Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-25

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)

Contemporary world has changed the way people think, behave and make choices. Some people argue that letting children deciding their choices such as meals, styling and entertainment results in a society of selfish individuals, while others believe that it is crucial for children to decide about their choices in everyday life. This essay will highlight both aspects and I personally believe that this is a positive development for children and society as it creates independent generation.

On the one hand, allowing teenagers to make their own choices on daily matters makes them independent because when they decide everything by themselves, they are more likely to become independent which can help them to learn better about right and wrong by making mistakes and decisions. For example, when children do something with their own willingness without someone else's involvement, they learn effectively because they can become more confident and can learn from their own mistakes and will not do that mistake again. Apart from this, people know better about their choices so they can chose accordingly without wasting time.

On the other hand, if children will start making their own choices they will stop listening to their elders as they may think they have all the knowledge and right to do whatever they want which can lead to selfishness and disrespect of others. Sometimes, it is necessary to take guidance from others for better outcomes and to reduce the chances of failure.

In conclusion, although independence is good, sometimes it can create conflicts among people. Children should take guidance from elders while making choices where applicable to enhance the chances of success.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The essay addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat repetitive. For instance, the argument regarding independence is restated multiple times in the second paragraph without adding new depth. The conclusion is also quite brief and does not fully synthesize the arguments presented. To reach a higher band, you should aim to provide more distinct, well-supported examples rather than repeating the same point about 'learning from mistakes' in different ways. The position is clear, but the supporting arguments lack the necessary complexity to fully explore the implications of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' to signal shifts in the argument. However, the internal cohesion within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical. For example, the transition between sentences in the second paragraph feels slightly repetitive. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the use of 'that' in 'will not do that mistake again', which could be more precisely phrased. Overall, the structure is functional, but the flow could be improved with more varied linking words and better sentence-to-sentence connectivity.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to express your ideas clearly. You use some relevant topic-specific vocabulary like 'independent generation', 'guidance', and 'outcomes'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of slightly unnatural collocations, such as 'styling' for clothing choices or 'do that mistake' instead of 'make that mistake'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary and idiomatic expressions. The current range is sufficient to communicate your meaning, but it lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. For example, 'letting children deciding their choices' should be 'letting children decide their choices', and 'if children will start making' should be 'if children start making'. There are also minor issues with article usage and verb agreement. While these errors do not impede overall communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of gerunds/infinitives would significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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