Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-30

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)

There is a long- running debate about whether young children should be allowed to make their own decisions regarding daily activities like choosing their food, clothes, or entertainment. While some worry that this level of freedom makes children self-centered, others feel it is essential for their personal development. In my view, letting kids make choices about things that directly affect them is a positive practice , as long as parents keep a watchful eye.

People who are against giving kids too much choice argue that it can easily lead to spoiled behavior. When children allowed to always pick what they want to eat, wear, or watch, they might grow up expecting everything to revolve around them. For example, if a child always gets to decide what the family watches on TV, they might struggle to share or compromise with others later in life. Over this constant focus on their own needs can turn them into self-absorbed individuals who care little about others.

However, I side more with those who believes that making small decisions helps children grow. When kids get to choose their own clothes or decide how to think for themselves. It also gives them a sense of control and confidence. Even if they make a bad choice-like wearing anything rubbish or out of fashion - they learn their valuable lessons through experience rather than just being told what to do.

To sum up, while giving children unlimited freedom could make them selfish, completely controlling their choices. To best approach is to give them reasonable freedom with healthy boundaries, helping them to grow into independent yet thoughtful adults.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views on whether children should make everyday choices and providing a clear personal opinion. The writer establishes their stance in the introduction, stating that letting kids make choices is positive as long as there is parental guidance. Each body paragraph explores a different perspective well. The arguments concerning self-centeredness and personal development are adequately extended and supported with relevant examples, such as deciding what to watch on TV or learning from bad clothing choices. Overall, the task is addressed effectively and the position is maintained throughout, fitting the Band 7 level.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information is coherently structured, starting with an introductory overview, moving through contrasting body paragraphs, and concluding with a concise summary. Cohesive devices are used effectively, with transitional phrases like 'While some worry', 'However, I side more with', and 'To sum up' guiding the reader smoothly. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas and viewpoints. Referencing is generally clear, though occasional minor punctuation issues in sentence flow slightly interrupt cohesion, keeping it at a solid Band 7.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow for flexibility and precision, using phrases such as 'personal development', 'self-absorbed individuals', and 'reasonable freedom with healthy boundaries'. There are attempts to use less common items with some awareness of style and collocation. However, there are a few minor lexical inaccuracies or awkward phrasings, such as 'wearing anything rubbish' instead of 'unappealing clothing' and the minor error 'those who believes' rather than 'those who believe'. These errors do not impede communication, placing the vocabulary firmly in the Band 6.5 to 7 range, well-suited for a Band 6.5 overall score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating good control over several complex structures like conditional and subordinate clauses (e.g., 'When children allowed to always pick what they want to eat...'). However, there are noticeable grammatical errors that persist, including a missing auxiliary verb in 'When children allowed' and a sentence fragment error in 'decide how to think for themselves. It also gives them...'. While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the essay from achieving a higher score, aligning it closely with the Band 6 descriptors.

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