Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-06

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)

The thought of exploring new things, such as travel spots and cuisines have become popular, while some demographics still believe in doing familiar things. In my opinion, the comfort that comes with known actions is undeniable however, one should not miss the adventure offered by unknown things.

Many wonderful facets are associated with the phenomenon of continuing familiar trends. The primary catalyst is the comfort which this trend provides in modern fast-paced lifestyle. To expound, since our body gets programmed to the familiar places and foods, the activity itself feels familiar to the body and there is no stress produced in response to a familiar action. Furthermore, it gives stability in life as one can predict the possible outcome on the basis of familiarity of past experiences. This is especially true for the members of the graying society who have their set ways of living the life by following the same routine for many years.

On the contrary, some people argue that diving into the ocean of unknown enhances exposure and broadens horizons. Because unknown practices exposes them to new food, places, customs and rituals, it significantly enriches their life experiences. To exemplify, the explorers who travel to exotic places get invaluable experience of their lifetime which can never be gained by visiting familiar local hotspots.

In conclusion, although the relaxation that comes by continuing familiar practices is undeniable, the experiences gained by encountering the unfamiliar are far more enriching. Therefore in my opinion, a balance of both in life is must to live it to the fullest.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both attitudes towards novelty and familiarity while providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed, particularly the explanation of why people prefer familiar routines. However, the development could be more nuanced; for instance, the argument regarding 'graying society' is a good point, but the essay could benefit from more specific examples of how these attitudes manifest in daily life. The position is consistent throughout, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes the arguments while offering a balanced perspective. Overall, the task is fulfilled adequately.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'To expound,' 'Furthermore,' 'On the contrary,' and 'To exemplify' are used to link ideas effectively. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or repetitive. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two viewpoints. The referencing is generally clear, though the flow between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother to enhance the overall coherence of the argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient for the task and allows for some flexibility. The student uses some less common items such as 'catalyst,' 'exotic,' and 'graying society,' which demonstrate a good range. There are occasional inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'unknown things' (which is slightly vague) and 'unknown practices exposes' (a subject-verb agreement error). While the vocabulary is generally precise enough to convey the intended meaning, it lacks the sophisticated collocation and natural phrasing that would characterize a higher band. The range is adequate but could be more varied to avoid repetition of words like 'familiar' and 'unknown.'

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('The thought... have become,' 'unknown practices exposes') and minor punctuation or phrasing slips. While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede communication or cause confusion for the reader. The student attempts complex structures, but control is not always consistent. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and refining the use of articles and prepositions to achieve greater accuracy across a wider range of sentence types.

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