Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-16

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 5.5)

Recently, parents have been letting their children decide their own matters on the everyday level such as their nuitrition, appearance and their way of entertainment. While this could be seen as postive, some people believe that this freedom could result in a higher level of selfishness in children. In my view, giving children the freedom to make choices will result in a better self depending generation. While the selfishness could be a problem, the advantages simply outweigh by far its drawbacks.

Giving permisions to children to make their own personal desicion will signeficantly assist tackling one of the most complained about issue with adults which is decision making. numerous amount of adults reported that they are almost always torn between what they should eat, or wither to wear this T-Shirt or not. However, by letting the youth take this responsability from a young age. This problem will likely to fade away by the next generation. Even if it in anyway grow some kind of selfishness in their personality, it can be fixed with some guidance.

In addition, another major benefit of this practice is erasing another big problem. When parents adopt this practice they will teach their children self depending. For instance, children who are used to make decisions from a young age will not face a shock when they suddenly moves abroad, As they are used to make decisions while other children are always craving for their parents to help them deciding.

To conclude, the practice of allowing children to take responsability for their own daily matters is a debated one. It helps create a more self-reliable personality with some minor issues that can be adjusted. However, I believe that this practice's advantages by far outweigh its negative side.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is clear: you support children making everyday choices, arguing that the benefits of independence outweigh the risk of selfishness. You also acknowledge the opposing concern and suggest that guidance can address it. However, the discussion is uneven: most of the response develops the benefits, while the view that choice may foster self-centred behaviour receives only brief treatment. The examples about adults struggling to decide what to eat or wear and children moving abroad are relevant, but the first is a broad claim rather than a developed example, and the second needs clearer explanation. To strengthen the response, explain how unrestricted choices might affect consideration for others, then compare that risk more fully with the benefits.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs focused on benefits, and a conclusion that restates your position. Linking expressions such as “In addition,” “For instance,” and “To conclude” help readers follow the main stages. However, the progression is somewhat repetitive because both body paragraphs make closely related points about independence, and the opposing view is not given its own developed place in the argument. Some connections are also unclear, particularly the shift from adults’ everyday indecision to the claim that this problem will fade in the next generation. Organise the body around the two views before presenting your judgement, and use clearer references to show how each example supports its point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “selfishness,” “personal decision,” “responsibility,” and “self-reliable,” and you attempt more formal expressions such as “adopt this practice.” This gives you enough range to communicate the central argument, but inaccurate spelling and word choice are noticeable and sometimes make the reader pause. Examples include “nuitrition,” “postive,” “permisions,” and “desicion”; “self depending” and “self-reliable” are also unnatural forms in this context. Some phrases, such as “a higher level of selfishness,” are understandable but could be more precise. Check spelling carefully and build a bank of natural collocations for independence, decision-making, and consideration for others.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a concession with “While this could be seen as positive” and a conditional idea beginning “Even if…”. The overall meaning is generally recoverable, but errors in sentence structure, verb forms, agreement, and punctuation recur. For example, “This problem will likely to fade away” should be “will likely fade away,” while “children who are used to make decisions” needs “used to making decisions.” In “children… suddenly moves abroad,” the verb should agree with the plural subject, and the sentence beginning “However, by letting the youth…” is an incomplete sentence. Practise checking each clause for a subject and finite verb, and review verb patterns after expressions such as “used to.”

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