Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-02

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)

Whether children should be given the choice to make their own everyday decisions or not is a matter up for debate. Some believe that it makes the youth self-centered, while others argue that it is crucial to give children the right to make their own decisions. This essay will discuss both perspectives before giving my opinion.

It is a common belief that if young people are given too much autonomy in everyday matters, it will foster a society where people only care about themselves. Proponents of this view argue that parental guidance in daily matters is necessary, because parents teach their children to value other people's wishes. If youngsters are not shown the right path and allowed to make whatever decision they wish, they will not consider what impact their choices have on other people. Additionally, allowing children to make everyday decisions leads to individualism. But in order for a society to function, collectivism is necessary for social cohesion. For example, children in Pakistan are given little opportunities to make decision for themselves and are taught to value other people's wishes. As a result, Pakistan is famous for having strong social and community values.

However, critics argue that giving children the right to make decisions about matters that have a direct impact on them leads to a society of confident individuals. In day-to-day life, allowing children to choose what they eat or what they wear allows them to be confident in their choices. If the choices have good outcomes, it makes the youth self-assured; on the other hand, if the decision leads to a negative outcome it gives children an opportunity to learn from their mistakes. It also helps individuals hold themselves accountable for their choices. Those who support this view provide another key justification for this stance which is overcoming fear of failure. If children are given opportunities to make bad decisions, it makes them experience failure more often. This can make them more resilient and unafraid of making bad choices in the future. For example, multiple studies show that people who were allowed to make even simple everyday decisions in their childhood were more self-confident in the future.

Conclusively, some do not support the idea of giving children choices in everyday matters while others believe in the importance of autonomy. I firmly hold the view that young people should be allowed to make their own decisions. This is because it creates confident and responsible individuals who are willing learn from their mistakes and not afraid to make bad choices.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both perspectives and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the arguments regarding confidence and resilience in the second body paragraph. The use of the example from Pakistan provides a concrete illustration for the first perspective, and the mention of studies adds weight to the second. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the main points. The response is well-structured and meets all requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the two opposing views is smooth, using appropriate linking words like 'However' and 'On the other hand'. Cohesive devices are used effectively to connect sentences and ideas, such as 'Additionally', 'As a result', and 'This is because'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, the two body paragraphs, and the conclusion. The flow of the argument is natural and easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses a range of topic-specific terms such as 'autonomy', 'individualism', 'collectivism', 'social cohesion', and 'resilient'. While the vocabulary is generally accurate and natural, there is room for more sophisticated or less common collocations to reach the highest band. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. The student demonstrates a good command of language, effectively conveying complex ideas with clarity and precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The student demonstrates a good command of a variety of complex structures. There is a mix of simple and complex sentences, and the majority of the writing is error-free. Punctuation is generally accurate, and the grammatical control is strong. For instance, the use of conditional structures ('If the choices have good outcomes...') is handled well. While there are very occasional minor slips, they do not impede communication or affect the overall clarity of the essay. The grammatical range is sufficient to support the development of the arguments.

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