Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-15

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In the future, more people will choose to go on holiday in their own country and not travel abroad on holiday. Do you agree or disagree?

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

 

Student answer (Band 6.5)

One significant reason is that travelling to different countries for vacation can play a pivotal role in shaping individuals' personal development. This is largely because it can encourage people to step outside their comfort zones and adapt to unfamiliar circumstances. As a result, they may become more self-reliant, resilient and capable of dealing with unexpected challenges. For instance, people who encounter unfamiliar environments are often required to make independent decisions and find practical solutions to everyday problems. Consequently, such experiences can broaden their horizons and foster long-term personal growth.

Another compelling argument concerns the broader social implications of travelling abroad on holiday. More specifically, it can expose individuals to diverse perspectives, cultures and ways of life. This exposure can foster greater understanding and enable people to appreciate viewpoints that differ from their own. A clear example of this can be seen when individuals interact closely with people from different cultural or social backgrounds. Over time, such experiences can cultivate cultural awareness, mutual understanding and stronger social cohesion.

In conclusion, while there are valid arguments concerning travelling for vacation, I believe that holidays in new countries are always a better choice. Ultimately, the potential consequences for individuals, communities and society should be carefully evaluated, particularly in terms of personal development, social interaction and long-term opportunities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response presents a clear position that disagrees with the prompt, arguing that travelling abroad offers unique developmental benefits. However, the essay is only 214 words long, which fails to meet the minimum requirement of 250 words. Because of this under-length penalty, Task Achievement is capped at Band 5.0. On the positive side, the ideas presented in the body paragraphs are relevant and well-developed, discussing personal growth and social awareness. The writer supports these points with clear explanations, such as how stepping outside one's comfort zone fosters self-reliance. To achieve a higher band, the writer must ensure the word count requirement is fully satisfied and expand the discussion to directly address the specific future projection mentioned in the prompt regarding local tourism trends.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a clear overall progression and logical organization. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the first discusses personal development, the second explores social implications, and the final paragraph provides a concluding stance. The writer successfully uses cohesive devices to link ideas, such as 'This is largely because', 'As a result', and 'In conclusion'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct arguments. Referencing is generally clear and easy to follow. To reach higher bands, the essay could benefit from even more sophisticated and subtle transitions between paragraphs, ensuring that the shift from personal development to social implications feels completely seamless rather than formulaic.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with some good attempts at less common lexical items and collocations. Examples such as 'pivotal role', 'self-reliant', 'broader social implications', and 'cultural awareness' show an awareness of style and appropriateness for an IELTS task. Word choices are mostly accurate and do not impede communication. However, there is some repetition of vocabulary related to travel and vacation, and the range could be wider to support a higher band. A few minor collocation choices, such as 'holidays in new countries are always a better choice', border on overgeneralisation. Overall, the lexical resource is solid and adequate for a Band 6.5 score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response exhibits good grammatical control with a variety of complex sentence structures used effectively throughout the text. The writer successfully employs subordinate clauses, participial phrases, and conditional structures, such as 'This is largely because it can encourage people to step outside their comfort zones' and 'A clear example of this can be seen when individuals interact closely with people...'. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled well. There are occasional slips, but these do not impede communication or cause strain for the reader. The grammatical range and accuracy clearly reflect the descriptors for Band 7.0, showing good command of complex syntax.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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