Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-09-30
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)
There has been an ongoing debate about whether violence shown in fictional television programmes is harmless entertainment. Some individuals believe that it is simply a form of entertainment, whereas others argue that it encourages people to behave violently. This essay will discuss both perspectives before presenting my own opinion.
On the one hand, proponents of fictional violence as entertainment argue that people watch it simply because they enjoy it. This is primarily because violent scenes can make films and television shows more exciting. In addition to this, people usually know that the violence they see on television is not real. For example, many people watch action films with fighting scenes for fun without wanting to fight anyone themselves. Therefore, it is often claimed that fictional violence is harmless entertainment.
On the other hand, critics contend that violent television programmes can encourage people to act violently. This viewpoint is supported by the fact that some people may copy what they see on television. Moreover, watching people fight regularly may make some viewers think that violence is normal. For instance, a child who often watches characters fighting may copy this behaviour when playing with other children. As a result, they believe that violent programmes can encourage violent behaviour.
From my perspective, the second view seems more convincing because some people may copy the actions they see on television. Although fictional violence can be entertaining, it can also have a bad effect on some viewers.
In conclusion, while both views have their own merits, I believe that fictional violence on television can encourage violent behaviour because some viewers, especially children, may follow what they see and overall it can have a negative impact on both individuals and society as a whole.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5
The student addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views on fictional television violence and providing a clear personal opinion. In the body paragraphs, the writer examines the argument that violence is harmless entertainment because viewers understand it is not real and watch it for excitement. Conversely, the second body paragraph explores the opposing view that violence can encourage real-world aggression, particularly among children who may imitate what they see. The position is maintained throughout the essay and supported by logical reasoning and appropriate examples. Ideas are well developed and extended, satisfying the criteria for Band 7.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The essay displays clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information and ideas are coherently linked, utilizing standard cohesive devices such as "On the one hand," "On the other hand," "Moreover," and "Therefore." Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct central topic, starting from the introduction through the balanced body paragraphs to the final conclusion. Referencing is clear and easy to follow. The flow of ideas meets the descriptor requirements for Band 7, though some cohesive devices are rather standard rather than exceptionally flexible.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.0
The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow for flexibility and precision, such as "ongoing debate," "proponents," "critics," and "negative impact." There is some attempt to use less common items with general awareness of style and collocation, as seen in phrases like "fictional violence" and "harmless entertainment." Spelling and word choice are accurate, with no noticeable errors that impede communication. While the vocabulary is adequate and effective for a Band 6.5 or 7.0, it lacks the wider, highly fluent and sophisticated range of uncommon lexical items required for Band 8.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0
The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms effectively, incorporating structures such as conditional clauses, relative clauses, and introductory participial phrases (e.g., "From my perspective, the second view seems more convincing because some people may copy the actions they see on television"). There are frequent error-free sentences, and the overall control of grammar and punctuation is good. Errors are very rare, which pushes the grammar profile into the Band 7.5 or 8 range, showing good control and a variety of complex structures with high accuracy.
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