Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-01

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 8.0)

People have different opinions about whether children should be allowed to make their own decisions. Some argue that giving children complete freedom in everyday matters may encourage selfish behaviour, while others believe that making decisions helps children become responsible. This essay will discuss both views before explaining why I support a balanced approach.

On the one hand, allowing children to choose everything they want may lead them to think only about their own preferences. For example, if children are always allowed to decide what they eat, wear, or watch, they may become unwilling to consider the opinions or needs of others. As a result, they might develop selfish attitudes and struggle to cooperate with people in school or later in the workplace. Parents also have more experience and can guide children towards healthier and more appropriate choices.

On the other hand, giving children opportunities to make decisions can help them develop independence and confidence. When children are involved in decisions that affect their lives, such as choosing hobbies or school activities, they learn to take responsibility for the outcomes. This also improves their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, which are essential for adulthood. Furthermore, children are more likely to feel respected and valued when their opinions are considered.

In my opinion, children should be allowed to make decisions, but within reasonable limits. Parents should provide guidance while gradually increasing children's independence according to their age and maturity. This approach enables children to become confident and responsible without encouraging selfish behaviour.

In conclusion, although excessive freedom may cause children to become self-centred, allowing them to make appropriate decisions helps them develop valuable life skills. Therefore, a balanced combination of parental guidance and personal choice is the most effective approach.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt effectively. You have clearly discussed both viewpoints—the potential for selfishness and the benefits of independence—and provided a clear personal opinion. The ideas are well-developed, with logical explanations for why children might become self-centred versus how they gain critical-thinking skills. The conclusion reinforces your balanced stance, ensuring the position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, you could provide a more specific, real-world example to illustrate the 'balanced approach' you advocate, which would further strengthen the depth of your argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic, and you have used cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'On the other hand,' 'As a result,' and 'Furthermore' to link your points effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The flow is smooth, and the relationship between ideas is easy to follow. The use of referencing is accurate, and the transition between the two opposing views and your own opinion is handled naturally.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'unwilling to consider the opinions,' 'take responsibility for the outcomes,' and 'gradually increasing children's independence' are used accurately. The vocabulary is natural and appropriate for an academic context. While the range is good, it could be further enhanced by incorporating more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items to demonstrate a wider command of the language. Overall, the vocabulary is precise and contributes to clear communication throughout the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a good variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences ('if children are always allowed to...') and subordinate clauses ('although excessive freedom may cause...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and tense is consistent. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede meaning. To move towards a higher band, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex sentence patterns, such as using more passive voice constructions or inversion, to demonstrate even greater flexibility in your grammatical range.

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