Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-23

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

It is very common for people to change both their habits and their opinions as they get older.

Do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 6.5)

There is a very famous saying that goes, "Old habits never change". I disagree with this this view. I have always believed it takes twenty-one days to change a habit. Habits, opinions and one's view of life change with time, experiences and force. The need to change and nature's way of changing us play a crucial role in shaping our habits and opinions. Hence, it is very common for people to have new habits and developed opinions as they grow.

Experiences and interactions with people and nature change your point of view. This happens more as you age. You meet a lot of new people in highschools, workplaces and universities. Furthermore, travel changes perspectives. You realise there are better ways to live your life, there is better food out there than the one in your hometown and people around the world are not really rude at all. As one comes across better practices, he has an urge to adapt them instead of sticking to his old inconvenient ways. I travelled to America recently, I was impressed how customers put the dirty dishes back instead of just relying on the waiters to do so. I started practicing it immediately as I came back to Pakistan. I was also of the opinion that people in western countries despise us Asians, but that was actually not the case and my view on the world changed by one-eighty-degree.

Habits and opinions can also be forcefully changed through one's desire due to his circumstances. If a certain habit is holding someone back or a certain opinion is failing to transition to a fact, a smart human works on them. He does what suits him best, in his own way and eventually negates them from his life. I realised this in my bachelors degree. I always used to study on the final day of my exam, all nighters and double-shot espressos. The results were unimpressive. Meanwhile, my friend who was an avid learner throughout the year always scored great marks so I just adapted and got results immediately.

We should always be open to new perspectives. As humans, we should always be willing to learn. Forced or unforced change can only happen to someone who is willing to improve himself. But, change happens and mindsets shift there is no denying this.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student clearly addresses the task by stating a definite position in the introduction ("I disagree with this view") and maintaining it throughout the essay. The response covers both habits and opinions, supporting them with relevant and detailed personal examples, such as travelling to America and experiences during their bachelor's degree. Ideas are well-extended and explored, offering a clear discussion on how age, experience, and circumstances shape our behaviour and thinking. While some arguments could be seen as slightly anecdotal, they are entirely appropriate for a General Training Task 2 response and fulfill the requirements of Band 7.0 very well.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay presents a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, starting with an introduction, moving to travel experiences, then academic circumstances, and concluding with a reflective summary. Cohesive devices are used effectively, such as "Furthermore", "Hence", and "Meanwhile", though referencing occasionally feels slightly repetitive or mechanical (e.g., repeating "habits and opinions"). Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, guiding the reader smoothly from one point to the next, which aligns comfortably with the descriptors for a Band 7.0 score.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The writer demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision, successfully employing less common lexical items such as "perspectives", "circumstances", and "unimpressive". There are occasional minor inaccuracies in word choice or collocation, such as saying "one-eighty-degree" instead of "one-eighty" or "180-degree turn", and the repetitive use of pronouns. However, the vocabulary is more than adequate for the task, meaning is always clear, and the student successfully attempts higher-level phrasing throughout the response, fitting a solid Band 6.5 or 7.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional sentences and relative clauses. There are frequent error-free sentences, demonstrating a good control of grammar and punctuation overall. However, a few minor errors persist, such as the punctuation slip in "I travelled to America recently, I was impressed how customers..." (comma splice) and occasional awkward phrasing like "as he comes across better practices, he has an urge to adapt them". These errors do not impede communication, allowing the response to comfortably secure a Band 6.5.

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