Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-03

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 6.0)

The question of whether children should be allowed to make their own decisions in everyday life has sparked considerable debate. While some people argue that it is more important for the children to make decisions about the matter that affect them. This essay will discuss both perspectives before presenting my own view.

Parents who encourage their children to make their own decisions plays a crucial role in their personal growth, makes them independent and creates a sense of responsibility. For example, when a child is free to decide how to spend his leisure time or pursue his own dream career, they learn to evaluate options and face outcomes of their decisions. This process not only builds confidence but also prepares them for taking significant decisions in their adulthood.

On the other hand, a child granted the complete autonomy of making his own decisions in daily choices can potentially lead to a self-centered attitude. When children are always permitted to choose what they eat, wear, or watch, they may become accustomed to prioritizing their own desires over others needs. For example, a child who is never guided in making balanced food choices might consistently prefer unhealthy options, disregarding long-term consequences. Over time, this habit of focusing solely on personal preferences could extend into social interactions, making it difficult for them to cooperate or compromise with others.

In my opinion, a guided decision making where parents provide boundaries while still offering choices can strike a healthy balance between freedom and discipline. Children must be encouraged to make their own decisions but within reasonable limits set by adults. Complete freedom may lead to negative impact on the child's behavior and habits.

In conclusion, although unrestricted freedom may encourage self-centered behavior, giving children controlled choices is essential for their growth and development.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both viewpoints and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed, particularly the argument regarding the potential for self-centeredness. However, the introduction contains a sentence fragment ('While some people argue that it is more important for the children to make decisions about the matter that affect them.') which slightly weakens the overall structure. The conclusion is a bit brief but effectively summarizes the main points. To reach a higher band, ensure that the personal opinion is more explicitly integrated throughout the body paragraphs rather than just in the final section.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

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 handled well using cohesive devices like 'On the other hand'. Referencing is generally clear, though some minor improvements in the use of linking words could make the flow more natural. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different stages of the argument. The overall structure is coherent, and the reader can easily follow the development of the writer's position from the introduction to the conclusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is sufficient for the task and allows for some flexibility. You have used some good collocations such as 'personal growth', 'dream career', and 'balanced food choices'. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'the matter that affect them' (should be plural 'matters that affect') and 'taking significant decisions' (usually 'making' decisions). While the range is adequate, incorporating more sophisticated or less common lexical items would help elevate the score. The current vocabulary is precise enough to convey your meaning clearly without any significant errors that impede understanding.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('Parents... plays a crucial role' should be 'play') and the aforementioned sentence fragment in the introduction. Additionally, 'the complete autonomy of making his own decisions' is slightly awkward phrasing. While these errors are present, they do not impede communication. To improve, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and refining the use of articles and prepositions. The majority of your sentences are clear and correctly structured, which supports a solid band 6.5 performance.

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.