Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-30

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 5.5)

People have differeing views on whether children should be allowed to make thier own decisions on everyday matters which might develope a selfish behaviour or children should not be allowed to take all the decisions. Although both perspective have thier own merit. I believe that children should be allowed to take their own decision because it helps them to reduce dependency on their parents also they become more responsible.

On the other hand, those people who support that children should not make their own decisions argue that by giving them all the freedom might result in selfish behaviour. This is because they think that as no one is going to tell them if they are doing something right or wrong. For example, if children is constantly doing things which he/she likes then it will create a negative character for them which will always make them selfish and they wont consider other people for this. This is the reason why people dont want children to take thier own decisions.

On the other hand, supporters of view where children should be able to take thier own decisions say that limiting children decision making will create a bad impression against the society. This is becaue we are limiting their own decision making which will result in hate against the society. For instance, consider a person who has decided this career path but due to society interference and peer pressure that person has to change his decision to take a different career path, this will result negative effects on that person.

In conclusion, although I belive that childeren should not take all of their own decisions that affects them, I consider children should take their own decisions which will really help them to become more creative and successful in life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both views and give a personal position: you explain the concern that freedom may encourage selfishness, then argue that children need decision-making opportunities to become independent and responsible. However, the discussion is only partly developed. The first view relies on a hypothetical example of a child repeatedly doing what they like, without explaining how everyday choices would lead to selfishness or how guidance could prevent it. The career-choice example is relevant to autonomy, but it moves beyond the everyday matters in the prompt and does not clearly show how ordinary choices affect children. Your conclusion also introduces a qualification—that children should not make all decisions—which is not fully reconciled with your earlier position. Develop each view with a more direct example and state your position consistently.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion, and the paragraphs broadly separate the opposing views. However, progression within and between ideas is not always clear. Both body paragraphs begin with “On the other hand,” even though the second introduces the view you support, so the relationship between the arguments becomes repetitive and confusing. Several links are also mechanical, particularly the repeated “This is because” and “For example/For instance.” In the first body paragraph, the chain from freedom to a “negative character” to selfishness needs clearer explanation. Use more precise transitions, make each paragraph’s main point explicit, and connect examples directly to the claim they support. This would give the essay a clearer overall line of development.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “selfish behaviour,” “dependency,” “responsible,” “decision making,” and “peer pressure.” These choices make the general meaning understandable. However, the range is limited and some phrases are imprecise or unnatural, such as “take all the decisions,” “create a bad impression against the society,” and “result negative effects.” Spelling errors are also noticeable, including “differeing,” “thier,” “develope,” and “becaue,” which reduce the accuracy of the writing. Aim for more precise collocations and check spelling carefully. For example, distinguish between making everyday choices and making major life decisions, and use vocabulary that expresses the specific consequence you mean rather than broad phrases such as “negative effects.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including clauses introduced by “because” and “although,” and the main ideas can generally be followed. However, complex structures are often faulty, and errors recur in agreement, articles, verb forms and sentence construction. Examples include “if children is constantly doing,” “Although both perspective have their own merit” (an incomplete clause), and “this will result negative effects.” The final sentence also has an unclear structure: “although I believe that children should not take all of their own decisions that affects them, I consider children should take their own decisions.” Work on complete clause structure, subject–verb agreement, and the patterns after verbs such as “believe” and “result.” More accurate control of these forms would make your argument easier to read.

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