Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-23

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)

Certain individuals believe that allowing children to make independent choices on daily matters is likely to have a negative effect on society by producing people who only think about themselves. Others argue that it is vital for children to make choices about matters affecting them. In my opinion, it is the responsibility of parents to make vital decisions for the children, because the young ones are not wise and experienced enough to make such choices.

The major undoing of allowing children to make their own choices is that society may end up having individuals who are selfish, and persons who only think about themselves. Proponents of this argument argue that children are not mature enough to decide on what food to eat, or on what type of clothes to wear. Their decision making will most likely be guided by peer pressure, fashion or even selfish interests. They may fail to understand that finances play a fundamental role in most choices people make.For example, a child may choose to have an expensive delicacy, irrespective of whether their parents have the means or not. This may eventually lead to people who are not concerned about the welfare of others in future.

On the other hand, children being allowed to make their own independent choices eventually leads to individuals who are responsible and self-reliant in future. Responsibility is taught and practised from a very young age, hence those who allow their young ones to make independent choices end up having mature and responsible adults.For example, a child who has often made decisions on what food to eat since childhood will have no problem deciding in future.

In conclusion, it is my opinion that children should be guided in making decisions by adults, so as to prevent society from having people who only think about their own wishes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views on children making decisions and presenting a clear position in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are generally relevant, but the development is somewhat limited and repetitive. For instance, the discussion on the first viewpoint focuses heavily on financial limitations and selfishness without exploring broader social implications. The supporting example about a child demanding an expensive delicacy illustrates the point, but overall, the ideas lack the depth expected for a higher band. However, a clear position is maintained throughout, satisfying the core requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear paragraph structure, where each body paragraph addresses a distinct viewpoint. Logical progression is generally maintained, though the transition between ideas can feel a bit mechanical. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'On the other hand' and 'In conclusion', but referencing occasionally lacks precision, as seen in repetitive phrasing like 'individuals who are selfish, and persons who only think about themselves'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, the two body paragraphs, and the conclusion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items such as 'proponents', 'fundamental role', and 'self-reliant'. However, there are some awkward collocations and repetitive phrasing, such as 'major undoing' instead of 'major drawback', and the frequent repetition of 'individuals who only think about themselves'. Spelling is generally accurate, and vocabulary errors do not impede communication, but precision and sophistication remain limited.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some control over clause structures through conditional and relative clauses (e.g., 'irrespective of whether their parents have the means or not'). There are several grammatical errors and awkward expressions, such as 'because the young ones are not wise and experienced enough' and 'deciding in future' missing an object. Punctuation has occasional minor flaws, such as missing spaces after periods (e.g., 'make.For example'). Despite these errors, meaning is rarely impeded.

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