Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-28

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)

In recent years, the topic of children making their own choices has become a widely discussed issue. While there are different views regarding this matter, from my perspective, it is essential for children to make decisions about any kind of problem, as this enhances their decision-making skills.

The first and most important point to consider is that making any plan for a special event or occasion is very effective for developing their daily decision-making skills. The main reason for this is that if children's guardians or parents tell them everything about their daily routine, such as food, clothes, and entertainment, they may kill their inner decision-making skills. For example, if a child cannot decide their own wishes and depends on others to decide their daily routine, it will be tough for them to make decisions about life goals and unexpected incidents in the future. Therefore, it is clear that thinking independently during childhood is really effective for further progress.

Furthermore, some people think that always making their own choices can make individuals selfish. Giving children too much freedom may make them overly focused on their personal desires. For example, a child who is allowed to choose only expensive things may not be satisfied with their wishes and may become less willing to share and compromise. Thus, it is not effective for children to make their choices every time.

In conclusion, allowing children to decide certain things by themselves has both positive and negative effects. I believe there are some measures that parents can take for children so that they do not become selfish and can also make decisions by themselves.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both perspectives and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant; however, the development is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument regarding selfishness in the second body paragraph is a good point but lacks a deeper explanation of how parents can mitigate this. The conclusion is also quite brief and does not fully synthesize the arguments presented. To reach a higher band, you should aim to expand on your examples and ensure that your personal opinion is more thoroughly integrated throughout the essay rather than just mentioned in the introduction and conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two opposing views. Cohesive devices such as 'The first and most important point', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly repetitive or mechanical. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the link between the final sentence of the first body paragraph and the subsequent paragraph could be smoother to enhance the overall flow of the argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly. You use some relevant topic-specific terms like 'decision-making skills', 'daily routine', and 'compromise'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simpler phrasing, such as 'make their own choices' and 'decide their own wishes', which are repeated. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms and collocations to demonstrate a wider range of lexical control. Some word choices, such as 'kill their inner decision-making skills', are slightly unnatural in this context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You show control over basic grammar, and your meaning is always clear. There are some minor errors, such as 'making any plan for a special event' (should be 'planning') and 'decide their own wishes' (should be 'make their own choices'). While you attempt complex sentences, they are sometimes slightly awkward. The punctuation is generally accurate, and the errors present do not impede communication. To achieve a higher band, focus on increasing the variety of complex structures and refining your control over verb-noun collocations.

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

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