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

 

Student answer (Band 8.0)

In today's fast-paced society, many working people struggle to incorporate physical activity into their daily routines, which can eventually lead to various health problems. This is mainly because of demanding work schedules and increasingly sedentary lifestyles. However, employers and individuals can take several measures to address this issue.

One of the main reasons why employees fail to exercise regularly is their heavy workload. Many professionals spend long hours at their workplaces and feel physically and mentally exhausted by the end of the day. As a result, they tend to prioritise rest, household responsibilities or entertainment over physical activity. Another contributing factor is the sedentary nature of modern jobs. People who spend most of their working hours sitting in front of computers may become accustomed to an inactive lifestyle, making exercise feel like an additional burden rather than a healthy habit.

Several practical steps could be taken to tackle this problem. Firstly, employers should encourage physical activity by providing flexible working hours and short exercise breaks during the day. For instance, companies could allow employees to take a 10-minute walking break after several hours of continuous work. Secondly, individuals should incorporate exercise into their existing routines instead of treating it as a separate commitment. Walking or cycling to work, using stairs instead of lifts and taking evening walks are simple ways to remain active without requiring significant amounts of time.

In conclusion, demanding schedules and sedentary jobs are the primary reasons why many working people exercise insufficiently. Nevertheless, with greater support from employers and small but consistent changes in daily routines, employees can lead healthier and more active lives.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses both parts of the prompt: the reasons for the lack of exercise and potential solutions. The ideas are well-developed and logically structured. For instance, the explanation regarding 'sedentary nature of modern jobs' and the subsequent suggestion of 'flexible working hours' provide a clear, balanced argument. The position is consistent throughout, and the response maintains a professional tone. The ideas are extended with relevant examples, such as '10-minute walking break' and 'cycling to work', which demonstrate a good understanding of the task requirements. The response is comprehensive and directly answers the prompt without any irrelevant information.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central focus, starting with an introduction, followed by two body paragraphs—one for reasons and one for solutions—and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'In today's fast-paced society', 'One of the main reasons', 'Another contributing factor', and 'Nevertheless' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and referencing is clear throughout the text. The flow between sentences is smooth, and the logical sequence of ideas makes the essay very easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The vocabulary is precise and appropriate for the context of the task. The student uses a range of topic-specific vocabulary such as 'sedentary lifestyles', 'incorporate physical activity', 'mentally exhausted', and 'consistent changes'. The word choice is natural and demonstrates a good level of flexibility. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the formal tone well, it could be slightly more sophisticated to reach the highest band. However, the current range is sufficient to convey complex ideas clearly and effectively without any errors in collocation or word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional-like structures ('People who spend... may become...') and participial phrases ('making exercise feel like...'). The grammar is highly accurate, with the majority of sentences being error-free. Punctuation is used correctly to support the clarity of the text. There are no significant grammatical slips that impede communication. The control over complex structures is consistent, and the overall grammatical accuracy is high, reflecting a strong command of English syntax.

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