Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-09-26

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)

Nowadays, fictional violence is frequently shown in television programmes, films and other forms of entertainment. While some people believe that such content is harmless because it is imaginary, others argue that it can encourage violent behaviour. I believe that fictional violence is not necessarily harmful, but excessive exposure may have negative effects, particularly on young viewers.

On the one hand, watching fictional violence can be considered harmless entertainment. Most viewers understand that the events shown in films and television programmes are not real. Violence is often used to create excitement, suspense and drama, rather than to teach people how to behave. Furthermore, people generally distinguish between fictional characters and real-life situations. Therefore, simply watching a violent film does not automatically make someone violent.

On the other hand, repeated exposure to violent content may influence people's attitudes and behaviour. Young children, in particular, may have difficulty understanding the difference between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour. If violence is repeatedly presented as an effective way to solve problems, some viewers may gradually become less sensitive to aggression. In addition, certain programmes portray violent characters as heroes, which could make aggressive behaviour appear attractive or acceptable.

In conclusion, fictional violence can be a form of harmless entertainment when viewers understand that it is imaginary. However, excessive exposure, especially among children, may contribute to aggressive attitudes. For this reason, appropriate age restrictions and parental guidance can help reduce its potential negative effects.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The student addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views on fictional television violence—its perception as harmless entertainment and its potential to encourage violent behaviour—while clearly stating a personal position in the introduction and conclusion. Ideas are relevant and supported with explanations, such as viewers' ability to distinguish fantasy from reality and the risk of desensitisation among young children. However, the response is 13 words short of the 250-word minimum requirement (containing 237 words). This negative length constraint prevents full development in places, leading to a minor penalty under Task Achievement where ideas are slightly under-developed rather than fully extended.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a clear overall arrangement and logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, beginning with an introduction, followed by body paragraphs addressing each viewpoint introduced by appropriate cohesive phrases ('On the one hand', 'On the other hand'), and concluding with a summary ('In conclusion'). Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately to structure the argument. Cohesive devices such as referencing ('such content', 'these views') and conjunctions ('Furthermore', 'Therefore') are used effectively to guide the reader through the text, maintaining coherence throughout the response without mechanical repetition.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student uses an adequate and appropriate range of vocabulary for the task. Words and phrases such as 'fictional violence', 'desensitisation', 'age restrictions', and 'parental guidance' demonstrate a solid grasp of topic-specific language. There are successful attempts at less common lexical items, and word choice is generally precise ('excessive exposure', 'distinguish between'). Spelling and word formation are entirely accurate throughout the text. While the vocabulary is fully sufficient to convey complex ideas clearly and without impediment, it stops just short of the wide, flexible range characteristic of higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The student displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating subordinate clauses effectively (e.g., 'While some people believe that such content is harmless because it is imaginary...'). Grammatical control is strong, with a high proportion of error-free sentences. Punctuation is accurate, and verb tenses are handled consistently throughout the essay. While complex structures are attempted and managed with good overall control, the structural range is somewhat restrained, preventing it from reaching the frequent complex structures with full flexibility found at Band 8.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.