Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-09

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)

Some people believe that children should be allowed to make their own choices in everyday matters, while other argue that parents should make these decisions for them. Although giving children freedom can help then become independent, I believe that parents should still provide-guidance, especially when children are young.

On the one hand, allowing children to make their own decisions can have several benefits. When children are given choices about their food, cloths or entertainment, they can develop a sense of independence and responsibility. They learn that their decisions have consequences and gradually become more confident in making choices. For example, if a child is allowed to choose between different activities after school, they may learn to understand their own interests and preferences. This freedom can also help children become better decision-makers as they grow older.

On the other hand, some people believe that children should not be given complete freedom because they may make decisions based only on their immediate wishes. Young children often do not have enough knowledge or experience to understand what is best for them. For instance, a child may prefer eating sweets and fast food everyday instead of having healthy meals. Similarly, they may want to spend several hours playing video games rather than studying or sleeping properly. If parents allow such choices without any limits, children may develop unhealthy habits and become overly focused on their own desires.

In my opinion, children should be allowed to make choices, but parents should set reasonable boundaries. This approach gives children freedom while also teaching them the difference between good and bad decisions. As children become older and more mature, they can gradually be given greater responsibility.

In conclusion, allowing children to make their own choices can develop independence and confidence, but unrestricted freedom may encourage selfish or unhealthy behaviour. Therefore, a balance between freedom and parental guidance is the most effective approach.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both perspectives and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and well-supported with examples, such as the mention of dietary choices and video games to illustrate the risks of unrestricted freedom. The position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, the development of the 'self-centered society' aspect mentioned in the prompt could be more explicitly linked to the long-term consequences of childhood decision-making, as the current focus is primarily on health and habits rather than the broader societal impact.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the two viewpoints is smooth, using appropriate cohesive devices like 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand'. The conclusion effectively summarizes the main points and restates the author's position. The use of referencing is generally clear, and the paragraphing is appropriate for the task. The flow of information is natural, making the essay easy to follow from start to finish.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses a range of topic-specific terms such as 'independence', 'responsibility', 'immediate wishes', and 'parental guidance'. While the range is adequate, it lacks the more sophisticated or idiomatic collocations that would characterize a higher band. There are minor errors, such as 'cloths' instead of 'clothes' and 'everyday' used as an adverb (should be 'every day'). However, these errors do not impede communication and the overall lexical control is solid.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a good control of sentence structure, using a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively. For example, the use of conditional structures ('If parents allow such choices...') and concessive clauses ('Although giving children freedom...') shows a good grasp of grammar. There are occasional minor errors, such as 'while other argue' (should be 'others') and 'help then become' (should be 'them'). Despite these, the majority of sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is generally accurate. The grammatical range is sufficient to support clear communication.

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

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