Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-13

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 5.5)

A difference of opinion is seen regarding people belief on allowing children to make their own choices in everyday matters due to several reasons. I am of the opinion that children should be allowed to take decision because it boosts their confidence and take accountability of their life.

People believe that children need to make their own choice regrading daily life options because it is their life and they have to live it on their own terms rather than someone else.

Children making their own decision might not be well equipped for why a decision is wrong or right as they have limited knowledge about how the world works. Kids are bullied because they might not fit in according to clothes, food or entertainment choices.

I believe that children should have the autonomy on taking basic decision regarding their clothes, food and entertainment with parents intervention when needed. If we take the example of movies they are rated according to a system which allows parents to understand if it is safe for children to comprehend or not. If a child of age 6 watches a movie rating of 18+, it might have themes regarding violence, drugs, sex, etc that the kid might not be able to comprehend and would ask questions that might not be understandable for them. A safe practice of allowing child to take decision should be in place for them to gain confidence.

In conclusion, parents need to govern their child choices and let them know of the pros and cons of the decision they might take and how it might affect them.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal position. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention that children lack knowledge, this point is not fully extended with specific examples or deeper analysis. The argument regarding parental intervention is better supported with the movie rating example, but overall, the essay feels slightly underdeveloped in its exploration of the potential negative consequences of autonomy. To reach a higher band, ensure that each body paragraph provides a more thorough explanation of the 'why' behind your points, rather than just stating them.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas from the introduction to the conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. Transitions between sentences are occasionally abrupt, and the connection between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother. While the paragraphing is appropriate, the range of linking words (e.g., 'furthermore', 'consequently', 'in contrast') is quite narrow. Increasing the variety of cohesive devices would help the flow of the essay and improve the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the message to be conveyed clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'autonomy', 'accountability', and 'comprehend'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'people belief' (people's belief) and 'take decision' (make decisions). The range of vocabulary is somewhat restricted, and there is a reliance on simpler, repetitive phrasing. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and a wider variety of academic vocabulary to express your ideas with greater sophistication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include 'take decision' instead of 'make decisions', 'parents intervention' instead of 'parents' intervention', and 'child choices' instead of 'children's choices'. Additionally, there are minor issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they indicate a need for more consistent control over basic and intermediate grammatical structures to achieve a higher band score.

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