Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-10-16

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 5.5)

Exercise is a source of health and relaxation of mind. One can gain a healthy body and sharp mind by exercise. Exercise not only make our body strong but keep our metabolism active and we feel energy in our body. People of every age group get benefit from exercise, children get strong body, teenagers get extra muscle mass, adults keep their active metabolism and patients control their disorders like diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol.

In recent years due to high consumerism majority of individuals working in business, IT sector, hospitals and corporate sector have not enough time for exercise. Due to lack of exercise these people experience many health and mental issues. The most common problem due to sedentary life style is high cortisol level in working people. High cortisol in body create anxiety, poor digestion, insomnia and belly fat. Working individuals can not manage exercise routine due to poor work life balance. Some of my friends also face the same problem. Lack of exercise causes early onset of diabetes, hypertension and psychological disorders in many regions of the world.

How it can be managed? It is a complex question. The most simple answer is to manage time table of office and home. Scientists reveal that there are some parts in the world in which average age of people is 100. The top reason of these centenarian culture is exercise. Working people can manage their activities by some simple changes. For example after every half an hour take few steps to and from their desk, use stairs instead of elevators, cover the office distance on foot is best for working people.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both questions: you identify poor work–life balance and sedentary routines as reasons, then suggest taking short walks, using stairs and walking to cover office distances. These are relevant and practical points. However, the explanation of why workers lack exercise is narrow: “high consumerism” is mentioned but not explained, and the discussion mainly returns to time management. The proposed solutions are also listed rather than developed; for example, explain how employers could provide breaks or workplace exercise facilities, and how these changes could fit into a working day. The claim about centenarian cultures is not clearly connected to the specific problem. More explanation and relevant support would make the response address the task more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: it introduces the benefits of exercise, discusses causes, and then moves to possible solutions. The question “How it can be managed?” signals the shift to the second part of the task, and examples such as taking the stairs help the reader follow your suggestions. However, the opening paragraph spends considerable space on general benefits rather than establishing the essay’s focus, and the progression within the causes paragraph is not always clear. Connections between ideas are sometimes abrupt, particularly the move from cortisol to centenarians. Use clearer topic sentences and organise each paragraph around one main point, with explanation and an example. More precise referencing and a wider range of linking expressions would also reduce the list-like effect.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “sedentary lifestyle,” “work-life balance,” “metabolism,” and “psychological disorders,” which helps communicate the subject. There are also attempts at more specific language, such as “early onset of diabetes” and “centenarian culture.” However, several phrases are unnatural or imprecise, including “source of health,” “sharp mind by exercise,” “high consumerism,” and “cover the office distance on foot.” Repetition of “exercise,” “working people,” and “body” also limits the range. Aim for more natural collocations and precise wording, such as describing long working hours or a lack of opportunities to be active. Check spelling and word forms as well, including “lifestyle” and “centenarian.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, and the meaning is generally understandable. For example, you use a contrastive structure in “Exercise not only make our body strong but keep our metabolism active,” and you include a relative clause in “patients control their disorders like diabetes.” However, errors occur regularly in agreement, articles and sentence construction. Examples include “Exercise … make” instead of “makes,” “high cortisol in body create” instead of “high cortisol in the body creates,” and “have not enough time” instead of “do not have enough time.” Some sentences also join several ideas without clear punctuation. Review subject–verb agreement and article use, and divide long sentences into clearer units. More accurate control of these patterns would make your ideas easier to follow.

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