Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-17

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)

Some people think children should not choose things like food, clothes, or shows every day. Other people think children should be allowed to choose. This essay will look at both ideas and then give my opinion.

Some people believe that if children always choose everything themselves, they may become selfish. If a child always picks what to eat or watch without thinking about others, they may grow up thinking only about themselves. This could make it hard for them to share or work with other people later in life. So, these people think parents should guide children and teach them to think of others too.

Other people believe children should make their own choices because it helps them learn. If a child picks their own clothes, they learn what happens if they choose wrong, like feeling cold. If a child picks their own hobbies, they learn what they enjoy and become more confident. Without practice, children may grow up not knowing how to make good decisions, like how to spend money or choose a job.

In my opinion, both ideas are partly right. Children should be free to choose small things, like clothes or games, because these choices are safe and help them learn. But parents should still help children make bigger decisions, like family plans, so they learn to think about others too.

In conclusion, letting children choose everything may make them selfish, but not letting them choose anything is also not good. The best way is to give children some freedom, while also teaching them to care about others.

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 logically developed, such as the argument that autonomy fosters decision-making skills. However, the development is somewhat simplistic. To reach a higher band, the essay would benefit from more sophisticated examples or a deeper exploration of the long-term societal implications mentioned in the prompt. The position is consistent throughout, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes the arguments presented.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'If', 'But', and 'In conclusion' are used appropriately to link ideas. However, the transitions between sentences are sometimes a bit mechanical. To improve, you could use a wider variety of cohesive devices and referencing to create a more natural flow between sentences and paragraphs.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task and allows for clear communication. You use common words effectively, such as 'selfish', 'confident', and 'freedom'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on basic vocabulary. To achieve a higher band, you should incorporate more precise, academic, or less common lexical items. For example, instead of 'choose wrong', you could use 'make ill-advised decisions', and instead of 'small things', you could use 'trivial matters'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically accurate, and errors are rare and do not impede communication. You successfully use conditional structures ('If a child picks... they learn...'). To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as passive voice or more varied subordinate clauses, and ensure that your sentence structure remains varied throughout the entire piece.

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

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