Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-11-03

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)

There are ongoing debate about whether children who have freedom to choose everything they want is selfish by nature or it is important to make decision when a particular situation affect them. In my opinion, children should have freedom to make decision when its necessary for surrounding circumtances because it helps them to be productive and to improve leadership skills.

Children who can make decision by their own often have tendency to priorise themselves. This behavior can promote selfishness, which can lead children to build a negative energy. For instance, a children makes decision in a play may give less opportunity to other children to show their talent. Furthermore, being able to make decision can help children to achieve knowledge about leadership. By choosing their own path children can increase their problem solving ability, which can lead them to be a leader in the long run.

Regarding the other view, decision making ability is significantly essential to tackle situation when necessary. For example, childrens who can choose their clothes before going to school without any help of their perents may make decision in a difficult situation by their own when parents are not around. It can make children more productive and creative as well.

In conclusion, Although children who can make decision by their own may think about only them, they can solve many problem when needed. In my opinion, to broader childrens ability in challenging situation, they should have prioritise their own choices and it can begins with choosing their food, chothes and entertainment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address both views and give a clear opinion: you recognise the risk of self-centred behaviour while arguing that choice can build independence and leadership. The examples about sharing opportunities during play and choosing clothes before school are relevant to the question. However, the discussion is unevenly developed. The first view is linked to selfishness, but the explanation that this creates “negative energy” is vague, and the play example needs clearer detail about how everyday choices affect others. Your argument for decision-making is more developed, though the connection between choosing clothes and handling a difficult situation without parents could be explained more fully. To strengthen the response, clarify the limits of children’s freedom and develop each example to show how it supports your position.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion. Phrases such as “For instance,” “Furthermore,” and “Regarding the other view” help signal examples and shifts in focus. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear. In the second paragraph, the move from selfishness to leadership is abrupt, and the relationship between these contrasting points is not explained. Some linking is also mechanical, with repeated use of “can” and “which can lead.” The conclusion restates the main ideas but does not clearly resolve how children’s choices should be balanced with consideration for others. Use clearer topic sentences and connect each example explicitly to the paragraph’s central claim.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of vocabulary, including “selfishness,” “leadership skills,” “problem solving ability,” and “productive and creative,” which allows you to discuss the topic beyond basic terms. Some attempts at more specific language are inaccurate or unnatural, however, and this sometimes makes the meaning less precise. For example, “priorise themselves” is not the right expression for putting one’s own interests first, while “negative energy” is vague in this context. There are also spelling and word-form errors, including “circumtances,” “perents,” and “chothes.” Aim for accurate collocations and check spelling carefully; more precise phrases such as “consider their own interests” and “develop independence” would make the argument clearer.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including clauses with “because,” “which,” and “when,” and your meaning is generally understandable. Some grammatical errors remain across the response. For example, “There are ongoing debate” has a subject–verb agreement and plural error, and “children who have freedom to choose everything they want is” has a mismatch between the plural subject and verb. Other examples include “a children makes decision” and “it can begins,” where article, number, or verb-form control is inaccurate. The final sentence also contains a long structure that is difficult to follow. Review agreement, articles, plurals, and verb forms, and divide complex ideas into clearer sentences while retaining a mix of structures.

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