Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-10-17

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)

In modern times, some individuals believe that nowadays we have too many choices. From my perspective, I largely agree with and provide my explain why.

The primary reason for my agreement is that having too many choices can create confusion and stress. When people have several options, they may find it difficult to decide which one is the best. For example, students may struggle to choose a suitable university or subject because there are so many options available. As a result, they may waste time comparing different opportunities and become dissatisfied with their final decisions.

On the other hand, I believe that having a wide range of choices offers significant benefits. Firstly, people can choose options that best suit their interests, needs and financial situations. For instance, students can select from various courses and universities according to their academic goals and budgets. Secondly, competition among businesses provides customers with better products and more affordable prices. This allows people to make decisions that improve their quality of life.

In conclusion, although they have lots of options. I strongly agree that having too many choices can create confusion, waste time and make people less satisfied with their decisions.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

Your position is clear in the introduction and conclusion: you largely agree that too many choices can cause confusion, while acknowledging benefits. The response gives relevant reasons, including students’ difficulty choosing a university and the advantages of consumer competition. However, these points are brief and receive limited explanation or specific supporting detail, so the task is only partially developed. The conclusion also says “although they have lots of options” without completing the contrast clearly. The response contains 188 words, which is 62 words below the required 250-word minimum; the eight words copied from the task prompt are not counted. Develop each main point with fuller explanation and a concrete example to address the task more completely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph about drawbacks, a paragraph about benefits, and a conclusion. Linking expressions such as “For example,” “As a result,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” help signal relationships between ideas. However, progression is limited because the body paragraphs mainly list points rather than develop them, and the contrast between the two sides is not fully reconciled with the stated position. The opening phrase “From my perspective, I largely agree with and provide my explain why” disrupts the introduction, while the conclusion’s fragment, “although they have lots of options,” weakens the ending. Use clearer topic sentences and connect each example explicitly to your overall argument.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough relevant vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “confusion and stress,” “dissatisfied,” “financial situations,” and “competition among businesses.” Some phrasing shows an attempt to express more specific concepts, such as “academic goals and budgets.” However, the range is somewhat repetitive: “choices,” “options,” and “people” recur frequently, and several expressions are imprecise or unnatural, notably “provide my explain why” and “lots of options.” This limits flexibility and precision, even though the central meaning remains understandable. Aim for more varied wording and accurate collocations, for example, distinguish between “alternatives,” “decisions,” and “opportunities” where appropriate, and use natural phrases such as “explain my reasons.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use some complex sentence forms successfully, including “When people have several options, they may find it difficult to decide which one is the best” and the sentence beginning “although.” Most of the message is understandable, and basic sentence patterns are generally controlled. However, the range is limited, and errors in sentence construction and punctuation are noticeable. “I largely agree with and provide my explain why” is structurally faulty, while “although they have lots of options” is an incomplete subordinate clause when used as the opening of the conclusion. The comma after “In conclusion” is also needed. Practise building complete sentences around contrast clauses and check that each verb phrase has a clear, grammatically complete structure.

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