Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-11-08

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people believe that allowing children to make their own choices on everyday matters (such as food, clothes and entertainment) is likely to result in a society of individuals who only think about their own wishes. Other people believe that it is important for children to make decisions about matters that affect them.

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 5.5)

It is often argued that children should be given freedom to make their own choices on everyday matters , such as food , cloths and entertainment. However other people view that children should actively involve in decision making which impacts their lives. Although allowing children to make independent choices can develop individuality.

On the one hand giving childrens freedom to make decision can help them be more confident about themselves. When childrens are allowed to select their cloths , meal or even how to spend their leisure time , they learn to take responsibilty and held liable for their actions. Furthermore such freedom unlocks decision making skills from early ages. For example children who is regularly allowed to plan it's activity is far more capable over the ones who are being dictated about their activities. However rarely such decisio making leads to selfish behaviour therefore parential guidance is often required otherwise they might be exploit.

On the other hand involing children in decision making which affects them makes them feel respected and involved . Parents should consider their childrens opinion in matter related to their academics , extra activities etc. This apprach not only strengthens parent children bond but also teach young kids to express their opinion . For example allowing children to select subjects for O-Level can help in boosting his/her moral for studies and give them sense of responsibility to work harder.

In the end while allowing children to make everday choices can help in multiple factors e.g. independence , promotes confidence and respect. In my opinion parents should opt for balanced approach where they should provide children with freedom but also provide them with required guidnace to support them since they're vulnerable.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both views and give a clear overall position: children benefit from choice, but parents should provide guidance. The examples about planning leisure activities and choosing O-Level subjects are relevant and help explain the benefits of involving children. However, the discussion is uneven: the first view receives several benefits, while the concern that freedom may encourage selfishness is only briefly mentioned in “rarely such decision making leads to selfish behaviour,” with little explanation. The second view also focuses mainly on benefits rather than explaining why children should have a say in decisions affecting them. Develop these points with clearer reasoning and a more specific example to make the response more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a concluding opinion. “On the one hand” and “On the other hand” help signal the change in perspective, and the examples generally follow the points they support. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear: the first body paragraph moves from confidence to responsibility, then to selfishness without fully connecting these ideas. Some linking is also mechanical, and the conclusion lists benefits rather than clearly synthesising the two sides. Use clearer topic sentences and connect each example explicitly to its main point; ensure references such as “such freedom” and “they” have unmistakable antecedents.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of vocabulary, including “independent choices,” “take responsibility,” “decision-making skills,” and “parent-child bond,” which helps communicate the main ideas. There are also attempts at more specific expressions, such as “matters related to their academics.” However, noticeable spelling and word-choice errors reduce precision, including “cloths” for “clothes,” “responsibilty,” “parential,” and “guidnace.” Some phrases are unnatural or unclear, such as “unlock decision making skills” and “they might be exploit.” Aim for accurate collocations and check spelling carefully. More precise vocabulary for the risks and benefits of children’s autonomy would also make the discussion more convincing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including a concession in “Although allowing children to make independent choices can develop individuality” and a conditional structure beginning “otherwise.” However, the concession is left as a sentence fragment, and several other sentences contain errors that make the reader pause. Examples include “children should actively involve” instead of “be actively involved,” “children who is” instead of “children who are,” and “not only strengthens … but also teach,” where the verb forms do not agree. There are also problems with articles, plurals, and sentence boundaries. Practise checking each sentence for a complete main clause, subject–verb agreement, and consistent plural forms while retaining your attempts at complex structures.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.