Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-17

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 6.5)

Some people think that children should not be allowed to make their own choices because they may become selfish. However, others believe that children should make decisions about things that affect them. This essay will discuss both views and give my opinion.

On the one hand, giving children too much freedom can make them selfish. If children always choose what they want to eat, wear or watch, they may start thinking only about themselves. They may not understand that parents and other people also have different needs. For example, a child who always chooses expensive food or clothes may not learn the value of money. Therefore, parents should control some decisions.

On the other hand, allowing children to make some decisions can be good for their development. It helps them become more independent and confident. They can also learn from their mistakes and understand the results of their choices. For example, parents can let children choose their clothes, hobbies or entertainment. In this way, children can learn how to make decisions on their own.

In my opinion, children should be given some freedom, but parents should also guide them. They should allow children to make simple everyday choices but make important decisions for them when necessary. This can help children become responsible without becoming selfish.

In conclusion, giving children complete freedom may make them self-centred, but allowing them to make some choices can improve their confidence and independence. A balance between freedom and parental guidance is the best approach.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both views on children making decisions and providing a clear personal opinion throughout the essay. The ideas are relevant and supported by logical examples, such as food, clothes, hobbies, and entertainment. However, the task achievement score is impacted by the official length check, which notes that the response contains 249 words, falling just one word short of the 250-word minimum. This minor under-length constraint prevents the response from reaching Band 7, as full development of the ideas is slightly restricted by the word count constraint. Nevertheless, the main arguments regarding self-centredness versus independence and confidence are clearly articulated.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, beginning with a well-defined introduction, followed by body paragraphs addressing both sides of the issue ("On the one hand", "On the other hand"), an opinion paragraph, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices are used appropriately to guide the reader through the arguments, such as "However", "For example", "Therefore", and "In conclusion". Paragraphing is managed effectively, ensuring that each central topic is contained within its own logical section. While some of the cohesive devices are somewhat standard rather than sophisticated, the overall structure and flow fully support a solid Band 7 score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates an adequate and sufficient range of vocabulary for the task. Words and phrases related to the topic, such as "development", "independent", "confident", "self-centred", and "guidance", are used accurately. There is an attempt to incorporate less common vocabulary, though the phrasing tends towards standard academic discourse rather than sophisticated collocations. Spelling and word choice are accurate throughout the text, and communication is never impeded. The lexical range is strong enough for the lower end of Band 7, but lacks the finer precision and idiomatic flexibility required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writer employs a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, demonstrating control over grammatical forms. Examples of complex structures include conditional clauses ("If children always choose what they want to eat...") and relative clauses ("a child who always chooses expensive food or clothes..."). The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled correctly. While the variety of complex structures is somewhat limited compared to higher band requirements, the grammatical control is strong and reliable, with only occasional minor flaws. This performance fits comfortably within the Band 7 descriptors.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.