Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-06
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
Some people believe that nowadays we have too many choices.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
Many people think that today's people have too many options. Meanwhile, I would agree with above statement to a major extent, and reason to support it will be explained in the ensuing paragraphs, along with examples.
Discussing the reason to support the agreement, the most evident one is people face hundreds of option when buying products, choosing career or selecting entertainment. To justify it further, large number of option make decision-making stressful and time consuming. For instance, people spend almost 30 minutes choosing what to watch on YouTube and Netflix.
Furthermore, another one supporting reasons for my belief is large number of similar products make difficult to select the best option. People may regret their choice and always wondering the other option was better. One prominent example is buying smartphones is confusing because many brands offer similar features and similar prices. Internet provide endless options and reviews. Before booking the hotel, traveler read hundreds of online reviews and become more confused.
However, the other side should not be disregarded. The most significant argument is more choices allow people to select the products and services that match their budget and lifestyle. For example, online shopping give a wide range of option regarding to prices, material and brands. Technology makes choice easier. Travel website like booking.com allow user to filter hotels by price and location.
In conclusion, in this contemporary era, there is equally potential evidence to support the argument about that many choice make decision-making more difficult. Hence, I totally agree with the statement.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. The ideas are relevant, such as the stress caused by decision-making and the benefits of consumer choice. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the point about 'regret' is mentioned but not fully explored. The conclusion is slightly contradictory, as it acknowledges the benefits of choice but then states 'I totally agree' with the idea that too many choices are a problem, without fully reconciling the two sides. To reach a higher band, ensure that arguments are more deeply extended and that the final position is clearly and consistently articulated.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear central topic. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Furthermore', 'For instance', and 'However', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are a bit mechanical, and there are instances where the flow is slightly disjointed, such as the transition between the second and third paragraphs. Referencing is generally clear, but some sentences lack smooth connectivity. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence flows naturally into the next would enhance the overall coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There is some attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'decision-making', 'contemporary era', and 'disregarded'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are occasional errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'reason to support it will be explained' (should be 'reasons') and 'there is equally potential evidence' (which is awkward phrasing). To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and a wider variety of academic vocabulary to express complex ideas more naturally.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('the other option', 'the most significant argument') and subject-verb agreement ('Internet provide', 'online shopping give', 'traveler read'). These errors are noticeable but do not impede communication. To achieve a higher band, you need to demonstrate more consistent control over basic grammar, especially pluralization and verb forms, and attempt more complex sentence structures with greater accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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