Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-01
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)
It is often believed that when children are allowed every time to make their own choices in all matters such as food, clothes and entertainment, it is likely to result in a society of selfish individuals. However, others argue that it is significant for children to make decisions about matters that affect them. In my opinion, children should be independent to make their own decisions, especially in the important matters of their lives.
On the one hand, people think that if children would be free to make their own decisions, it may result in selfish people's society. When children will not be dependent on their parents or elders to get their help in making decisions, it can lead to several ramifications, such as contumacious behavior, selfishness and disobedience. For example, one of my cousins was too arrogant and selfish, as their parents never deny his wishes and always respect his decisions in every field like shopping and eating outside which lead him to be selfish and not to think about others.
On the other hand, some people consider that children should have autonomy of taking their own decisions. First, this independency will may provide them with the ability to be mature and develop strategic choice. Second, learning from the negative effects of any wrong decision may help them in making wise decisions in the future. Moreover, parents should allow children to make decisions themselves in important considerations of their lives. For example, Choosing the life partner should be the personal decision rather than being dependent on parent, and individuals can make the right choice if they will have the experience of making best decisions.
In conclusion, although the independency of children in decision-making in every aspect may develop selfishness, it can provide them the ability to make right and wise decisions in their lives.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
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, such as the mention of 'contumacious behavior' and the development of 'strategic choice'. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the example regarding choosing a life partner is a bit extreme for the context of 'everyday matters' like food or clothes, which weakens the logical flow of the argument. To reach a higher band, ensure that examples are more closely aligned with the specific scope of the prompt and provide more depth in the analysis of why these choices impact society.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, with an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'First', 'Second', and 'Moreover' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing, such as the use of 'their' in 'as their parents never deny his wishes', where the pronoun does not clearly refer back to the singular 'cousin'. Despite these minor flaws, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, including some less common items like 'ramifications', 'contumacious', and 'autonomy'. There are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'independency of children' (independence is more natural) and 'autonomy of taking their own decisions' (autonomy in making their own decisions). While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. The vocabulary is generally sufficient to convey the intended meaning clearly.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses and modal usage, such as 'if children would be free' (should be 'if children were free'), 'this independency will may provide' (double modal), and 'if they will have the experience' (should be 'if they have'). While these errors are noticeable, they do not significantly impede the reader's understanding. To improve, the student should focus on conditional sentence structures and subject-verb agreement.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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