Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-09-16
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
Some people think that the fictional violence portrayed on television is harmless entertainment. Others disagree and think that it encourages violent behaviour.
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 6.5)
The debate over weather violent scenes on television serve as a benign entertainment or act as a catalyst for aggressive behaviour remains highly contentious. While many viewers consume action-packed or dramatic shows purely for leisure, I believe that continious exposure to onscreen aggression can gradually desensities individuals and foster real-world hostility, particularly among impressionable minds.
On one hand, proponents of media entertainment argue that fictional violence is simply a form of artistic storytelling and stress relief. Television shows, movies and dramatic series often use conflict and high-stakes combat to create suspense, drive plotlines, and engage audiences. Mature viewers can generally distinguish between fictional narratives and reality, viewing onscreen conflicts as a harmless fantasy world rather than an endorsement of aggression. Furthermore, some psychologists suggest that watching dramatic action provides a cathartic release, allowing viewers to channel stress and intense emotions safely without resorting to physical conflict.
On the other hand, critics argue that frequent depiction of violent acts normalises aggressive behavior and diminishes empathy. When characters resolve problems through violence without facing realistic consequences, viewers—especially children and teenagers—may internalise these responses as acceptable ways to deal with conflict. Repeated exposure can lead to psychological desensitisation, making individuals less sympathetic toward real-life victims of crime or aggression. Over time, this subtle cognitive shift can manifest as aggressive attitudes or hostile behaviour in daily interactions.
In conclusion, although fictional violence can provide engaging entertainment for responsible adults who maintain a clear boundary between media and real life, its potential to promote aggression cannot be overlooked. In my opinion, prolonged exposure to violent content subtly shapes human behaviour, making media regulation and conscious viewing habits essential.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The student addresses all parts of the task thoroughly, discussing both views on fictional television violence—its role as harmless entertainment versus its potential to encourage aggressive behaviour—and clearly stating a well-developed personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. Ideas are extended and supported with relevant reasoning, such as the discussion on psychological desensitisation and cathartic release. The position is maintained clearly throughout. This aligns well with the Band 7 descriptors.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, moving smoothly from the introduction to the two body paragraphs representing opposing views, and concluding with a well-synthesised summary. Cohesive devices are used flexibly and appropriately, such as 'On one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Furthermore'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and effectively, contributing to the overall coherence of the essay.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The student exhibits a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic discussion. Less common lexical items are used with some awareness of style and collocation, such as 'catalyst for aggressive behaviour', 'cathartic release', and 'psychological desensitisation'. There are a couple of minor vocabulary slips, most notably the spelling error 'weather' instead of 'whether' and 'continious' instead of 'continuous', as well as 'benign entertainment' (where 'benign' is slightly awkward compared to 'benign form of entertainment'). However, the range is solid and communicative.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The essay displays a variety of complex sentence structures, such as concessive clauses ('While many viewers consume...'), participial phrases ('making media regulation... essential'), and conditional elements. There are frequent error-free sentences, and control of grammar and punctuation is generally good. Minor errors do occur, such as the spelling slips mentioned in lexical resource and a slight typo in 'desensities' instead of 'desensitises', but these do not impede communication, and grammar remains strong overall.
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