Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-07-30

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people like to try new things, for example, places to visit and types of food. Other people prefer to keep doing things they are familiar with.

Discuss both these attitudes 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)

While many individuals like trying new things, such as new places and food, others believe in doing the same thing that they know. Although doing the same thing is good if a person does not want to leave their comfort zone, I strongly favour attempting the unknown because people want to get to know other cultures and traditions.

On the one hand, getting out of one's comfort zone is very difficult for some people. That said, visiting a new place often makes their heart anxious, like visiting a hilly area, which makes them puke after seeing the gigantic mountains. Moreover, they do not like food other than what they eat regularly because their taste buds have been developed that way. For example, US or Canadian citizens are often scared to try Indian food because they find it very spicy. As a result, individuals often end up staying in the same space. However, from my perspective, other cultures or traditions should also be tried.

On the other hand, opponents assert that unfamiliar things such as cultures or traditions should be tried. One key argument is that a person's knowledge will be increased substantially if he is exposed to a foreign culture. This is because, if someone is in a foreign land, he has to learn the language of that country to connect with local citizens, which will ultimately allow him to learn more. For instance, many international students come to Canada to experience its diverse culture. Thus, I am inclined towards this point of trying new things.

To conclude, although it is good for some people to do the same thing every day because they are scared to leave their comfort zone, I maintain my view that experiencing new things is important for getting familiar with a new culture.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both attitudes and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant, such as the mention of comfort zones and the benefits of cultural exposure. However, the development is somewhat uneven. The second paragraph focuses heavily on the negative aspects of trying new things, while the third paragraph, which is meant to discuss the opposing view, actually repeats the argument for trying new things. This creates a slight confusion in the logical flow of the argument. To reach a higher band, ensure that each paragraph clearly distinguishes between the two viewpoints requested in the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, and there is a clear introduction and conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Moreover', and 'To conclude' are used to guide the reader. However, the transition between the second and third paragraphs is problematic because the third paragraph begins with 'On the other hand' but then proceeds to argue for the same side as the author's opinion, rather than presenting the opposing viewpoint. This makes the progression of ideas feel slightly disjointed. Improving the logical link between paragraphs would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'gigantic', 'substantially', and 'diverse'. However, there are some instances of slightly unnatural word choices, such as 'makes their heart anxious' or 'makes them puke', which are a bit informal for an IELTS essay. The range is sufficient to convey meaning, but more precise and academic collocations would help elevate the score. The spelling is accurate throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is good control over basic grammar, and the meaning is always clear. Some complex structures are used, such as 'Although doing the same thing is good if a person does not want to leave their comfort zone'. There are occasional minor errors, such as 'US or Canadian citizens are often scared to try Indian food because they find it very spicy' (which is grammatically correct but could be more formal). Overall, the errors are infrequent and do not impede communication, showing a reasonable level of control.

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