Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-22

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 believe that allowing children to make their own choices on daily life matters such as food, clothes and entertainment is likely to result in a society of those people who only think about their own desires. While others argue that allowing children to make decisions fosters independence and confidence. While opinions remain divided, I firmly contend that a balanced method where, children are guided but also trusted to decide in some cases is the most effective part to raising well-round individuals. On the one hand, those who caution of giving too much freedom to children claim that it leads generation to selfish adults. The foremost justification lies in the fact is that if children allowed to decide everything what they eat and who they dress without any guidance they may become to resist compromise. For example, if child always chooses junk food over healthy meal may not harm only his health but also develop habits that ignore long-term consequences. These patterns, critics argue, can translate into adulthood, where the individuals' priorities personal desires over collective needs. On the other hand, supporters of child freedom argue that making choices is an essential part of growing up. This is best illustrated that if children allowed to express preference, they learn more responsibility and develop decision-making skills. For instance, choosing their own clothes and hobbies help to create a sense of self and increase encouragement. Moreover, when adults involve in children meaningful decision it will show a respect of other opinions. More importantly, it increases family-bond and boost self-esteem. For these reasons, I remain firmly convinced that a balance approach is essential. parents should provide guidance and boundaries while also encouraging children to make decision in some cases. This way children grow into thoughtful individuals who value both in personal freedom and social responsibility. In conclusion, although concerns about excessive freedom are valid, denying children to make their own choices also be detrimental. A balance method is the best part of raising encouragement.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. The position is consistent throughout the essay. Ideas are generally well-developed, such as the argument regarding the development of decision-making skills and the counter-argument about potential selfishness. However, some points could be further extended to reach a higher band; for instance, the link between childhood choices and adult social responsibility is mentioned but could be explored with more depth. The structure is logical, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes the main points while maintaining the established position.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with clear paragraphing. Each paragraph has a central topic, and there is a clear progression of ideas. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Moreover', which help guide the reader. However, there is some mechanical use of these devices, and occasionally, the flow between sentences is slightly abrupt. Referencing is generally clear, though some minor issues with pronoun usage and sentence connectivity persist. Overall, the organization is effective and supports the development of the argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task. You use some relevant topic-specific terms like 'decision-making skills', 'long-term consequences', and 'collective needs'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and awkward phrasing, such as 'the most effective part to raising well-round individuals' (should be 'approach to raising well-rounded individuals') and 'boost self-esteem' (which is correct, but 'foster' or 'cultivate' might be more sophisticated). There are also some minor errors in word formation, such as 'encouragement' used where a noun like 'confidence' or 'autonomy' would be more appropriate. The range is sufficient but lacks the precision required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow, such as 'if children allowed to decide' (missing 'are') and 'who they dress' (should be 'how they dress'). Other issues include subject-verb agreement and missing articles, for example, 'if child always chooses' (should be 'if a child') and 'a balance approach' (should be 'a balanced approach'). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the message, they are frequent enough to limit the score. More attention to proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy is recommended.

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