Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-11-11

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 6.5)

In today's rapidly changing world, the change in children's habits has become a matter of considerable debate. While some people believe that if children will make their own decision this might create a selfish society who only think about their own wishes, others argue that it is important for children's growth to take their own decisions. This essay will discuss both perspectives before explaining why i believe that children should make their own decisions.

To commence with, if a child is allowed to choose everything without any limits, they get used to always getting their own way. In other words, in the real world we have to cooperate with others, share spaces and sometimes we have to do the things that we don't like. As a result, a child who never hears no while growing up might expecting society to resolve around their own wishes, making them to struggle with teamwork or empathy.

On the other hand, making their own decision builds a critical life skill among the children. To elaborate it, they can take the life decisions more easily in the difficult situations as compared to the children who were dependent on the others even for small things. Apart from this, by taking their own decisions they are clearer about their choices which can we helpful for them to choose a more desirable career. For example, when children are allowed to choose their own books to read or extracurricular activities to join, they develop a stronger sense of personal accountability and self-discovery. Therefore, their chances to become successful are more as compared to others.

In conclusion, although making their own decisions can make the children selfish, I believe that there are more benefits if children are going to make their decisions.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response addresses both views and gives a clear opinion: the introduction and conclusion support children making decisions, while the first body paragraph explains how unrestricted choice could encourage self-centred behaviour. The examples about cooperation, empathy, reading choices and extracurricular activities are relevant. This meets the core requirements well, and the explanation of personal accountability shows some development beyond simply listing benefits. However, the two sides are not equally developed: the concern about selfishness is explained in general terms, while the benefits paragraph offers more detail and an example. The conclusion also repeats the position without clarifying that children’s choices can be balanced with parental guidance. Develop the first view with a specific illustration and make the limits or conditions of your opinion explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay has a clear overall structure: an introduction, one paragraph for each perspective, and a conclusion. Ideas progress logically within the paragraphs, and signposting such as “On the other hand,” “For example,” and “In conclusion” helps readers follow the discussion. The first body paragraph moves from unrestricted choice to possible difficulties with teamwork and empathy, while the second links decision-making to independence and career choice. To make the progression more polished, avoid formulaic transitions such as “To commence with” and “To elaborate it,” and connect related points more smoothly. The conclusion could also synthesise the two views rather than mainly restating the opinion. Overall, organisation is clear, though some linking is more mechanical than flexible.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The response uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the topic, including “considerable debate,” “cooperate,” “empathy,” “personal accountability,” and “self-discovery.” These choices help express the main ideas, and meaning remains clear throughout. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, but some expressions are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “society to resolve around their own wishes,” “take the life decisions,” and “more desirable career.” “Children’s habits” is also imprecise for the issue being discussed. Aim for more natural collocations and precise wording, especially when describing decision-making and its consequences. Replacing awkward phrases with established expressions will improve fluency without requiring unnecessarily complex vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

There is a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including conditional structures such as “if a child is allowed to choose everything” and a relative clause in “children who were dependent on the others.” Most sentences communicate the intended meaning, but some grammatical errors remain. For example, “if children will make” should use a present form after “if,” “might expecting” needs a complete verb form, and “making them to struggle” has an incorrect infinitive pattern. There are also errors in “which can we helpful” and “I believe that there are more benefits if children are going to make their decisions.” Review verb forms, agreement, and infinitive patterns, and check sentence endings and capitalisation. Greater accuracy across these structures would make the argument more controlled.

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