Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-20

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)

Everyone wants freedom, not only in terms of physical independence but also in expressing their opinions and making everyday decisions. Nowadays, children want to make their own decisions independently. Some people believe that giving children greater decision-making authority could create a society in which people become more self-centered. I shall describe both opinions, and then i put my point of view regarding them.

Children desire independence in their daily choices, especially regarding food and clothes. Wanting meals that suit their taste—like ice cream—can cause friction when parents object. Additionally, youth prefer modern fashion trends inspired by social media influencers. Granting children control over these everyday decisions helps boost their confidence.

On the other hand, opponents argue that children lack the foresight to handle total independence, such as choosing an educational field. However, they believe parents should continue to guide them because young people may lack the experience to assess the long-term consequences of their choices. This approach allows children to develop decision-making skills while reducing the risk of inappropriate decisions. Allowing children limited autonomy under parental supervision helps them develop decision-making skills and helps them develop independence. While reducing the risk of inappropriate decisions.

In conclusion, from a freedom point of view, every person has the right to make their own decision, but from a broader perspective, children and society need limitations. From my point of view, to create balance, children should have limited decision-making authority but not for all, which is best for their present as well as for the future.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion in the conclusion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. For instance, the argument regarding children becoming 'self-centered' is mentioned in the introduction but not deeply explored in the body paragraphs. The discussion on the benefits of autonomy is repetitive, particularly in the second paragraph where the phrase 'develop decision-making skills' is used twice in close proximity. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific examples or deeper analysis of the long-term societal implications of these parenting styles rather than just listing everyday examples like food and clothes.

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. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'On the other hand' and 'In conclusion', to signal shifts in the argument. However, the cohesion within the second paragraph is weak; the final sentence, 'While reducing the risk of inappropriate decisions', is a sentence fragment that lacks a main clause, which disrupts the flow. Additionally, the transition between the discussion of daily choices and the broader societal impact could be smoother to ensure a more cohesive argument throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally appropriate for the task and allows for clear communication. You demonstrate a sufficient range to discuss the topic, using terms like 'foresight', 'autonomy', and 'supervision'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simpler vocabulary. There are no significant errors in word choice that impede meaning, but the essay lacks the 'less common' lexical items that would demonstrate a higher level of sophistication. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations and varied synonyms to avoid repeating basic terms like 'decisions' or 'choices'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are clear, there are several grammatical issues. For example, 'i put my point of view' should be capitalized and phrased more formally as 'I will present my perspective'. The sentence 'but not for all' in the conclusion is grammatically incomplete and unclear. Furthermore, the fragment 'While reducing the risk of inappropriate decisions' indicates a lack of control over complex sentence construction. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your message, they occur frequently enough to limit your score in this criterion.

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